Executive director Jennifer Smith leaves TN Urban Forestry Council after 12 years of service

News from Tennessee Urban Forestry Council:
Being the helm of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council for the last twelve years has been a 'wonderful experience with many opportunities for personal growth and professional development,' says TUFC executive director Jennifer Smith, who moved on to other interests February 1.

Council president Zack French said, 'Jennifer's ability to network introduced urban forestry to a wide range of constituents.' Zack adds that 'we appreciate her strategic organizational skills which have lead the Council to be one of the most regarded Councils in the country. Fortunately she will continue her association with the Council and the Division of Forestry as an Urban Forestry Ambassador.'

State urban forester Bruce Webster says, 'It was a great pleasure working with Jennifer these past 12 years. She was able to accomplish several tasks that took a burden off the State staff, among them our urban forestry conference, doing this newsletter, and the significant outreach to other groups and organizations that help raise the level of interest and awareness of urban forestry.' Among her many accomplishments was improving the Council's financial health significantly, he says. 'The Council barely had enough in its treasury to pay her first month payment, and she grew the net income from the conference 3.75 times and the overall treasury by approximately 16 times what the balance was in 1999.'