Staff
Mark Buscaino - Executive Director
202.349.1901
- Professional history: Mark began his forestry career in 1983 as a volunteer with the US Peace Corps in Benin, West Africa. Since then he has held several positions including: Deputy Project Manager for the Urban Forest and Education Program in New York City; City Forester for Takoma Park, Maryland; Urban Forester for Fairfax County Virginia; and, Chief Forester for the District Department of Transportation/Urban Forestry Administration, Washington, DC. Prior to joining Casey Trees in June of 2006, Mark served as the National Director for the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program in Washington, DC.
- Education: B.S., University of Maine at Orono, Business Administration; M.S., State University of New York at Syracuse, Forest Resources Management/Silviculture
- Personal interests: Family
- Favorite tree: Bald cypress
Marty O'Brien - Chief Operating Officer
202.349.1909
- Professional history: Marty began his career in 1989 in Washington, DC with U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger of Minnesota. From 1993 through 2010 he held various positions at The Corps Network, the association of the nation’s service and conservation corps, ultimately as Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Operations.
- Education: B.A., Saint John’s University in Collegeville, MN, History; M.A., The George Washington University, Legislative Affairs
- Personal interests: Baseball, live music and theater
- Favorite tree: American elm
Beth Volk - Business Manager
202.349.1906
- Professional history: Experience working in financial and office management for over 25 years.
- Education: B.A., Miami University, Architecture
- Personal interests: Arts, crafts, reading, hiking
- Favorite tree: Maple
Andrew Schichtel - Business Associate
202.833.4010 ext: 110
- Professional history: Most recently worked at Schichtel’s Nursery Oregon, Inc.
- Education: B.S. in International Economics and B.A. in Finance from The Catholic University of America
- Personal interests: Travel, music, reading, running, spending time with friends and family
- Favorite tree: Sweetgum
Toni Frazier - Office Manager
202.349.1900
- Professional history: Over 20 years of office administration, management and human resources experience
- Personal interests: Family, traveling, cooking/baking, good movies, books and music
- Favorite tree: Weeping willow
Charles Fiery - IT Support Specialist
202.833.4010
- Professional history: IT Director and Network Administrator at a Maryland tree care company.
- Education: B.A., University of Maryland, College Park, English; A.A., Computer Science
- Personal interests: Sailboat racing, wine (teaches wine appreciation classes at a local community college)
- Favorite tree: Saucer magnolia
Jared Powell - Director of Communications and Development
202.349.1894
- Professional history: Previous positions with the White House, Smithsonian Institution, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the City of Gahanna.
- Education: B.A., American University, Public Communications; M.A., Ohio State University, Public Policy and Management, and a Masters in City and Regional Planning
- Personal interests: Smart City Planning, historic preservation, traveling, good food, live music, discovering new Third Places
- Favorite tree: Eucalyptus
Christopher Horn - Communications Associate
202.349.1902
- Professional history: Previous communications positions with HNTB Corporation, The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the University of Kansas Department of Special Education, and Real Simple.
- Education: B.S. University of Kansas, Journalism
- Personal interests: Reading, writing, cooking, exploring new neighborhoods, eating at good restaurants, museums, the performing arts, playing and watching tennis, traveling.
- Favorite tree: Willow oak
Oliver Pattison - Communications Associate
202.349.1898
- Professional History: Worked as an intern at American Farmland Trust in online communications and outreach. Also worked in non-profit development for the Aspen Institute and the Newseum, and as an organizer for Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign.
- Education: B.A., College of William and Mary, Government
- Personal interests: Mobile technology, the internet, photography, exploring DC, live music
- Favorite tree: Pin oak
Mark DeSantis - Development Associate
202.833.9125
- Professional History: Worked as a Development Assistant at Island Press, a non-profit environmental publisher in Washington, D.C. Also worked as a marketing intern for the Cancer Support Community, as well as several public relations agencies around the city.
- Education: B.A., American University, Public Communications
- Personal interests: Traveling, snowboarding, skiing, cooking, learning new languages
- Favorite tree: White ash
Tom Buckley - Director of Technical Services & Research (Formerly Geographic Resources)
202.349.1905
- Professional History: Previous positions at the World Bank, Geocommons and FortiusOne
- Education: B.A. Cornell University; M.A. George Washington University, Geography
- Personal interests: Geography, Ruby, DC, OpenStreetMap, Urban Design
- Favorite tree: Baobab
Michael Potts - GIS Specialist
202.349.1897
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Professional History: Previous positions at the U.S. National Park Service, collaborative projects with U.S.G.S. and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; GIS Internship at Washington College
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Education: B.S. Texas A&M University, Geography; M.S. Texas A&M University, Geography
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Personal interests: Bicycling, Map Design, Painting
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Favorite tree: Blackjack oak
Sue Erhardt - Director of Education
202.349.1903
- Professional history: Has spent the last 12 years working with tree planting not-for-profits training and directing volunteers.
- Education: B.S., Michigan State University, Environmental Studies; M. A., University of Michigan, Dearborn, Environmental Studies
- Credentials: Innovation in Education Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for the TreeKeepers Kids program in Detroit, Michigan
- Personal interests: Travel
- Favorite tree: Redbud (spring); Sugar maple (fall)
Priscilla Plumb - Education Coordinator
pbocskor@caseytrees.org
202.349.1896
- Professional history: Worked as the Organization Manager and Outreach Coordinator for Fairfax ReLeaf.
- Education: B.S., James Madison University, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences; M.S., Virginia Tech, Urban Forestry
- Personal interests: Travel, cooking, hiking, being outside
- Favorite tree: White oak
Liz Ball - Volunteer Coordinator
lball@caseytrees.org
202.349.1907
- Professional history: Worked as an education intern at Casey Trees and American Forests. Also served as an AmeriCorps*VISTA in Olympia, WA coordinating service-learning projects for college students.
