Eugene and its urban forest,
looking south from Skinner Butte.
Eugeneans Love their Urban
Forest… and Celebrate
SMA Accreditation!
With Scott Altenhoff, Urban Forestry Management Analyst, Eugene, Oregon
Photos Courtesy City of Eugene (except where indicated)
Since I shared details of my own background in
a board member profile in a recent issue of City
Trees, I'm highlighting here some of the notewor-
thy details and career backgrounds of my urban
forestry teammates in Eugene, Oregon. These folks
are the driving force behind our program and the
real reason for our recent successes. In our indus-
try, nothing worthwhile is ever accomplished by
individuals, it's always a collective effort. In order
of their length of service, our team consists of:
• Technical Specialist Mike Bellmore, who has
worked for the City of Eugene for 35 years and
was our agency's first field arborist to receive
ISA certification way back in the early 90s.
• Park Operations Manager (and former UF
Supervisor) Chris Girard, who has been with the
City for 24 years and is an ISA Certified Arborist,
Municipal Specialist, and MFI 2015 alumnus.
• Our new Green Infrastructure Maintenance
Manager Carrie Peterson, who began her
career with the City 24 years ago as a front
desk receptionist and has since proven herself
to be an expert in project management, com-
munity engagement, partnership development,
public relations, and strategic planning.
• Technical Specialist Matt Rivers, who
attended Davey Tree School in 1982 and
worked as a nurseryman, landscaper, and
commercial/consulting arborist. Matt is
an ISA Certified Arborist, Qualified Tree
Risk Assessor, and Municipal Specialist.
• Seasonal Vegetation Enforcement Officer Else
MacGrigeanis, who has been with our agency
for 12 years. Else has a degree in Women's
Studies and worked for 20 years as a social
worker. From May to October, Else helps coach
people on how to bring their nuisance veg-
etation into compliance with City code.
• Lead Arborist/Technical Specialist Eric DeBord,
who has worked as a plant propagator, nurs-
eryman, and arborist for the last 20 years
(six of those with the City). Eric is a Board
Certified Master Arborist, Qualified Tree
Risk Assessor, and Municipal Specialist.
28 CityTREES
