Old Growth Western Red Cedar - Lake 22, North Cascade National Park, Washington
Thomas Solinsky (Founder/Executive Director)
Old Growth Western Red Cedar - Lake 22, North Cascade National Park, Washington
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest Thomas was surrounded and influenced by natural beauty. Time spent outdoors was the foundation for his passion for nature. Exploring the wilderness of Washington State, Northern Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia spawned his desire to help protect the environment.
Studying business at Gonzaga University he started his first business venture Woodside Entertainment where he marketed and promoted music events.
Solinsky began working with Oracle Corporation in San Francico where weekend excursions allowed for opportunity to explore the Redwood forests and wilderness of California. He became an advocate for nature conservancy as his passion for trees and the environment grew. He continued to connect the importance of trees and their role in the environment during backpacking trips near Tahoe and Yosemite. He transitioned jobs to Microsoft in Seattle where he explored the mountains and forests of the Olympic Peninsula, Mt. Rainier, and the Cascades of Washington State. The interaction of natural wilderness with the urban environment soon became a driving force of Solinsky's passion to seek change in sustainability practices related to business, government, private, personal operating procedures.
Searching to find ways to combine a love of nature, concern for the environment, business skills, sustainability practices, and knowledge of trees, Solinsky founded the Pro-Earth Eco-Charity SoundForest.org. He now helps educates people about environmental sustainability and proactively plant trees helping to enhance and protect the environment. His goal is to reach as many people as possible and help raise awareness about the importance protecting trees has in sustaining our Earth.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Replentish, Ride Bikes... and Plant Trees.
Solinsky is the Founder and Executive Director of SoundForest.org.
Name: Thomas A. Solinsky
Nickname: none
Education: many catholic institutions and time spent in the woods
Top spots out doors: Olympic Peninsula, North Cascades, Tahoe, Smoky Mountains, Idaho, Oregon
Favorite type of tree: Alaska Cedar, Tupelo, Ponderosa Pine, Persimmon, Witch Hazel, Sourwood, Carolina Silverbell, Serviceberry, Dawn Redwood, California Redwood.
Favorite memory involving a tree: The first tree I planted for SoundForest.
Clothing Brand: Mountain Hardware | Arc'teryx.
Favorite superhero: Owl Al, Spruce the Moose, Lawrence W. Elk, Douglas B. Fir.
If you had one super power: Influence
Coffee (where are you and what do you order): Frothy Monkey - Americano
Who’d you like to meet: People responsible for Rainforest destruction, Contractors/Developers willing to learn, Government leaders who have the drive to make change
Music: 88.5 or near that Frequency Modulation depending on what city i'm in, Jazz music I hear for the first time (especially when it was recorded in the '60s), Jazz stuff I hear at a live show and will never hear again, Crazy creative style I never imagined possible, something so simple I never imagined it possible. The Bad Plus, Bon Iver, Vince Guaraldi, Nick Drake, Dave Brubeck, Charlie Hunter, Black Happy, Shea Tea Folkin' Irish Band, Trad Irish, Jack Johnson, Josh Ritter, John Scofield, Joseph Kelleher, Left Hand Smoke, Béla Fleck, Bill Frisell, Rufus Wainwright, Sufjan Stephens, Willis / Tim Seely, Surprise me!!! please surprise me with something new and different.
Album(s): Dave Brubeck: Take Five | Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Book(s): Silvics of North America
Movie(s): Tommy Boy
Redeem 100,000 airline miles and fly where: Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Somewhere in South America. Ireland. Eastern Europe.
Favorite state: United
Pizza Toppings: Pepperoni
Can I get you a drink?: Mixed: Gin and Tonic, Beer: What's local?
Mmmm beer: Today... New Belgium Hoptober, Ranger IPA, Big Sky Moose Drool, Guinness....
Play hooky for a day: float a river, day hike, plant some trees.
Three day weekend: Head to an old growth trail, backpack.
Three weeks: Europe. Ecuador. Alaska. Olympic National Park. Iguazu, Argentina. Fraser Island, Australia. Salonga National Park, Africa. Noel Kempff Mercado National Park, Bolivia.
Influences: Positivity. Music. Creativity. Nature. My Dad, Smokey Bear, John Muir, Chuck Yeager, The Wright Brothers, Woodsy Owl.
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