Arboriculture and Horticulture Expert

Expertise

• Arboriculture and horticulture.
• Tree and landscape appraisals.
• Tree preservation.
• Turf grasses.
• Soil sciences, fertilizers and fertilization.
• Pesticide and herbicide expertise including, insecticides, fungicides and nematicides.
• Specific knowledge of plant species' cultural requirements.
• 45 years experience in consulting, field work and study with government and corporate clientele.

Experience

Undisclosed Company, Owner, Present

• FLASLA, Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, preferred provider for continued education.
• Co-chair, State of Florida Species Rating List - International Society of Arboriculture Florida Chapter.
• Recipient of the Edward W. Bok Award - lifetime achievement award for excellence in the field of arboriculture.
• Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), State of Florida provider status for continuing education courses for landscape architects.
• Revised Rule Chapter 14-40, Florida Highway Beautification Act, creating a new paradigm for appraising roadside vegetation, appeasing divergent opinions among the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association (FOAA), and the Citizens for a Scenic Florida. (intellectual property copyrighted 2002).
• ISA Certified Arborist Advanced Training in Roadside Vegetation Management.
• Reduced tree assessment from $3.2 million to $193,000 by understanding and interpretation of nuances in tree ordinance language.
• Reduced tree assessment from $346,000 to $19,000 by expert knowledge of tree species.
• Abstract for tree assessments and appraisal presentations accepted at four International

Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Conferences.

• Soil sciences, fertilizers and fertilization for Florida's Botanical Gardens.
• Arborist Licensure Committee Chair for International Society of Arboriculture (ISA),

Florida Chapter.

• Education Chair and programs facilitator for International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Florida Chapter.
• Consulting Arborist Representative to International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Florida Chapter, Board of Directors.
• Developed and facilitated a Public Broadcast System (PBS) televised video, in cooperation with the University of Florida IFAS, on the American National Standards Institute (ANSIA300), "Fertilization Standards."
• As Consulting Arborist, mediated a dispute between the City of Tampa, Florida and the University of Tampa, by transplanting two Grand Oak trees, weighing over 500 tons, from a proposed building site to an on-campus location.
• Formulated a research-backed appraisal opinion for a stand of "Grand Oak" trees that withstood vigorous cross-examination from condemning authority resulting in the decision to vacate the order of taking for three contiguous parcels.
• Successfully demonstrated via mediation that an area of taking, representing 8% of total plant nursery business, would render the loss of the entire business.
• Utilizing forensic diagnostics to formulate expert opinion as to the cause of previously felled and removed trees provided Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) the scientific facts needed to convict defendant of vandalism.
• Successfully reduced tree assessment for developer from $1.7 million to $100 thousand utilizing state-of-the-art technology to prove "value" of site trees. As developer's arboreal spokesperson, presented this irrefutable diagnostic data to city council, mayor, and city and county foresters.
• Based on forensic discovery, including dendrochronology, pathology and entomology demonstrated that an urban tree that fell, killing a woman, actually suffered structural compromise.
• Reduced a $30 million tree nursery product liability damage claim to an undisclosed six (6) figure number by utilizing arboreal forensic discovery.
• Obtained permit approval for developer whose expansion project had been halted due to community concern over "specimen trees" in development's pathway. Through incontestable data, was able to prove that the trees in question were diseased and perceived value was thus scientifically refuted.
• Successfully renovated and managed landscapes over a 6-year period for over 3,500 condominium units abandoned during as contracted by several banks and investment firms. Skills demonstrated for this remarkable accomplishment include:
• In depth understanding of various species of turf grasses that were renovated from an unmarketable condition to highly marketable.
• Soil sciences, fertilizers and fertilization.
• In-depth knowledge of pesticides including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and nematicides.
• Specific knowledge of plant species' cultural requirements.

Honors & Publications

Credentials

• Certified Arborist - International Society of Arboriculture
• Certified Pest Control Operator - Department of agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Entomology, State of Florida. Diagnostics and application of restricted use pesticides pursuant to Chapter 482 of the Florida Statutes
• Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida - Continuing

Education programs (acquire in excess of 15 CEUs per year)

• American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) - Continuing education programs (Acquire in excess of 30 CEUs per year)
• International Society of Arboriculture - Numerous seminars and conferences (acquire in Excess of 30 CEUs per year)

Approved Instructor for Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and Certification Training:

• Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board
• Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
• Contractors and Builders Association (Construction Industry Licensing Board)
• Condominium Associates Institute (CAI)
• Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association (FNGLA)
• Florida Certified Pesticide Operator Training (Lawn & Ornamentals) through Bureau of Entomology, State of Florida and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Certified Arborist Training Program - International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
• American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
• American Institute of Architects
• American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA)
• Society of Professional Engineers
• Registered Landscape Architects
• Members of The Appraisal Institute
• Department of Insurance

Publications

• Author of many publications, seminars and a very active guest speaker.

Education

• Arboriculture Consulting Academy, American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA)
• Horticultural training, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida
• Arboreal training, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)