Cody Tingey
Nevada Division of State Parks
Ely, NV USA
"You can’t stay in the same place you’re in forever. You’re either moving forward or moving backward."
Career Roadmap
Cody's work combines: Environment & Nature, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring
See more careers and stories that connect to your interests.
Take Roadmap Quiz
Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Find someone in the field and see if you can go visit them and pick their brain. The insight from someone who already works in the field every day is very valuable.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Agriculture, General
Southern Utah University
Certification
Category 1 Peace Officer
Nevada Peace Officers Standards Training
Certification
State Parks Leadership School, National Association of State Park Directors & North Carolina State University
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Eastern Region Manager, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Natural Resources/Conservation, General
Certification: Nevada Peace Officers Standards Training
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I grew up in Utah doing a lot of outdoor activities, including hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and horseback riding.
2.
After graduating high school, I considered majoring in biology because of my love for the outdoors.
3.
I headed down the natural resources path and especially liked botany—I always assumed I would end up in an outdoor career.
4.
I started with the Nevada Division of State Parks as an emergency hire and dropped out of college with three semesters left.
5.
I worked for the State Parks for a few years but eventually wasn’t able to move up any further without a degree, so I made the decision to go back to school to finish my degree.
6.
Southern Utah University didn’t have an outdoor recreation program at the time, so they took my experience and custom-built a program for me based around natural resources and agriculture.
7.
I ended up graduating with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture with an emphasis in natural resources.
8.
I continued to work my way up the ladder within the Nevada State Parks and currently work as the eastern region manager—I manage all of the parks along the eastern side of Nevada.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Peers:
It will be too difficult to go back and finish your degree.
How I responded:
I made a commitment to go and finish my education and didn't let anything get in my way to ensure that happened. Fortunately, my job was willing to let me keep working while I went back to school. However, if they weren't willing to support my decision, I would have found another way, even if that meant finding a new job that would allow me to go back to school.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I started working without finishing my degree but I eventually hit a wall and couldn't be promoted anymore without that degree. I ended up going back to school while continuing to work full-time. It was difficult at times but it was very worth it.
I took a job as northern region manager and had to live 6-7 hours away from my wife and kids for over a year. It was really hard but my family made a commitment to each other to stay close emotionally. We would talk or FaceTime daily.