Curriculum Vitae 

 

 

Brian French, Arboricultural History 

Skilled climber with a broad range of arboriculture related experience with certifications such as CA, CTW, and Tree Risk Assessor. Practicing for over 18 years in Oregon and abroad. Dedicated to and contributor of cutting edge research for a better understanding of trees and safer work practices for arborists worldwide.

Professional Practice

  • ISA Arborist Certification and Certified Tree Worker/Climber/Aerial Lift Specialist PN-2786AT Oregon

  • Tree Risk Assessment Certification # CTRA 670

  • CPR and First Aid certification, American Red Cross

  • Aerial Lift Certification, ACRT

  • Aerial Rescue Certification, ACRT

  • Crane Operator Certification

  • Oregon Saw Chain and Accessories Factory Training Course Proficiency Certificate

  • Forklift Operator Certification

  • Construction Industry Safety Training Certificate HR-1060432, Hong Kong

  • Certified Flagger

North American Training Solutions and Arboriculture Canada Training and Education LTD

  • Instructor Intensive Training Camp - Level 1 Certification

  • Tree Climbing, Work Positioning and Fall Protection Certification

  • Emergency Readiness and High Angle Rescue Certification

  • Tree Dynamics and Integrated Risk Assessment Certification

  • Technical Tree Falling and Cutting Certification

Tree Care Industry Association

  • Ground Operations Certification, TCIA

  • Tree Climber Certification, TCIA

Other Qualifications and Training

  • Commercial Drivers License (CDL) (lapsed 2013)

  • Commercial Applicator pesticide and fungicide license AG-L1001267CPA (lapsed 2012)

  • EHAP training

  • Hazmat and OEC training

  • Confined Space training

  • Blood Born Pathogen training

  • Emergency Response training

  • Tomography (Arbortom) training-Frank Rinn, Rinntech

  • Arborist Report Writing, 2 day module-Bill Fountain

  • Leadership Power Management Courses-Managing People, Personal Communication, Constructive Confrontation

  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Mac Pages, Keynote

  • Web design

Professional Associations

  • ISA Pacific Northwest chapter

  • International Society of Arboriculture

  • Tree Care Industry Association

  • Ancient Tree Forum

  • Arbor Day Foundation

  • Alliance for Community Trees

  • American Forests

  • Audubon Society

Educational Background

Conference attendance

  • Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Training Conference

  • International Society of Arboriculture Annual Training Conference

  • Oregon Community Trees Annual Training Conference

  • International Arboriculture Summit - Hong Kong

  • Completed Plant Identification and Principles of Arboriculture at Clackamas Community College. Other general study classes toward a horticulture degree were completed at Chemeketa Community College

Work Experience

Arboriculture International, Portland, Oregon     2013-Present

Principal

• Contract climber and consulting arborist with a focus on wildlife tree retention and habitat programs. CCB: 205536

Oregon Tree Care, Portland, Oregon     2012-2013

Contract Climber

• Offers a wide range of climbing services, crew leading and safety program development as needed.

Consulting Arborist

• Prepares inventory, appraisal and risk reports for clients.

Asia Tree Preservation, Hong Kong, China     2010-2011

Arborist Practitioner and culnsulting arborist

• Prepare reports for the government of Hong Kong regarding the risk of selected trees around highly populated areas. Compiled  

assessments aided by the Resistograph and/or tomography when applicable.

Trainer

• Train commercial and government staff in basic, advanced tree climbing, tomography applications and assessments.

Teragan & Associates, Portland, Oregon 2011-2013

Consulting Arborist

 • Employed to assist with reports, tree inspections and data analysis. Also offer expertise when climbing is necessary.

Tree Resource, Seattle, Washington 2009-2013

Contract Climber

• Available when contacted for advanced climbing, technical rigging, training and consultations.

Collier Arbor Care, Clackamas, Oregon 2001-2004 and 2006-2010

Crew Leader

• Lead a department of arborists in crane removals, climbing, pruning, ornamental pruning, stump grinding, customer relations and trained climbers on all the above skills. Was also responsible for making purchase orders, record keeping of all pruning purchases and inventorying all pruning department equipment including work trucks, personal-gear, stump grinding equipment, cabling gear and chainsaws.

• Set many high goals and achieved them as an active member of the safety committee.

City of Beaverton, Beaverton, Oregon 2004-2006

Municipal Arborist

• Maintained a management plan for vehicle and pedestrian clearance, mitigated and implemented necessary removals. Also offered expertise on forest management, diagnosis and treatments for city trees, tree risk assessment reports and abatement measures, public consultations, tree appraisals, tree preservation plans, reviewed development plans, street tree permits, prepared GIS data collection and tree inventory projects, facilitated tree planting projects and assisted other departments on city improvement projects involving trees.

CMS Environmental Inc., Monterey, California 1998-1999

Technician

• Worked with Bureau of Land Management to thin surveyed land in Fort Ord, CA. Job permitted bomb technicians to clear of ordinance for future development and land use. Works included setting up portable weather stations for controlled burns, clearing grid vegetation for ordinance surveys and reporting live ordinance finds. 

Community and Public Services

  • Serve on the Urban Forestry Commission for the City of Portland

  • Co-Founder and President of Ascending the Giants, a non-profit dedicated to documenting champion trees of the world.

  • Serve on the Oregon Community Trees Board/State Urban Forest Council

  • Serve on the 2014 and 2015 PNW-ISA Conference Planning Committee and have created a new training track for climbing arborists

  • State Coordinator for the Oregon Champion Tree Registry under Oregon Department of Forestry

  • Featured climber athlete in award winning adventure film, Treeverse

  • Design and instruct tree climbing clinics for Oregon State University for canopy research and forestry students

  • Professional Speaker - 2013 ISA Conference, 2012 International Canopy Research Conference, IAS-Hong Kong Conference

  • Professional Speaker - 2010, Ontario ISA Chapter Conference 2010, ISA-Alberta conference 2012, ISA-PNW conference 2010 and 2013

  • Designed and facilitated 2012 and 2013’s Canopy Ecology Tours at the Audubon Society’s old-growth sanctuary

  • Help coordinate and volunteer time with Friends of Trees plantings for the Portland community and train community leaders on how to care for neighborhood trees

  • Volunteer pruner and illustrator for Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum

  • Instruct Aerial Rescue classes for Tree Care Companies and local Fire Departments

  • Coordinator for the annual Regional and PNW tree climbing competition (TCC)

  • Volunteer raptor rescue for the Portland Audubon Society

Awards and Special Accomplishments

  • Manyard C. Drawson Memorial Award - Presented the Oregon Heritage Tree Program 2015

  • Gordon and Sylvia MacWilliams Evergreen Award - Presented by the City of Vancouver 2015

  • Arborist of the Year Award - Presented by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ISA 2014

  • Award of Merit - Presented by the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the ISA 2009

  • Presenter Award - Ontario ISA Chapter Conference 2010

  • Business Award for Ascending the Giants – Oregon Community of Trees 2010

  • Placed second in 2003 PNW-ISA Tree Climbing Competition (TCC)

  • Placed first in 2005 Portland regional TCC

Additional Accomplishments