Congratulations, Leslie, on being the new SMA
Executive Director. We are so pleased you are here.
What excites you about the new position?
Leslie Berckes: This is a giant opportunity to work on a broad
scale to advance urban forestry nationally and internation-
ally! Since my hiring was announced, I've been getting LinkedIn
invites from around the world, which speaks to the interna-
tional reach and relevance of SMA. As I speak to people, I can
hear their excitement about SMA and the future of urban for-
estry. I'm looking forward to meeting more SMA members,
finding out what makes their programs tick, and better under-
standing how SMA can support them in getting more trees
planted and preserved. It's fascinating how the opportuni-
ties and challenges of urban forestry transcend international
boundaries. I'm excited to connect with the network of SMA
partners as well, as I got to do at the International Society
of Arboriculture (ISA) conference in Sweden in September.
You are a born-and-raised Midwesterner. Where
did you grow up, and what were some formative
experiences with nature in your childhood?
I grew up in two Iowa cities: Cedar Falls and Denver. I was what
people today call a "free-range kid." I explored the natural
world on my own. My parents shared with me their love of
nature (they are passionate birders and appreciate all kinds
of wildlife). As a kid, I would catch tadpoles in ditches by the
railroad tracks, and climb apple trees in the backyard. When
I encounter the aroma of ripe apples now, it takes me right
back to those tree climbing days and fills me with happiness.
As a kid I had a pony named Suzy that I would ride through
the woods around our family home. Our family had numerous
animal companions, and I still love animals, from the cats that
live with my husband Jeff and I in our home, to the wildlife
that we see around us. With trees as with animals, the need
to speak for the voiceless is a big driving force for me. >>
Know Leslie Berckes
SMA's New
Executive
Director
Leslie's photo from her Forty Under 40 profile.
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