Award Recipients
Urban Forestry Impact Award Recipients
(formerly named Friends of Our Urban Forest Awards)
Throughout Florida, urban forestry programs and initiatives are always underway. The Florida Urban Forestry Council’s Urban Forestry Impact Awards recognize achievements, organizations, and individuals advocating and promoting community and urban forests.
Are your people, places, and programs being recognized, announced, and celebrated? Does your community forest have outstanding people and programs? Have you ever applied for, or submitted an award nomination to the Florida Urban Forestry Council? Find out more about the Urban Forestry Impact Awards program.
The following individuals, groups, projects, ordinances, and programs are the award recipients given by the Urban Forestry Impact Awards, sponsored by the Florida Urban Forestry Council.
2025 Award Recipients
Outstanding Urban Forestry Project:
Lealman Community Tree Adoption:
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is excited to present Lealman Community Street Tree Adoption project with the 2025 Urban Forestry Project Award. The successful program provided trees for planting on private residential properties adjacent to public rights-of-ways. The plantings complimented Pinellas County’s ongoing right-of-way tree installations in areas of low tree canopy density. The tree adoption project placed 260 trees in the ground, impacting 140 residents.
Outstanding Tree Advocacy:
Old Southeast Neighborhood Association:
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is pleased to present Old Southeast Neighborhood Association with the 2025 Tree Advocacy Award. The Tree Advocate Award recognizes the variety of neighborhood initiatives to enhance the community tree canopy, including assembling an Environmental Committee to oversee tree plantings, swaps, giveaways, community outreach, and educational programs.
Outstanding Tree Ordinance:
City of Winter Park
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is pleased to congratulate the City of Winter Park with the 2025 Tree Ordinance Award. Through new amendments, code criteria, and mitigation requirements, the City of Winter Park remains determined to preserve, protect, and empower its Tree Protection Ordinance when defending its urban forest against the headwinds of developmental pressure, conflicting State Statutes, and opposing self-interests. The trees of Winter Park stand a chance; and they have the ordinance to prove it.
Outstanding Professional:
Omar Leon
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is pleased to announce Omar Leon for the 2025 Outstanding Professional Award. Omar has been recognized due to his outstanding contributions and professional commitment to urban forestry. Omar currently serves as the City Arborist for the City of Cape Coral (Cape Coral’s first City Arborist). Omar’s list of accomplishments included the first Urban Forestry Master Plan for the City of Miami Beach; the Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA and Tree City of the World status for both Miami Beach and Cape Coral; 2018 FUFC Award for Outstanding Urban Forestry (Junior Forester) Program; and 2019 FUFC Award for Outstanding Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance.
Omar has served on several green industry boards and chaired many committees including the Landscape Inspectors Association of Florida (Miami Dade Chapter), and the Florida Urban Forestry Council. Omar is successfully leading his team through numerous challenges to overcome development pressure, significant tidal/weather events, decrease funding, staffing turnover, program pushback, and other obstacles.
The City of Cape Coral urban forestry program is becoming a shining example for others to follow, a testament to Omar’s strong leadership and professionalism.
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
Tampa Urban Forestry Program
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is pleased to present the Tampa Urban Forestry Program with the 2025 Outstanding Urban Forestry Program Award. Tampa’s Urban Forestry program creates a city-wide, holistic approach to establishing a healthy, resilient, and managed urban forest. It is a collaborative effort and tapestry of various entities that protects, manages, plans, designs, maintains, and improves Tampa’s urban forest resources. As part of the Mayor’s Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow initiative, the program unites the Forestry Division; Parks & Recreation; Neighborhood Enhancement Dept; Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful; Office of Sustainability and Resilience Green Team; Mobility; Development & Growth Management; and other stakeholders. The City of Tampa is piecing together its urban forestry puzzle.
Outstanding Utility Vegetation Management:
JEA Vegetation Management Group
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is excited to announce JEA’s Vegetative Mgt group as the 2025 Outstanding Utility Vegetation Management Award. JEA’s Vegetative Management team employs a talented staff of professional foresters, vegetative specialists, certified arborists, and engineers to oversee the arboricultural practices that sustain a resilient tree canopy for Jacksonville, FL. JEA’s performance in safety; integrated vegetation management; storm preparedness and response; tree-based solutions with utility conflicts; and communication and public education showcases JEA as outstanding in utility arboriculture.
JEA Vegetative Mgt team has maintained its Tree-Line-USA® status since 2011; and serves as a liaison to an array of tree-related advocacy groups. In 2025, JEA’s team sponsored the establishment of 313 trees, for 12 planting projects; participated in Jacksonville’s Annual Tree Giveaway and Arbor Day Celebration; and actively supported the FUFC with membership, and 443 volunteer hours to the Executive Board for the completion of committee work. JEA’s Vegetative Management team has demonstrated that the power of Jacksonville can be found in the canopy of trees.
