Community Forestry

Experienced ecologist with a demonstrated history of working in research, conservation, and restoration. Dr. Beck Swab oversees the Conservation and Community Forestry teams at the Holden Arboretum.

Anna Carlson is the outreach coordinator for the Working Woods Hub at Holden Arboretum. With a background in education and ecology, and a passion for conservation, she translates research findings and forest management practices into workshops, webinars, and educational programs to inspire and support local landowners in caring for their woods.

Rachel Kappler is the coordinator for partners of the Great Lakes Basin Forest Health Collaborative. She helps facilitate partners tree activities for pest-resistance breeding in current priority species, ash, American beech, American elm and eastern hemlock.

At the Holden Arboretum, Chad directs land management efforts of the Conservation department, oversees habitat restoration projects for forests, streams, successional, and wetland habitats, manages threats to Eastern hemlocks presented by hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale, and performs environmental site assessments and routine wetland delineations. He has a Bachelors of Science from Bowling Green.

Born and raised in Northern Ohio, Andy has a B.S. from Bethany College, a M.S. from the Bard Center for Environmental Policy, and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. Andy has extensive experience working in the forests of the Great Lakes region and enjoys connecting current ecological research and applied land management.

Jessica is a forestry and natural resource professional with diverse experiences and knowledge of Ohio woodland ecosystems, skilled in forest management from every part of the management cycle. She currently assists landowners as a Consulting Forester out of the Holden Arboretum, assisting private woodland owners to meet their goals to keep their forests thriving.

Patrick is the new Consulting Forester in the Working Woods Hub. Patrick holds an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Forest Management as well as Occupational Certification in Timber Harvesting and Tree Care from Hocking Technical College. Prior starting to his career at HF&G, he worked as a Procurement Forester in the hardwood lumber industry since 2017.

Becah Troutman helps landowners cultivate resilient forests through outreach and consulting forestry. With a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biology and nearly a decade of experience in natural resource management, she specializes in habitat restoration, forest stewardship, and strengthening connections between people and the land.

Mikes work focuses primarily on conservation issues related to wildlife populations and communities, though he works closely with other staff on a variety of other conservation projects.  Mike oversees several long-term wildlife monitoring projects, including breeding bird surveys and acoustic bat surveys, and coordinates Holden’s cavity nesting bird conservation program. He also helped develop Holden’s deer management plan.

Amanda Wood advocates awareness of the value of forests and trees in cities. Leading community forestry outreach through workshops and practical field experience, she promotes the social, environmental, and economic values of trees and forests to communities in northeast Ohio.