The Georgia Arborist Association is a resource for tree owners and tree professionals.

PRESIDENT

Logan is a Board Certified Master Arborist at Peachtree Arborists. He has worked in sales for Arbor Equity, worked with the Georgia Forestry Commission to help develop tree ordinances and Tree City USA programs, and with the US Fish and Wildlife to establish and maintain endangered species habitat. Logan has dual bachelor's degrees in Forestry and Parks Management. He has served two terms as a delegate for GAA and two terms as Vice President.

VICE PRESIDENT

An Atlanta native, Dave first began his career as a laborer in the private landscaping industry before developing a more specialized interest in arboriculture and natural resource management in urban areas. He currently holds ISA and TRAQ certifications, a bachelors in environmental science and has in the urban forestry field for five years. Dave currently serves as a community forestry specialist for the Georgia Forestry Commission, and is honored to begin serving on GAA's board.

SECRETARY

Amanda has worked in the green industry for more than nine years. She began her career reviewing tree plans for Clark Patterson Lee (CPL) as a consultant for a Metro Atlanta city. She has been the City Arborist for five cities in the Atlanta area. Today she continues her career with CPL and is the acting City Arborist for two Metro Atlanta cities. She was responsible for obtaining the Tree City USA status for a City in the Atlanta Area. Amanda is an ISA Board Certified Arborist, a GSWCC Level 1B Erosion Control Inspector and manages a team of inspectors for multiple Metro Cities and is a GSWCC Tan Level Reviewer. She assists multiple cities with their Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) programs and the yearly GA EPD requirements. Amanda is also an NPDES Certified Stormwater Inspector. She is the current Vice President of Women Arborists of the Southeast. This is her second term on the Board.

TREASURER

Kay Evanovich is currently the City of Decatur Georgia Arborist and has held an International Society of Arboriculture Certification (ISA) as an Arborist for 20 years. Kay holds a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the ISA. Kay has taken numerous courses of study in environmental issues and tree/forest health thru the University of Georgia, Center for Continuing Education and the Warnell school of Forestry beginning in 1999. As a municipal and consulting Arborist Kay has been performing tree health assessments and tree valuations and reviewing plans and permits for the general public since 2005. Currently Kay is on GAA's Board and teaches the Certified Arborists training course for the GAA. Kay is an avid Soccer fan and enjoys watching games with family and friends.

EXECUTIVE DIECTOR

Jessie joined GAA as executive director in January 2024. She previously worked as the minister of culture for New Urban Forestry (2011-2024). Jessie earned her ABJ from the Grady College at the University of Georgia and also holds BA in Anthropology from UGA. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, #SO-10295A, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and holds a drone pilot license. In a previous life she was a Braille transcriber. In her spare time, if she’s not reading, she likes to run in the woods, go on mountain bike travel adventures with her husband Jason and son, Koah, and hang upside down on a trapeze at Canopy. Jessie has served on GAA's Board, and she has been heavily involved in the GAA for many years volunteering with the annual Tree Climbing Championship.

PROJECT MANAGER

Helen joined GAA in 2021. She manages GAA's social media and works on various projects and programs throughout the year, including TCC. Previously she worked in corporate communications with The Coca-Cola Company for more than 15 years, in areas ranging from speechwriting to public relations to social media. She's happy to be a part of the tree family now!

I have dedicated over half of my life to the tree care industry. My journey began at the young age of 19, when he stepped into the world of arboriculture. As the CEO of Arborforce Tree Services and Greenforce Recycling Corp, I lead with a vision of sustainable practices and community impact. My companies provide essential tree care services, ensuring the health and longevity of urban forests. Whether it’s pruning, removals, or recycling, my team tackles each task with precision and care. Being an ISA certified arborist combines scientific knowledge with practical expertise. I understands the delicate balance between aesthetics, safety, and ecological well-being. My bilingual abilities allow me to connect with a diverse customer, bridging language gaps and fostering trust.

Maria is a legacy environmental scientist based out of Atlanta, Georgia. They are currently pursuing a degree in environmental spatial analysis and are a student researcher sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Maria has worked with organizations such as Chattahoochee River Keepers, Trees Atlanta, Georgia Climate Project, Color my Outdoors, and other Atlanta based green organizations working to advance environmental equity through collaboration on eco centered solutions.

