 Employees of the Year
IDL recognized Employees of the Year at the Spring Leadership meeting held in Coeur d'Alene May 21- 23.
Six employees, nominated by their coworkers and managers, were recognized for going above and beyond in their service to IDL and the people of Idaho.
IDL Employee of the Year - Scott Corkill
Payette Lakes Area Manager, McCall
Scott Corkill was named as the overall Employee of the Year.
This award recognizes an individual whose dedication, leadership and resilience have gone above and beyond in service to our mission.
Payette Lakes Area Manager Scott Corkill exemplified all of those qualities during what was one of the most demanding years in recent memory.
Amid an intense wildfire season, Scott served as an agency administrator on multiple large incidents—representing the interests of both the state and private timber owners with professionalism and unwavering commitment. While doing so, they still found time to mentor others, providing valuable guidance and even delegating opportunities for hands-on learning to those stepping into leadership roles.
Beyond fire, Scott embraced the challenges of workforce development, helping staff navigate a shift to more intensive timber management and offering daily support that brings out the best in those around them. When an unexpected personal leave impacted the team, he didn’t hesitate to take on additional responsibilities in lands and waterways—performing the work of two roles with the quality and care of someone who holds deep pride in public service.
Scott's willingness to lead, mentor, and adapt under pressure has made a lasting impact not just on their area, but on the agency as a whole.
Service Employee of the Year- Corrie Ivey
Aviation and Emergency Management Program Manager, Coeur d'Alene
The award recognizes an individual whose actions represent the highest standard of service to the agency, our partners, and the people we serve.
Corrie Ivey exemplified that standard during one of the most difficult and tragic events our department has faced. In the midst of the 2024 fire season, we experienced the heartbreaking loss of Fire Boss 205 and pilot Julianna Turchetti.
In the immediate aftermath, Corrie served as the first point of contact for the incident, coordinating with Dauntless Aviation, federal and state agencies, law enforcement, and the families affected. Through tireless effort, she ensured every request was answered, every need was met, and every agency was kept informed, often anticipating and initiating what was needed before being asked.
Corrie also recognized the emotional toll on our staff and took steps to provide immediate peer support and long-term mental health care through Critical Incident Stress Management sessions. Her work did not end when the headlines faded—through fall and winter, she continued to lead, representing IDL with professionalism, empathy, and grace. She has even taken on the emotionally difficult task of presenting on the incident to national partners, ensuring that lessons are learned and shared.
Multiple leaders, including our former State Forester, reached out to express their gratitude and admiration for this person’s composure, compassion, and service.
Quality Contributions Employee of the Year - Geoff Kline
Remote Sensing Program Manager, Coeur d'Alene
This award recognizes an individual whose work has not only advanced our mission but also set a new benchmark for excellence.
Geoff Kline led a transformational shift in how we approach forest management by integrating LiDAR data and advanced modeling techniques into every stage of our timber harvest planning.
Geoff's efforts have resulted in a fully query-able stand-level inventory that integrates seamlessly with our planning systems, vastly improving accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making capabilities. One of his most significant accomplishments has been the creation of statewide tools that generate timber sale cruise data from LiDAR models—tools that are reducing costs and replacing traditional methods while maintaining high data quality.
Geoff engineered complex workflows that make massive datasets accessible and actionable, even introducing user-friendly solutions that allow foresters to dynamically interact with the data. His leadership and innovation have not gone unnoticed—our agency was recently called the industry standard at a Land Board meeting, a recognition built in large part on Geoff's work.
Through technical mastery, strategic foresight, and tireless dedication, he has redefined what’s possible in remote sensing and forest inventory.
Quality Contributions Employee of the Year - Silas Whitley
Remote Sensing Technical Analyst, Coeur d'Alene
This award honor individuals whose work embodies innovation, dedication, and a profound impact on our agency’s mission.
Silas Whitley has fundamentally transformed how we use technology to manage Idaho’s natural resources. Through exceptional initiative and technical expertise, Silas has delivered LiDAR-derived forestry solutions that have elevated our operational efficiency to an entirely new level.
Over the past year, Silas independently conducted field data collection across the entire state, developed a groundbreaking in-house growth and yield model, and deployed a statewide census-level forest inventory that replaced costly contracts with more accurate, scalable solutions.
His foresight and problem-solving have enabled any user in the state to generate a timber cruise from lidar data, improving harvest planning, valuation, and scheduling.
He has streamlined workflows, reduced costs, and accelerated delivery of high-quality outputs, setting a new bar not only for IDL but for remote sensing programs nationwide.
Silas' work isn’t just innovation—it’s transformation.
Stewardship Employee of the Year - Nate Cook
Forest Management Program Specialist, Coeur d'Alene
This award recognizes someone whose contributions go beyond expectations—someone who not only does exceptional work but inspires progress across the agency.
Nate Cook is a true trailblazer, uniquely fluent in both forestry and information technology. That rare combination has made mobile data collection a reality and turned complex technical challenges into workable solutions.
Whether it’s patching IDL cruise spreadsheets through new Excel versions or coaching area staff on forest mensuration, Nate has become the go-to expert for solving problems that others can’t.
Tasked with launching a new forest projection system, Nate embraced the challenge, rebuilding IDL’s statewide forest inventory with precision and determination. He worked through data issues, historical system limitations, and model customization—all to generate reliable outputs for the 2024 Forest Asset Management Plan.
Thanks to his foresight and field engagement, local foresters validated and trusted the model’s results. Their work has laid a strong foundation for both tactical and strategic planning, directly supporting the mission to maximize returns from Idaho’s trust lands.
Nate's current efforts to integrate LiDAR-based data and plan for the future of cruising demonstrate a commitment to collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. To quote a former supervisor: “I think he’s the best nerd forester I’ve ever been around.”
Customer Service - Marde Mensinger
Program Manager Navigable Waters, Boise
This award honors an employee whose dedication, adaptability, and initiative have made a meaningful impact across the agency.
Marde Mensinger consistently rose to the challenge in a time marked by significant transition and increasing demands. With key leadership vacancies and evolving program needs,
Marde became a steadying force—stepping up to make critical decisions and ensuring continuity across multiple fronts. She took on complex tasks including rulemaking, procedure updates, and collaboration on IT tools, all while demonstrating exceptional time management.
When a major issue arose involving nearly 100 boat garage owners at Heyburn State Park, she volunteered to be the primary point of contact. Navigating the requirements of both IDPR and the Lake Protection Act, she led with clarity and compassion—creating a dedicated webpage, coordinating inspections, and processing applications in a way that supported both compliance and stakeholder understanding.
Marde's commitment to teamwork, problem-solving, and clear communication exemplifies the best of public service.
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