Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson is still playing outside, but now he gets paid for it.

Growing up in the East Kootenay, Robinson developed a profound curiosity about the natural world that led him to several science degrees, numerous field positions and finally his own highly successful environmental consulting company.

The company has grown in less than five years to employ over 20 staff during peak field season. Robinson treats his staff with respect and shares the success of the company with his staff. Additionally, the company is a generous supporter of a long list of local organizations and projects.

How did you come to choose this line of work?

I was born and raised on an acreage just outside of Cranbrook. Like many Kootenay kids, I was brought up in the outdoors and, as such, became interested in the diversity of plants, animals and ecosystems we have around us. After graduating from Mount Baker, I took a few years at various jobs: silviculture, surveying, arborist. These jobs provided excellent experience and helped to keep me outdoors.

However, the ability to pursue questions and find out more about our environment was going unsatisfied. So I made the decision to go back to school and enrolled at the College of the Rockies in its science program. This path took me to Vernon/Kelowna where I graduated with a B.Sc. degree in earth and environmental sciences from Okanagan University College (now UBC Okanagan).

With this degree in hand, I headed back to Cranbrook and took a short-term job at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery. Once that term finished, I was hired by Dave Lamb at Interior Reforestation Ltd. I was offered a position as an aquatic technician and have been in the field ever since!

I went back to school after a few years at Interior to continue my education. I ended up earning my M.Sc. degree in fisheries biology through the University of Lethbridge. And in 2010 I began Lotic Environmental Ltd. with my wife, Corinna, and my colleagues Tegan Arnett and Sherri McPherson. Our original vision was essentially what we started out with: a group of perhaps four employees. However, with existing opportunities we quickly grew into a company of 14 employees in just five years. Owning and operating a business while continuing to do the job I loved was where I realized I had wanted to be.

What’s your focus for 2016?

Lotic Environmental plans to continue providing quality services to our clients in 2016 and further. By bringing together staff with expertise in biology, ecology and hydrology, we are able to offer specialized services in the relatively large discipline of aquatic ecosystems. We offer a collaborative, practical and scientifically sound approach for addressing challenging environmental issues. In 2016 we also plan to continue with our support of local community initiatives. We have always been privileged to provide support to various social service, educational, sports and entertainment groups since our company began. Supporting our community where we can just feels right, seeing as how it is here where it all started for us. This will continue to be something that we are proud of.

What is it about your work that has you excited to get out of bed in the morning?

There are many things that I have gained along the way that make it pretty easy to get up each morning. Our staff at Lotic Environmental are simply the best. We have nearly quadrupled from the original four of us, but are now an even closer group than ever before. Each member of the company comes to work with a smile every day and honestly goes home knowing that they have done a job to be proud of. Then there is my family. Our kids, Mya and Nate, have joined Corinna and I on many fieldwork adventures. It is rejuvenating to see them look at the environment, the biota and the processes with such interest.

Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur in the Kootenays?

It’s hard to say what excites me most about this work and the opportunity of owning and operating a business in the Kootenays. I guess if I had to pick one it would be the realization that I am fortunate enough to be doing what I love, in the place that I love. I really don’t know if it gets much better than working with lakes and streams in the Kootenays. That is what got me into this and is part of what keeps me excited.

Organizations we have supported:

 

• ALS Fun Run (Spring Honda)
• Cranbrook Women’s Shelter
• Cranbrook Sunrise Rotary Film Festival
• Rocky Mountain Naturalists
• Gordon Terrace Elementary School
• Children First Cranbrook Community Connections Society
• Cranbrook Food Bank
• Kootenay East Youth Soccer Association
• Cranbrook Minor Hockey
• Kids on Campus Daycare
• Cranbrook and District 4-H
• Hungry for Life – Haiti
• Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Post-graduate
• Scholarship (IPS) Professional Biologists of British Columbia
• American Fisheries Society
• Trout Unlimited Canada
• College of the Rockies Math and Science Advisory Panel
• Columbia Basin Trust Environmental Strategic Planning Group
• The Bisset Singers!!!!!
• Cranbrook Live Concert Series
• Fisher Peak Performing Arts Society’s Music in the Park summer series