Personnel- NPHC

Personnel

Professionals To Serve You



	JOE ZUBALY Certified Arborist President - NPHC Joseph Zubaly is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist with 12 years experience. His education and dedication to the care of trees have made him an expert in the Green Industry. His love for trees is evident in his proactive and environmentally sensitive approach. Joe trains other landscape professionals and frequently speaks to interested community groups. His experience and utilization of research-based techniques gives you the best care for your trees and shrubs. As an expert Certified Arborist, Joe can assist you with specific diagnosis and treatment recommendations. He can determine your overall landscape priorities and create a management plan. When he is not pounding his head against a computer or lining out his crews he might be found rocking babies to sleep at the Vanessa Behan crisis nursery or chasing after his 3 young boys.

	KATE ZUBALY Vice-President If it sounds like Kate is smiling as she answers your call, it is because she is! Kate is Joe's wife, as well as business partner. She is the behind-the-scenes coordinator of marketing, administration, accounting and client services. Kate has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Penn State University. Her greatest joy is being a mother but she also likes swimming, canoeing, hiking and cooking.

	BEN KAPPEN Certified Arborist/Tree Risk Assessor PFT Division Manager Ben has done extensive studies in plant biology and soil science. Ben's love of trees and plants makes him a dedicated professional. His in-depth knowledge of diagnosing tree and shrub pests gives the clients treatment options that are effective and practical. His productivity and client service skills make him an asset. Ben enjoys the outdoors. He likes hiking, cycling, skiing and gardening.

	BEN LARSON Certified Arborist/Foreman Ben comes to us with a degree in Biology and experience in farming and the care of orchard trees. His hard work and willingness to learn new things has made him a tremendous asset. Ben is an accomplished climber and lead Foreman of our general tree work division. He is also a certified Arborist. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking and gardening.

	SHAUNA HOGAN Customer Service/Office Management Shauna has many years of customer service, office management and bookkeeping experience. Her passion for organization keeps the office running smoothly. Even though Shauna is not in the field with the crew, she certainly enjoys learning different aspects of Arboriculture. Yes, maybe someday she'll have the title "Certified Arborist." In the meantime, she'll be available to answer your calls and on her days off, she'll be hiking.

	THORIN BROWN Certified Arborist/Tree Risk Assessor Thorin is a certified Arborist, Tree Risk Assessor, Spray tech and salesman for Northwest Plant Health Care. He has been around for 3 years with no end in site. Thorin is finishing an AA degree at SCC and loading up on certifications and continuing education to better serve our customers. He has 2 kids at home, Ara and Tolkien, and is newly married to a wonderful woman named Rachel. When Thorin is not multitasking at work he loves to snowboard, go to Seahawks games, hang out with his family and study!

	JENI COOPERSMITH Certified Arborist/Plant Health Care Expert Jeni is one of our plant health care experts and has a horticulture degree in greenhouse management. She also has obtained an ISA Arborist certification and a spray license. She is also licensed to use herbicides! Jeni loves to read at home and gardens as much as she can. When she takes off the spray applicators rubber gloves, she is at home chasing after her three girls or spending quality time with her husband Randy.

	BECKY PHILLIPS Certified Arborist/Plant Health Care Expert Becky is one of the most passionate plant people you will ever meet. She has 3 AAS degrees from SCC, Landscape/Turf, Greenhouse nursery, and floral design. She is also a Certified Arborist, a Master Gardener, a PHC specialist with a spray license for pest and weed control. Becky has been in the industry since 1998 and is an accomplished landscape designer. When Becky is not thinking about plants, (which is not very often) she loves to go camping and spend time with her family. Her favorite thing to do in her off time is gardening.

	SIMONE RAMEL Editor/Writer Simone is passionate about gardening and continues to educate herself about the plant health care industry. She came to NPHC as a spray technician, and now is the editor of our newsletter, Let's Talk Trees. Simone is also the newsletter editor for a local newcomer's group, and writes for The Spokesman-Review and a local women's magazine called EVE. She loves to ski, is an avid photographer, and is currently in the Master Gardener training program.

	VICTOR WILLS Arborist/Landscaper Victor is a certified Arborist with a love for continued education! He has helped run our landscaping division for the past year and is currently working on a spray license. When Vic is not running a shovel or pruning your trees he finds himself in the kitchen, as he is a VERY good chef. He also has a degree in Horticulture from SCC. Victor can come to your house and prune your apple tree and then give you an awesome recipe for cobbler, watch out!

	ALBERT Mechanic Albert is our new mechanic extraordinaire! He has worked as a mechanic most of his life and has an extensive background in all things full of oil and grease. When he is not under one of our trucks, stump grinders or spry rigs he loves to be in the outdoors. He loves fishing and hunting but prefers to ride or work on his motorcycle. Albert has also built his own Jeep 4x4 and loves to get that dirty as well.

	TRAVIS JOHNSON Training Arborist Travis has been with NPHC for about a season and is currently training to be a climber and Arborist. Under Ben Larson's tutelage he is growing day by day and will soon become a Certified Arborist. Travis spends his off time with his 4-year-old daughter Angelena and loves to hunt, fish, camp, and go 4x4ing.

	FOREST, BEN & NICK Next Generation These guys are the next generation of tree lovers for Northwest Plant Health Care! You can't stop this crew and we can't wait to get them up in your trees. It will be a while longer as the oldest (Forest) is just 9 years old at the moment. If they don't become Arborists (Mom and Dad would cry) then the skateboarding world had better watch out cause the Zubaly kids rip it up and have no fear.