When Corey Hathaway, the Forestry and Land Management Instructor at Green Mountain Tech, begins to talk about trees, his passion is undeniable. His story, a journey that spans generations, states, and a lifetime of hands-on experience, is a testament to the power of personal passion and deep roots, leading one to their true calling.
From the Birthplace of Oil to the Heart of the Forest
Corey wasn’t always a Vermonter, though he feels like one now. Originally from Titusville, Pennsylvania, a small community in a state known as the birthplace of the oil industry, he jokes that his family has “sawdust running in their blood.” His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all loggers—stewards of the woods long before sustainable forestry was a household term.
Corey’s father named his business Hathaway Environmental Logging, pioneering the idea of doing what’s right for the land while working it responsibly. That example made a lifelong impression on Corey, who saw firsthand how logging could be both sustainable and respectful of nature.
“I realized there’d been a lot of trees cut down so that I could survive,” he recalls. “So when I turned 18, I started climbing trees—and made it my goal to take care of them.”
Climbing to New Heights
Corey’s love of trees led him to become a certified arborist, training in Washington, D.C. with The Care of Trees, one of the nation’s leading companies in urban forestry. His work took him to extraordinary places—from pruning trees for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration to maintaining the trees at the Finnish Embassy and the Congressional Country Club.
These experiences not only honed his technical skills but also deepened his respect for trees as living ecosystems. “When you’re 70 feet up and see all the life in a canopy—bugs, birds, squirrels, raccoons—you realize how much happens in the forest we never see,” he says, his reverence for nature shining through.
Finding Vermont, Finding Home
In 1998, Corey and his wife traded the city for the Green Mountains. They could have chosen Hawaii, but Vermont called to them. “It felt like we were supposed to be here,” he says.
After a few years working for a local arborist, Corey started his own business at age 27—earning the respect of Vermonters for his hard work and care for the land. “I’m not a flatlander,” he laughs. “I’m from the hills of Pennsylvania, so I fit right in here.”
That sense of belonging has only deepened over time. He’s now woven into the fabric of the community, both through his forestry work and his role as an educator.
Passing the Torch: Becoming a Teacher
Corey’s path to teaching was inspired by his daughter, who attended Green Mountain Tech’s Culinary Arts program. Watching her thrive, he realized the impact hands-on, career-focused learning could have on young people. “I thought, if I could ever work there, that would be incredible,” he says.
When the opportunity came, he didn’t hesitate. “This is something different from what I had in high school,” he reflects. “And I know it can make a big difference for a lot of people.”
Now in his second year at GMTCC, Corey’s classroom—part workshop, part forest—is filled with chainsaws, climbing ropes, sawmills, and students eager to learn. He takes pride in teaching more than technical skills. His program emphasizes safety, self-control, and responsibility, while also fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and the diverse career paths it supports, ranging from wildlife management to urban forestry to electrical line work.
“Seeing my students mature over the year is incredible,” he says. “Watching them take down a 120-foot tree for the first time—it re-energized me. It brought back the excitement I first had when I started in this field.” Corey's role as a mentor is not just about teaching technical skills, but also about instilling a passion for forestry and a sense of responsibility towards the environment in his students.
Building More Than a Program
Under Corey’s leadership, the Forestry and Land Management program has continued to grow—literally and figuratively. The Hardwick forestry campus boasts sawmills, tractors, an excavator, a sugaring operation, and access to nearby forests, providing students with real-world experience.
Recently, Corey and his students began working with the Hardwick Trails Committee and state forester Emily Potter to create a formal forestry management plan for that area—an initiative 25 years in the making. “It’s going to take a couple of years,” Corey explains, “and a couple of generations of students will be part of it. That’s exciting.”
Teaching the Next Generation of Stewards
For Corey, teaching forestry isn’t just about preparing students for jobs—it’s about preparing them to care for the land. “Trees were here before us, and they’ll be here after us,” he says. “They’ve figured something out on this planet that we haven’t yet.”
That humility and reverence for nature are what make Corey’s teaching so powerful. He’s not just training loggers—he’s inspiring a generation of environmental stewards who understand how to live with the forest, not just from it.
A Career with Heart
Reflecting on his journey, Corey says becoming a teacher was one of the best decisions of his life. “I’ve done everything you can do in this career—from logging to climbing the biggest trees on the East Coast. But watching my students experience those things for the first time—it’s exhilarating. It’s made me love this work all over again.”
In his classroom and in the woods, Corey Hathaway is doing what he’s always done—caring for trees, caring for people, and helping Vermont’s forests (and its future) grow stronger every day.