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California Urban Forests Council
Board of Directors
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Name, Title, Contact Info
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Biographical Information
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Dorothy Abeyta
(Secretary)
1404 Mabury Road
San Jose, CA 95133
(408) 794-1924
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About me:
I was raised in Southern California and I am very proud to be a native Californian. I graduated from UC Riverside with a B.S. in Biochemistry and two years later with a Master’s in Plant Pathology. I have worked as a diagnostic plant pathologist and soil consultant in the nursery, tree and landscape profession since leaving UCR more than 30 years ago. Currently, I am landscape manager for the City of San Jose’s 385 acres of Special Landscape Assessment Districts.
My most recent achievement is completing the Britton Fund Ride to raise money for Urban & Community Forest Research and Education. I am a graduate of the 2007 Society of Municipal Arborists Municipal Forestry Institute. During that same year I served as the Bay Area Landscape Supervisors Forum Chairperson. I served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Consulting Arborists and helped to establish the ASCA Academy by writing and teaching the Guide to Report Writing for Consulting Arborists at the first three ASCA Academy sessions.
On a personal note, I am married to a wonderful husband, I have a son in the Army who recently returned from Iraq, a teenaged son and daughter and my sweet 90+ year old mother at home. They keep me going with their love and encouragement.
How did you get interested and involved in urban forestry:
Ten years ago I started working for the City of San Jose I was struck by the lack of Urban & Community Forest (U&CF) programs in the Bay Area and all of California. Attending the Municipal Forestry Institute opened my eyes to the few, but well-developed U&CF programs in the US and Canada. I decided to become more involved in efforts to educate others about the benefits and value of maintaining and growing a thriving U&CF. I joined CaUFC in 2009 to join in the efforts to build a stronger statewide Urban & Community Forest Program.
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John DeWald
Principal
John DeWald and Associates
855 Freda Lane
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About me:
I have a wide and varied background that I have developed over the years. My education includes Biology, Chemistry, and Civil Engineering with a little Forestry for good measure. I have since run environmental chemistry labs, environmental engineering firms, managed software and systems development firms and been a CIO for a technology firm. More recently I have been a developer, initially with small residential projects but am now involved with larger sustainable urban projects and conservation oriented projects.
How I got interested and involved in urban forestry:
As I have been developing and designing urban projects I have come to see that there is a big disconnect between the goals of a great urban landscape and the information, knowledge, rules, and practices of urban forestry and green urban landscapes in the real world. Community advocates, home and business owners, developers, municipal staff and elected officials often lack a good understanding of urban forestry practices and principals so many times great opportunities to improve our urban space are lost. I have met many great landscape architects and arborists and become aware of CaUFC and its role in helping to improve this problem. From those discussions I have become more interested and active in these issues and have since become a board member.
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David A. Duncan
(Treasurer)
dduncan44@gmail.com
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About me:
I am a resident of Mill Valley, CA and currently retired with a BA in Political Science, MBA, and MS in Education. My past board experience includes the Marin Audubon Society (Treasurer), Audubon Canyon Ranch, Friends of Richardson Bay Sanctuary, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Present board membership includes Ocean Riders of Marin (Treasurer), Marin Family Service Agency, and Marin ReLeaf in addition to the California Urban Forests Council. I am also a working member of the Marin Civic Engagement Leadership Team and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
How I got interested and involved in urban forestry:
A life-long fascination of things natural that make up the “outside world” drove me to be part of that world experientially and educationally. Involvement politically came through Board governance. I have a keen interest in birds including issues around habitat and species sustainability. Working in habitats has furthered my interest in trees as integral elements of the environmental landscape. Of late, working with local urban forest groups has expanded my interest and drive to become involved in urban forestry issues.
