MEET THE TEAM
Our mission is to support our employees so they can provide our
clients with the best service possible.
Andy LaVelle
President & CEO
Andy, a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (Ornamental Horticulture, 1992) and St. Mary’s College (Executive MBA, 2011) is an ISA certified arborist with 29 years of experience in the commercial landscape and tree care industries. While at a previous company, Andy successfully led teams to build commercial tree care operations up and down the West Coast. Andy prides himself on not only his ability to spot talent, but also how to successfully integrate talented individuals into a team environment. Building and organizing things, organizations included, are Andy’s passions. Away from work, Andy enjoys building furniture, leading backpacking trips into the Sierras and playing water polo.
Matt is best known amongst his peers and clients for building strong relationships through trust and flexibility. A graduate of Western Carolina University in Biology with 20 years of industry experience, Matt has the technical knowhow to solve his clients’ arboricultural challenges and goes above and beyond to ensure their goals are met. Though Matt works with clients from all commercial real estate categories, he has made a name for himself concentrating on apartment REITs, helping many large apartment owners and their communities manage their trees. Matt loves the outdoors, spending time with his family and is and avid fisherman.
Neil is perhaps the most renowned arborist in the Bay Area, having worked with nearly all the major commercial property management companies over the past 30+ years. A graduate of Writtle University College Horticulture Program in the UK, accredited in Horticulture at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Royal Horticultural Society, Neil’s passion for arboriculture is apparent to all who work with him. When posed with challenges related to his clients’ trees, Neil’s energetic and direct approach helps get to the core of the solution efficiently and effectively – his clients love that about him. Away from work, Neil enjoys beekeeping and is a voracious reader of history.
Matt Dickinson
Executive Vice President
Neil Woolner
Executive Vice President
Doug Hagge
Vice President – Business Development
After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in Forestry 24 years ago, Doug began his career in the green industry as an inspector at Western Environmental Consultants for PG&E Vegetation Management Division. Since then, Doug has spent the last two decades working for national and regional arboriculture firms. Doug’s peers and clients agree: his hardworking, friendly, and very communicative nature sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. His clients have come to rely on his professional and attentive approach. Doug is also very active with the Building Owners and Managers Association’s East Bay chapter, where he was awarded member of the year in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, downhill skiing and attending A’s and Warrior games and live music concerts of some of his favorite bands.
George Silva
Vice President - Operations
George is deeply and universally respected for his experience in and knowledge of the commercial tree care industry. With 23 years in the field and 10 years in management, George has built the technical prowess to take on very difficult and complex operations. Similarly, his leadership skills with Arbor MD’s field staff are unparalleled – many of the employees have followed him throughout their careers. Clients can feel confident in the fact that Arbor MD has George and his teams of experts to take care of their trees. Outside of work, George enjoys spending time with his family, fishing and going to Kansas City Chiefs games.
Kris Yamaguchi
Vice President – Business Development
A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in Forestry and an industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, Kris is a highly customer focused arborist who loves to help others succeed. In fact, Kris is known amongst his peers for his teamwork and ability to collaborate on challenging projects. Because he is so concerned with meeting his clients’ needs, Kris has built strong relationships that have followed him throughout his career. Like many at Arbor MD, Kris enjoys the outdoors and can often be found deep sea fishing in the Monterey Bay, many times with others from Arbor MD.
Brenda Perez
Controller
Brenda and her department represent the backbone of Arbor MD. She and her team make sure the details of accounting and office administration act in concert to support our arborists and the clients they serve. Brenda comes to Arbor MD with extensive industry experience helping clients with their administrative needs such as vendor compliance systems, issuing certificates of insurance and lien releases and any other backend needs they may have.
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Joanna Wead
Office Manager
As the Office Manager, Joanna wears many hats. She is responsible for organizing and maintaining the team's legal documents, marketing coordination, and assisting with accounts payable and receivable to name a few. She works primarily with our CEO and Controller. Outside of work you can find Joanna on a yoga mat or in a dance studio, puttering in her garden and spending time with her young son. She loves to road trip and travel especially if it involves time swimming in a lake, river or ocean.
Wendy Zamora
Sales Support Specialist
Wendy Zamora has more than 20 years of experience in providing service to customers, vendors, and colleagues. Her team player abilities and interpersonal skills have been enhanced by supporting many departments. Her nature nurtures her most important hobby, which is spending time with her kids, family and friends.
Iram J Sandoval
PHC Operations
Iram J Sandoval is a passionate plant health care advocate. With over 17 years of experience in the tree industry, he loves learning the science behind the chemistry of plant health. Iram is well respected among his peers, and has the knowledge to take on any task put in front of him. Iram enjoys spending time with his family, going to the lake and riding his bike. He loves watching sports when he has time off.
