2 0 2 0 V I S TA A w a r d
VISTA Award to be presented at
April 21 Meeting
The VISTA award is the most important
honor the association can bestow upon one
of its members. It was conceived to recognize
truly outstanding tree care professionals
whose acts and deeds serve as a guide and
challenge for all members of the industry.
The award’s title is an acronym for V ision,
I ntegrity, S ervice, T alent, and A ction –
the leadership qualities inherent in all
award recipients.
This year’s VISTA Award will go to industry veteran and volunteer
extraordinaire Andy Felix, MCA , owner of Tree Tech, Foxboro, MA.
We hope many of you can join us in celebrating Andy and his
many achievements, as well as his countless contributions.
MAA Dinner Meeting • Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Ken’s Steakhouse • Framingham, MA.
VISTA Award Recipients
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Mark Tobin, MCA
Ron Despres, MCA
Matt Foti, MCA
Dennis Ryan, MCA
Will Maley, MCA
M. Virginia Wood
George Mellick, MCA
Henry Davis III, MCA ( RET .)
Cricket Vlass, MCA
Carl A. Cathcart, MCA
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2016
2017
2018
2019
James Abusamra, MCA
Ellis Allen, MCA
Robert Childs
Mike Lueders, MCA , MCLP
Scott McPhee, MCA
Ron Yaple, MCA
Lenny Cleaves, MCA
Bob Greymont, MCA ( RET .)
Richard Herfurth, MCA
I N D U S T R Y
N E W S
Happy Retirement Ken!
Ken Gooch, MCA , Director of Forest Health at the Massachu-
setts Department of Conservation, has retired. Ken generously
shared his more than three decades worth of knowledge at MAA
and other green industry events across the region on a regular
basis. While at DCR, Ken supported partnerships on projects
bridging Forest Health and Urban and Community Forestry,
including a recent grant on emerald ash borer outreach. The
MAA wishes Ken the very best in retirement.
t t t
New Staff at TCIA
Four new staff members joined TCIA as member engagement
coordinators. Their responsibility is to maintain exceptional
satisfaction for current members as well as to cultivate new
members. Kim Bush will be the new coordinator for the North-
east. She comes to TCIA with more than 20 years’ experience
working with business owners in sales and marketing. Welcome
Kim!
t t t
TREE Fund names new President/CEO
The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE
Fund) has named Russell King its new president and CEO.
King’s hire follows an extensive national search to replace J. Eric
Smith who recently retired. King is a seasoned nonprofit execu-
tive with 25 years’ experience in the public sector, including
multiple chief-executive roles. The TREE Fund is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of
new knowledge in urban forestry and arboriculture.
t t t
IN MEMORIAM
Wesley H. Osborne Jr., age 96, of Norwell passed away on November 15,
2019 surrounded by his loving family. Wes worked for many years as the
tree warden for the Town of Norwell. He was an active member and past
president of both the Southeastern Tree Wardens’ & Arborists’ Association
and the Massachusetts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association. In 2001,
Wes received the MTWFA’s prestigious George E. Stone Founders Award for
Excellence in Arboriculture.
Wes Osborne
Memorial donations to honor Wes may be made to:
Norwell VNA & Hospice, 120 Longwater Dr., Norwell, MA. 02061 or to
Friends of the Norwell Council on Aging, PO Box 699, Norwell, MA. 02061.
MAA NEWS / March 2020 9