"Leaders don't create followers, they create more leaders. "
Tom Peters
I was a child of the eighties. I was into BMX bikes, wore a blue jean jacket, cheered for the Edmonton Oilers and liked to bang my head. Wayne Gretzky and friends were at their peak but the heroes I looked up to were the long haired heavy metal musicians.
Circus magazine and Hit Parader were where it was at. They had all the latest interviews and stories on all the wickedest bands.
The articles were always similar. They would address the question "Who were your influences?"
The influencers were the great groups of the previous generation. Usually mentioned were artists like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Cream, The Rolling Stones. As time went on it became Aerosmith, Kiss, Alice Cooper. Then more time passed and names such as ACDC, Van Halen, Motley Crue and Metallica came to the fore.
Unfortunately despite my intentions I never became the next generation heavy metal guitarist. Not even close.
Life had a different idea for me.
Life decided that I would become an arborist.
My career as an arborist has been fulfilling right from the start. I have come across outstanding leaders that have inspired me along the way.
The people that influenced my career were no rock stars but leaders of arboriculture have enormous impacts on the planet nonetheless.
The Arborists that influenced me
Judy Fakes
Judy Fakes was the head teacher at Ryde College of Horticulture in Australia where I was a student. She has been at the forefront of promoting, encouraging and teaching arboriculture in Australia for many years.Judy Fakes teachings left a big impression on me. Her list of arboriculture qualifications is long but in was her enthusiasm for passing the knowledge along that made such an impact.
It seemed that Judy's mission was to shine light on all the things that were going wrong in the urban forest. I recall the lessons she taught:
- poor planting stock
- impacts of development
- conflicts with infrastructure
- poor urban soils
- unnecessary bad practises that are far too common
Lars Shearer
Lars Shearer is the owner of Burley Boys Tree service in West Vancouver, British Columbia.He has been in the tree business for a long time. The company started as a guy with a truck and a saw and has now become a thriving and professional outfit. Lars has experienced the change in arboriculture from the days when 'anything goes' to ISA certification and high standards of workmanship.
The Pacific Northwest grows some rather large trees and Burley Boys excel in that environment.
Working with Burley Boys gave me the opportunity learn my chops in the big trees. . I learned under some extremely skilled production climbers and managed to get my own skill as a climber to a reasonably proficient level.
It was great to work with an employer than realizes that a company's success depends on the personal accomplishments of it's employees. Lars has created an environment that allows a motivated person to thrive.
Steve Whitton
Steve Whitton is the manager of the Trees and Landscape Section, part of the Planning and Development Department with the City of Surrey.Surrey has the most well developed tree protection bylaw for private property trees in Canada. And yes, I have looked at them all.
I was a tree cop; Steve Whitton was the chief of the tree police.
It's not an exaggeration to say that the work they are doing in the City of Surrey is revolutionary. Their policies are aimed at preventing unnecessary damage to trees. It's more than just talk, they follow through on their promises. Under Steve's guidance they deal with the hard questions that need to be asked and answered in a rapidly changing urban landscape.
Arboriculture in this realm is a blend of the societal, political and environmental. It's about dealing with the big picture while seeing that the correct decisions are made in the residents backyards.
More than anything Steve taught me that arboriculture is as about dealing with people as much as it is about dealing with trees.
In the process of standing up for their city's tree Steve and his team are standing up for the certified arborist. The work they are doing is pushing arboriculture forward more than ever.
Onto the next challenge
So off I go with the lessons of these arboricultural influencers to carry to the next step up the stairway. Thanks for reading. If you need me I'll either be out dealing with a tree or off playing my guitar. Don't let those dreams die.
