Where did you grow up? Were there
formative childhood experiences that
foretold your future in urban forestry?
Mike Martini: I grew up in Hunterdon County, New
Jersey. I spent a lot of my time outside in nature as
a kid and was never really attracted to video games
like my friends. My parents would frequently take
my sister and me on hikes and to parks, zoos, and
caves. Growing up, I went through many phases
of collecting rocks, feathers, and various nature
items. This stressed out my parents as I had a room
crammed full of so many things—and I wouldn't
part with them, even the empty, smelly crab shells.
One of my favorite memories is when I was around
ten years old, I went to Acadia National Park with
my parents, where we drove up Cadillac Mountain
to the top. I remember turning to my mom and
saying, "One day I am going to hike up Cadillac
Mountain from the bottom." Fast forward to
college graduation, when I ended up back in Maine
in Acadia, hiking up that mountain for a sunrise.
I was obsessed with learning the names of animals,
trees, shells, and any other creatures I saw. My mom
recalls how I would rattle off the names of plants.
So the seed of urban forestry was always there,
but it did not truly sprout until I was in college.
Can you tell us about your
educational trajectory?
I went to Ocean County Community College,
getting my Associates Degree in Science, taking
as many courses as I could in biology and ecology.
One of the first moments that pushed me
toward urban forestry was a course I took >>
Michael (Mike) Martini is an
Urban Forestry Consultant
for PlanIT Geo. He started
his SMA Board service
in 2021. Mike is an ISA
Certified Arborist, an ISA
Certified Arborist Municipal
Specialist, a New Jersey
Licensed Tree Care Operator,
ISA TRAQ certified, and a
2020 Municipal Forestry
Institute (MFI) graduate.
Mike leaning against the iconic Platanus outside Bruce Springsteen's childhood
home in Freehold, New Jersey. You can see The Boss leaning against the tree online,
a copyrighted photo that comes from the liner notes for the Born to Run album.
Board Member Profile
Michael Martini
www.urban-forestry.com 21
