Mike Boland has been cutting timber since before most loggers owned their first chainsaw. With forty seven years in the woods, Mike started his career at fifteen as a choker setter for his uncle’s logging operation in the White Mountains. By nineteen, he was running his own crew, and at twenty four, he founded Ridgeback Logging Co. with a single International TD9 dozer and a determination to do things the right way.
What sets Mike apart is his complete mastery of every aspect of logging operations. He’s personally run every machine in his fleet, from the oldest chainsaw to the newest Tigercat feller buncher. His technical knowledge covers timber valuation, harvest planning, equipment maintenance, and safety protocols. Mike holds certifications in sustainable forest management, OSHA logging safety, and heavy equipment operation. He’s known throughout the region for his ability to look at a stand of trees and instantly calculate its value and the most efficient way to harvest it.
Mike’s approach to logging combines old school grit with modern precision. He believes in working smart, not just hard, and has built his reputation on three principles: do the job right, treat the land with respect, and always leave the property in better condition than you found it. His crews follow strict safety protocols, and Mike still personally inspects every job site before work begins. He’s particularly proud of his company’s safety record, with zero lost time accidents in over fifteen years.
Beyond the woods, Mike is a widower who lost his wife of thirty four years, Margaret, to cancer in 2018. Margaret handled the books and kept the business running smoothly for decades. Their three children now work in the family business – his son runs the equipment maintenance shop, one daughter manages the office, and the youngest handles their growing firewood operation. When he’s not in the woods, Mike can be found restoring his collection of vintage logging equipment, teaching safety courses at the local vocational school, or fishing the Androscoggin River where he’s had a camp since 1985.
Today, Ridgeback Logging Co. stands as one of the most respected independent logging operations in the region. What started as one man with a dozer has grown to a fleet of eight modern machines and a crew of twelve skilled professionals. Mike still gets out in the woods regularly, because as he says, “You can’t run a logging company from an office. The woods tell you what needs doing, not the other way around.” His hands on approach and decades of experience make him not just a contractor, but a trusted advisor to landowners throughout the region.
“Good logging isn’t about how fast you can cut trees. It’s about knowing which trees to cut, how to do it safely, and leaving the forest better than you found it. That’s how you stay in business for forty seven years.”
— Mike Boland, Founder
