RAINBOW ECOSCIENCE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Pacific Northwest Territory Manager ( WA, or, ID )
Job Titles:
- Territory Manager for the Carolinas ( NC, SC )
Andrew brings over 17 years of experience in the plant healthcare field, including production, account management, and invasive species management. He is excited to bring scientific, predictable, innovative solutions, training, and PHC support to North and South Carolina. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, boating, hunting, fishing, and tinkering on old trucks. His favorite tree is the ginkgo, as he loves the growth habit, fall color, and unique leaf shape. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, he would invite George Washington (who wouldn't want to meet the first president of the USA?), Bernard McMahon (a pioneer in American horticulture & gardening), and Hank Williams.
Blake Thilmony is the R&D Project Manager for Rainbow Ecoscience. Prior to taking on her role in R&D, she was a an emerald ash borer technician, injectcare and plant health care crew member, and a vegetation management technician for Rainbow's service company in Minneapolis. She has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Natural Resource Management with a minor in Chemistry and a Master's Degree in Plant Science, both from North Dakota State University. Her hobbies include: traveling, hanging out somewhere around lakes, mountains, and trees, and hiking and backpacking adventures. Her favorite tree is a Rainbow Eucalyptus. If she was hosting a dinner part and could invite any guests (alive or dead), she would choose Charles Darwin, Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and Gifford Pinchot.
Job Titles:
- Tri - State Territory Manager ( PA, NJ, DE )
As a former Landscape Business Development Manager for one of the country's largest landscape maintenance companies, Bob looks forward each day to bringing first class customer service and knowledge to his clients. Bob has an education from Penn State University and extensive industry experience in both the field and as a manager. His hobbies consist of fishing - fresh and salt water, watching and playing sports, enjoying a couple cold ones with friends, and tailgating. His favorite tree is the River Birch and he would enjoy a dinner party with Eric Lindros, Jimmy Buffet, and Joe Paterno.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Brian Peterson, Customer Service Representative, has been a CSR at Rainbow since 2010. He works with clients, Territory Managers, and most every department at Rainbow, processes orders, tracks shipments, gets customers' questions answered, does what needs to be done, and is the CSR for National Accounts. Brian graduated with a BS in Marketing and Management from Mankato State University. Showing support for the hometown teams, Brian is currently a season ticket holder of MN Golden Gopher football and also had Gopher hockey tickets for 21 years. His favorite tree is a Maple, and he enjoys reading, biking, and attending high school, college and professional sporting events. For an interesting dinner party he'd invite: Steve Sabol, George Carlin, and Johnny Carson.
Chris Haugen, Arborologist, coordinates and conducts research and manages product development projects. Chris is an ISA Certified Arborist who has spent six years' time climbing and pruning trees. Chris earned his BS degree from St. John's University in Environmental Studies and MS degree from the University of Minnesota in Applied Plant Sciences with an urban forestry related thesis.
Job Titles:
- Southern California Territory Manager ( CA )
Cody brings over 15 years of experience in the plant healthcare field, including operations, account manager, assistant branch manager, branch manager, and business development. He is excited to be a resource and partner to contractors in the green industry to help keep the Southern California market beautiful. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, fitness, travel, and spending time with friends. His favorite tree is the Southern Live Oak, Quercus virginiana, as he had one in his front yard growing up, and then as a student at Texas A&M, his favorite tree on campus was the Century Tree, which is a gorgeous Live Oak. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, he would invite Avicii (an artist/DJ that sparked his joy for EDM music), Barack Obama, and Harvey Milk. Barack Obama and Harvey Milk are political figures he admires, particularly for their advocacy for the rights marginalized groups. Their passions served as an inspiration for Cody's involvement in an organization called HRC.
Cory McCurry, Arborologist. Before joining Rainbow, Cory is a certified arborist with six years of field experience. He started as a plant healthcare technician, became a Plant healthcare coordinator, and finally becoming a consulting arborist in the north region of Chicago. He is excited to join the team of values-based professionals at Rainbow. Cory holds a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. He is also a 2019 Davey institute of tree science graduate. Cory is a resident of Chicago, IL, and his hobbies include all things outdoors, reading about new scientific advancements/research, and exploring cites in search of the best coffee, food, and entertainment. And, if he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests, he would invite Peter Singer, Charles Darwin, and Sir David Frederick Attenborough.
