From the Field: Roman Matyushchenko

For Roman Matyushchenko, Associate ITS Dean and NHLA National Inspector, the work of teaching and inspecting comes down to one thing: helping people understand.

Whether in the classroom or out in the field, Roman's role is to ensure students don’t just memorize the NHLA rules, but know how to apply them with confidence in real-world conditions.

While many students arrive engaged, some need a little encouragement to fully participate.

“While most students are interested in learning, I do get some who need a little push,” Roman says. “I always make sure to ‘volunteer’ these students for answers or demonstrations during class.”

For Roman, this approach is about involvement. By bringing students into the process, he helps them move beyond observation and into real understanding.

That hands-on mindset is what keeps him motivated.

“I genuinely enjoy hands-on work,” he says. “I don’t like being stuck in an office for long and prefer traveling and meeting people when inspecting and teaching on the road.”

At the Inspector Training School, that preference translates into a learning environment where students actively engage with the material.

“Teaching at the Inspector Training School is also hands-on, where you can really see results from students’ efforts.”

That foundation is critical, especially given the realities of the field.

“As an instructor, I believe it’s important to learn the NHLA rules in a classroom,” Roman explains.

“Sawmills can be noisy and distracting. Also, I have had students who learned incorrectly on the job.”

In contrast, the classroom offers a space to slow down, ask questions, and work through the rules without pressure.

“Our classroom is the perfect place to learn and interpret the rules in a low-stakes environment,” he says.

From there, students are better prepared to carry that knowledge into the fast-paced conditions of a sawmill.

“I see that it is my job to translate those rules in a way that allows for questions, mistakes, and lessons that will serve students well when they do enter a busy, loud environment like a sawmill.”

In the end, the goal is simple: to prepare students to apply the rules accurately and confidently, no matter where the job takes them.