SAM ROGERS, ASLA
EDUCATION:
University of Georgia, School of Environmental Design, M.L.A., 1977
University of Tennessee, B.S., Agriculture; Major - Soil Science, “With High Honors”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
1990-Present Associate Professor, Plant Sciences Department, University of Tennessee
1984-1990
Assistant Professor, Department of Ornamental Horticulture and
Landscape Design, University of Tennessee
1982-1984
Private Landscape Architectural Practice, Chattanooga, TN
1974-1982
Landscape Architect and Land Planner, Division of Land and
Environmental Planning, Hensley-Schmidt, Inc., Chattanooga, TN
AREA OF EXPERTISE:
Sam Rogers is a Registered Landscape Architect with a 9-month academic year appointment
devoted to the teaching program in landscape design. His interests include ecologically based
landscape design, community greenways and habitat restoration. He is recognized as one of the
leading advocates of greenways in Tennessee and contributed to the early concept planning for
urban greenways in Chattanooga and Knoxville. His strong environmental ethic is shared each
semester with his students in courses ranging from Fundamentals of Landscape Design to Native
Plants in the Landscape.
In 1998, Rogers established the UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab that was initially
funded and encouraged through the ‘Sustainable Landscapes Partnership’ with the Tennessee
Valley Authority. The lab has served to connect student academic experiences with ‘service
learning’ and community outreach projects such as restoring native plants and plant communities
to greenways, wetlands, meadows, riparian areas, and schoolyard environments. The overall
goal is to strengthen the ‘green industry’ contribution to improving or sustaining environmental
quality in the region. Projects designed and implemented by the lab have ranged from volunteer
work by faculty and students to several paid internships based on funding availability. The
interest and potential of the work of the UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab is reflected in
the many invited lectures given by Rogers throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and
Kentucky over the past several years.
AWARDS AND HONORS:
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Chancellor’s Citation for Extraordinary Community Service, 1992
ASLA Merit Award, Landscape Architectural Communication, Tennessee Chapter,
1993 for co-producing “Greenways…Connections to the Natural World”, an audiovisual presentation shown to over 50 civic and professional groups by the Knox
Greenways Coalition
William T. Miles Memorial Award for Community Service, 1997
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“Key to the City” by the City of Alcoa in appreciation for the UT involvement of the
Environmental Landscape Design Lab in assisting with native habitat plantings and
environmental restoration of a one-mile stretch of the Alcoa greenway.
Shared an Orchid Award with the City of Knoxville for the environmental landscape
work along the First Creek Greenway. The ongoing service project by the UT
Environmental Landscape Design Lab, AmeriCorps, and the OHLD 421 Native Plant
Classes was recognized and honored at the 2001 Orchids and Onions luncheon
sponsored by Keep Knoxville Beautiful.
Honored by the City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department with a
‘Volunteer Spirit’ award in recognition of community service with greenways and the
UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab featuring environmental restoration with
native plants, March, 2002
Initiated as an Honorary Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity in recognition of
environmental service and community outreach, Annual Founders’ Day Weekend,
Knoxville, April, 2002
W.S. Overton Faculty Merit Award, presented in recognition for outstanding
contributions to student development, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural
Resources, April, 2007.
