Whitney Olsker

Whitney Olsker serves as a key procurement professional within the Mount Hood National Forest, part of the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture, where they oversee contracting activities essential to sustaining the ecological and operational integrity of one of the nation’s most critical forested landscapes. Responsible for managing acquisitions aligned with sustainable forest management priorities, Olsker handles contracts for support activities including forest road and bridge maintenance, trail restoration, wildfire mitigation infrastructure, and resource management services. Their work directly enables the agency’s mission to ensure public safety, ecological resilience, and long-term land stewardship through timely, compliant, and mission-driven procurement. Olsker cultivates collaborative relationships with a network of specialized small businesses and local service providers experienced in forestry support operations. While no single contractor dominates the award landscape, their contracting patterns reflect a preference for vendors with proven expertise in silvicultural support, erosion control, heavy equipment operation, and environmental compliance services. These partnerships are typically built on technical competence, regional familiarity, and adherence to federal environmental standards, fostering reliable, long-term vendor engagement grounded in performance and accountability. A steadfast advocate for small business participation, Olsker applies a 100% Small Business Set-Aside strategy across all relevant procurements under FAR 19.5, ensuring equitable access for small, independently owned firms. This approach prioritizes economic inclusion within rural and forest-adjacent communities, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to socioeconomic equity and local workforce development. No other set-aside categories are utilized, reflecting a deliberate, focused strategy to maximize opportunities for small businesses in forestry support. Olsker’s procurement portfolio is exclusively centered on NAICS 115310 — Support Activities for Forestry — encompassing services such as vegetation management, hazardous fuel reduction, trail construction, and forest infrastructure upkeep. Their technical expertise lies in contracting for field-based, labor-intensive operations requiring specialized knowledge of USDA Forest Service protocols, NEPA compliance, and seasonal operational constraints. This narrow, high-focus domain ensures that all acquisitions directly support on-the-ground forest health and public access objectives.