About Us
Think Trees New Mexico is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the education, training, and appreciation of trees, arboriculture, and horticulture throughout New Mexico. Think Trees New Mexico provides training to professionals in the Green Industry of New Mexico and surrounding regions, by hosting an annual conference in Albuquerque, NM. We have hosted this conference since 1986 with an all-volunteer board of committed tree industry members and supporters.
The Think Trees Board is elected by the board of directors. The executive board is the president, vice-president, recording secretary, treasurer, and past-president. The board of directors supports the mission of our organization.
A separate category of our supporters is the “Friends of Think Trees.” These are active volunteers who share in the ongoing efforts to organize and present our annual conference.
Think Trees New Mexico strives to provide our audience with up-to-date accurate, relevant information on trees and their care by bringing nationally recognized speakers and local experts to our conference, We believe in the value of trees, not just as amenities to the human landscape but as living elements in their own right.
Our conference provides Continuing Education Units for both ISA-Certified Arborists and for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) licensed pesticide applicators. You can take the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certification exam at Think Trees New Mexico. Registration for ISA exams is through the ISA’s website.
Thank you, everyone, that attend our monthly meetings to organize and present the conference. Since 1986 our success continues to depend on these volunteers and includes everyone that attends and supports the annual Think Trees Conference.
At Think Trees New Mexico, we do think about trees. We believe in the value and beauty of trees.
Be a part of the future – plant and care for trees today!!
Board of Directors
President
Joran Viers
Mr. Joran Viers is a senior arborist working with Legacy Tree Company. His prior work includes self-employment as a Consulting Arborist, City Forester for the City of Albuquerque, County Horticulture Agent, and County Director for the Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service of New Mexico State University. Viers was born in Albuquerque but grew up in California, Costa Rica, and Arkansas. He has a life-long love of plants and the natural sciences. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of New Mexico, and a Masters degree in Botany from the University of Florida. Mr. Viers has been a member of Think Trees NM since 2003, an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist since 2016, and holds Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from ISA. He has been a tree-hugging nature lover all his life and plans to continue doing so into the future.
Vice President
Elizabeth Burgess-Valdez
Elizabeth began working in tree care in 2021 while living in the Pacific Northwest and quickly discovered a passion for working amongst the trees. Since then she's moved back to New Mexico where she started a tree care business and has been pursuing an ISA certification. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her animals.
Treasurer
Anne Beard
Director, Vegetation Management and Wildfire Mitigation
Filsinger Energy Partners
Anne Beard has worked in the arboriculture field for over 30 years. She is a member of the ISA/Utility Arborist Association, is a Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist, and is TRAQ qualified.
Anne has, by her efforts, informed her customers, the general public, and industry professionals on the importance of trees, their benefits to the environment, and their proper care. She has many varied experiences speaking at local, national, and international venues.
Anne has served Think Trees New Mexico as Treasurer and currently is a Board member. Anne has served as President of the International Society of Arboriculture. She has served the ISA in many ways including ISA Certification Test Committee, and Utility Arborist Association President. She received the UAA President’s Award for her contributions to Utility Arboriculture. She holds a BS in Forestry – Administration and an MBA.
Secretary
Maria Thomas
Maria Thomas is the Curator of Plants at the ABQ BioPark, where she manages the botanical exhibits, plant collections, horticultural staff and related programs for the 150 acre public park and garden. Additionally, Maria serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Mexico for the School of Architecture and Planning in the Landscape Architecture master’s program. Prior to her current career, Maria worked in the landscape design and maintenance industry, and as an archaeologist and ethnobotanist in New Mexico and the Four Corners region. Maria received a BA form the University of Oregon in Cultural Anthropology and Asian Art History and views garden design and management as a holistic practice in balancing and integrating human culture with the natural environment. She uses this philosophy to create thoughtful, sustainable exhibits, landscapes, and outreach opportunities for public enjoyment and education.
Past President
Marisa Thompson, Ph.D.