PROFESSIONAL AND HONORARY ASSOCIATIONS:
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Registered Landscape Architect, Tennessee
Member, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
Tennessee Chapter, ASLA
East Tennessee Section, ASLA
Pi Alpha Xi - Honorary Society for Horticulture
PARTICIPATION IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
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UT Liaison: Tennessee Chapter ASLA Education Committee
Steering Committee for state ASLA annual meeting, 1990
Attended the following national ASLA meetings:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2008
San Francisco, California, 2007
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2006
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2005
Salt Lake City, Utah, 2004
New Orleans, Louisiana, 2003
San Jose, California, 2002
St. Louis, Missouri, 2000
Boston, Massachusetts, 1999
Portland, Oregon, 1998
Atlanta, Georgia, 1997
Los Angeles, California, 1996
Cleveland, Ohio, 1995
San Antonio, Texas, 1994
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Chicago, Illinois, 1993
Washington, D.C., 1992
Kansas City, Missouri, 1991
San Diego, California, 1990
Orlando, Florida, 1989
Seattle, Washington, 1988
Baltimore, Maryland, 1987
San Francisco, California, 1986
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1985
Participated in Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Conference on
Sustainable Community Development (On leave, representing the Ocoee Valley
Alliance for a Planned Community), 1997
Served on Awards jury for selection of landscape architecture design awards
presented at the State ASLA, 1999
Attended “Stewardship through Plantsmanship” symposium at the North Carolina
Botanical Garden, Asheville, NC, February, 2000
Attended the annual “Landscape with Native Plants” conference at Western Carolina
University, Cullowhee, NC. July, 1985-2007.
COMMITTEE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSIGNMENTS - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE:
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OHLD Undergraduate Teaching Committee
OHLD Scholarship Committee
OHLD Semester Transition Curriculum Committee
Faculty Advisor, College of Agriculture Student-Faculty Council, 1985-87.
Committee on the Campus Environment, 1999-2000, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2009.
Served on the Steering Committee for the UT Environmental Studies Program, 20022003.
Served on various committees studying the feasibility and planning of a landscape
architecture program for The University of Tennessee.
Intercollegiate Landscape Architecture Program committee, 2007-2009.
COURSES TAUGHT:
OHLD 380 Supplemental Landscape Design Graphics (past)
OHLD 450 Specialty Landscape Construction (past)
OHLD 480 Advanced Landscape Design (past)
PLSC 280 Fundamentals of Landscape Design (currently Fall and Spring)
PLSC 421 Native Plants in the Landscape (currently Fall and Spring))
GUEST LECTURES:
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“Urban Greenway Opportunities,” Hixson Chamber Council Meeting, Chattanooga,
July, 1987 and TVA Recreation Branch, Norris, August, 1987
“The Residential Landscape Design Process,” Master Gardener Training Course,
Franklin, January, 1988
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“Landscape Design,” Lawn and Garden Field Day, Middle Tennessee Experiment
Station, Spring Hill, June, 1987
“Designing with Natural Systems.... Protecting the Environmental Integrity of Resort
Developments,” Environmental Awareness Symposium, Fairfield Glade Conference
Center, February, 1988
“Maximizing Landscape Potential,” Landscaping, Turf, and Grounds Maintenance
Short Course, Knoxville, March, 1989
“The Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project,” Saturn-UT Partnership Annual
Meeting, Saturn Corporation, Spring Hill, July, 1989
“Maximizing Landscape Potential through Design,” UT Arboretum Society Fall
Lecture, Oak Ridge, September, 1989
“Designing Native Landscapes with Computers,” Annual Wildflower Workshop, UT
Knoxville, October, 1989
“Landscape Design Refresher,” Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs Workshop,
Knoxville, October, 1989
“The Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project... An Overview,” Landscaping, Turf, and
Grounds Maintenance Short Course, Knoxville, February, 1990
“The Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project,” Ag on the Road, Nashville, June, 1990
“The Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project,” East Tennessee Horticulture and
