MEET THE ARBOR 1 CREW!
Caring for trees takes dedicated folks like our crew to safely perform quality tree work and clean up on all of our jobs. Meet the Arbor 1 crew!
Mike Donahue, Owner & ISA Certified Arborist
Growing up in Philadelphia, Mike took an early affection to the outdoors and all that it offers. Working alongside his mother Phyllis—award winning gardener extraordinaire and horticulturist—in her garden, he was always inspired by the perfectly organized chaos, complex inner workings and the thrill of nature.
In 1998, he visited Bend for a life changing vacation, then returned to his East Coast roots to attend Paul Smiths College in upstate New York to obtain a degree and a spot on the Dean’s List in Urban Tree Management. From there he worked in the tree care industry of the Northeast, Southeast and Central Oregon. It was here in Central Oregon he found home and realized the potential and the need for honest, loving tree care in our High Desert Urban Forest.
After working with Arbor 1 Tree for a year, Mike purchased the business in 2004 and the rest they say, is history. Mike holds an Associates Degree in Urban Forest Management, has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2005, ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, Accredited Assessor with Oregon Department of Forestry (SB360), and remains active in the business every day and night.
Mike loves Central Oregon, his wife Megan, his son Theodore, his dog, his bike, his chainsaw and all the good people in the green industry. He truly loves the urban forest and continually works hard to educate the community about the many incredible, tangible and not-so-tangible benefits of trees in our daily lives. He also likes collecting mass amounts of insects, feathers, rocks, leaves, cones, flowers and any other natural goodies that he can find and share.
Dave Sorensen, ISA Certified Arborist
Crew Member Since Fall 2015
Working with the Arbor 1 team since September 2015 as a climbing Arborist. ISA Certified Arborist WE 7885 A TRAQ Qualified Dave’s background in tree care started in 2001 working at a resort hotel in the dry heat of Las Vegas caring for Palms and ornamentals. He spent some time working on a private estate caring for a variety of non-native ornamentals, turf grass management, irrigation programming and maintenance before relocating back to Central Oregon. Dave still Ioves to climb, care for specimen and heritage trees and share his knowledge and experience with clients and people new to the tree care industry. When not at work, He might be found exploring on motos, coaching soccer, skateboarding, and snowboarding around the PNW.
Evan Willi
ams, ISA Certified Arborist
Crew Member Since Spring 2017
Evan was born and raised on the beautiful west coast of sunny Scotland, where he grew up running barefoot on the beaches and playing in the surf. He spent his early adolescent years exploring around Europe before finding himself stranded on the West Coast of the U.S. in 2013 where he fell in love with the Oregon lifestyle.
In early 2017 he decided to settle here in Bend where he was adopted into the Arbor 1 family. When he isn’t out caring for your trees you can usually find him climbing rocks, hiking in the woods with his dogs or indulging in some local IPAs.
Trampas Herseim, ISA Certified Arborist
Crew Member Since Spring 2017
Trampas was born into a Harley-Davidson loving family and grew up in Columbia Falls, MT. Named after a character in an old western called The Virginian, as a young buck Trampas loved hunting, fishing, snowboarding, rafting the river and exploring the woods in nearby Glacier National Park. When Trampas moved with friends to Bend in 2005, he fit right into the outdoor lifestyle.
Trampas learned to work with trees in the Oregon forests and wilderness, fighting fire, thinning, and felling trees. He was trained by the USFS to assess and mitigate hazardous trees in campgrounds and recreation sites all over Oregon, learning about the diseases and insects that affect trees and their lifespans. During the winter, he concentrated on snowboarding, snowboarding, and, oh yeah, snowboarding.
The progression from feller to tree-climber was a natural move for Trampas once he started working for Arbor 1 year-round. Saw skills are Trampas’ specialty, and he enjoys pruning trees of all kinds, admiring the before and after, and pointing out trees he has improved all over town. When Trampas is not working in trees, he’s probably out camping, snowboarding, or hot-springing with his wife, Megan and little daughter, Winter.
Spencer Zukic
Crew Member Since Spring 2023
Born and raised in Buffalo, NY, and moved to Bend, Oregon in February 2020. Spencer has a passion for motorcycles which began at 18, driven by a love for speed and the freedom of the open road. Beyond motorcycles, his hobbies include snowboarding, road trips, travel, disc golf, and anything related to the outdoors, along with video games during the winter months. He developed a deep affection for the Cascade region and envisions his roots in the PNW for the rest of the foreseeable future. Self-proclaimed cat enthusiast, he had some prior knowledge of tree care in Buffalo but has significantly expanded his skills and experience since moving west. Progressing from a groundie to a climber within months, he continually seeks the challenges and thrill of adrenaline each day.
Gabe Madsen
Crew Member Since Spring 2023
Born and raised along the Wasatch Front in Northern Utah, where he developed a deep love for the outdoors from an early age. Growing up as the youngest of six in a single-father household, he spent his childhood building tree forts, exploring the mountains, and getting into mischief with the neighbors. His passion for new experiences grew as he traveled the country playing competitive soccer.
In 2019, Gabe found his true calling while volunteering with the Utah Conservation Corps. Working on a boat crew, ripping a chainsaw along the Colorado River, he knew tree care was his future. Since then, he has climbed and cared for trees in Utah, Arizona, and now Central Oregon.
When he’s not working, Gabe enjoys rock climbing with friends or hiking trails with his dogs, always staying connected to the outdoors and living life to the fullest.