At the intersection of power tools and creativity, John Mahoney found his niche – turning otherwise forgotten urban green waste into dazzling works of art. Born into a family of tree workers, arborists, and creatives, it was no mystery that Big John would find himself carving his own legacy into the Urban Forest just as his dad did before him. When he began chainsaw carving at the age of 22, John witnessed the emotional connection people had to his wood art pieces that could have otherwise so easily become mulch or firewood.  

Covered in sawdust and immersed in the competitive beard world, John found himself at a crossroads between one-off artistic ventures and a desire for a greater purpose. He found himself itching to raise awareness for the importance and value of urban trees as a precious bioresource, from their carbon capturing capabilities to their unique, unrivaled beauty. This practice has turned into a mission of salvaged wood stewardship.  

Today he oversees Street Tree Revival, an Urban Wood Recycling program founded by West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA, Inc.) California’s leading tree maintenance and management company for communities who care about trees. His primary purpose is creating quality, one-of-a-kind lumber while making a lasting positive impact on our environment.

Tahia Devissher is a Banting Research and Teaching Fellow at the UBC Faculty of Forestry. She studies how to manage forests and other greenspaces in and around cities to support human well-being and build social-ecological resilience to climate change. She is also interested in developing practical strategies to strengthen the relationship between urbanites and nature. In past work with the Stockholm Environment Institute, Tahia led research to support climate change adaptation working with local communities, NGOs and governments in more than 20 countries across the Global South. In most of her projects, she applies interdisciplinary approaches by integrating methods from quantitative modelling to participatory mapping, and qualitative assessment. Tahia has a Ph.D. in ecosystems science from the University of Oxford.

Mike Toffan is the founder and Executive Director of Project Forest. In October of 2020 Project Forest launched with a mission to create a community of environmentally responsible businesses with a unified mission to Rewild the Canadian Landscape One Forest At A Time. Mike is passionate about restoring disturbed landscapes across Canada, specifically to restore ecological function to non-productive agricultural lands with Conservation groups and Indigenous communities.

An outdoor enthusiast and wildlife advocate, Mike knew early in life that he wanted a job that let him explore nature. As the founder of Project Forest and a Professional Forester, he’s contributed to the reforestation of tens of thousands of hectares across Western Canada during his career. Aside from earning his Bachelor of Science. in Forest Business Management, Mike also has a Technical Diploma in Forest Technology from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). His happiest moments are in the field, among the trees, where he gets to make an impactful difference every day where it matters the most, Our Environment!

Theo Hooker is a systems thinker and nature-based solutions champion based in Washington, DC. He is passionate about cultivating businesses that are both good for people and the planet while laying a roadmap for other businesses to follow. He believes that in order to create a just and sustainable future, we have to imagine a new way of interacting in the world. In 2020, he co-founded Cambium Carbon, a climate tech company that builds local supply chains across the country. Starting with urban wood, Cambium connects naturally fallen trees to primary and secondary processors (e.g. sawmills & wood shops) and then onto end buyers (e.g. furniture manufacturers, architects, designers…etc.) In his spare time, Theo trains for ultra-marathons, practices handstands, and enjoys good books.

Brice Dorwart is an ISA-certified arborist and utility specialist. He has worked for the last 11 years with Davey Resource Group, on a utility vegetation management contract with a major power company in Pennsylvania. He has volunteered extensively with the PHS TreeTenders program, helping various neighborhood clubs around the city of Philadelphia, especially with their young street-tree pruning efforts. He loves planting trees, but he also has a passion for controlling the invasive exotic tree species in preserved wooded areas near his home outside Philadelphia.

Heather Andrews is a published author, photographer, and speaker who routinely works with homeowners and businesses to create sustainable native pollinator habitats. She grew up as one of 12 grandchildren in North Carolina, and often took walks on her Granddaddy Andrews acre garden, where she learned about pollinators and increasing yield.

During the growing season, you will find her in her monarch waystation, Cat-a-pillar Haven, videoblogging on her new YouTube Channel, Garden Thoughtfully. She encourages gardeners to provide wildlife habitat and fuel for native pollinators and improve vegetable yield via pollinator hedgerows/corridors. She combines information from her career in clinical research to guide her messaging, and routinely creates actionable video content to enable gardeners to create a pollinator paradise in their own backyard.

She is a two time recipient of the “Garden of Distinction” award by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for Her Monarch Waystation, Cat-a-Pillar Haven in 2020, and for a pollinator Garden she designed for the Historic Craighead House in collaboration with the Penn State Master Gardeners. Her award winning photographs and articles have been featured in magazines and on Medium.

David Barmon

Epilogue LLC, Urban Lumber and Plant Based Sustainability Advocate

David Barmon is owner of Epilogue LLC, a small scale sawmill business just South of Portland Oregon. He co-owned Fiddlehead LLC, a Portland, Oregon-based landscape construction company for 15 years. David has milled hundreds of thousands of board feet of lumber and installed countless edible landscapes and rain gardens in the Portland area. In a former career, David spent almost a decade as a Japanese qualified flight attendant for United Airlines.