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Gordon Mann
Owner, Mann Made Resources
10556 Combie Road
PMB 6442
Auburn, CA 95602
650-740-3461
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About me:
I am a consulting arborist and trainer in Auburn, CA, with 33 years of municipal tree management, administration, and urban forestry experience, including City Arborist and Public Works Superintendent with Redwood City, CA; Tree Maintenance Supervisor with San Mateo, CA; and Village Forester with Brookfield, IL; 18 months leading the Greenprint with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and 1 year as a consulting arborist, customer service representative with Fallen Leaf Tree Service.
I am a current director and treasurer on the American Society of Consulting Arborists Board; the Society of Municipal Arborists representative on the American National Standards Institute A300 standards writing committee; and Western Chapter ISA Municipal Committee Chair and Certification Committee member and test proctor. I am a past president of the Western Chapter ISA, California Arborists Association, and San Mateo Arboretum Society, and past board member of the Society of Municipal Arborists.
I am passionate about the role of trees as community infrastructure and utilizing quality specifications to promote high quality work. The trees in our communities do not recognize boundaries and contribute to a high quality of life in populated areas.
My wife and I have 3 children; I volunteer on the Sugar Bowl Ski Patrol.
How I got interested and involved in urban forestry:
I started out in traditional forestry. When I graduated, there were no forestry positions available and my first position was with the Village of Brookfield in IL.
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Cindy McCall
(Past President)
Parks & Urban Forestry Manager – City of Lompoc
Executive Director – Santa Barbara County Releaf
P. O. Box 2025
Lompoc, California 93438-2025
805-736-TREE (8733)
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About me:
I have served multiple terms on the California Urban Forests Council Board, including two separate terms as President. I moved to California in 1989 from Atlanta, Georgia, where I worked as a Forestry Supervisor, Horticultural Manager and Parks District Manager. Currently, I serve as the Parks & Urban Forestry Manager for the City of Lompoc. I have also served as the Disaster Recovery Specialist for Lompoc during two natural disasters. As the Founder of Santa Barbara County Releaf in 1992, I have been recognized by Western Chapter ISA with the Award of Merit. Additional recognition includes Santa Barbara County Oak Award, National Management Association Gold Knight Award, Inspiring Greatness by Special Olympics and Dean Day Smith Beautification in Parks. Academically, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Certification in Environmental Land Use and Planning.
How I got interested and involved in urban forestry:
My interests have always included family, faith, the environment and sports. Growing up in rural South Carolina, my love for trees and nature is deep rooted. My past work experiences include the timber industry, tree spade operator, landscaping, nursery management, hybridizing and greenhouse production. My life is so entrenched in Urban Forestry and Parks, that on Earth Day - April 22, 1998 my son, Lief was born. Cindy has been active in the California Urban Forests Council since 1990.
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Jack McCabe
(President)
Regional Operations Manager, Davey Resource Group
7627 Morro Road
Atascadero, CA 93422
jack.mccabe@davey.com
www.davey.com
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About me:
I work professionally as a manager and business leader to provide solutions to the challenges that municipalities, utilities and other tree owners face as they seek to maximize the benefits that trees provide. I serve on a number of committees and working groups with the purpose of increasing people’s recognition of the value of trees and the need to care for them. These groups include the Utility Arborist Association and the International Society of Arboriculture. I am also the Chair of the State of California’s Urban Forest Advisory Committee.
Before I began working for Davey Resource Group, the consulting division of the Davey Tree Expert Company, I worked as a Consulting Utility Forester for Environmental Consultants Incorporated, and as a Associate Planner for the City of San Jose. I graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies. I’ve also had the good fortune to further my education through world travel to 5 continents and over 25 countries.
How did you get interested and involved in urban forestry:
I am happiest when I’m outside with my family and friends! As a child I had the refuge of a forested canyon in my backyard where I could daydream and find refuge. My first job was working at a local nursery and as a landscaper. I first became aware of Urban Forestry while studying Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz; I worked on a project focusing on the urban forestry component of the rebuilding of Downtown Santa Cruz immediately after the Loma Prieta earthquake. It lead me to a lifetime of work to help increase the connection between nature and the built environment.
