UCFS Members Vote Today!

2025 UCFS Board of Directors Election

UCFS members are asked to vote for Vice President and two at-large seats. Voting closes on October 6, 2025 at midnight Central Time.

Scroll to read more about each candidate, and then vote!

UCFS Board of Directors Election

After a successful call for nominations to the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) Board of Directors, members are now asked to vote for:

  • One Vice President
  • Two At-Large Executive Board Seats

The UCFS Board represents the membership of the organization, charts the organization’s strategic direction, provides governance oversight, and ensures a strong financial position. Overall, the Board works hard to deliver on the mission to grow the competence, confidence, and camaraderie of all professionals who grow and care for community forests.

UCFS Strategic Direction

To prepare for your vote, please take a look at UCFS Strategic Plan. Board members are charged with ensuring the organization meets these goals, which are meant to help members learn and grow as professionals and to help expand the understanding of urban forestry as a profession. UCFS also seeks to add geographic and demographic diversity to the board.

Qualifications

According to the UCFS Bylaws, to qualify for a Board position, the nominee must meet the following requirements. The UCFS Executive Director and Nominations Committee have verified that all nominees do meet these requirements.

  • Be a member in good standing for the last three years, AND
  • Have participated in or attended a UCFS-related activity such as
    • The UCFS Annual Meeting/Conference (at least one of the past two), or
    • The Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI), or
    • Service on a committee within the past two years.

Get to Know the Candidates

Take a moment to learn more about each of the candidates running for UCFS Board service. There are two candidates for Vice President and five candidates running for two at-large board seats.

Click Learn More next to each person to read about their background, experience, and how they see their strengths helping lead the organization. Each candidate has also recorded a brief video sharing their inspiration for running and what they hope to give back to members. Each item will open in a new tab. After completing your review, please proceed to the ballot, linked below, to login and cast your vote.

Vice President Candidates - Vote for One

Darren Green

Landscape Architect
City of Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana

Emily King

Urban Forester
City of Austin
Austin, Texas

At-Large Executive Board Candidates - Vote for Two

Steven Eyster

Urban Planner II
City of Tampa
Tampa, Florida

Jamie Lim

Urban Forest Manager
Seattle Parks and Recreation 
Seattle, Washington

Michael Martini

Director of Urban and Community Forestry-U.S.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Travis Stokes

Arboriculture Supervisor
City of Springfield, Missouri
Rogersville, Missouri

Steven Traylor

City Forester
City of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia

Preston Goodman

Municipal Forester
City of Henderson
Henderson, Nevada 

By clicking the button above, you’ll be taken to a form where you’ll login as a member. From there, you can cast your vote. The election closes on October 6, 2025 at midnight Central Time.

2025 UCFS Pre-Conference Tour

Climate Resilience Through Smarter Landscapes

Monday, November 17 from 1:00-4:00pm

To join us, add the tour with your registration!

Join the Urban and Community Forestry Society (UCFS) and the City of Henderson Parks and Recreation for a half-day bus tour exploring how urban forestry practices are evolving to meet the challenges of a hotter, drier climate. This tour is designed for practitioners, planners, and policymakers interested in practical, replicable strategies for building climate-resilient urban landscapes with limited water resources.

Throughout the tour, we’ll explore how cities can proactively adapt to aridification by redesigning public spaces, rethinking irrigation systems, and collaborating across departments and with community partners. Expect a balance of big-picture strategy and actionable detail.

Featured Tour Stops and Highlights:

🌿 Turf Removal & Tree Replacement at Community Parks
See how traditional grass lawns are being replaced with water-smart landscapes by the City of Henderson. At one park site, learn how a communication challenge over tree removals evolved into a model of public engagement, resulting in more—and better—trees planted with long-term resilience in mind.

🦉 Bird Preserve and Partnership with Audubon Society
Explore a vibrant bird preserve developed through a partnership between the City of Henderson and the local Audubon Society. Discover how external collaborations can unlock funding (including grants) and expand habitat while boosting urban canopy goals.

🚧 Street Diet and Green Infrastructure
Visit a transformed urban street where pavement removal made way for tree planting pits and green infrastructure. This site demonstrates how every tree in Henderson is planted with a sustainable irrigation plan—and how all cities can innovate in the right-of-way.

💧 Irrigation Systems & Incentive Programs
Get practical insights on installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems in challenging settings. Learn how internal and external partnerships (including with the Southern Nevada Water Authority) are creating incentives that drive real change toward water-wise tree planting and landscaping.

What You’ll Take Home:

  • Practical tips for managing urban forests with less water
  • Strategies for working across departments and building collaborative teams
  • Lessons from real-world partnerships with nonprofits, utilities, and the public
  • Inspiration to rethink green infrastructure in your community

Special Guests:

We’ll be joined on the tour by guest speakers from the, local Audubon Society, City of Henderson Sustainability Office and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, who will share insider perspectives on interagency collaboration and the mechanics of water incentive programs.