Landscape Association, Knoxville, August, 1990
“Ecologically Based Landscape Design,” Landscaping, Turf and Grounds
Maintenance Short Course, Knoxville, February, 1991
“Greenways. . . Connections to the Natural World,” League of Women Voters,
Knoxville, November, 1991
“The Sustainable Landscape: Design Trends and Attitudes,” Landscaping, Turf and
Grounds Maintenance Short Course, Knoxville, February, 1992
“Reflecting the Spirit of Place Through Landscape Design,” Spring UT School of
Architecture Lecture Series, Knoxville, April, 1992
“Saturn. . . A Different Kind of Landscape,” Annual Landscaping with Native Plants
Conference, Cullowhee, NC, July, 1992
“Ecologically Based Landscape Design,” Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs
Workshop, Knoxville, October, 1992
“Opportunities in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design,” Various Career
Day Talks in Knoxville Area High Schools, 1987-1995
Contributed as a speaker for The University of Tennessee Office of International
Programs Management for Sustainable Natural Resources Development and
Environmental Protection training program. (Topics presented: “Sustainable
Community Development” and “Sustainable Landscape Development”), Summer,
1993
Guest Speaker for Annual Conservation Camp, Tennessee Federation of Garden
Clubs, (Topic: “Landscape Conservation and Urban Greenways”),Fall, 1993
Guest Speaker for Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs Environmental Workshop,
August, 1995
Guest Speaker for Invasive Exotic Plants Seminar, Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation, April, 1995
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“Planning the Habitat Garden,” first annual Habitat Gardening Workshop, Ijams
Nature Center
Guest Speaker for the Sunrise Garden Club, Maryville, 1997
Guest Speaker for the Seniors’ Garden Club, Knoxville, 1997
“From Green Ways to Greenways. . . An Overview of Ecologically Based Landscape
Design and Management,” 1997 Centripetals series sponsored by the University
Studies Program and the Academic Affairs Office
“The Design Process in Developing a Native Landscape Emphasis,” concurrent
session at the annual conference, “Landscaping with Native Plants,” Cullowhee, NC,
July, 1997.
“Landscape Management. . . Stretching the Budget While Benefiting the
Environment,” Tennessee Recreation and Park Association, Fall Creek Falls State,
1997
“Environmentally Friendly Landscape Development,” Sierra Club, Harvey Broome
Chapter, Knoxville, 1996
Guest lecturer for team-taught Ag 333, “Landscape and Environment Issues,” 1998
“Greenways. . . Connections to the Natural World,” Guest lecturer for Forestry 423,
1998
“Planning the Natural Garden,” Chattanooga Landscape Professionals Short Course,
Collegedale, TN, February, 1999
“Streambank Landscapes....The Little River Habitat Improvement Project,” Public
Workshop sponsored by TVA and Blount County Soil Conservation District,
Maryville, TN, February, 1999
“The Pistol Creek Greenway. . . A Riparian Landscape Demonstration Project Within
an Urban Stream Corridor,” First Annual Symposium of the Southeast Exotic Plant
Pest Council, Oak Ridge, TN, March, 1999
“Native Landscape Demonstration Projects of The University of Tennessee
Environmental Design Lab,” annual conference “Landscaping with Native Plants,”
Cullowhee, NC, July, 1999
The Pistol Creek Greenway. . . A Riparian Landscape Demonstration Project Within
an Urban Stream Corridor,” 10th Annual Southern Appalachian Man & the Biosphere
Conference, Gatlinburg, TN, November, 1999
Guest lecturer, Geology 201, “Biodiversity: Past, Present, and Future,” October, 1999
“Project Overview of the Little River Habitat Improvement Project,” Water Quality
Forum, Ijams Nature Center, January, 2000
Guest speaker presenting an overview of the TVA-UT Sustainable Landscapes
Partnership for a special seminar including resource management personnel within
TVA, Knoxville, February, 2000
Guest speaker presenting an overview of the TVA-UT Sustainable Landscapes
Partnership, campus meeting of SPEAK (Students Promoting Environmental Action
in Knoxville), March, 2000
“New Environmental Landscape Planning Initiatives”, Tennessee Recreation and
Parks Association Conference, Chattanooga, November, 2000
“Using Native Plants in Your Landscape”, 2001 Grounds Maintenance Short Course,
University of Tennessee Conference Center, February, 2001
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“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants”, Concurrent Session,
