Seth Blair
Research & Development Manager
A love for the outdoors and a desire to explore multiple disciplines led Seth Blair into a career in utility vegetation management (UVM). While studying forest resources at West Virginia University, he attended a presentation by a utility representative who described the field as a unique blend of arboriculture, silviculture, biology, business management, public relations, risk management and engineering. Seth recalls, “Its dynamic nature was convincing enough for me to take a closer look, especially when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. Why not do a bit of everything all in one?”
Seth’s career began with an internship in distribution forestry with a utility in Virginia. In this role, he supported hurricane restoration efforts and helped coordinate vegetation maintenance on a wildlife refuge. He shared, “The variety of experiences drew me in, but the importance of the work is what made me stay.”
He joined Eocene Environmental Group in June 2025 and was drawn to the company’s reputation in the industry and its active involvement with the Utility Arborist Association (UAA). “Eocene’s influence was clearly built on passion and expertise,” he says. “It was clear it wasn’t just about selling a service, it was about moving the industry forward.”
Since joining the research and development team in Eocene’s forestry and utility division, Seth has been primarily working on data analysis for the UVM survey and is contributing to the development of the final report. He’s also worked on UVM program assessments, gathering field data, analyzing trends and helping deliver evidence-based recommendations to our utility partners.
A fun fact about Seth: he once caught a 32-inch striped bass from a stand-up paddleboard and had to be towed back upriver by a jet ski.