Speakers
Dr. Paul D. Ries
Dr. Paul D. Ries, Insightful Nature LLC
Dr. Paul Ries has over 35 years of experience in the natural resources field, working in urban forestry, wild land fire, and natural resource management at the state, local, non-profit, and academic levels. He is the Principal Consultant for Insightful Nature LLC, a natural resources consulting, communications, and training company. He also serves as a Senior Instructor and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry at Oregon State University. His mission is to help people and organizations build capacity to have greater influence and impact. Paul holds BS and MS degrees in Natural Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is a past president of the International Society of Arboriculture. In addition to teaching and mentoring people, he enjoys hiking, photography, and travel.
Randy Lyle
Randy Lyle, Wildfire Mitigation Strategies
Randy served in the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) for 32 years. His assignments included wildland fire engines, hand crews, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and geographic information systems (GIS). Randy also worked for San Diego Gas and Electric Company, eventually retiring 12 years later as the Manager of Fire Science and Coordination Group. Today, Randy is providing wildfire consulting services to a variety of clients.
John Formby, PhD
John Formby, PhD, U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Dr. John Formby is a Forest Health Specialist with the USDA Forest Service in Albuquerque. He spent five years as the Forest Health Program Manager with the New Mexico Forestry Division before joining the USDA Forest Service. He received his B.S. in Urban and Community Forestry and Ph.D. in Entomology from Mississippi State University. He specializes in insect pests of trees and shrubs.
Dana Coelho
Dana Coelho, Colorado State Forest Service
Dana Coelho is the Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager for Colorado State Forest Service. Based out of the Broomfield Field Office, she works with colleagues and partners to sustain healthy and resilient forests that are integrated with and contribute to the wellbeing of all Colorado communities. She is an active board member of the Colorado Tree Coalition, ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter, and Metro Denver Nature Alliance. A huge tree nerd, Dana enjoys time outside with family and friends, exploring new places near and far, and live music and theater.
Dana Karcher
Dana Karcher, Davey Resource Group, Inc.
Area manager and project developer for the Davey Resource Group, Dana works throughout the central U.S. to support communities, utilities, developers and other entities in managing their trees. In addition to being an ISA Certified Arborist, Karcher also holds the ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist credential as well.
Miranda Kersten
Miranda Kersten, New Mexico State University
Miranda Kersten has worked with NMSU’s Integrated Pest Management program since 2018, focusing on pollinator and beneficial insect conservation. She received her M.S. in Integrative Biology from Oklahoma State University and B.S. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of Minnesota.
Tom Swetnam
Tom Swetnam, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
Tom Swetnam is Regents’ Professor Emeritus, and was Director of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona. He has studied wildfire history and ecology in pine and giant sequoia forests of the western U.S., Mexico, South America, and Siberia, Russia. In addition to basic research, he is interested in applications of science in natural resource management and in science education. His honors and awards include the Harold Biswell Award for Lifetime Achievement, Association for Fire Ecology, 2016; and Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, elected 2015. Tom and his wife Suzanne now live Jemez Springs, New Mexico.
Caitlyn Pollihan
Caitlyn Pollihan, ISA
Caitlyn Pollihan serves as CEO and Executive Director for the ISA. During her tenure Caitlyn has successfully initiated the modernization of ISA systems and operations and has increased the global connectivity and accessibility of the association. Caitlyn actively participates in several coalitions and committees, she serves as chair for the Sustainable Urban Forestry Coalition, a member of the i-Tree Executive Committee, the advisory council of the Women’s Forest Congress, and previously served on numerous public policy committees and was an appointed member of the National Advisory Committee for Implementation of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule.
Laura McCarthy
Laura McCarthy, New Mexico Forestry Division State Forester
Laura McCarthy is the 11th State Forester and the first woman to take on the role since joining the New Mexico Forestry Division in 2019. Ms. McCarthy holds a master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and the Environment. She started her career as a wildland firefighter for the USDA Forest Service and later transitioned through forestry-related positions with the Forest Trust and Forest Stewards Guild. Ms. McCarthy most recently served as the Nature Conservancy’s Senior Policy Advisor for Forest and Fire Management and as associate state director for the Nature Conservancy’s New Mexico office.
Patrick O’Meara
Patrick O’Meara, High Country Landscape, Ltd.
A certified Arborist for 20+ years, Patrick has been involved in the Denver, CO horticulture and Arborist scene since 1985. He is ISA Certified as an Arborist, Climber Specialist, Evaluator for the CTW tests and is TRAQ qualified (#RM2451 A/T.) He owns & operates a small tree-care company in south Denver, which allows him to continue his passion for climbing trees, as well as take time off to be with his family and volunteer extensively for industry events and associations, including a recent 4-year stint on the ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter board. ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter Past President.
