THE LEAFLET

Continuing in our celebration of Women’s History Month, today we’re highlighting Gaby Elliott, one of our Urban Foresters here at Casey Trees! Recently, we spoke with Gaby to learn more about her role helping homeowners receive free trees and get some advice for women interested in forestry. Watch the video below or read the full interview below!

Casey Trees (CT): Who are you and what do you do at Casey Trees?

Gaby Elliott (GE): My name is Gaby Elliott. I’m an urban forester with Casey Trees. So, it’s kind of my job to make sure the plantings run smoothly for our crews and to make sure we’re planting the right trees in the right place.

(CT): How did you get interested in forestry?

(GE): I studied ecology in college, so that got me interested in ecosystems in the first place. I’ve always liked science and I’ve always loved trees- just on a personal front. So, when I was studying ecology, I was introduced to a bunch of different ecosystems. I studied at the University of Pittsburgh and since it’s in a city the nonprofits that were around and that I could intern with, dealt with urban forestry a lot of times.

After that, I loved urban forestry so much, I loved forestry specifically so much, that I got a master’s degree in forest resources and conservation. And that just emboldened me and made me love forestry even more. But specifically, the challenges that trees in urban settings face.

(CT): What is your favorite part of the job?

(GE): My favorite part of the job, ironically, is when I actually get to go out and help plant the trees and see them go in the ground and see a plan that I put together come to life.

It takes a lot of planning, a lot of coordination, and a lot of communication with so many different parties to make planting projects happen. So, it’s really satisfying to have a project culminate all of that planning and to come together to culminate in a tree being planted on the ground, and seeing the actual physical thing come alive.

(CT) In contrast, what are some challenges you face?

(GE): I think just in general, probably a lot of other women will understand this- I definitely have some imposter syndrome. I think I have to sometimes pep my myself up and talk myself up before a big meeting or site visit where I’m the expert and I’m supposed to know what’s going on and remind myself that I do know what’s going on and I am an expert. So, that’s probably the hardest thing for me is just kind of, you know, my own personal demons.

(CT): Any advice to women who might be scared or nervous to join a “man’s industry”?

(GE): I think that diversity is just really important and it’s not just something I think- Science has proven diversity is good and it helps everybody. So, if you are nervous about entering a field where it looks like there aren’t people like you there, that means that your perspective, your experiences, your thoughts are going to be so much more valuable in that space because they’re not there already. I would say that those are the gems of industries to get into because you know you’re going to make a huge impact.

(CT): What is your favorite tree?

(GE): So, it changes all the time. But one of my very favorites is Ginkgo, which is controversial because it’s so smelly, but I just love that it’s prehistoric and it’s been around since the dinosaurs, and I love the shape of the leaves. They’re just one of my favorites. You know, if you haven’t sometime recently, go hug a tree! It’ll light your heart on fire and reignite your love for nature.