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Isabelle Minn
Landscape Architect,
Associate Principal
Design, Community & Environment
1625 Shattuck Ave., Suite 300
Berkeley CA 94709
(510) 848-3815, ext 355
isabelle@dceplanning.com
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About me:
For over ten years, I have worked on park and open space planning, urban design, creek restoration and other natural resource enhancement work. My work focuses on sustainable site design and planning for parks and open space, as well as for streets and public urban spaces. I have a strong interest in the greening of our urban environments, and in creating a balance between natural resource protection and recreation. I also have experience and a strong interest in community-based planning and program development. I have a background in both landscape architecture and natural resources, having received a B.S. in Environmental Science from UC Davis, and Masters degrees in Resource Ecology & Management and Landscape Architecture from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. My previous work experience includes environmental planning and policy work, as well as work in stream hydrology. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family, travel, ultimate Frisbee, discovering new open spaces, and exploring the diverse cultural, culinary and recreational resources of the Bay Area.
How I got interested and involved in urban forestry:
My background in natural resources and my interest in improving the walkability and livability of our communities has drawn me to urban forestry, and I have been fortunate to work on urban forest master plans, design guidelines, plant palettes and streetscape plans in both northern and southern California. I am excited about the opportunities to green our communities through urban forestry and urban agriculture, and feel that a healthy and vibrant urban forest is an important element of a healthy community.
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Fausto Palofax
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About me:
I along with my wife and son own Mission Hills Nursery, San Diego’s oldest retail garden center. A pioneering woman, Kate Sessions, established Mission Hills Nursery in 1910. Ms Sessions went on to be instrumental in the trees planted in and around Balboa Park. How ironic that I would also want to be involved in tree planting throughout San Diego and California, must be something on the property that Ms Sessions inspires us to do.
I have been teaching greenhouse management and plant propagation at our community college for the last 10 years. Seeing the growth in the students as they watch a plant go from seed to maturity is very rewarding.
How I became interested and involved in urban forestry:
As an advisor for the San Diego Community Forest Board it allows me to have a platform from which we make recommendations to our local Mayor and council regarding Urban Forestry. Planting trees and educating our younger population on the importance of Urban Forests is something I have taken a personal interest in over the last couple of years. Without the expansion and maintenance of our existing Urban Forests here in San Diego we stand to lose more than beauty and shade. One of the reasons many people visit San Diego and California is for what we have to offer not just in our parks but also through our neighborhoods. If we are not able to maintain and continue building Urban Forests where will the next generations be able to enjoy the outdoors? The beauty of trees is more than just the look; they provide us with needed shade to cool us on walks to and from school and work. Trees provide shelter to birds and other creatures. Urban Forests help in cutting down noise pollution, which is important as we rebuild our downtowns.
I am fortunate to work in an industry in which I see the results of what I sell on a daily basis. I now want to start giving back so the next generations will continue to enjoy the beautiful outdoors even within the city limits
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Doug Wildman
Program Director
Friends of the Urban Forest
doug@fuf.net
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About me:
After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1987 from the School of Environmental Design, Landscape Architecture Program, I received my licensure in California as a Landscape Architect in 1990, received certification as a California Nurseryman in 1991, received arborist certification through the International Society of Arborists in 2001, received Urban Forester Certification through California Urban Forest Council (CaUFC) in 2007 and will be a Registered Consulting Arborist candidate in 2011 with American Society of Consulting Arborists.
How I got involved and interested in urban forestry:
With a variety of design experience from large scale residential to commercial office park and from community-based design to single client collaboration, my interests lie with the non-profit group Friends of the Urban Forest as Program Director. For over eleven years, I have planned, worked, coordinated and written grants for programs to improve San Francisco’s urban forest and to help bond neighborhoods through community based urban forestry. I am an active board member of CaUFC and was President in 2008.
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Click here for a printable version of the current Board of Directors roster.
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