New Mexico State University, Department of Extension Plant Sciences
Marisa is the Urban Horticulture Specialist, a state-wide position based in Los Lunas, for the NMSU Cooperative Extension Service. She is responsible for active Extension and Research programs involving sustainable horticultural practices for New Mexicans. Marisa worked pairing plants and people at nurseries in Albuquerque before becoming an Extension Master Gardener for Bernalillo County in 2008 and a Las Cruces Tree Steward in 2014. Her MS in Horticulture involved a study of pecan orchard floor management and how weeds affect water status, soil nutrient availability, and nut yield of mature pecan trees. Marisa received a Ph.D. in Plant and Environmental Sciences in August 2017 for her research on pecan flowering mechanisms with a focus on plant hormones and genes that control floral initiation.
She writes the gardening column, Southwest Yard & Garden, which is published weekly in newspapers and magazines across the state. Access the column archives and other hort-related resources at desertblooms.nmsu.edu. Or find her on social media @NMDesertBlooms (Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok!).
Suzanne Andrego
Suzanne Andrego was born in St. Louis, MO, and grew up in Albuquerque, NM. She is a lifetime Albuquerque gardener and a retired homeopathic physician. Suzy is a 27-year Master Gardener, a Master Flower Show Judge for National Garden Clubs, President of NM Judges Council, and a Past President of New Mexico Garden Clubs.
She has served on the largest volunteer board in the US, National Garden Clubs, Inc., for 18 years, and in her lifelong volunteer career, she has held various roles, positions, and chairmanships for various national and regional organizations including New Mexico Garden Clubs Environmental School, Landscape Design School, Flower Show Schools, NMGC Educational Schools, and National Garden Clubs Flower Show School.
She has been involved in many plant societies and garden clubs around New Mexico and presents programs on horticulture and floral design topics across the US.
Suzy is passionate about plants, trees, and our environment and is excited to be one of the newest board members of Think Trees NM and to help grow the organization.
Erin Burtch
Erin Burtch became an ISA Certified Arborist in 2013 while working as an intern in the City of Rio Rancho’s Urban Forestry program and has diligently attended Think Trees for the last 12 years. She received her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of New Mexico in 2013 and became a licensed Landscape Architect in 2018. She has worked for over 22 years in the landscape and plant industry in positions with local plant nurseries, landscape construction, landscape design and planning, and local government, currently working as a Construction Project Coordinator for Bernalillo County Parks, Recreation and Open Space. Erin is excited to serve on the Think Trees Board as Vice President.
Joseph Delgado
Bernalillo County Extension Horticulture Agent
Joseph was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up he loved spending time at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden. It was there that he sparked an interest in plant science. Thankfully, he landed an internship with the City of Albuquerque Biopark which was the start to a career in botany. Joseph was awarded the 2018 Career and Technical Education award at RGHS which allowed him to demonstrate various leadership qualities.
Joseph used this experience and training to get accepted to New Mexico State University. He chose a major in Horticulture because it is unique and tailored to his interests. Joseph has worked at various greenhouses and nurseries all over New Mexico and holds a ton of plant knowledge. Some call him a plant "guru". Joseph was also a farm manager for Robert. F. Kennedy Charter School where he took care of a two-acre farm. There Joseph served as the program coordinator for an integrated farm to school program which taught a group of 20 high school students sustainability and conservation practices.
Joseph took on the role of the Bernalillo County Horticulture Agent in July 2023. He serves as a program coordinator for the Albuquerque Master Gardener Program which trains the community in all things horticulture. Joseph works closely with farmers and gardeners from all around the county offering advice and helping to diagnose various horticulture related problems. He also works with specialists at the NMSU main campus in Las Cruces who in turn help educate the community. Joseph is very grateful to be here and looks forwards to what the future has in store.
Alexus Dominguez
Alexus Dominguez has been involved in the New Mexico tree care industry for more than seven years through her work with Coates Tree Service, Inc., a long-established arboriculture company serving northern New Mexico since 1979. Through her involvement with the professional tree care community, she has developed a strong appreciation for the role arborists play in maintaining healthy and safe urban forests.
Alexus supports the mission of Think Trees New Mexico and values its work to promote education, safety, and collaboration among tree care professionals throughout the state. She is committed to supporting efforts that advance responsible tree care and strengthen the arboriculture community in New Mexico.
