www.urban-forestry.com 35
Teaching cadre members Paul Ries (left) and Walter Warriner (right). Ries creat-
ed, directs, and instructs for the Oregon State University Graduate Certificate in
Urban Forestry, and consulting arborist Warriner is retired from a long career as
the Santa Monica City Forester. Photo by Owen Croy
Good food at Lake Arrowhead Conference Center fueled the intense brain activi-
ty of the week-long MFI experience. Photo by Paul Ries
MFI is the best training that I've
ever engaged in. The tools and knowledge
that I have gained will serve me well
throughout my career. The relationships
and networking I've been able to create
will make my city better.
—Jennifer Wills, Director of Parks and
Recreation, Longview Parks and Rec,
Longview, Washington
MFI 2017 was absolutely won-
derful!
Not only is it the most compre-
hensive leadership program that I have
attended, but the fact that it is focused
on urban forestry is great. I learned that
there are so many resources available to
me, and I will put them to great use. Go
to MFI; you will benefit in all aspects of
your life.
—Thomas Dodge, City Arborist, City
of Berkeley, California
MFI is a well-oiled machine with
world-class instruction. You will come
out with the tools, the motivation, and
the professional network to be the best
possible urban forestry leader that you
can be.
—Marty Frye, Arborist, Casey Trees,
Washington DC
Thank you for providing us with
a safe and beautiful place for us to
explore areas outside of our comfor t
zones and to connect with other urban
forestry professionals. I am leaving Lake
Arrowhead with a sense of suppor t that
I didn't know was possible. I am excited
to now go out into the world a better
leader, a better person, a better urban
forest professional, and par t of the MFI
family.
—Karla Nagy, Assistant Program
Director, Friends of the Urban Forest,
San Francisco, California