David has been a powerful advocate for the urban lumber movement over the last decade. He has successfully leveraged private industry, non-profit organizations, and government to push for transformational changes in the urban forestry system. In addition to his hands-on experience procuring, milling and creating value-added products from urban lumber, David draws from a broad set of skills, including writing, public speaking, lobbying, small business ownership, non-profit management, and policy work. He is currently working on his first book, Wood From the City, the Urban Lumber Handbook.

David has spoken at several conferences including Wood at Work (McGill University 2017 and University of Toronto 2018), the prestigious International Living Future Conference, TEDx Kelowna, and the Mid Atlantic Urban Wood Forum (Virginia Department of Forestry). David was the 2019 keynote speaker at Australia National University’s first every urban lumber conference. David was named Sustainable Business Oregon’s Emerging Leader in 2013. His work and ideas have been featured in many publications such as Oregon Public Broadcasting, Green Builder, Sunset, Dwell, and Residential Architect. In 2015 David helped pass legislation through the State of Oregon to fund the world’s first urban lumber tree planting feasibility study. The study, called the Clackamas County Urban Lumber Pilot focused on how to intentionally plant, maintain and harvest urban trees for lumber.

David is fascinated with the physical world and all of the amazing information our modern society is about to forget. He believes our religion, culture, cities, food, clothing, smartphones—basically everything—comes down to understanding plants and rocks.

Glenn Eck has been in the horticulture and landscape industry since 1985. He was fortunate to receive a foundation of education and training through the Longwood Gardens Professional Horticulture Program, and a student year with England’s Royal Horticultural Society. Since 1997, Glenn has been managing the grounds and urban horticulture of Temple University in Philadelphia. He is a volunteer with the PA Big Trees program, documenting Pennsylvania’s largest trees, and holds the dubious distinction of discovering Pennsylvania’s largest known Ailanthus altissima. When not in the garden, he prefers exploring wild places, sometimes by bicycle.

Michael Dunn is an innovative Urban Forest Manager and Consulting Arborist with a passion for progressive problem-solving of environmental issues and a vision for a sustainable future in the designed urban environment. He is eager to collaborate with community and borough planners and stakeholders to manage and optimize the urban forest infrastructure as a shared and valuable asset. Michael is able to quantify and incorporate the current and future tree canopy into long term strategic decision making. He is an experienced leader posed to drive positive and productive community outreach and communications.

Michael’s pioneering approach to apiculture and honeybee conservation has appeared in national and international magazines, books and films. He has presented his work at Harvard University & New York University, consulted for the USDA, and in 2006 developed the organization Gaia Bees to advance biodynamic practices in apiculture.

In 2017 he founded Apis Arborea to preserve the life and resiliency of honeybees through Wilding, that is, the restoration of natural nesting habitat, and the use of a holistic ecological and science-based framework in working with bees. He offers workshops and training in the U.S. and internationally.

Michael was born and educated in Germany. He lives with his family, and an infinity of bees, in the oak woodlands of Northern California.

Dr. Ed Gilman is a professor emeritus from the University of Florida and is principal at Wood Architecture, Inc.

His 35 years in academia and the green industry has led him to write the Illustrated Guide to Pruning, which is now in its third edition. Ed has a long list of achievements and awards including honorary membership in the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) in 2016, a author’s citation award in 1999, and an educators award in 2003. He has also received a research award in 2007, and an award of merit in 2016 from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA’s highest award). Ed’s published works over his 35 years in academia include more than 120 scientific peer reviewed journal articles on roots, tree planting, and tree pruning. In addition to all of his academic achievements, Ed has delivered over 800 presentations to professional groups throughout the world. He now conducts trainings, writes specifications, and consults for companies on arboriculture related issues.

Kevin Martin is the Head of Tree Collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, having joined in 2012. In his role, he is charged with the curation and management of Kew’s unique and historic collection of trees from around the globe for the purpose of scientific research and conservation within a UNESCO World Heritage Site landscape.

Kevin has a foundation degree in arboriculture and is a TRAQ certified tree inspector. He also sits on several boards including the Arboreta Advisory Committee for Westonbirt and Bedgebury. Kevin is also the vice chair of the arboricultural subgroup for the apprenticeship trailblazer. Also a member of the UK Botanic Garden and Arboreta Collections Consortium (UKBGACC).

Dr. Clint Springer is associate professor of biology at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Clint is also the director of the Institute for Environmental Stewardship and the first faculty director of the Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph's University (formerly the Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation). Clint's research has examined the response of plant physiology and development to human-induced climate change. His more recent interests include the intersection of climate change and ornamental horticulture and arboriculture. Clint was born and raised on the Allegheny plateau in West Virginia where he attended West Virginia University for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He holds a B.A. in biology and a Ph.D. in environmental and evolutionary plant biology from WVU.