George Duda
Retired
He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Northern Arizona University in 1968. George worked as Resource Manager at Duke City Lumber Company working in purchasing, developing, and delivering saw timber to Espanola and Vallecitos Sawmills for 22 years. At the Cibola National Forest, Mountainair Ranger District he provided recreation and forest management for a year and a half. Spent sixteen years at the State of NM Forestry Division as the Timber Management Officer, NM Forest Re-Leaf Coordinator, and for 11 years as State Urban Forester then retired in June 2007. Presently, George is contracting with Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District as the Forest Health Program Assessor. He has been providing residential forest/woodland thinning programs and fire risk management for ten years.
George is involved in the following: Member and Fellow, Society of American Foresters, 25 years; Member, International Society of Arboriculture, 20 years; Member, Board of Directors Think Trees New Mexico, 20 years; State Commissioner, Board of Commissioners, New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps; and Lecture circuit, presenting “Trees Are Killing Our Forests”.
Nezi Fae
Blade and Bloom Trees
bladeandbloomtrees@gmail.com
Nezi began her career in sustainable agriculture for nearly a decade before jumping into arboriculture. Integrating her knowledge of permaculture and sustainability into her career as an arborist has helped her design and care for dynamic gardens, yards and properties that value their tree and plant health. Her mission is to help the New Mexico's tree canopy thrive for years to come.
Gary Fears
Green Summit Landscape Management
Gary Fears is a co-owner of Green Summit Landscape Management, a full-service landscape company known for offering a variety of landscaping amenities and building strong client relationships. Fears specifically oversee New Business Development and Customer Service. His passion for landscaping began at the age of eleven when his father dropped him off at the end of a street with a lawnmower. He would move from house to house, offering lawn care to his first customers. Everyone has grass in Kentucky where Fears grew up. This middle school summer job has since blossomed into a professional career in the landscaping industry. Fears has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a minor in Landscape Management from Brigham Young University. He is also Landscape Industry Certified through the National Association of Landscape Professionals and holds a JS Sprinkler License and NMDA Pesticide License. In 2008, Fears moved to Albuquerque after being recruited by an industry-leading landscape company. Seven years later, he established his own business, and Green Summit continues to grow and service the community in the greater Albuquerque area. After many years of living in New Mexico with his wife and four children, he is proud to call the Land of Enchantment his home.
Clay Garner
Desert Gardens Outdoor Services Inc.
Clay is the owner of Desert Gardens Outdoor Services, Inc.. He has been in the landscape and tree business for over 25 years and has been a certified Arborist through the ISA since 2005.
Bryan D. Suhr
Bryan D Suhr, Consulting Arborist
I am a second-generation New Mexico arborist, Albuquerque native, and a founding member of Think Trees NM. I became an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and have supported Arborist Certification since 1992. I have earned additional national credentials including the ISA Utility Specialist in 2003, ISA Municipal Specialist in 2004, and I became an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist in 2010 and relinquished my Certified Arborist credential. I have an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (2016) and a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP (2009)) through the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).
Retired from the University of New Mexico where it was my great opportunity to care for over five thousand trees almost every day for over twenty-one years. I got to plant many (800+) trees introducing many new selections into the campus arboretum.
Now I am an independent consulting arborist, serving individuals and communities across our state, advising clients on their trees and best practices for caring for them. I am passionate about trees, educating people about trees, and for the past 50 years, I’ve been caring for trees and learning more about them every day.
Alexander Taylor
Public Service Company of New Mexico
Vegetation Management Department
Division Forester II- Albuquerque Metropolitan Area
Alexander Taylor grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and through Scouting found a love for the outdoors and helping other people. He attended Humboldt State University and received his BS in Forestry with an emphasis in Resource Conservation and minored in Environmental Ethics. He spent several seasons working for the U.S. Forest Service in multiple roles. He began working in the Utility Vegetation Management field after the Camp Fire in Northern California was stopped a block away from his and his wife’s first home. After the Camp Fire, Alexander and his wife moved to New Mexico to be close to family and Alexander continued to work in the Utility Vegetation Management field. He is currently the Division Forester for the Albuquerque service territory of the Public Service Company on New Mexico (PNM). He oversees the utility line clearance tree trimming and inspections that are performed by various contractors throughout the area.
Friends of Think Trees
Dodie Bernal-Suhr
Judy Nickell
