About

I have always found a passion for trees. In my youth, I could regularly be found climbing trees for fun. I used this passion to obtain a degree in secondary science with a concentration in environmental science where I hoped to share my passion for the environment with students. 

After not finding the ancillary activities of teaching, I decided to try climbing trees as a career. I found a job as a part-time trainee arborist with a local municipality. Through hard work and dedication, I was able to obtain his commercial driver license and a full time job with the city as an arborist. My time spent with the city gave me enough experience to obtain my arborist certification.

After pondering the arborist career path, I decided to go back to school and get a master's degree. Wishing to combine arboriculture and wetlands, I found a Master of Forest Resources and Conservation with a Concentration in Wetland Sciences to be ideal. As a part of my studies, I was also able to secure a graduate certificate in Geospatial Analysis and an additional graduate certificate in Wetland and Water Resources Conservation.

Upon graduation, I got a job with the environmental science arm of a large tree company. This job allowed me to obtain a base knowledge of North and South Carolina environmental permitting and to further refine my ArcGIS skills. 

Currently, my work involves managing and conducting Natural Resource Assessments (NRA) for both linear and closed boundary projects. I also write project scope reports on behalf of clients to be sent to various state agencies. Both NRAs and scope reports require various mapping components that I complete utilizing publicly available datasets and data I collect in the field.

In the News

WRAL | Dan Haggerty - In Depth with Dan: What cause so many trees to fall in NC on Tuesday?

• Interviewed by Dan as an industry expert to explain how/why and possible causes of tree failures in the Triangle