Paul provides direct technical and administrative assistance to landowners primarily related to the Michigan Climate Smart Farms Project.

Paul grew up on a family farm in Southern Illinois that raised hogs and cattle and grew corn and soybeans. He then attended the University of Illinois majoring in Ecology, Animal Behavior, and Evolution and went on to get a PhD in the behavioral ecology of 3 species of monkeys in west Africa. Paul then worked for several years in China and neighboring countries focusing on the conservation of wild yak, Tibetan antelope and other species on the Tibetan plateau as well as musk deer and snow leopards in alpine areas. After that, he worked as Director of Conservation at the Detroit Zoo and with The Nature Conservancy shifting his focus more to wildlife and habitat conservation in Michigan. With his wife, Kim Williams-Guillen, Paul also developed a regenerative farm several miles south of the Detroit airport (Detroit Flight Path Farm), which incorporates agro-forestry with free-ranging and pastured heritage breeds of livestock.

Through this work, he have become very passionate about the unique oak savannahs and other endangered habitats in Michigan, and Paul is eager to work with local farmers to see how changing farming practices can lead to improved habitat for wildlife and healthier soils.