“I’m extremely happy to be back home full time after eight years of living away during the week,” Jill says. “We have four goats and a dog. I consider myself a crazy goat lady and a dog mom.”
Jill Bell knows what it means to grow with a company. She started as a forest engineer in Western Timberlands right out of college. Over the past 22 years, she’s progressively moved up the operations ranks to area manager of our Snow Peak tree farm in Oregon.
But when a new opportunity in Corporate Health and Safety opened up, she didn’t hesitate to branch out in new directions.
“I’ve been passionate about safety for years, and I knew the safety liaison role might not come around again anytime soon,” she says. “I just went for it.”
Jill’s move wasn’t only a professional shift. For the first time in eight years, it also brought her back home full time to rural Clackamas County, Oregon — nestled between Sandy and Estacada — after years of commuting weekly to her tree farm near Lebanon, two hours away.
“That was a big plus for me,” she says. “This job brought me home to my husband, our goats and dog, and my garden projects. We live in a peaceful place with rivers, forests and so much recreation. We love it here.”
“My husband and I started taking Amtrak trips across the U.S. It’s a fun way to slow down and really see the country. We’re excited to start touring the East Coast next.”
FROM FOREST ENGINEER TO SAFETY LIAISON
Jill’s first Weyerhaeuser experience was as a summer intern between her junior and senior years of college. She joined as a full-time employee the day after graduation.
She worked as a forest engineer for more than a decade, then shifted into harvesting. For the past eight years she was an area manager, initially at our Alsea tree farm and then at our Snow Peak tree farm for the past four years.
“The safety liaison role felt like the next step in my journey,” Jill says. “I knew it was the right time. I wanted to go deeper into safety.”
And Jill’s long Timberlands career gives her the firsthand knowledge needed to thrive in this new corporate role.
“After spending so many years in Oregon operations, I understand the work happening on the ground,” she says. “Now I get to support safety from a new angle.”
TRANSITIONS AND CHALLENGES
Though Jill expected a steep learning curve, the transition was smoother than anticipated.
“It’s a big career change,” she says. “I thought I might be overwhelmed, but it actually feels really natural. And getting to work under Katie Skordal’s leadership has been a huge bonus.”
The biggest adjustment? Shifting from a 5:30 a.m. start time to a more standard office schedule.
“Old habits die hard!” Jill says, laughing. “I’m still at the office by six. But beyond that, I’ve felt supported every step of the way.”
She’s also found plenty of fresh challenges to keep things interesting.
“I’m learning a lot, from OSHA codes that vary by state to how safety is implemented across different parts of the company,” Jill says. “Western Timberlands is so different from Southern, Northern or Canadian Timberlands. It’s been fascinating to see that bigger picture.”
Jill takes a break for a selfie with Mount Hood. “If you're looking for a beautiful place to visit in Oregon, our area has rivers, mountains, mountain biking, rafting — it’s all here.”
A NEW TEAM, A NEW VIEW
Now part of the Corporate Health and Safety group — and the only liaison with a Timberlands background — Jill is enjoying the diversity and camaraderie of her new team.
“The team has been so welcoming,” she says. “We come from very different backgrounds, but they’re incredibly knowledgeable and willing to share. I feel like I hit the jackpot.”
Jill also loves the variety of her new role. She travels about one week a month to conduct on-site safety audits around the company. She also fields daily requests for safety support and guidance.
“I get to dig into so many different things and help people in new ways,” she says. “It’s exciting, and I’m constantly learning.”
LOOKING AHEAD
With major changes underway in strengthening our overall safety system at Weyerhaeuser, Jill is eager to contribute.
“I feel like I have valuable experience to offer from my time in Western Timberlands,” she says, “and I’m excited to be part of writing the next chapter in our safety history.”
The transition has also shifted Jill’s view of what’s possible in her career.
“I never imagined leaving Timberlands until this role,” she says. “But seeing the corporate side has opened my eyes to new opportunities. I’ve always been open to wherever the path leads, and now that path looks a lot broader.”
Jill (dressed as Coni-Fir, the mascot of Oregon Women in Timber) poses with Smokey the Bear at Oregon Ag-Fest.
ADVICE FROM JILL
- Be open to growth. If you're thinking about a change, that's probably a sign it’s time to take a step.
- Embrace discomfort. Stepping outside your comfort zone is where the real learning happens.
- Take the leap. A career change within Weyerhaeuser comes with incredible support — and the rewards can be bigger than you expect.
- Don’t underestimate the power of coming home. Sometimes, the best professional move is the one that brings balance to your life outside of work, too.
