THOMAS J. MUGRIDGE – General Manager
TITLE:
General Manager
EDUCATION:
John Carroll University - University Heights, OH 1982
B.S. Psychology
WORK HISTORY RELATING TO ARBORICULTURE:
Forest City Tree Protection Co., Inc. Mayfield Village, OH
I began working in the summer of 1968 in the nursery learning weed control and basic plant care, going out to help on a crew when needed.
Subsequent summers during high school my principal work was helping on a spray or trim crew. In my senior year of high school (1972) I was put in charge of the vertical mulching crew (a method of tree fertilization). I also began learning climbing skills that summer, along with more training in spray and fertilization techniques.
After a brief hiatus, I returned to regular employment in April 1976, performing all phases of tree care. I became a foreman in 1977, was promoted to Operations Manager in 1982 shortly after receiving my college degree, and to General Manager in 1989.
MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS:
American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA), since 1990.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) - both the Ohio Chapter and International, since 1983.
Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) – formerly the National Arborist Association
Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA)
Society of Commercial Arboriculture (SCA)
Board of Directors of Scenic Ohio (formerly Ohio Roadside Council) and their representative to the Ohio Chapter ISA, since 1983 to 2013; Currently serving as an Advisor to Scenic Ohio.
Cleveland Botanical Garden/Holden Arboretum
OHIO-CHAPTER ISA COMMITTEES SERVED ON AS THE CHAIRMAN:
Awards Committee, 1988 to 1992
Commercial Arborist Committee, 1990
Nominating Committee, 1994
Long-Range Planning Committee, 1994
Membership Committee, 1995 & 1996
OTHER COMMITTEES:
ASCABylaws Committee: 1999
ASCA's representative to the ANSI A300 Committee, 2001 – 2007
ASCA ANSI A300 Standards Review Committee: 2012 - October 2013
ISA Membership Committee: 2001 – 2004
ISA Membership Committee: Chairman, 2004 – 2010
ISA Membership Committee: Advisor, 2010 – present
ISA Ad Hoc Conference Site Selection Committee: 2006 - 2007
ISA BMP (Best Management Practices) Review Committee for Tree Risk Assessment: 2011 - 2012
ISA BMP Review Committee for Tree Lightning Protection Systems 2014
ISA BMP Review Committee for Management of Trees and Shrubs During Site Planning, Site Development and Construction 2014
TCIA's representative to ANSI A300 Committee: October 2013 to present
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD:
Ohio Chapter ISA - Board of Directors: 1989 - 1991
Ohio Chapter ISA - Vice-president: 1992
Ohio Chapter ISA - President: 1993
SCA Board of Directors: August 2000 – August 2006
SCA President-Elect: August 2006
SCA President: August 2008 (2-year term)
SCA Immediate Past President: August 2010 - 2012
ASCA Board of Directors: 2004 – 2006
ASCA President-Elect: 2006
ASCA President: 2007 - 2008
ASCA Immediate Past President: 2008 - 2009
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS:
Member of the Hillcrest Rotary Club of Cleveland since July 1985; Positions held:
Sergeant-at-arms, July 1986 to June 1987; July 1995 - June 1996; July 1999 - June 2000
Program chairman, November 1987 to June 1988; July 1992 to June 1994; July 2002 to June 2003
Club Secretary, July 1988 to June 1990
Club President-elect, July 1990 to June 1991
Club President, July 1991 to June 1992
Director of Club Service, July 2000 to June 2002
Chair of the club’s major fund-raiser, “A Taste of Hillcrest” – 2005 to present
Awards Received
ISA Arborist of the year 2014
ISA Honorary Life Membership Award of Distinction 2012
Rotarian of the Year 1995 and 2007 - Rotary Club of Hillcrest (Cleveland)
Rotary District Governor's Appreciation Award 2007 - Rotary District 6630
TREE EVALUATION SEMINARS ATTENDED: Ohio Chapter ISA-sponsored events:
Tree Appraisal - 1985
Trees, People and the Law - 1985
Knots, Ropes & Rigging - 1987
Evaluating Trees and Damages to Trees - 1987
Hazard Trees - January 1991, in Columbus Ohio
Tree Evaluation - January 1992, in Columbus Ohio
Tree Evaluation - January 1993, in Columbus Ohio
Other Educational Seminars (various sponsors):
Dutch Elm Disease - Canada, 1979
Hydraulic Sprayer Application & Calibration – 1984, 1985
Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab - 1986
Tree Fertilization - 1987
Construction Damage to Trees – October, 1988, Syracuse NY
Estimator's Workshop - November 1994, in Philadelphia, PA; sponsored by the National Arborist Association.
MFPA (Michigan Forestry and Park Association) Feb 21 and 22, 2005
Gave 4 presentations regarding the ANSI A300 Standards (Pruning, Tree Support Systems, and Fertilization)