Job Titles:
- Southeast Territory Manager ( GA, AL
Dana has five years of experience working in urban forestry at an environmental non-profit. She learned Southeastern invasive species identification by practicing effective removal techniques and treatments working in forest restoration. Dana currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. In her free time, Dana plays on co-ed softball and ultimate frisbee teams. She also enjoys playing the drums, roller skating, and camping. Her favorite tree is the red buckeye. If she could invite any three guests to a dinner party, they would be Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, and Oprah.
Job Titles:
- Eastern Great Lakes Territory Manager ( MI, in, OH, KY )
Dawn has over twenty years of experience in the green industry as a certified arborist and landscape designer and in PHC sales and TRAQ. In her free time, Dawn enjoys restoring old houses. Her favorite tree is a weeping katsura. Dawn holds Associate Degrees in both Landscape Technologies and Turfgrass Technologies from Cincinnati State and a Landscape Design Certificate from Cincinnati State Technical College. If she was hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests, she would invite Margaret Thatcher, Golda Meir, and Maya Angelou.
Erik Lindberg, Lead Technical Advisor, provides education and training to Rainbow's clients. He also works with the research and development department in conducting trials, analyzing data, and writing research reports. Erik received his bachelors from the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire majoring in Ecology and Environmental Biology with a chemistry minor. He has a M.S. in Biology with an emphasis in forest ecology from Texas Tech University. He is a licensed pesticide applicator in Minnesota and previously worked as a plant healthcare technician for Rainbow. He has also worked in the herbarium at the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands. He is an avid runner, having completed 7 marathons (including the Boston marathon), 6 half marathons, and countless 10k and 5k races. His favorite tree is the ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba) because it is the only remaining species within its division, and fossils of it have been dated back to 270 million years ago. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests he would choose Jack London, Maynard James Keenan, and Aldo Leopold.
Francisco Sicilia, Arborologist. Francisco Sicilia graduated from the Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Agribusiness. Francisco has over 17 years of experience in the green industry as a maintenance and account manager with various companies such as Brightview and Tropics North Landscape Maintenance. As an Arborologist, Francisco's accountabilities include conducting training for Rainbow clients, providing education, and technical support. In his spare time, Francisco enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing, kayaking, and camping. If he were to host a dinner party he would invite Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Ronald Reagan for all of their great stories and the lessons we could learn from them to apply in our own lives.
Gabriel Verduzco, Arborologist. Gabriel brings 18 years of experience in the plant healthcare field, including USDA research, horticulturalist for a botanical garden, starting a small fruit farm while living in Hawaii, and a research associate with the University of California Natural Resource Division. He is excited to bring his expertise in plant healthcare, especially with invasive tree pests and plant diseases in his region. Gabriel holds a bachelor's degree in Plant Health Science from the California State University of Fresno. In his free time, he enjoys surfing, hiking, veggie gardening, board games, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, plants, and spending time with family and friends. His favorite tree is the avocado, because he loves their fruit and enjoys growing his own produce. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, he would invite Steve Irwin, Jane Goodall, and Bill Nye.
Job Titles:
- COO
- Member of the Executive Team
Greg Krogstad, COO, follows his heart and values in caring for employees and customers. Greg grew up in South Saint Paul and St. Cloud, MN. Greg is a twin, enjoys cooking bread from scratch, and has survived two rolling car accidents (of which he was not the driver). He loves bur oak trees and in his spare time can be found hunting, fishing, woodworking and gardening. For an interesting dinner party, Greg would invite: Chuck Norris, Teddy Roosevelt, and Pete Rose.