Lifetime Achievement Award:
John Harris
The Florida Urban Forestry Council is delighted to congratulate John Harris on the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. John is nationally recognized for significant contributions and expertise in urban forestry, arboriculture, and landscape economics, with over 40+ years of experience.
John collected a lifetime of urban forestry learning, doing, sharing, and leading. He is the Principal of Landscape Economics LLC; President of Earth Advisor, Inc.; past president of FUFC (2018-2019); and remains a distinguished member of the FUFC Executive Board.
His academic achievements include a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management from Syracuse University; a Master of Science in Forest Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Resource Management from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse; and an Associate of Applied Science in Natural Resources at Morrisville Agricultural & Technical College.
John is a decorated professional holding numerous credentials and industry-related certifications. If you have been with Florida’s urban forestry community for any length of time, there is little doubt your career path has crossed with John. As a seasoned arborist, he is a frequent educator, speaker, author, and liaison for leading industry organizations, including but not limited to The Florida Urban Forestry Council (FUFC), Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA), and Society of American Foresters (SAF).
John is rooted in urban forestry. John’s voice, dedication, and body of work in urban forestry are commendable and are celebrated with the Lifetime Achievement Award. John encourages us to continue our efforts, interest, and enjoyment with the urban forests of Florida – it will be time well spent.
Previous Year’s Award Recipients
Click the heading title or icon to toggle each panel open or to close.
2024 Award Recipients
Outstanding Program:
Take MAR (More Action for Regeneration)
Outstanding Project:
Pompano Beach Youth Sport Complex
Outstanding Professional:
Joe Anderson
Outstanding Tree Advocate:
Mark Cassini, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Community Greening (CG)
Outstanding Tree Ordinance:
City of Fort Lauderdale
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Dr. Don Spence
2023 Award Recipients
Outstanding Project:
Pinellas-Trail-Native-Tree-Planting
Outstanding Program:
Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Outstanding Professional:
Carla Sinclair-Wells
Sinclair Design Studio
Outstanding Tree Advocate Group:
St. Petersburg Urban Forestry Committee
Outstanding Tree Ordinance:
Orange County Tree Ordinance
2022 Award Recipients
Outstanding Project:
“Hammocks in the Hammock”
by UCF’s Landscaping and Natural Resources Department
Outstanding Program:
“Urban Orchards Project”
By Community Greening
Outstanding Professional:
Elise Cassie
Outstanding Tree Advocates:
Susan Fisher Davis and the late Ann Baker of Greenscape of Jacksonville
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Erin Givens
Pictured left to right: Britta Gross (OUC Commission President), Erin Givens (OUC Veg. Program Mgr.), Deborah Hilbert (FUFC Executive Director), LeMoyne Adams (OUC VP), Clint Bullock (OUC CEO)
Photo by Stephanie Cameron
2021 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Dalton Smith
Outstanding Tree Advocate:
Carol Mini
Outstanding Urban Forestry Project:
Greenscape
for their project at the
Jacksonville Equestrian Center
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
Florida International University
Outstanding Utility:
JEA
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Elizabeth Harkey
2020 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Nora Fosman
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Tampa Bay Reforestation and Environmental Effort, Inc. (T.R.E.E. Inc.)
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Mike Robinson
Outstanding Urban Forestry
Project:
Venice Urban Forest
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
Planting Nassau’s Future
Outstanding Tree Ordinance:
University of Central Florida Tree Mitigation
2019 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Richard Leon
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
JEA Vegetative Management Team
Outstanding Project:
Camp Elmore – Dirt Patrol
Outstanding Project:
Kids in the Woods – University of Florida IFAS, SFRC, and US Forest Service, SRS/R8
Outstanding Project:
630-CITY Tree Planting Project
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
Pinellas County Public Works Urban Forestry and Landscape Services
Outstanding Tree Ordinance:
City of Miami Beach Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance
2018 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Wade F. Collum
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Community Greening
Outstanding Project:
Floral City Avenue of the Oaks / Marcia Beasley and Frank Peters
Outstanding Urban Forestry Project:
Coral Way Tree Preservation Project
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Miami Beach Junior Forester Program
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Norm Easey
2017 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Tim Shaw
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Tree Stewards Jacksonville
Outstanding Project:
Mounts Botanical Garden: Windows on the Floating World
Outstanding Project:
The Greening of the Arc
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
University of Central Florida’s Urban Forestry Program
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Meg Niederhofer
2016 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Todd DeJesus
Outstanding Tree Advocate:
David Fischer
Outstanding Project:
Greenscape of Jacksonville Fresh Food Forest
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department Natural Areas Division
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Celeste White
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Gene Dempsey
2015 Award Recipients
Samuel E. Hand, Jr.
