M E M B E R
S P O T L I G H T
In this issue’s Member Spotlight, we catch up with Julie Coop, Urban and Community Forestry State
Program Coordinator for MA Department of Conservation and Recreation. Julie works with municipalities
and nonprofit groups across all of Massachusetts in protecting, growing, and managing their community
trees and forests through grant programs, technical assistance and training.
When did you join MAA?
Good question! I’m pretty sure that
I joined right after I took the exam
and passed it in 1997. What a day
that was, taking the exam at the
Waltham Field Station in that large
classroom! The anxiety level was
pretty high in there.
What was your first job in the
industry?
Fresh out of college, I returned
to Massachusetts from the Uni-
versity of Wisconsin and started
working for a perennial whole-
sale nursery in Wayland.
Where did you go from there?
From there I went to the Case
Estates in Weston, a suburban
satellite site for the Arnold
p
o
Arboretum with herbaceous
o
C
Julie
m Coordinator
ra
og
Pr
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at
and woody plant displays as
St
unity Forestry
eation
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Urban & Comm
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well as plant nurseries. When
va
nser
MA Dept. of Co
the Case Estates shut down in
1992, I was transferred into Boston at the
Arnold Arboretum. In 2009 I began my
career with the DCR in the Asian Long-
horned Beetle Program.
Who was your mentor when you were
first starting out in the business, and
why?
Rick Sawyer. I worked for him at Weir
Meadow Nursery. Anything I did not pick
up from my dad, in regards to a good
work ethic and working smart, I learned
from Rick. Rick opened my eyes to the to
the wide world of plants and taught me
a lot about how to grow, propagate and
identify woody and herbaceous plants.
He also exposed me to the various plant
societies and got me involved with them.
He showed me the trees and the forest.
whether it is at the local, national or inter-
national level and give back. Volunteer!
Since the beginning of your career, what
is the biggest change you’ve seen in the
tree care industry?
I'm going to mention two items, safety
and help. Safety was lacking back in the
day and I consider myself lucky to have
survived without injury. I guess we all
thought that we were invincible (at least I
did). And today, help is lacking. The work
force has dwindled and it's challenging to
find people to even apply for jobs in this
industry!
What’s your favorite tree? Why?
Is this a trick question? Maybe because
they are in bloom right now, I am going
to pick an apple tree. It has to be an old,
multi-stemmed, gnarly one and not
pruned for fruit production. They have
lots of character and of course, with the
fruit and flowers, they are a bonus to
enjoy!
What’s your favorite/most useful
technology?
My smartphone. It’s so versatile. I’m able
to stay connected with others and all of
the apps allow me to do my job so much
more efficiently and easily.
What have you enjoyed most about
being an MAA member?
The people, the networking, the educa-
tional offerings, and of course the rally
around Arbor Day!
Is there anything else you’d like to
share with your fellow MAA members?
Share your passion and knowledge with
others. Be a mentor!
What advice would you share with
people starting out in arboriculture
today?
Get involved with folks in the industry,
MAA NEWS / June 2019 13