Matt Rabel, the Field Supervisor for Grouse Mountain Environmental Consultants, is a family man. He took a position with GMEC so that his two sons could finish high school in Wyoming. He wanted them to finish school in the place where they grew up.
“I used to work in the oil and gas industry,” Rabel said. “I worked for a major petroleum company for a number of years, and my job asked me to relocate to West Texas or Colorado. But I wanted my boys to finish high school here in Buffalo, so I reached out to Jason and Jenna to see if they might have had a position at Grouse Mountain for me.”
They did, and Rabel began working for GMEC in February of 2023. He hasn’t been with the company for long but, in his time, he already saw how family-oriented GMEC is.
“I think Grouse Mountain is a neat company in the fact that it’s locally owned,” he stated. “It’s more of a family feel than a corporate feel. They treat everyone as equals. It’s a great place to work for and they’re able to accomplish some really technical, high-quality things that I don’t think a lot of people in the community even realize they do.”
Recently, Rabel answered some questions so that we could get to know him a little better.
How did you come to work at Grouse Mountain?
I have known Jason and Jenna for a while, as we have kids about the same age. After working in the Oil and Gas industry for about 20 years, my job was going to make me relocate. With having two boys in high school, I wanted them to get through it in Buffalo. So I took a severance package from my job and then I called Jason to see if they thought they might have a position for me in their company.
What do you do for Grouse Mountain?
I am a Field Supervisor, which means I do anything from running crews within the reclamation group, to taking water and soil samples, along with doing different inspections on the oil and gas locations.
What made you choose this career path?
I’m not sure how this career path was chosen. I started out in the oil and gas industry right after high school and all through college. As time went on, I just continued working in that field. When my job was severed, I wanted to continue living in Buffalo, so I was lucky to find a job that my years of experience in the oil and gas industry could help with the tasks that I complete today!
What’s your favorite part about working at Grouse Mountain?
You never know what you may do that day. In my current role, I could be installing BMP’s or taking water samples, or soil samples, or doing some inspections somewhere. Or helping with one of the other groups. There is never the daily grind or the same old, same old.
What do you love about Wyoming?
Wyoming is the greatest place on earth; open skies, land that is still wild and natural. Not very many people live here and it’s a place that, no matter where you go, you know someone.
What are some of your hobbies?
I enjoy a number of different hobbies: my kids and all of their sporting events, football wrestling, track and soccer. Also, as a family, we are very competitive in showing livestock, pigs and goats.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I have never lived anywhere but Wyoming!
What differentiates Grouse Mountain from its competitors?
They are good, honest people that always do the right thing, no matter what.
