Don Richards | Applied Horticultural Consulting, Inc.
Don Richards is the President and Owner of Applied Horticultural Consulting, Inc. in Lake Oswego and Co-owner of Sauvie Island Ornamentals, a wholesale tree nursery on Sauvie Island. His consulting firm works with landscape architects, government agencies, contractors and nurseries on a wide range of local, national and international projects. Don also serves as the U.S. Managing Partner of the Plant Trading Network and as a member of Oregon Association of Nurseries. With degrees in nursery management and landscape architecture and over 30 years of experience in horticulture, Don is an invaluable resource to the Verde Nursery enterprise.
Scott Fogarty | Friends of Trees
Scott Fogarty is Executive Director for Friends of Trees, a non-profit organization that aims to build community through urban tree planting and natural area restoration. Scott has a long history of environmental conservation and preservation, activism and policymaking. He previously served as Executive Director for Friends of Opal Creek where he helped finalize federal wilderness legislation for the Opal Creek Wilderness and Scenic Recreation Area. Currently, he serves on Portland’s Planning and Sustainability Cabinet, Gresham’s Urban Forestry Commission, Verde’s Nursery Advisors, and the boards of Willamette Riverkeeper, Alliance for Community Trees, and orlo. His passions are camping with his two daughters, whitewater kayaking, gardening and the arts.
Mark Griswold Wilson | Board Liaison
Mark Wilson has been cultivating his expertise in the arts and sciences of horticulture, environmental and science education, and ecological restoration and management for over three decades. He currently serves as restoration ecologist for the Lower Willamette watershed with Portland Parks and Recreation, where he oversees environmental restoration projects in Portland's natural area parks. As a lifelong practitioner and educator, he has made presentations throughout the Pacific Northwest and organized trainings and seminars under the auspices of Cascadia Landscape, the Society for Ecological Restoration, and the Society of Wetland Scientists. Mark's extensive experience and expertise makes him an asset to Verde's Board. He is the Board liaison to the Verde Nursery Advisors.
Jean Fike | East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District
A botanist by training, Jean is currently serving as executive director of the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. Previous positions include Ecological Service Chief for the Pennsylvania DCNR and state coordinator for the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. She brings to her work with Verde a dedication to practical solutions that advance equity, improve ecosystem health and strenghten the local economy.
John Long | Portland Parks and Recreation
John currently is a horticulturist with Portland Parks and has worked with the city for over 10 years. He runs a native plant nursery at Mt. Tabor Park and brokers plant material for projects requiring ornamental plants. Prior to that he was with a clematis and ground cover grower for 17 years. John's initial nursery experience was with a large wholesale nursery for seven years during the late 70's to early 80's where he started as a general nursery worker and worked for the last 2 years as plant department manager. He likes being outside, biking, hiking and kayaking.
Nestor Campos is originally from Venezuela, where he trained as an agricultural engineer. He worked on several organic farming projects before coming to the United States. Nestor has worked for Verde since November 2005, applying his interest in plant physiology to learn about and care for plants native to the Pacific Northwest. In addition to developing the nursery, Nestor is involved in Verde's outreach and landscape endeavors. He obtained his Landscaping Contractors License in 2007 and also holds a commercial herbicide applicator license. During his time off, he likes to hike, cross-country ski, and travel to national parks.