KN LANDSCAPE CONSULTING
MY STORY
I've called San Francisco, California my home for most of my life, spending my time planting, growing and striving to improve the city around me. Cultivating an urban forest in a land of sand dunes and fog has forged my identity, instilling values of resilience, altruism, and unwavering determination.
I am a landscape architect, licensed in California, and arborist, certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. I have contributed significantly to implementing large-scale landscape architectural projects and local urban forestry initiatives, spearheading innovative programs, fostering collaborative partnerships with key community stakeholders and supervising multi-disciplinary teams. I currently sit on the San Francisco Urban Forest Council.
My long career in nonprofit organizations has been guided by a strong commitment to service leadership. I came to landscape architecture and urban forestry after a career in social work, providing social services to homeless and disabled adults who were transitioning into permanent housing. This experience gave me a solid foundation for working with people from all walks of life and instilled in me the importance of building meaningful connections, enhancing the quality of life for all, and leveraging collaborations to discover innovative solutions for complex challenges.
I've crossed the streets of San Francisco on bike and foot, leaving behind a trail of flourishing trees and vibrant gardens. I'm happiest exploring both near and far, with a backpack, map and a ridiculous hat. I can’t get through the day without reading a good book, biking to the ocean and listening to community-supported radio.
RESUME
2010 - current
KN Landscape Consulting
Principal and Independent Contractor
Provides project management, program development and professional development services to urban forestry non-profit organizations. Provides landscape architecture services including preliminary design drawings, city submittals packages, and complete construction documents for all phases of design & construction of small to large-scale commercial and residential projects. Advise property owners on fire-wise planning, defensible space and wildfire preparedness in fire-prone areas.
2024 - current
Urban & Community Forestry Society
Program & Education Manager
Advancing the profession of urban and community forestry by leading the strategic planning, design and implementation of professional development programming for UCFS members.
2021- 2024
Urban & Community Forestry Society
2023 • Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) Focus Year Administrator, developed the Focus Year implementation plan and outreach strategy for the premier leadership training. Convened an advisory committee to review and update the Institute goals, objectives and curriculum and led the revision of the Institute curriculum in collaboration with a planning committee made up of MFI education facilitators. On-site program support in February 2024.
2022 • MFI Coordinator, including participant registration, preparation of curriculum and materials, grant funding, scholarship and tuition payments, and training logistics.
2010 - 2022
Friends of the Urban Forest
2020 • Vice President of Operations, responsible for high-level strategic planing, program development, and program supervision to ensure all goals and objectives were met. Led the expansion of operations, programs, facilities, policies and procedures and data management systems. Oversaw multi-million dollar city, state and federal grant proposals, monitoring and reporting. Directed robust and successful urban forestry, green infrastructure and workforce development programs.
2019 • Program Director, developed city-wide partnerships for the expansion of street tree planting, watering and early tree care. Led the expansion of programs and ensured that grant funding deliverables were met. Represented FUF at City Hall, the State Capitol and in 2019, the international World Forum on Urban Forestry in Italy.
2015 • Assistant Program Director, joined the senior management team and developed new systems for hiring, evaluating program outcomes and employee performance. In the lead up to the vote on Prop E in 2016, that funded the care of street trees, prepared the foundation for expanding urban forestry, green infrastructure and workforce development programs.
2010 • Sidewalk Landscape Program Manager, returned to oversee the fledgling sidewalk landscape program, grant writing, reporting. Transformed a pilot project into a fully funded and popular program.
2001 • Planting Manager, coordinated the planting of 1,000 street trees, primarily in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Conducted community engagement, coordinated contractors, purchased healthy plant material and supervised volunteer-based tree plantings.
2005 - 2009
Van Dorn AbedLandscape Architects
Landscape Designer
Produced preliminary design drawings, city submittals packages and complete construction documents for large-scale landscape architecture projects in California
1993 - 2000
Episcopal Community Services
Case Manager
Provided direct social services and support for homeless and disabled adults transitioning into permanent housing. Supervised a team of case managers in supportive housing.
EDUCATION
2004
UC Berkeley Extension
Landscape Architecture Certificate
San Francisco, CA
1993
University of Cincinnati
Bachelor of Social Work
Cincinnati, OH
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Landscape Architect Lic. 6471
CA Licensed Landscape Architect
WE-15193A
ISA Certified Arborist
2024 - 2026
City of San Francisco
San Francisco Urban Forestry Council
Appointed Member
2023 - current
Urban & Community Forestry Society
Mentorship Program
Mentor
2021 - current
Urban & Community Forestry Society
Municipal Forestry Institute
Education Facilitator
2017
Urban & Community Forestry Society
Municipal Forestry Institute
Graduate
FEATURE
UCFS City Trees Publication, Sept/Oct 20, Vol 61 #5
