City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/271060
/FX#PBSE.FNCFS1SPGJMF +FSFNZ#BSSJDL *EREMY CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION AND CAREER TRAJECTORY *EREMY "ARRICK 'ROWING UP IN A SMALL TOWN IN -INNESOTA THAT HAD A CITY FORESTER ) HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN CITY TREES !FTER PASSING THROUGH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DECLARED MAJORS IN COLLEGE ) CAME TO MY SENSES AND SETTLED ON MY BOYHOOD DREAM OF MANAGING CITY TREES WHO WOULDNT WANT TO DRIVE AROUND TOWN IN A TRUCK WITH A BLACK LAB AND LOOK AT TREES ALL DAY !FTER GRADUATING FROM THE 5NIVERSITY OF -INNESOTA WITH A "3 IN 5RBAN AND #OMMUNITY &ORESTRY AND INTERNING WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITIES INCLUDING MY HOMETOWN IT WAS OFF TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF THE "IG #ITY AS A BOROUGH FORESTER IN THE "RONX 7HILE ) WAS INDEED DRIVING AROUND IN A PICKUP ) DIDNT HAVE A LAB RIDING SHOTGUN AND THE "RONX WAS A FAR CRY FROM SMALLTOWN -INNESOTA &OR A TIME ) VENTURED INTO THE WORLD OF CONSULTING ARBORICULTURE WITH A RESPECTED TREE CARE COMPANY IN -INNEAPOLIS BEFORE RETURNING TO THE "IG #ITY AGAIN AS THE ARBORIST WITH THE .9# 0ARKS 2ECREATION #APITAL $ESIGN AND #ONSTRUCTION $IVISION !FTER THREE YEARS OF WORKING BEHIND ENEMY LINES WITH ARCHITECTS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ENGINEERS AND PROJECT MANAGERS ) BECAME THE $EPUTY #HIEF OF &ORESTRY (ORTICULTURE AND .ATURAL 2ESOURCES FOR THE #ITY OF .EW 9ORK $EPARTMENT OF 0ARKS AND 2ECREATION )N THIS POSITION ) ASSIST IN THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT OF OUR FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE OUR TREE PLANTING PROGRAM GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TREES AND SIDEWALKS PROGRAM CITYWIDE HORTICULTURE AND TREE PRESERVATION POLICY AND THE CITYWIDE NURSERY (OW HAS YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN 3-! BEEN MEANING FUL TO YOU *" 3-! FIRST CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AT THE )3! CONFERENCE IN 0ROVIDENCE 2HODE )SLAND WHEN ) ATTENDED THE 3-! SESSION ON THE LAST DAY AND LEARNED OF ALL OF THE GREAT PROGRAMS LIKE -&) AND THE !RBORIST %XCHANGE ) JOINED 3-! SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND ATTENDED -&) IN ) CANT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE 7E BUDGETED TO SEND TWO DIRECTORS FROM OUR PROGRAM TO -&) THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND ASPIRE TO DO SO EVERY YEAR 4HE MAGICAL WEEK IN &EBRUARY ON THE FROZEN PLAINS OF .EBRASKA THAT IS -&) REALLY HELPED TO ORIENT ME IN MY LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF BOTH OUR FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE PROGRAMS (ARDLY A WEEK PASSES WITHOUT SOME REFLECTION UPON THE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF -&) AND ) FREQUENTLY REACH OUT TO PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS ) MADE THERE 3-! HAS BEEN A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL ARBORISTS AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO NEW APPROACHES 7HAT ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL ARBORICULTURE INTEREST EXCITE YOU MOST *" ) THINK THE GREATEST THING ABOUT MUNICIPAL ARBORICULTURE IS HOW DIVERSE A SKILL SET ONE HAS TO HAVE -ANAGING AN EXPANSIVE RESOURCE WITH COMPETING INTERESTS PROVIDES FOR VERY FEW DULL MOMENTS AND ) REALLY ENJOY THE HUMAN ASPECT )TS BEEN SAID THAT URBAN AND COM MUNITY FORESTRY IS PEOPLE AND TECHNICAL AND ) COULDNT AGREE MORE ) ALSO ARGUE THAT ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCEITS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED !LL THINGS PLANTING MAINTAINING PRESERVING RISK MANAGEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE IMPACT CITIZENS GREATLY AND EVERYTHING WE DO COMES BACK TO PEOPLE !SIDE FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS ASPECT ) DO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF OUR FIELD &OR THE PAST FEW YEARS WEVE BEEN FOCUSED ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE WHICH PROVED VALUABLE WHEN 3UPER 3TORM 3ANDY STRUCK 7HILE EVERY ASPECT OF OUR PROGRAM IS CONSTANTLY EVOLV ING WERE CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON PRESERVATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT 7HAT ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL ARBORICULTURE DO YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING *" ) THINK THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF MUNICIPAL ARBORICULTURE IS BALANCING PRESERVATION AND RISK MANAGEMENT /BVIOUSLY WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF TREES BUT WE MUST ALSO MINIMIZE THE RISK AND COST OF MAINTAINING THOSE BENEFITS !NOTHER LAYER OF COMPLEXITY IS HONORING THE AESTHETIC AND EMOTIONAL VALUES OF TREES 7HAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME *" ,IVING AND WORKING IN .EW 9ORK #ITY CAN POSE MANY CHALLENGES BUT IT REALLY IS THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD ) LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN BEING A RESIDENT TOURIST WITH MY WIFE +ELLY AND OUR TWO CHILDREN /LIVIA AND 2OWAN 7E LIVE IN A SLEEPY LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD IN 1UEENS AND OFTEN BARBEQUE AND SPEND HOURS IN THE PARK 7E LOVE LIVE CONCERTS AND GOING TO GAMES 7E HAVE A HARD TIME STAYING HOME ON THE WEEK END AND OFTEN FIND OURSELVES WANDERING UP AND DOWN THE EASTERN SEABOARD TAKING IN EVERYTHING THAT THE REGION HAS TO OFFER ÌÞÊ/ÀiiÃ