Tennessee Turfgrass Association Annual Conference, Nashville, January 2002
“The First Creek Greenway Environmental Landscape Project”, North Hills Garden
Club, Knoxville, March, 2002
“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants”, Chattanooga Area Landscape
Professionals Conference, Collegedale, July, 2002
“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants”, Georgia Native Plant Society
Symposium, Atlanta, October, 2002
“Environmental Landscape Design for Trails and Greenways”, Tennessee Trails and
Greenways Institute, Pigeon Forge, October, 2002
“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants”, University of Tennessee
Science Forum, Knoxville, November, 2002
“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants”, Kentucky Recreation & Park
Society Annual Conference (concurrent sessions), Bowling Green, Kentucky,
January, 2003
“Environmental Restoration with Native Plants”, Invasive Plant Management
Workshop, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oak Ridge, April 2003
“Naturalizing Natives....Gardening for Greenways and Urban Forests”, Appalachian
RC & D Council ‘Trees & Trails’ Urban Forestry Conference (General Session),
Kingsport, August, 2003
“Keeping it Native....Native Species in Landscaping”, Tennessee Recreation and
Parks Association Annual Conference (concurrent session), Knoxville, November,
2003
“The Invasive Exotic Plant Issue...the Green Industry Response?”, 2003 Grounds
Management Short Course (General Session) UT Conference Center, Knoxville,
February, 2003
“Urban Forest Issues....Trees in the Landscape and Urban Forest”, The League of
Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County Meeting, Knoxville, January, 2003
“Environmental Landscape Design”, West Hills Homeowners Association, Knoxville,
February, 2003
“Native Riverside Garden at River Run...The Project and UT Partnership”, River Run
Homeowners Association Meeting, Walland, September, 2003
“Native Habitat Restoration for the Halls/Beaver Creek Greenway...The Project and
UT Partnership”, Beaver Creek Watershed Association Meeting, Halls, September,
2003
“The John C. Wilson Environmental Park...The Project and UT Partnership”,
Lookout Mountain Land Trust Meeting, Lookout Mountain, October, 2003
“Guest lecturer, Environmental Engineering 595, Ecological Engineering and the
Restoration of Aquatic Systems, March 2004. UT Class invitation to speak on
“Environmental Landscape Design...The Beaver Creek Wetlands and Riparian
Restoration Project”, extended by Dr. John Schwartz, Assistant Professor.
“Native Habitat Restoration for the Halls/Beaver Creek Greenway...The Project and
UT Partnership,” Knox Greenways Coalition meeting, Knoxville, May, 2004.
“Environmental Landscape Design with Native Plants,” Laurel Valley Ladies
Luncheon, Townsend, May, 2004.
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“The Invasive Exotic Plant Issue...the Green Industry Response,” Invasive Plant
Workshop Ijams Nature Center, Knoxville, Sept, 2004.
“Guest lecturer, Plant Sciences 326, Public Horticulture, November, 2004. UT class
invitation to speak on “Environmental Issues in Public Horticulture”, extended by Dr.
Susan Hamilton, Associate Professor.
“The UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab…Service Learning by Restoring
Streambanks and Wetlands”, Keeper of the Waters Workshop, UT School of
Architecture, Knoxville, February, 2005.
“Landscape Design Solutions”, Chattanooga Association of Landscape Professionals,
Collegedale, February, 2006.
“Gardening with Wildflowers and Native Plants”, The Gardeners’ Forum, Knoxville,
June, 2006.
“Gardening with Wildflowers and Native Plants”, Seniors’ Garden Club, Knoxville,
July, 2006.
“Gardening with Wildflowers and Native Plants”, The Green Garden Club,
Knoxville, September, 2006.
“Streams Done Right”, picnic seminar series in Springbrook Park, Alcoa, sponsored
by the Little River Watershed Association and the ALCOA Foundation, September,
2007.
“The UT Environmental Landscape Design Lab…A Decade of Service Learning with
Native Plants”, Tennessee Chapter ASLA Annual Conference, Knoxville, September,
2008.
“Chronology and Milestones Leading to a Landscape Architecture Program at the
University of Tennessee”, Tennessee Chapter ASLA Awards Dinner, Knoxville,
September, 2008.
Panelist, ‘The Great Debate… Traditional versus Native Landscape Philosophies”,
26th Annual Native Plants in the Landscape Conference, Western Carolina University,
Cullowhee, NC, July, 2009.
