Rachel Comte
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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.
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky and for the Urban Service Area of the Lexington-Fayette County Urban Government. Additionally, she was the project manager for a large multi-year tree planting contract for the City of Philadelphia, and serves as a consulting urban forester for Newport, Kentucky. |
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.
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Presentations & Workshops
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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) Historic Tree Preservation NKY Restoration Weekend (Historic Preservation Society) |
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
Certified Arborist (OH-6296A), (International Society of Arboriculture) 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 American Planning Association Tree Revitalize, Founder & Past Chair |
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Rachel was the primary lead across the United States:
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