When Miles Shaw, General Manager – Special Projects for Michels Power, Inc., discovered he was losing 10 acres of ash trees to a swarm of invasive insects, he fought back against deforestation.
Miles believes Michels’ Core Value of Environment has rubbed off on him over his 10 years with the company because during that time, he and his wife, Terese, have planted about 11,500 trees and shrubs across 14 acres of their property in western Sheboygan County, WI, introducing a variety of species to replace the ash.
They also restored 5 acres of their land to prairie habitat by planting native grasses and 26 wildflower varieties, working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to determine the optimal species and density. Their efforts have attracted not only important pollinators, but also students from nearby schools, who come to learn about the prairie’s ecology.
Miles has contributed to Michels’ Earth Awareness and Stewardship Month activities in the past, including planting trees at the direction of the WDNR at Mauthe Lake Campground in 2023 and participating in a new program in 2024. Debuting this past spring, the Michels Tree Program delivered young trees to employees at 19 Michels offices to benefit our communities across North America. Other Arbor Day celebrations included planting trees at a Michels Road & Stone, Inc. quarry in Wisconsin.
Additionally, 450 koa trees will be planted on the slopes of Mauna Loa in Hawaiʻi, and 500 trees of diverse species will be planted in Santiam State Forest in Oregon.
While Michels people put the core values of environment into practice all year round, Miles is already looking forward to the Michels Tree Program’s return in 2025, promising that no sapling will go unplanted.
