Susan was the horticulturist/arborist for the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Grand Prairie for 31 years.  She shared her knowledge of trees and Plants through the landscape and garden show “Let’s Get Growing” on Grand Prairie’s TV channel, GPTV and You Tube. In addition, she wrote articles and sent trees and horticulture information on a regular basis through social media. She was the Landscape Department’s Director at Mary Kay Cosmetics, Greenhouse attendant, with the City of Ft Worth before that. She was an Instructor at Tarrant County Community College and past Area Governor for Toastmasters International.

She’s active in local urban forestry councils: Trinity/Blackland UFC and Cross Timbers UFC and has served in several positions on both boards including President. In addition, she’s a past President of the Texas UFC and a past president of the Texas Chapter ISA where she served on their Board of Directors for 10 years.  When Vendors or contractors come to her and say they want to get involved in the arborist community to build their business. She urges them to join urban forestry councils. When communities approach problems, she sees council Involvement as a solution.

“Everyone understands the need to plant trees but not everybody understands that a planting program needs to include a maintenance program OR that it takes 25 years to properly prune a tree. There are good changes too; most people these days see trees as a positive addition to the landscape. People are becoming more sensitive to the value of trees and for their prescribed care in cities, where trees have a shorter lifespan and require all the help we can give them.”