Hannah Hampton holds a B.S. in Forestry with a focus on urban and community forestry from Iowa State University. Hannah has experience in residential tree care from plant health care to sales. She has experience working with municipalities to identify best management practices for urban forests. She has previously written a chapter of the City of Des Moines Urban Forestry Master Plan. Through this experience, she has become an ISA certified arborist. She is always looking forward to assisting clients in implementing new equipment and products into their day to day operations. Hannah's favorite tree is a sycamore because they are one of the most beautiful deciduous trees in the winter. In her free time, Hannah enjoys riding and fixing vintage motorcycles, camping and hiking with her two dogs, and relaxing near water.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Jack Mazzitello, Customer Service Representative, holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Sciences, Policy & Management from the University of Minnesota. Before joining Rainbow, Jack was a Tree Inventory Specialist and Crew Leader at PlanIT Geo, traveling to over 15 different states conducting tree assessments. Prior to that, he was with two municipalities in Minnesota working for their forestry and parks and recreation departments. At Rainbow, Jack is part of the Solution Center team where he assists clients with ordering, plant healthcare protocol questions, as well as marketing support.
Job Titles:
- South Florida Territory Manager ( FL )
Jason brings over 30 years of experience in the plant healthcare field, including agronomy management, owner and operator of his own plant healthcare business, and operations management. He is excited to bring his expertise in plant healthcare to the Southern Region of Florida. In his free time, he enjoys golf, fishing, hiking, writing, reading, photography, and digital media development. His favorite tree is the bald cypress, especially when clustered along the edge of a lake. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, he would invite Carl Sagan (to experience his sense of scientific wonder), Alan Watts (for his profound insights into the nature of consciousness) and Jane Goodall (to hear her views on planetary conservation and our connection to the natural world).
Jason holds a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management in Tree Health and Management from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College. Before joining Rainbow, Jason spent five years assisting with client relations in insurance and safety policies. In his free time, Jason's hobbies include outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting. He is also a wood worker and enjoys remodeling projects around the house. Jason also appreciates spending time with his family. His favorite tree is the live oak. If Jason were hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests, he would invite Bert Kreischer, Tom Segura, and Jeff Foxworthy.
Job Titles:
- South Central Territory Manager ( LA, TX )
Prior to joining Rainbow, Jim spent 9 years with a national landscape company as a commercial business developer. He enjoys building business relationships based on providing excellent customer service, surrounded by superior products. His educational background is in Business and Management. Jim is a Texas native, and his hobbies include travel (especially to Mexico), hunting, gardening, and spending time with his family. If he was hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests, he would choose John Wayne (love his movies), Nolan Ryan (greatest pitcher), and Bo Jackson (greatest athlete).
Jim brings over 20 years of experience in business development management in the PHC and sustainability industry. In his free time, Jim enjoys spending time with his family, including his 6 grandkids. He also enjoys spending time in the warm Arizona weather and golfing. His favorite tree is the evergreen. If Jim were hosting a dinner party and could invite any guests, he would invite 4 people, including his grandparents on his dad's side (who he was not able to meet before they passed) and his mom's parents (who had a big impact on his life growing up).
Job Titles:
- Northern California Territory Manager ( CA )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Vice President Sales
Joel Spies, Vice President Sales, oversees, instigates, solves, designs and has leadership input into most business development areas for Rainbow. Joel grew up in Missouri, dreams of sailing the world with his kids like Jacques Cousteau, met his wife performing a scene from Ghost (literally in the college pottery studio) and loves fashioning himself in ugly Christmas sweaters to celebrate his holiday birthday. Joel's favorite tree is really any that provides solid wood he can build things out of. He recently built a wooden fishing boat from scratch, is a noteworthy photographer, and an avid camper/fisherman. Joel would invite Chuck Norris, Tom Hanks, and Barack Obama for an interesting dinner party.
Joseph brings over eight years of experience in the plant healthcare field. He is excited to bring his expertise in plant healthcare to Rainbow Ecoscience customers in the Rocky Mountain region. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking. His favorite tree is the Northern Catalpa, as it provides a lot of shade, has huge tropical-like leaves, and can thrive in a multitude of environments. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, he would invite John Lennon, as he admires his message and music, George Carlin for his impressive combination of comedian, entertainer, and philosopher, and his Grandpa Steve as he would have liked to have gotten to know him as an adult.
Justin has over 14 years of green industry experience. As the Midwest Territory Manager, Justin provides products, equipment, protocol training and education to tree care professionals across Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska. He strives to not just be a "distributor" but a true resource for his clients. His home town is Kansas City, KS. His hobbies and interest include coaching youth basketball, playing the guitar, hiking, camping, and fly fishing. His favorite tree is the Bur oak. If he could invite 3 people to a dinner party, he would choose Jim Carey, Larry McMurtry, and John Muir.