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Urban Paradise Guild
Outstanding Urban Forestry Project:
Partners in Preservation – Broward County Environmental Planning
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
City of Orlando, One Person One Tree
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Steve Graham
2014 Award Recipients
Robert “Rob” Northrop
Outstanding Tree Advocate:
L. Thomas Chancey
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
Traveling Tree Walk – UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension
Outstanding Urban Forestry Project:
Wildcat Playground and Born Learning Trail – City of Ocala
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
Town of Davie
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Small Community:
City of Newberry
Lifetime Achievement Award:
David McLean
2013 Award Recipients
Bryce Forrester
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
City of Punta Gorda –
PGI Green Thumbs
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
Town of Lantana – Arbor Day/Tu B’Shvat
Outstanding Project:
Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park (Lee County)
Outstanding Professional:
Carlos Rivero
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Charlie Marcus
2012 Award Recipients
Professional:
Michael DePappa
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Keep Manatee Beautiful, Inc.
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
Windermere Tree Board and Tree Climbing Concepts Training Team, Inc.
Outstanding Project:
Preserving a Legacy: Transplanting a 36″ Live Oak at the University of Tampa
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
City of Sunrise
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Small Community:
City of Wilton Manors
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Julie Iooss
2011 Award Recipients
Professional:
Kimberly Pearson
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Citizens for a Better South Florida
Outstanding Tree Advocate:
Janice Rahill
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
City of Punta Gorda – Arbor Day Tree Academy
Outstanding Project:
LEGOLAND® Florida
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
City of Orlando
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Small Community:
City of Naples
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Loren Westenberger
2010 Award Recipients
Celeste White
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
City of Palm Coast – Educational Tree Nursery
Outstanding Project:
City of Casselberry – Lake Concord Park
Outstanding Project:
Lee County DOT – Summerlin Road Beautification Project
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
City of Miami Gardens
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Small Community:
City of Keystone Heights Tree Planting Partnership Program
Lifetime Achievement Award:
James B. Harrell
2009 Award Recipients
Rob Williamson
Outstanding Public Educational Program:
Broward County Tree Trimmer Certification Program
Outstanding Project:
Lake Nona
Outstanding Project:
Nova Southeast University Lower School and Central Plant Project
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Large Community:
Town of Davie
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program / Small Community:
City of St. Augustine Beach
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Jeffrey Siegel
2008 Award Recipients
Carol Keiper-Bennett
Outstanding Individual:
Emily Nell Lagerquist
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
TreeWatch Committee of the Coconut Grove Village Council
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Largo
Outstanding Project – Tree Preservation:
Oakland Park
Outstanding Project – Tree Planting:
NW 27th Avenue Corridor Beautification Project
Edward W. Bok Award:
C. Way Hoyt
2007 Florida Tree City of the Year:
Town of Windermere
2007 Award Recipients
Howard Jeffries
Outstanding Individual:
Anna Dooley
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Greenscape of Jacksonville
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
Sarasota County Urban Forestry
Outstanding Project:
Verandah by Bonita Bay Group
Edward W. Bok: Award:
Jim Marshall, Sr.
2006 Florida Tree City of the Year:
City of Eustis
2006 Award Recipients
Professional:
Greg Brown
Outstanding Individual:
Denny Scott
Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group:
Town of Windermere Tree Board
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Altamonte Springs
Outstanding Program:
Charlotte County Extension Service
Edward W. Bok Award:
Dr. Ed Gilman
2005 Florida Tree City of the Year:
Sarasota County
2005 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional:
Loren Westenberger
Outstanding Individual:
Patricia Wollman
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Plantation
Outstanding Project:
Greening Gateways I-95/Sunrise Boulevard
Edward W. Bok: Award:
Selmer Uhr
2004 Florida Tree City of the Year:
City of Miami Springs
2004 Award Recipients
Greg Z. Scott
Outstanding Individual:
Teresa Jacobs
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program:
City of Hollywood’s Partnering with the Broward League of Cities
Outstanding Project:
Wal-Mart at Tampa N.E., Store #2740
Edward W. Bok: Award:
Joe Samnik
2003 Florida Tree City of the Year:
City of Naples
2003 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional: Joy Klein
Outstanding Individual: William Kornman
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program: Neighborhood Capital Improvement Program – City of Hollywood
Outstanding Project: Fish Hawk Ranch, Lithia
Edward W. Bok: Award: Jeffrey L. Siegel
2002 Florida Tree City of the Year: City of St. Augustine
2002 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional: John Sullivan
Outstanding Individual: Joann Phillips
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program: Marco Island Beautification Advisory Committee
Outstanding Project: Grand Tree Contest and Registry
Edward W. Bok: Award: Mary Duryea
2001 Florida Tree City of the Year: City of Boynton Beach
2001 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional: Lori Austin
Outstanding Individual: Barbara Simon
Outstanding Urban Forestry Program: Katherine Hurt and Celeste White, University of Florida Extension
Outstanding Project: Plant Manatee Beautiful
Edward W. Bok: Award: Carl Higgins
2000 Florida Tree City of the Year: City of Sarasota
2000 Award Recipients
Outstanding Professional: Don Goulding
Outstanding Citizen Volunteer: Beam Furr
Outstanding Large Township: Palm Beach County
Outstanding Small Township: City of Sanford
Stay informed. Get involved.
Join the Florida Urban Forestry Council today!