OTHER TEACHING RELATED ACTIVITIES:
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Project Coordinator, Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project, 1989-93
Primary Author of Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Grant Proposal
Major Professor of eleven M.S. graduate students, including directing six
assistantships
Served on departmental steering committee planning 1994 ALCA Student Career
Days to be hosted by The University of Tennessee
Member of Steering Committee for planning of annual conference “Landscaping with
Native Plants,” Western Carolina University, July, 1994-97
Advising of 25 to 30 undergraduate students per semester
As classroom activity, coordinated student plans for a horticultural therapy garden:
Helen Ross McNabb Mental Health Center
Directed class studies in advanced landscape design relating to establishing the
grounds of the Hopecote house as a demonstration ‘cottage garden’ to better serve the
campus for hospitality events and to serve as a horticultural teaching and learning
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resource
Assisted Curriculum Committee in establishing a new Landscape Design
Concentration in OHLD, 1997
Instrumental in arranging scholarships for several advanced landscape design students
to attend the annual Garden Symposium in Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
Instrumental in encouraging numerous successful applicants for student scholarships
to attend the Landscaping with Native Plants Conference in Cullowhee, NC,
Annually.
Established the UT ‘Environmental Landscape Design Lab,’ a pilot effort to focus on
‘environmental landscape’ demonstration projects for the eastern Tennessee region,
1998. (1998-2007 grants and contracts have totaled over $250,000)
GRADUATE STUDIES DIRECTED:
Messer, Pamela L. 1990. “The Biltmore Estate (1888-1895) A Historical Documentation of
the Landscape Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.”
(M.S. Thesis, edited and published as a book, Biltmore Estate.
Frederick Law Olmsted’s Landscape Masterpiece, 1993
Lane, William R. 1992. “Regulatory Strategies for the Development and Preservation of
Greenways in Knoxville/Knox County, Tennessee.” (M.S. Thesis).
Mohiuddin, A.B.M. 1995. “Canalscape: A study to modify the Existing Landform in
Relation to the Environment for the Sustainable Development of Rural Bangladesh”.
(M.S. Thesis).
Terumi Saito Watson. 2007. “Preserving the Legacy of Jens Jensen Landscapes: A Historical
Assessment of his Knoxville Van Deventer Garden”. (M.S. Thesis, served in advisory
role and committee member).
Member of graduate committee for an architecture student who created a proposal for a
building addition to the Art and Architecture Building to house a future program in
landscape architecture
Served on 15 Master Committees
RESEARCH PROJECTS:
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Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project (Interrelated with teaching program) supported
by major grants from the Saturn Corporation that totaled approximately $380,000
over several years (1989-1993).
Coordinated the following projects within the framework of the UT Environmental
Landscape Lab and the ‘Sustainable Landscapes Partnership’:
o Little River Habitat Improvement Project (including improving meadow,
wetland, and riparian woodland areas with native plantings and management
of invasive exotic plants along the Alcoa Greenway.)
o Native Riverside Garden at River Run, Little River, Walland
o First Creek Greenway Environmental Landscape Project, City of Knoxville
o Halls/Beaver Creek Greenway Environmental Landscape Project, Knox
County
o Meadow Enhancement Project, Tanasi Lagoon, Tellico Lake/Tellico Village,
Tennessee Valley Authority
o Environmental Landscape Restoration Project, John C. Wilson Park, Lookout
Mountain, Chattanooga, TN
o Schoolyard Nature Discovery Area, Sarah Moore Greene Magnet School,
Knox County
o Riparian Landscape Improvement Project along Pistol Creek, City of
Maryville.
o Riparian Landscape Restoration, Holston River Park, City of Knoxville.
o Brickey-McCloud Elementary School Environmental Study Area,
Powell/Knox County.
o Stream Buffer Demonstration for Springbrook Park, Alcoa.
o Wetland Enhancement and Meadow for Pearson Springs Park, Maryville.
o Stream Buffer, Pocket Woodlands, and Meadow for Eagleton Park, Blount
County.
o Stream Buffer Demonstration for Campbell Station Park, Farragut.
