Meet the Crew! New Staff Introduction

In true Casey-Tree-fashion, we wanted to keep you up-to-date on what we’ve been up to, and give you a look inside Casey Trees. Now, what better way than to introduce you to our new staff!  They’re incredibly excited to meet you:

Names:      Jessica Sanders, Director of Technical Services and Research

Stephanie Juchs, Community Education Coordinator

Timothy Hoagland, Digital and Social Media Associate

Date started: July 9th; July 16th; & July 9th

Hometowns: New Jersey; Bel Air, MD; Linden, NJ

CT: All of you will be in working in different departments and helping to lead in them in new directions.  Why don’t you guys explain that a bit?

JS: The Geographic Services department has been renamed the Technical Services and Research department to reflect its expansion into research. As such, we will be turning some of our existing programs into scientific studies to help Casey Trees and other urban forestry nonprofits become more efficient in their tree planting, care and advocacy initiatives and to advance the entire field of arboriculture.

SJ: As Technical Services and Research goes in a new direction, the Education department will be enriching its continuing education offerings, particularly for adults. In addition to broadening the scope of our classes, workshops and tree tours and bringing in experts to serve as guest speakers, I’ll be leading many of the programs.

TH: My position as Digital and Social Media Associate is brand new. I was asked to join the Communications and Development department to help grow the organization’s voice online so we can better connect with our diverse constituencies, provide real time responses to tree questions and make DC area residents aware of our many tree planting, care and advocacy programs and how they can support them.

CT: Wow, what awesome goals guys! What (and where) did you study in order to get so smart?

JS: I am currently in the process of defending my thesis for my Ph.D. in Urban Forestry at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  I attended Stockton College for Environmental Studies.

SJ: My M.S. is in Marine Estuarine Environmental Sciences from University of Maryland. I attended Rhodes College for Environmental Science.

TH: I studied psychology and philosophy at American University for undergrad. My social media experience comes from organizing online campaigns for several website startups.

CT:  How did you guys learn about Casey Trees and what drew you to your positions?

JS: I presented at an International Society of Arboriculture conference in St. Louis during graduate school and was introduced to a Casey Trees’ staff member. When I started my job search afterwards, I focused in on non-profits. Casey Trees, as the gold standard of tree-focused environmental non-profits, made choosing to work here a no-brainer.

SJ: I had a similar experience. A college friend who had volunteered with Casey Trees introduced me to the organization. After having worked for an environmental consulting firm for a while I wanted to do more community outreach and engage with a diverse number of people on a regular basis.

TH: Good old fashioned research. I have always been someone who is cause-driven and after doing my homework on Casey Trees was and what they did (and attending a “First Friday” or two), I was hooked.  What incredible people!

CT: Okay guys, here are the really tough questions – rapid fire.. Favorite tree?

JS: Oh, this is definitely a loaded question – a corkscrew willow (Salix matsudana, ‘Tortuosa’) or a magnolia tree (Magnoliaceae)!

SJ: Musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana)!

TH: The Aristocrat Flowering Pear tree (Pyrus calleryana ‘Aristocrat’)! I’ve never seen one in real life!

CT: Favorite food from a tree?

JS: Vanilla bean!

SJ: Walnuts!

TH: Golden delicious apples!

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