David has served as Husqvarna Territory Manager since July 2003. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and is TRAQ certified. He is the president of Georgia Tree Masters, and also president of Arbor Pro Consulting.

Christie started her green industry career as a Landscaper and while getting her degree in Environmental Horticulture. She has also trained as a Horticultural Therapist and ran the Tree Health care division of Gunnison Tree Specialists. Christie decided to open her own consulting business where she could focus on becoming a better advocate for both the property owners and the trees.

John started college at a small school in New Hampshire and transfer to S.U. N.Y Alfred to study horticulture. After an extra semester and graduation, he went to Central Park, NYC, to climb trees. The rest of the tree crew was Cambodian and, even with a language barrier, they got along great. A highlight of his time there was attending a Cambodian wedding. He left NYC and headed to Maine. He lived in the Portland area for 15 years. He met my wife Sue in 1999 and started his career with Bartlett Tree Experts in 2002. They stayed in the area, but after a record snow fall year (144 inches!), they decided to move south. They started on Hilton Head Island and were in Tallahassee within 18 months, where they lived for five years; they moved to Atlanta in 2015 and now call Lilburn home with their two dogs (Bella and Bear) and cat (Ninja). John has enjoyed his 30+ years working with trees.

Joelette has no kids but has been blessed to help care for her four nephews & one niece that she loves dearly. She has one Goddaughter and one Godson. Youth have been a passion of hers, volunteering at churches, after-school programs and athletic facilities. She is a native of Toledo, OH, and has spent most of her time in Toledo and parts of Alabama. Her passion for outdoors was born when she was a young child. When she entered Alabama A&M University, her major was chemistry, but that quickly changed to Forestry Science. Her mother and brother moved Huntsville, AL, while she was in college. Alabama is where she's gotten most of her life and professional lessons that have molded her into the woman she is today. Advocating for Farmers and Ranchers throughout the Southern Region has shown her where her passion lies in this industry. Her dream is to own at least 200 acres of land to use as a research demonstration site for Sustainable Natural Resource practice. In 2023, she switched career paths and began working as Utility Arborist Technician with Georgia Power Company. This career path has been the greatest decision she's made.

James is a new board delegate for 2024-2025. He's a native of the great state of Georgia -- originally from Grayson in Gwinnett County; he currently lives in Camak, GA, near Augusta. He found his passion for the environment and trees when he moved to Colorado for school. During this time James spent many months camping in the wilderness, working for Americorps, The Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Mile High Youth Corps, U.S. Forestry Service and Bureau of Land Management, cutting fire breaks, fighting wild fires, and reclaiming burn scars caused by wildfires such as the ones in Waldo Canyon. From there he moved to utility clearance in Colorado Springs with Asplundh Tree Experts. James moved back home to GA in 2020 to be closer to the ones he cares about and began working for Boutte Tree in Atlanta, where he still works. During his time at Boutte he has become an ISA Certified Arborist as well as TRAQ certified, and he currently is on the hunt to become a Board Certified Master Arborist. James is deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow as part of a team of people dedicated to bettering trees, the people who care for them and the communities they live in.

Danae’s lifelong love for nature blossomed into a profession after witnessing the Florida Tree Climbing Championship in 2008. Fueled by newfound inspiration, she pursued expertise in tree care, obtaining various certifications in the field. Today, Danae thrives in her dream role, as an At-Height Business Developer at Redwing Rigging Solutions, providing innovative climbing and rigging equipment to small companies and large national accounts. Her work fosters safe and efficient tree care practices across the country, a perfect unity of her love for the outdoors and dedication to safety. Danae’s story is a reminder that when passion meets profession, extraordinary things happen. Her journey in the tree-care industry continues to be one marked by love, learning, and a ceaseless pursuit of excellence.

Jessi is a graduate of the Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources at UGA and has worked with Georgia Power’s Forestry and Right-of-Way Services since 2018. In her role at Georgia Power, Jessi oversees all vegetation maintenance along the distribution lines in eastern metro Atlanta. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Utility Specialist, TRAQ, Georgia Licensed Pesticide Applicator, and Georgia State Registered Forester. Outside of work, she and her husband enjoy running their small cattle farm in West Georgia.

Evan has been a Certified Arborist for 10 months, and a member of GAA for two years. He has three children -- ages 7, 6 and 3. He runs a small tree-care business in south Georgia specializing in tree climbing.