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Served as Co-PI in collaboration with Dr. Max Cheng and Dr. Paul Ayers on “An Exotic
and Endangered Species Survey of the Obed Wild and Scenic River between Jett Bridge
and Barnett Bridge” under contract with the National Park Service. Responsible for the
on-the-ground team providing plant identification skills for a 5-mile corridor along Clear
Creek. This team was linked to a field mapping team from Biosystems Engineering and
Environmental Sciences Department, which provided GPS data for the various plant
populations.
Master Plan proposal for a Native American Interpretive Garden, UT Agricultural
Campus, Indian Mound area, 2009.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Publications:
 “The Saturn-UT Landscape Linkage Project: Expressing the Middle Tennessee
Landscape Through an Innovative Educational Partnership.” Southern Landscape
Architecture, November/December, 1989
 Contributing Editor, Southern Landscape Architecture, 1990
 Featured in UT Agriculture, Spring 1990, “Ruralistic Surroundings Fit Space - Age
Facility . . . Unique Landscape Project Links UT to Saturn Plant” by Sharon
Littlepage
 Featured in UT Agriculture, Summer 1992, “Greenways, Environmental Corridors
Linking Town and Country. . .Landscape Design Students Participate in Grass Roots
Movement to Promote Lungs for the City.” by Sharon Littlepage
 “Saturn . . . A Different Kind of Landscape” (Summary Report of the Saturn/UT
Landscape Linkage Project, 1989-1993). January, 1994
 “Service Learning with Native Plants”, Plant Sciences Newsletter, Spring, 2009.
Community Service:
 Served as General Coordinator for the Knox Greenways Coalition (a broad-based
organization now supported by around 50 environmental, civic, recreational,
professional, and business groups and 150 individual members promoting greenways
in the Knoxville/Knox County area).
 Member, Greenways and Community Trails Commission, City of Knoxville
 Member, Knox County Greenways Committee
 Special Resource Advisor, Ijams Nature Center Master Plan, Knoxville
 Certificate of Appreciation, Hixson Chamber of Commerce for originating and
promoting the North Chickamauga Creek Greenways Project adopted by the City of
Chattanooga, 1989
 Organizer/Planning Advisor - Ocoee Valley Alliance for a Planned Community
 Member - Farragut 2004 Plan Environmental Quality Subcommittee
 Member - Farragut Advisory Council on the Environment
 Assisted with Farragut Primary School Summer Earth Academy, Summer, 1995
 Assisted with the Greenways 5K annual fund raiser, Annually
 Program Chair - Knox Greenways Coalition
 Participated in Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Conference on
Sustainable Community Development (On leave, representing the Ocoee Valley
Alliance for a Planned Community).
 Participated in public meetings for Nine Counties, One Vision and served on
Environmental Quality Focus subcommittee, 2000.
 Have served on the Knox County Site Planning Roundtable established by the County
Executive since 2002 to promote and improve environmental sensitivity in property
and community development in Knox County.
 Judge for the ‘Best Garden Design’, Dogwood Arts House and Garden Show, 20032004.
 Advisor to the Board, Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation, 2007-2009.
Consulting:
 Special Consultant, Master Plan for Greenway Farm, City of Chattanooga, 1992. (180
Acre Greenway Node and proposed Center for a Sustainable Environment).
 Landscape Management Consultant, Invasive Exotic Plants (workshop and work
days) Church of the Good Samaritan, Knoxville, 2002.
 Environmental Landscape Planning, Town of Jonesborough, Appalachian Resource
Conservation and Development District, 2003-2004.
 Environmental Landscape Planning, Coalfield Community Park and Nature Trail,
Coalfield Community Partners, 2003-2008.
 Established a consulting partnership, Environmental Landscape Design Associates,
April, 2008, serving a niche in ecologically based landscape design and landscape
architecture. Projects include work at Oak Ridge National Lab in riparian restoration
with native plants and a master plan for an outdoor classroom/environmental
discovery area for an elementary school in Blount County.