Rachael on a field visit to our timberlands.
Rachael Rich will never forget the human resources manager who helped her in a moment of uncertainty at one of her very first jobs.
“I felt like she genuinely believed in me,” Rachael says. “I thought, ‘Wow, how cool would it be to help people build their confidence and grow their careers for a living?’”
That experience prompted Rachael to earn a bachelor’s degree in human development with a minor in human resource management. She joined Weyerhaeuser in 2019 after a stint as the manager of marketing and data for her local United Way in Cowlitz County, Washington.
“I want to make the same positive impact in someone else’s life that my first HR manager made in mine,” she says. “Today, I get to watch people start as interns and then develop into professionals with careers they love. In human resources, what can be more satisfying than that?”
Rachael and her husband Shane after an axe-throwing match. “I totally won!” she says.
MEET RACHAEL
Your title is Human Resources business partner. Tell us what you do.
I support our HR managers in Oregon and Washington — I’ve been very lucky to have the most amazing team that supports me in my professional life and my personal life. My personal tagline is, ‘I get to do the fun stuff in HR.’ For me, that means crisscrossing different landscapes to meet with various hiring managers and employees in our Timberlands regions. I spend the bulk of my time hiring our talented hourly employees. I also hire for salaried roles and help hire and onboard our interns, then guide their journey through Weyerhaeuser, which is awesome.
I never get bored at work. I believe that no matter how much effort I put in, it’s impossible to master this role because it’s always changing— and that’s what makes it exciting. I’m constantly busy, interacting with people, learning new things and taking on dynamic challenges.
What led you to choose this job?
I grew up in Rainier, Oregon, just across the Columbia River from Longview, Washington. Weyerhaeuser’s lumber export yard is one of the most visible features in the Longview landscape. My dad worked at a sawmill, so I like to say I was raised on timber dollars. I saw how much Weyerhaeuser contributed to the community, and I wanted to be a part of that.
Tell us what your average day is like.
I travel to different sites, supporting hiring managers as they fill hourly roles. I get to help hire new people and support them through the early parts of their career journeys. I also spend a lot of time doing educational outreach and intern recruiting, which includes visiting schools to talk to students directly and engaging in community events. That’s always fun.
I have the coolest team. They’ve always been incredibly supportive, whether it’s helping each other with work tasks or accommodating things that come up in our personal lives. So, shout out to Jody Jobanek-Suiter in Oregon, Arika Atkins in Washington, and our boss Mike Stutzman!
Rachael’s four kids — Hayden, River (with Rachel), Evan and Makiah — at the Washougal Motorcross races.
Is there anything about this job that would surprise people?
I think many people think of HR as an office job where you stay at a desk all day, but there’s so much complexity and variability in this role! Every office I work with is unique. I love that I get to travel within a three-hour radius of Longview on a regular basis and learn more about each of them.
One of my favorite things about Weyerhaeuser is how much I get to explore different facets of our industry. I recently had an outing in the woods with some of our operations folks, which was really fun.
You must have some challenges. What are they?
The hardest part of my job is when I have to let down candidates we decide not to hire. I want to help people build awesome careers, but sometimes that means letting them move on to other opportunities.
What advice would you give people who want a job like yours?
Be open-minded, flexible and able to adapt to changes. Don’t be the kind of employee who says, “That’s not my job.” Picking up new tasks is an important part of being a team player and learning skills that will help you move forward in your career.
All the Washington and Oregon Timberlands interns on a visit to our Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center in Washington.
When you were young, what did you want to do?
My dad used to let me steer a little motorboat on East Lake in Oregon. For years I thought I wanted to be the captain of a gargantuan ship like the ones that pull up to the export yard. Which is hilarious, because those are two very different things. I also contemplated being a diesel mechanic for a few years as a teenager. Eventually, reality hit!
Tell us about your other interests. What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I’m very family oriented. I like to spend time with my husband and our four kids. We also have two dogs and a fish. We love to go on adventures, whether that’s a day trip to the river or a big vacation. I also have a fear of not trying new things, so I like to say I’m a Jack of all hobbies, and a master of none. I like to ride horses and a four-wheeler, play piano, camp, paint, go to car shows and throw axes. You want to go on an adventure? I’m always game!
