MAA NEWS March 2020_w | Page 9

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