Jose Cortez
Operations Manager
Jose is a US Army veteran with twelve years of experience the tree care industry and has an associates degree from San Francisco City College in Construction Management. Working as a Sapper – a combat engineer - during his deployment to Iraq, Jose had to handle difficult situations with a level head. That experience served him (and especially Arbor MD) very well. Jose is a consummate problem solver and leads the field employees with poise. Jose is also a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional, taught specifically how to engage employees in safe work concepts, behaviors, and practices. Besides working very hard at Arbor MD, Jose likes to build custom furniture from wood salvaged at job sites and enjoys hunting.
Marc Dunia
Operations Manager - North Bay
Marc Dunia has been in the tree care business for more than 35 years. He became an ISA Certified Arborist in 1997. Marc worked for Cagwin & Dorward Landscape and Tree Care for 21 years. At a young age Marc realized that he loved the forests and outdoors. He joined the California Conservation Corps, and then was hired on a Heli-tack crew based in Riverside to fight wildfires. He is a strong proponent of education and spends much of his time consulting and educating his clients. He loves spending time with his family at the coast, investigating weather and environmental changes in our landscapes, and taking long nature walks with his dog, Roxxy and cats, Leo and Noelle.
Jenn Hoppel
Account Manager - Sacramento
Jenn is best known for her outgoing personality and commitment to being a team player. Her degree in Social Psychology coupled with her love of the outdoors made becoming a ISA Certified Arborist a natural fit. Specializing in commercial tree care, Jenn's primary focus is to support her clients by promoting an individualized and holistic approach to their trees. With over a decade of experience in the tree care industry Jenn excels in the development of multi-year tree care plans and integrated portfolio management. When she is not working she enjoys spending time with her family, eating great food and doing yoga outside.
Kevin Chisholm
General Manager - Pacific Northwest
A graduate from San Jose State University (Finance) with over 20 years’ experience in the landscape industry and an ISA certified arborist, Kevin provides a unique approach to tree care. His love of the outdoors and natural curiosity led him to the tree industry. His background in landscape design, horticulture, plant identification, and hunger for knowledge make him the perfect fit for the throng of needs required of the Pacific Northwest urban forests. He excels in understanding the needs of his clients whether budget or arboriculture related and is not afraid to roll up his sleeves to make sure no stump is left behind and every penny is saved. When he isn't tending to timber, he enjoys coaching his three boys in baseball and hockey and loves attending live music events any chance he can.
Jessica Wolff
Arborist Assistant
Jessica graduated in 2017 with a Biology degree from University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. She has a diverse work history, from working for Department and Fish and Wildlife to teaching horseback riding lessons, and is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in her new role as Arborist Assistant. In her free time she enjoys spending time outdoors, especially with her two dogs and her horse.
Lauren Woolner
Account Manager
As a graduate from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology (concentrations in molecular farming and functional genomics), Lauren is well equipped to handle the technical challenges of arboriculture. Hardworking and detail oriented, she assists her clients by creating tree care plans and budgets while carefully considering constraints they may have. Lauren goes out of her way to make sure clients’ needs are met. In her free time, Lauren goes horseback riding and enjoys camping.
Nick Griswold
Account Manager and Mapping Specialist
Nick is an up-and-coming Account Manager who is excited to get his name out there and build relationships in the greater Bay Area. Nick graduated from University of California, Davis with a degree in Native American Studies and an emphasis on environmental conservation. Through this program, Nick developed several skills relating to carbon sequestration, traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous flora and fauna and land stewardship. Nick is passionate about conservation and environmental sustainability and works to promote his community’s efforts in lowering their carbon footprint. Though still fresh to the industry, Nick is eager to help our clients and their trees. In his free time, Nick loves to spend his time outdoors, preferably at the beach or in the high Sierras.
Noam Marcus
Estimator
Noam is the new ArborMD Estimator and Mapping specialist. Noam recently received his degree in Managerial Economics from the school of agriculture at University of California, Davis. Noam has worked in the agriculture sector primarily with livestock and wildlife. He is passionate about the environment, all things nature, and learning the intricacies of the flora and vegetation in the world around us. In his free time Noam enjoys an active lifestyle and creating art.
Sarah Dunia
Regional Sales Manager - North Bay
Sarah started in the Green Industry with Valleycrest as a Business Developer in 2007. She was recruited by Cagwin & Dorward Landscape and Tree Care in 2009 as a Regional Sales Manager, where she met her now husband, Marc. Marc and Sarah enjoyed working as a successful team for 12 years, before she joined A Plus tree care in 2022, as an Urban Forest Manager. She is passionate about trees, landscaping, nature, and music. The couple live in the redwoods on the North Bay Coast and enjoy taking care of their land, hiking with their pets, and spending time with their 3 adult children and grandson.