Job Titles:
- Western Great Lakes Territory Manager ( IL, WI )
Job Titles:
- Upper Midwest Terriotry Manager ( MN, ND, SD )
Lydia brings over 10 years of experience in the plant healthcare field, including PHC service delivery, quality assurance, and growth regulator applications. She is excited to bring her expertise in plant healthcare to Rainbow Ecoscience customers in the Upper Midwest. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, road trips, crocheting, photography, and biking. She also plays violin and piano and listens to anything from classical to metal. Her favorite tree is the northern white cedar as they are so majestic. If she were hosting a dinner party and could invite any three guests, she would invite her dog, Meadow, Anne Shirley, and Mr. Rogers.
Job Titles:
- Director of Landscape Solutions
Mark works with Rainbow's National Accounts. He has over 34 years of green industry experience. He's worked with Chapel Valley as the Process Improvement Manager. He has also worked with Brickman Group for over 30 years in various roles including National Account Manager, Branch Manager, and Tree Manager. Mark is dedicated to providing training, technical support, client service, and education to National Accounts across the country. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Environmental Conservation. Mark is married with 3 children. He enjoys grilling and barbecuing with his Big Green Egg. He and his wife enjoy landscaping and have most of their favorite plants in their yard. He has hiked many of the National Parks and loves to cycle. If Mark could have dinner with 3 guests, he would choose his grandfather who got him stated in the green industry, Bobby Flay, and Ansel Adams.
Mark Ware, Northeast Arborologist. Before joining Rainbow, Mark spent over ten years in the industry, including eight years with a national tree care company, gaining experience in general tree work, utility forestry, and plant health care. He is excited to further the professionalism, knowledge, and reputation of other arborists and the entire industry. His educational background is in landscape construction and ornamental horticulture. Mark is a resident of Pennsylvania, and his hobbies include travel photography, traveling, and camping. His favorite tree is the Copper Beech. If he were hosting a dinner party and could invite any 3 guests, he would choose Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, and Chris Farley.
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative
Mattea Tapelt, Customer Service Representative, joined Rainbow Ecoscience in 2022. Before joining the Rainbow team, Mattea spent 19 years as a nanny and 2 years as a Managing Editor for Tutuhut. In her free time, Mattea enjoys many outdoor activities including biking, kayaking, snorkeling, traveling, and also spending time with her family and friends. The ocean is her favorite place to hang out and her favorite tree is tied between a weeping cherry and paper birch. For her celebrity dinner, she'd like to sit down with Jordan Peele, Taika Wititi, and Andy Samberg. Mattea looks forward to working closely with customers and the Rainbow Ecoscience team to serve and grow the PHC community, so don't hesitate to say hi!
Job Titles:
- Florida Territory Manager
Mitch Okonek graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a Bachelor's in Communication. Mitch has over 4 years in the green industry as an injectcare technician and Client Experience Coordinator. At Rainbow, Mitch helps connect green industry professionals with our passionate and knowledgeable Plant Healthcare Experts.
In his spare time, Mitch enjoys trying new restaurants with his wife, enjoying cabin-time, and playing hockey, basketball, and curling. Mitch's favorite tree is the Bur Oak, and if he were to host a dinner party he would invite Kendrick Lamar, Albus Dumbledore, and Tom Hanks.
Patrick Anderson is an Arborologist with Rainbow Ecoscience where he provides plant healthcare protocol training and support for Rainbow's clients nationwide. He has years of practical tree care experience, and conducts field research trials throughout the U.S., with emphasis on plant growth regulators and landscape scale management. Patrick frequently gives talks and guest lectures for green industry groups, and has authored numerous articles on tree and shrub care. Patrick has a B.S. in Forest Science from Penn State University, is an ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist and Municipal Specialist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, a North Carolina Licensed Landscape Contractor, and is currently a member of the Revision Subcommittee for the ANSI 300 Part 2 Soil Management. In addition, Patrick serves as a TreeMaster for TreesCharlotte.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Member of the Executive Team
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- Member of the Executive Team