Chelsea Daystar
Project Manager II
From a young age, Chelsea Daystar has been intrigued with wildlife and the natural world. Influenced by programs like Kratts’ Creatures on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and driven by a desire to make a positive impact, her desire to protect endangered species led her to her first job in the natural resources field, a summertime biological technician position through North Carolina State University (her alma mater), where she participated in research on the federally-endangered St. Francis’ satyr butterfly on the Ft. Bragg military base.
“I loved my time in the long-leaf pine forest, which is a very beautiful, rare, and fire-maintained ecosystem recalled Chelsea. “Our team assisted with efforts to track population trends and increase this species’ long-term viability by hatching butterflies from eggs. I saw many interesting plants and wildlife along the way – the cottonmouth snakes were exciting companions!”
From there, Chelsea continued to participate in wildlife-related research activities, and after graduation, embarked west for a wildlife tech position conducting Mojave desert tortoise population surveys with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in the Red Cliffs Reserve. Exploring the unique ecotone between the Mojave desert, the Great Basin, and the Colorado Plateau remains as one of her most inspiring and treasured experiences.
“My desire has always been to protect wildlife, foster appreciation for our valuable ecological resources, and find a way to contribute to ethical and sustainable development. After wildlife technician work in a research setting at NCSU and then in an agency setting at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, I knew little about the private consulting side of biology work, but I was curious and willing to try something new, especially if it allowed me to stay local to southwest Utah and diversify my career experience. When I read the job posting for a position based out of Cedar City, Utah conducting Utah prairie dog surveys, I met for an interview and knew I had come across a great opportunity with a great team of people.”
Chelsea was brought on board to the Transcon Environmental team (now our environmental division) in 2014, and has since progressed from biological technician and compliance inspection roles to project coordinator and then project manager. “I have really enjoyed the challenges and rewards of my time with Transcon/Eocene. I appreciate the people I work with in the company, as well as the diversity of agencies and stakeholders we serve. From the beginning to present day, I continue to be impressed by the quality of people with whom I have worked. More than just competency, I have been impressed with the integrity, authenticity, and genuine kindness exhibited by my supervisors, coworkers, and downline employees. My supervisors have encouraged and supported my growth, and I hope to continue fostering a company culture of respecting and valuing the individuals I am entrusted to lead. I appreciate being part of a community that values safety, well-being, and healthy work-life balance, and I am excited to welcome new employees and discover their unique contributions to Eocene!”