Chain Saw Safety Specialists

Hi Jim, WOW what a great class yesterday in Eagle! I teach skiing, biking and paddling, so I’ve met lots and lots of instructors over the years while getting certified. I can with confidence say that you are a GREAT teacher!! You have such a comfortable and professional teaching style that everyone in the class was relaxed and learned a ton despite wielding a potentially dangerous tool!

Just the right amount of classroom time to learn about chainsaw maintenance and safety, and then lots and lots of priceless hands on experience.

Your experience, wisdom and calm demeanor gave us all confidence, whether a seasoned vet or a younger student with no chainsaw experience at all.

As the day went on, and you coached us all 1v1, to safely drop our own trees, you created a group of believers that your system works.

I already have much more confidence and I now have the tools to access the situation and make safe decisions.

I recapped the day with friends and family and everyone wants to take your class and learn your system, rather than the “cut and pray” or “saw it on YouTube”systems that most of us use!

Dan LaBlanc

>>>>
> Dan LaBlanc
> Kettle Moraine Ski School
> kmskischool@gmail.com
> kmadventures.com
> 262.880.1919
> SKI HAPPY

June 12, 2022

Good morning Jim,

I heard great feedback from your training. Here are a couple of quotes I heard. I thank you so much and we would love to have you back each spring. I already have it on my calendar to contact Vance to schedule you for next year.

“This was so cool, I never did anything like this before.”
“The trainer was awesome, he was like Jesus! He knew exactly where each tree was going to fall.”
“I would love to spend 8 hours alone with him just to learn more and see how he works in the woods.”

Amy,
Sheboygan County Transportation Department
March 16, 2022

Hi Jim,

Thank you for the chainsaw safety training at Camp Oakaroo this weekend. The course was well organized, fun, interesting, and very educational. Your professionalism, examples / stories, and bakground information are greatly appreciated. Well worth the cost of the course and the travel from Detroit to Camp Oakaroo. As a former skydiving instructor, trained and certified by an individual with philosophies similar to your methods, I further appreciate the safety training in how it was actively conducted; reading the participants, engaging trainees based on thier comfort zones, and providing background / insight / foresight for each topic. So very good job! I got a lot out of it – how to properly manage, respect, and operate (own the machine) a chainsaw. Lee’s input was also greatly appreciated! Additionally, the focus / planning / discussion on downing each tree was tremendously valueable toward safety (doing the job correctly) and thinking out the consequences of decisions, actions, and application of the chainsaw.

Greg

Detroit, MI

October 2021

Jim,

Just a quick note to say Thank You! We are all so impressed with you and the knowledge you have to share.

Fortunately, unfortunately, we had severe weather here that was able to provide a perfect canvas for you to teach.

All of the firefighters are still talking about the training and have been sharing it with others. Please use our testimony to help others to be encouraged to become chainsaw aware. Thanks Again!!!

V/r

Heath Orabanec

Fire Chief

Rural Fire Protection District #1

Gore OK.

December 2018

Hi Jim,
Just wanted to let you know that our whole DeForest crew really enjoyed your training on Wednesday and learned a lot. One of the guys even told me it was the best training that he has ever attended. Your knowledge and passion comes through clearly while still teaching in a great way to reach the guys. Thanks so much!

Joleen Stinson
DeForest Parks and Natural Resources Supervisor
201 Commerce Street, DeForest, WI 53532
office: 608-846-6751, cell: 608-807-7219
www.vi.deforest.wi.us

October  2017

Thanks again for the training.  There was an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from the employees that attend the classroom and hands-on sessions.  I know that many of these employees went home feeling far more comfortable and safer when using a chainsaw.  Our mechanics were also surprised with some of the helpful maintenance and chain sharpening tips in the class.  We look forward to having you again next year!

Max Elfelt

St. Louis County Safety & Risk Mgmt

September 2016

Great job with the trainer for yesterday’s chain saw class. Jim Olive was by far the best presenter we have seen. I have handouts from his company that we can use as a reference manual as well as certificates for each employee that completed the training.

At the end of a whole day of training the guys were still asking questions. I think that says a lot.

