Super Ascenders! Arborist Panel March 24, 2022

Paige Belfry, Certified Arborist, Co-Owner and Lead Climber at Ooh La La Arboriculture and Fine Pruning
Paige grew up in the Pacific Northwest camping and exploring, and developed an affinity for nature so early on that her family found it difficult to remove the slug slime from her hands on family trips in the woods. In continuing her exploration of the natural world, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in biology and spent summers interning with the Rhododendron Species Botanic Garden. As her knowledge about trees grew, so did her curiosity, so she began to study trees intensively and began professionally climbing trees to diagnose their issues and perform work on them. She became an ISA Certified Arborist and is a certified climber through Arboriculture Canada. Paige’s biggest passion in her work is keeping trees healthy, and in doing so, helping others learn about the awesome complex system of nature that supports tree health.

Connor McDermott, Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessor at Tree Solutions, Inc.
Connor has been in the landscape industry for 9 years and specializes in ecosystem restoration and fine pruning. He initially discovered his love for horticulture and pruning working with the “Princess of Pruning” herself– Cass Turnbull, founder of Plant Amnesty. His years in the field include working as a climbing arborist, as well as with restoration crews throughout the Puget Sound region. He is an ISA Certified Arborist (PN-8704A), Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, and Plant Amnesty Master Pruner.

Deb Powers, Urban Forest Planner, City of Edmonds
Deb’s winding career path really starts with growing up outdoors, gardening, and climbing trees in FL. She got a degree in graphic design and moved west, eventually landing in the Seattle area to complete the Horticulture Program at Lake WA Technical College, so she could pursue work in landscape design. She designed gardens at Swanson’s Nursery, managed the nursery at the flagship Smith & Hawken store then worked as grounds crew at Children’s Hospital (with Sue Buckles before she retired). It was there that Deb got back into climbing and taking care of trees, occasionally working with Chip Kennaugh. She became a Certified Arborist and was on the SDOT and Seattle Parks tree crews before working for Urban Forestry Services and Tree Solutions. She was Kirkland’s Urban Forester for 13 years until more recently with the City of Edmonds.

Allen Taylor, Certified Master Arborist, founder and owner Conservation Tree Care
Allen Taylor spends his life up high in the trees. He has ten years full-time experience in the field of Arboriculture. He holds a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification and is a Board Certified Master Arborist from the International Society of Arboriculture, as well as being a Registered Consulting Arborist from the American Society of Consulting Arborists. He is the founder and lead arborist for Conservation Tree Care in Seattle, and holds a BS in Forestry from the University of Vermont. Allen has extensive experience working with residential and commercial clients to manage all aspects of tree care. These include tree risk and health assessment, planting site selection, tree species and planting stock selection as well as pruning and other care for trees of all ages and sizes. He has worked extensively to remedy hazardous trees or tree parts through pruning or removal.
In addition, Allen brings his enormous energy and deep knowledge to PlantAmnesty as current Chair of the Tree Programs Committee. He organizes the annual Arbor Day Prune, in which PlantAmnesty Referral Service arborists volunteer at a public garden or other deserving site, providing much needed pruning and maintenance to places that often do not have the funds to maintain their majestic old trees. He leads the annual Arborist Work Day donation event in which arborists forgo part of their fee and their clients donate directly to PlantAmnesty. His knowledge and insight keep PlantAmnesty on the cutting edge of arboricultural practice.