Sophie Nitoslawski is passionate about finding ways to better integrate trees and green infrastructure into the fabric of our cities. Her research centers on the intersection of smart communities and urban forest management, and she works with both private- and public-sector partners to pilot digital-based monitoring and management systems for urban ecosystems.

In addition to her Ph.D. work, Sophie is involved in teaching various urban forestry and sustainability courses at University of British Columbia (UBC) and is currently a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Science and Research Committee.

Neil Hendrickson worked for Bartlett Tree Research Labs where he served as their Northeast Technical Specialist for over twenty years before his retirement in 2019. Neil is a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert and maintains his tree risk assessment qualifications. He now serves as chair of the Readington Township, New Jersey, Environmental Commission and Tree Advisory Committee, is a member of Readington Open Space Advisory Board, and the Hunterdon County Shade Tree Commission. Neil is also on the Executive Board of the New Jersey Shade Tree Federation. He received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Cook College/Rutgers University, his Master of Science in Forest Science from the University of New Hampshire, and his Ph.D. in Silviculture and Forest Ecology from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Cliff Drouet is a Forester with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement(OSMRE) which is a federal agency under the Department of the Interior. Cliff is working with the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative(ARRI). The program restores old surface mine sites throughout Appalachia by planting native seedlings and establishing wildlife habitat. This reforestation program was started in 2004 by OSMRE and it has evolved into a highly successful program with good seedling survivability and growth. Having native trees growing on old mine sites greatly improves air, water, and soil quality while providing wildlife habitat and recreation benefits on the site. The ARRI program partners with private landowners, federal, and state agencies, non-profits, academia, and corporations to restore old mine sites back to native forests across Appalachia.

Cliff graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1980 with a B.S. in Forest Management and he is a member of the Society of American Foresters. His professional background includes working as a Procurement Forester for 11 years in the industrial sector then he worked as a Consulting Forester for 25 years. In 2016 he began working as a Federal Forester in Kentucky.

Cliff is a proud military Veteran who served for 36 years and completed four combat tours. He is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with experience as an Engineer and Military Intelligence Officer.

Tom Kimmerer is a scientist, author, and photographer. He is a consulting forest scientist, working with landowners and with other scientists and natural resource management professionals to ensure a future for the woodland pastures of Kentucky and Tennessee. He consults on sustainability issues related to forest management and wood utilization, including carbon sequestration in forests and wood products.

Tom is the author of Venerable Trees – History, Biology and Conservation, and writes for American Forests, Planet Experts, and other publications.

He teaches field courses on forestry, woodland pastures, and sustainability and is a conservation photographer specializing in tree and forest photography.

Tom has a B.S. in Forest Biology (Botany) from SUNY ESF and a Ph.D. in both forestry and botany, with a specialization in tree physiology and biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He has done research and has taught tree physiology, forest biology, and urban forestry in the United States, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and was a faculty member at the University of Kentucky. Tom was also Senior Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia and an advisor and consultant on environmental and forestry issues for the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia, the American-Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, the Electric Power Research Institute, and LG&E-Kentucky Utilities.

As the founder, principal, and guiding influence of Viridian Landscape Studio, Tavis Dockwiller leads a team that works every day to make sure they leave more than they take – and have fun while they're doing it. Her belief in the essential and healing power of landscapes drives all of the firm's design projects and ecological master plans. A natural storyteller and gifted communicator, Tavis knows how to build consensus between diverse stakeholders and counsels clients on balancing long-term ecological resilience with memorable placemaking. Her work and ideas have helped reshape cities, transform college campuses, and improve lives for communities all over the country.

Eliza Greenman is a tree crops specialist, horticultural historian and agroforestry practitioner living in Northern Virginia. Her passion is in uncovering our Nation's horticultural tree crops history in order to identify, find, and save a diversity of endangered tree species and cultivars from disappearing. She believes that in giving these trees a human-scale purpose, they have a much better chance of being preserved, understood, and further improved for today's changing times. In 2018, Eliza created HogTree, a farm business which works to offset livestock feed costs through diversified orchards and tree cropping systems. Today she raises pigs for charcuterie in a young, diversified orchard containing pears, apples, persimmons, chestnuts, oaks, and mulberries. Her small batch charcuterie ships nation-wide from her Hogtree website, www.hogtree.com.

CEO & Founder, PlanIT Geo, Arvada, Colorado, USA

Ian Hanou is a trees and technology-loving entrepreneur with 20 years of private sector experience. He earned a B.S. in Forest Management and GIS from Colorado State University and founded PlanIT Geo in 2012. Ian is a thought leader in software design and geospatial analysis for urban forestry, green infrastructure, parks, and ecosystem services. He has led hundreds of projects with clients in government, nonprofits, and the private sector. At PlanIT Geo, Ian directs overall operations, management, strategic partnerships, and vision. He plays a hands-on role in the roadmap for the TreePlotter suite of software and related technology innovation. In 2011, the Society of Municipal Arborists honored Ian with an award for innovation in tree planting prioritization using GIS. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two children, where he has summited all 54 mountains over 14,000 feet.