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 7, 2024 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 ten candidates for two at-large board seats. Click Learn More (a new tab will open) next to each person to learn about their background, experience, and how they see their strengths helping lead the organization. After completing your review, please proceed to the ballot, linked below, to login and cast your vote.

Vice President Candidates - Vote for One

David Lefcourt

City Forester
City of Cambridge, Department of Public Works
Cambridge, Massachusetts 

Michael Martini

Director of Urban and Community Forestry for the US
Sustainable Forestry Initiative 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

At-Large Executive Board Candidates - Vote for Two

Jenn Cairo

City Forester and Urban Forestry Manager
City of Portland
Portland, Oregon

Joseph Charap

Vice President of Horticulture
The Green-Wood Cemetery
Brooklyn, New York

Matt Clinton

Senior City Forester
City of Rock Hill
Rock Hill, South Carolina

Rachel Comte

Principal
Urban Canopy Works LLC
Newport, Kentucky

Anne Fenkner

Project Developer, Davey Resource Group
The Davey Tree Expert Company
Sacramento, California

Preston Goodman

Municipal Forester
City of Henderson
Henderson, Nevada 

Emily King

Urban Forester
City of Austin
Austin, Texas

Mesude Duyar Ozyurekoglu

Assistant Director
Louisville Parks and Recreation Department
Louisville, Kentucky 

Julianne Schieffer

Senior Program Specialist
The Pennsylvania State University
East Greenville, Pennsylvania

Becky Schwartz

Director, Urban Forestry Innovation
American Forests
Bloomfield, New Jersey 

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 7, 2024 at midnight Central Time.