2024 Speakers
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Chrissy Balk
Plant Pathologist/Technical Advisor for Davey Tree “Tree Risk Assessment with Decay Fungi” In this session you will learn how to identify certain wood decay fungi found on urban trees and the effects each can have on a tree’s structural stability & health. Chrissy specializes in Wood Decay Fungi. Her main job duties include office support, teaching, professional presentations, outreach, research and writing/editing scientific articles. She received her undergraduate degree from St. Lawrence University in Biology, and her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in Plant Pathology. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Chrissy loves the Buffalo Bills and dogs. In her spare time, she likes to see live music, go kayaking, hiking, or anything that involves the outdoors. Leandro “Nachie” Braga Geomancer Permaculture “Permaculture” Nachie is an ecologist interested in how the complex patterns and processes of the nonhuman world can be applied towards resilience in our own society. As a permaculture designer, his work with visionary clients to implement practical infrastructure projects that deepen reciprocity with the landscape while empowering individuals and communities to intervene and take control of the material conditions of their own lives. Dr. Bill Fountain UK Professor of Arboriculture, Emeritus Extension Professor of Arboriculture and Landscape Management “Plant Installation and Maintenance” & “Tree and Plant Appraisal” Dr. Bill Fountain is a graduate of Mississippi State University (BS - Horticulture) and Louisiana State University (MS & PhD - Horticulture) and has been at the University of Kentucky since 1979 where he had an extension teaching appointment with emphasis in Arboriculture and Landscape Management. Bill has been on the ISA Board of Directors since 2000. He has served on numerous ISA committees and was selected as a True Professionals Winner in 2010. Bill is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and an ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor. He has taken two sabbatical leaves in Southeast Asia and travels there frequently to provide training for the ISA Arborist certification program and Best Management Practices. These efforts have been instrumental in leading these countries into the ISA Arborist Certification program and becoming ISA Associate Organizations. Dr. Jonathan Larson UK Department of Entomology “2023 Insect Roundup and a look at the future” Jonathan Larson is an Extension professor for the University of Kentucky who provides insect expertise for people dealing with issues in urban landscapes, turfgrasses, nursery crops, greenhouses, and households. He teaches across a variety of platforms using social media, videos, and traditional Extension publications. He is one of the co-hosts of Arthro-Pod, an entomology podcast. |
Thomas J. Nieman, PhD, FASLA, RLA
Professor Emeritus, Department of Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky “Physcology of Landscape Design” Tom Nieman has been involved in Landscape Architecture for many years as a practitioner and as an educator. As a practitioner he was reared on the Nieman Landscape Nursery in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Nieman’s had emigrated from Germany in the 1860's and Tom grew up speaking as much German as English. From there his formal education included a BLA from The Ohio State Univ, an MLA from the Univ. of Massachusetts and a PhD in Environmental Psychology from Southern Ill. Univ. Intertwined with educational pursuits was education and teaching at the university level. This included 2 years at the University of Leeds, England, one year at The Ohio State Univ., 4 years at Syracuse, ESF and 39 years (it seemed like a century at times and two years at others) at the University of Kentucky. In addition, he spent time teaching and researching in Thailand, Iran, Indonesia and Costa Rica for shorter periods of time. Having retired in 2015 from the Univ of Ky. he continues to practice on a professional basis. Some of his more notable projects have been Gainesway Farm, Summerwind Farm, and Mt. Brilliant Farm. He recently designed the”Green Cemeteries” for the Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Woodford Co. and The Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, Ky. Most recently he completed “Secretariat Park” in Paris, Kentucky. As an aside, we moved to Lexington from Syracuse in 1977 with the intention of staying five years. Right, 47 years later and here we sit. Oh yeah, by the way, we have a very successful Christmas Tree farm and we think Lexington is wonderful. Brad Smith Division of Pesticides ... Kris Stone Director, Boone County Arboretum “Tried, True, and New Trees and Shrubs” Kristopher Stone is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science (Horticultural Science). Currently, Kris is the owner of Green Vision Professional Services and Director of Boone County Arboretum, a position he has held since January of 2002. Kris is highly active in various community organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area and Ohio Valley region, building community awareness and networking for the Arboretum. He serves as immediate past President of the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council, Advisory member of Boone County Urban Forest Commission, past President and Board member of the Kentucky Invasive Plant Council, President of Taking Root, and is an ex-officio board member of Friends of Boone County Arboretum. Kris serves on the steering committee of the Theodore Klein Plant Award Selection Committee, and the Kentucky Urban Forestry Council, ensuring the Arboretum provides full support of these efforts. He also serves on various other ad hoc committees for community and state organizations when time allows. Kris is a former writer for Kentucky Gardener Magazine where he contributed monthly as the Ask the Expert columnist. Kris maintains certification as an ISA Certified Arborist, his certification number is KY-0379A. |