- Education: B.S., University of Tennessee, Plant Sciences
- Personal interests: Biking, traveling, backpacking, national parks
- Favorite tree: Tulip tree (state tree of Tennessee!)
Maisie Hughes - Director of Planning and Design
202.349.1893
- Professional history: Worked for Casey Trees as an Inventory Team Leader, Outreach Coordinator, Special Projects Assistant and Internship Coordinator. Also served as the Landscape Architect and Environmental Designer for Morgan State University and administered urban environmental programs for the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, DC Parks and Recreation, and the Greater Washington Urban League.
- Education: B.A., Howard University, Afro-American Studies; M.L.A., Morgan State University, Landscape Architecture
- Credentials: ISA Certified Arborist, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) member
- Personal interests: Drawing, canoeing, swimming
- Favorite tree: Sweet gum
Lisa Morris - Planning Associate
202.349.1892
- Professional history: Worked as a community planner for the City of Baltimore Department of Planning. Previously worked on various planning and community projects in Detroit, MI.
- Education: B.A., Oberlin College, Sociology; M.U.P., University of Michigan, Urban and Regional Planning
- Personal interests: Bike touring, cooking, hiking, scrabble, cribbage
- Favorite tree: American sycamore
Jim Woodworth - Director of Tree Planting
202.349.1904
- Professional history: Worked previously with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on restoring the Anacostia River through environmental advocacy, promoting the watershed approach, low impact development, and storm water management - including the report entitled “Out of the Gutter - Reducing Polluted Runoff in the District of Columbia.” Also, practiced urban and community forestry for four years with Urban Resources Initiative in New Haven, CT.
- Education: M.S., Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Environmental Management
- Credentials: ISA Certified Arborist
- Accolades: Awarded 2009 ISA Gold Leaf Award for Outstanding Landscape Beautification Activities
- Personal interests: Running, biking and family
- Favorite tree: Tulip tree
Sara Turner - Urban Forestry Manager
202.349.1890
- Professional history: Worked as the Casey Trees RiverSmart Homes coordinator in 2010. Interned with the City of Cambridge, Department of Public Works, the Naperville Parks District, and the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, in Ann Arbor.
- Education: B.A., Murray State University, Fine Arts; M.S., University of Michigan, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture
- Credentials: ISA Certified Arborist
- Personal interests: Running, cooking, painting
- Favorite tree: Sassafras
Mike Ferguson - Urban Forestry Crew Chief
202.833.4010
- Professional history: Worked as a field technician for a study with the American Oystercatcher. Also interned in the Public Policy office at the National Audubon Society. Mike is also in the indie-rock band Le Loup. The group recently recorded an album and toured the U.S.
- Education: B.A., Saint Joseph’s University, Environmental Science
- Credentials: Currently pursuing ISA arborist certification
- Personal Interests: Listening to and making music, bird watching, preparing (and consuming) baked goods and pastries
- Favorite Tree: White pine
Edward Bell - Urban Forestry Crew Chief
202.833.4010
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Professional history: Worked for Groundworks Anacostia supervising tree planting activities along a 25-mile stretch along the George Washington Parkway.
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Education: A.A. in Urban Studies, 1996; and currently pursuing my Bachelors at University of the District of Columbia
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Personal Interests: Camping and the outdoors and sports including basketball, football, and soccer
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Favorite Tree: Red oak
Jabbari Brew - Urban Forestry Crew Member
202.833.4010
- Professional history: Worked on Mayor Fenty's Summer Green Program and was one of the first supervisors for the Mayor's Clean Environment Incentive.
- Education: Enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia
- Credentials:.Currently pursuing ISA arborist certification
- Personal Interests: Planting trees, music (also a DJ), reading, politics
- Favorite Tree: Sweet Gum
Josh Singer - Urban Forestry Crew Member
202.833.4010
- Professional history: Created and implemented experiential learning programs for troubled youths, taught Intervention English to students with behavioral problems and learning disabilities, and worked for a wilderness therapy organization for troubled youths. Also worked on the Obama campaign and for CARE, a women’s humanitarian organization. Previous experience working with landscaping crews.
- Education: M.A., George Mason University, History (pending)
- Credentials: Currently pursuing ISA arborist certification
- Accolades: Received the Middletown, OH Service Scholarship for Volunteer Work
- Personal Interests: Backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, gardening
- Favorite Tree: Redwood
Neil Irvin - Urban Forestry Crew Member
202.833.4010
- Professional history: Graduated from the University of Florida in 2008 with a B.A. in elementary education and a minor in special education. Worked at Monroe County School in the Florida Keys, and at a wilderness boarding school for at-risk teenagers in central Virginia. Relocated to DC and volunteer at a bicycle co-op in Old Town Alexandria when not working on the Casey Trees bike crew.
- Education: B.A., University of Florida, Elementary Education
- Personal Interests: Customizing and fixing bicycles, volunteering in the community, racing bicycles
- Favorite Tree: Orange tree
Katie Heffernan - Arborist Auditor
202.349.1891
- Professional history: Worked with small, organic gardening businesses doing design, installation and maintenance of residential properties in Washington, D.C., and was employed on the garden staff at the U.S. National Arboretum. Prior to her plant life, she was an editor at a city guide, writing bar and restaurant reviews in Los Angeles and New York.
- Education: B.A., University of Southern California, Creative Writing; Graduate Certificate in Landscape Design, George Washington University.
- Personal Interests: Biking, backpacking, handywork, sourdoughs and ferments, playing banjo, making art
- Favorite Tree: American beech
Contact
Casey Trees
3030 12th Street NE
Washington, DC 20017
p 202.833.4010 • f 202.833.4092