Mike Knutson

December 2015

Jim,

I just wanted to send you a quick E-mail thanking you for being the instructor for the chainsaw safety class yesterday (Sept. 30, 2014). Every part of the class; protective gear information, chainsaw maintenance, and felling in the field, was very engaging and informative. I look forward to practicing the “new” way of the open face cut and using a bore cut to finish off the tree. I enjoyed this class very much and I feel like I went away a much more informed chainsaw operator. I hope to see you in the future in another one of your classes, at the advanced level. Thank you.

Nolan

On July 9, 2014 I took your chainsaw safety training
course through the Ice Age Trail Alliance.  I just
want to thank you for giving me the confidence to
use a plunge cut to fell a large tree.

I had a tree that was leaning towards my outhouse at
my cabin in Florence County near Tipler.  I cut the
tree down using the methods you taught us.  The tree
was slightly bigger than bar on my chainsaw, but it
fell exactly where I wanted.  And yes, it missed the
outhouse.  I had to cut down three other tees to
clear the way for the leaning tree and all three
went where I wanted them to fall.

Thanks again for a very good safety training course.

Peter Klima

“Hi Lee, it was a pleasure working with you in Richland Center, it is obvious you love with (sic) you do. I attached photos from the training day, feel free to use as you please. Thanks so much and hope you (sic) work with you and Jim again in the soon (sic) future.”

Elizabeth Dierickx

Urban Forestry Specialist

South Central Region & Central Office

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

October 16, 2013

“Jim and Lee have conducted chain saw safety trainings for Ice Age Trail Alliance staff and volunteers since 2000.  Both men are patient and knowledgeable teachers who bring a wealth of relevant, real world experience into context for students.  We particularly appreciate their emphasis and insistence on safe working practices and learning how to recognize hazardous scenario’s, including when to walk away before danger strikes”.

Tim Malzhan
Director of Field Operations
Ice Age Trail Alliance

July, 2012

I just want to say thank you for an excellent training program.  We were having an all day training  for our crew.  I called Lee and all I asked was to train the crew on the proper way to cut down a tree.  Lee went over and above what I had asked  and did an excellent job.  I asked the crew to write comments on the training and they were all positive.  I will certainly be calling Lee for future trainings.

“I met with the Parks supervisors this AM, and wanted you to know how appreciative and impressed they were with your training. As always, even the most experienced worker gained valuable tips and insight. I feel so lucky to have your expertise so accessible. I know we will be contacting you again. Thank you again for being so flexible with the scheduling. It is always a worry when speakers must travel so far.” 

2/2011

Everyone at our Saturday, Oct. 20th NW Chapter meeting were extremely impressed and appreciative of your training. You have a gift for teaching–wonderful!

We will talk at our next Director’s meeting about soliciting 12-14 members who would like to do an all day session next year. Several already expressed interest.

Thanks again, Lee. Be safe.

Warm regards,

Bill Fucik

Chairman of Board of Directors

“The enire day dedicated to chain saw safetty, maintenance, techniques of felling trees and bucking the logs was the most productive and instructive time spent in my retirement years. Lee Schauman – – – -conducted the eight hours of instructioin in a superb and professional manner yet in a way that my neophyte understanding easily and greatfully comprehended.”

“I’ve worked at DEA for 28 years, sat through, organized or presented more safety and training meetings than I care to guesss. In all those years I’ve never heard our employees react to a meeting the way they did after they completed Lee’s class. 100% of the participants gave Lee 110% thumbs up as the best class they have ever been to, bar none”

“I had a few individuals tell me before the training that if they got bored, they were going to leave. Those same individuals also told me that “they knew how to run a chain saw already, and they didn’t need any training.” Those were the same ones that came up to me afterwards and thanked me for setting up the training, they admitted they learned a lot and believe me, I didn’t think I would ever hear those words from that group of people.”

“I would just like to express my gratitude toward your organization for helping us with our chain saw training. Lee was our instructor, and  I could not have asked for a better class/instructor, he was great. —Please pass our thanks on to Lee, everybody really learned a lot from him, he is a great trainer!!”

“—-were tremendously impressed with Lee and Jim. They had an excelllent presentation on OSHA regulations, clothing requirements and how to maintain the chain saw. Their skills in the field were outstanding. Each in their own way exhibited skills that few trainers have. I am a certified Safety Professional that has worked with many trainers in my life, and (they are 2) of the best. Having such an outstanding and understandable presentation really helps.”