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Rachel Comte
Principal, Arborist, Urban Planner
ISA Certified Arborist/TRAQ

Rachel@UrbanCanopyWorks.com
​859-638-2044
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Rachel Comte is an arborist, urban planner, trained facilitator and communications expert.  She is a leading authority on urban forestry master plans based on multiple years experience developing plans for cities across the United States.  Rachel is passionate about making cities better, healthier places for people to live, and a substantial vibrant tree canopy is an essential part of this work.
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Prior to forming Urban Canopy Works, LLC, Rachel served as the lead for urban forest master plans for Davey Resource Group, Inc. focusing primarily in the eastern United States.  She also managed in-depth urban tree canopy analysis projects for many cities, and served as the project manager for a large multi-year tree planting contract for the City of Philadelphia.  She also serves as a consulting urban forester for multiple municipalities in the Cincinnati metro region.
Prior to her urban forest management experience, Rachel has served in diverse roles throughout her career.  She has over 20 years’ combined experience in project management, strategic marketing, consulting, landscape design, green infrastructure, and planning and urban forestry and has worked in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.  Starting in project management and marketing in Washington DC for a business lobby, she later held positions in the private sector in online marketing and communications, and served at the White House as a Special Projects Officer. Rachel transitioned into environmental planning after completing a graduate degree in urban environmental planning while working for a regional planning commission. Rachel also worked for a non-profit to clean and plant abandoned urban lots to end blight and encourage redevelopment. Rachel has conducted research in natural resource issues like economic impacts of restoring urban waterways, impact of fracking on communities, trends in land conservation, and trees’ impact on stormwater mitigation. ​​

Presentations & Workshops

Intersection of Planning & Urban Forestry 
American Planning Association - KY Chapter Conference
David J. Allor Planning & Zoning Workshop - APA Cincinnati

Cleveland Tree Plan: Rebuilding an Urban Forest Through Collaboration 
Ohio ISA Conference (Cincinnati)
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Historic Tree Preservation
NKY Restoration Weekend
​(Historic Preservation Society)
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​Trends, Strategies Messaging & Effective Communication in Urban Forestry 
Livable Communities Through Urban Forestry (Washington DC) 

Partners in Urban Forestry Conference (Cleveland)

Regional Partnerships in Urban Forestry
Alliance for Community Trees webinar

Inspiring & Sustaining Community Tree Care with Captivating Urban Forestry Campaigns
Partners in Urban Forestry Conference (Denver)


Beyond the Data: Other Tools to Assess an Urban Forest 
Urban Forestry Institute (Tampa)
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AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS
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​International Society of Arboriculture ​Certified Arborist
#OH-6296A
Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ)

Volunteer of the Year Award  (Newport Business Association)
Outstanding Council Service Award (Northern KY Urban & Community Forestry Council)
EDUCATION & TRAINING
MA, Urban Planning, University of Cincinnati
Horticulture & Design Certificate, Cincinnati State
BA, International Business & Politics, Indiana University
International Affairs Program, American University of Rome
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Kentucky Chapter, International Society of Arboriculture
Northern Kentucky Urban & Community Forestry Council
Kentucky Chapter, American Planning Association
Board Member, ReNewport

Tree Revitalize, Founder & Past Chair
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Rachel was the primary lead across the United States:

  • Boston (MA) Urban Forest Plan
  • Columbus (OH) Urban Forest Master Plan
  • Tallahassee (FL) Urban Forest Master Plan
  • Philadelphia (PA) Tree Planting Contract Management
  • Greensboro (MD) Urban Forest Master Plan 
  • Greenpoint (Brooklyn, NY) Urban Forest Master Plan (consultant)
  • Lexington (KY) Tree Canopy Report Card
  • Newport (KY) Tree Revitalize (founder)​
  • Newport (KY) City Arborist
  • Cleveland (OH) Tree Plan 
  • Charlotte (NC) Urban Forest Master Plan 
  • Charlotte (NC) Tree Canopy Action Plan
  • Greenbelt (MD) Urban Forest Master Plan
  • Syracuse (NY) Urban Forest Master Plan
  • Kansas City (MO) Urban Forest Master Plan
  • Louisville (KY) Urban Tree Canopy Assessment
  • Mount Hope Cemetery (Rochester, NY) Tree & Woodland Management Plan
Urban Canopy Works, LLC | Tree Canopy 101 | Contact Us | © 2022
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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Work
  • We Can Help
  • Tree Canopy 101
    • Services of Urban Trees
    • Trees as City Infrastructure
  • Blog
  • News & Events
  • Contact Us