Hall Of Fame Inductees

Brandon Elrod

 

I have been blessed with a wonderful career and feel incredibly grateful. Originally a Landscape Architecture student, I earned a degree in Ornamental Horticulture after I discovered it was possible to have a career spent among the trees! I believe strongly in the importance of continued personal growth, and as a result I earned my Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Urban & Community Forester, Agricultural Pest Control Adviser License, Certified Professional Horticulturist endorsement, Master Herbalist certificate and a diploma in Ecology as well as a doctorate in the humanities. Most recently I graduated from Yale University’s Tropical Reforestation Certificate program, the Urban & Community Forestry Society’s Municipal Forestry Institute, and the American Society of Consulting Arborist’s Consulting Academy.

 

At the onset of my career, I interned with the USDA Forest Service before being hired in 1996 by Bill Arman and Nada Duna for Arbor Care, a nationwide tree care company. It was during my early career here that I had the opportunity to meet and learn from both Alex Shigo, father of modern arboriculture, and Richard Harris, pioneer of the tree profession. One of the memorable highlights from my early career is that I was on a vendor walk at Disneyland with Rhonda Wood, long time forester for the resort, as the events of 9/11 unfolded. It was here at Arbor Care—which would soon be absorbed into Valley Crest—that I joined the ranks of so many professionals who can also say they learned the ropes here at this highly formative company.

 

After a decade working for them, I launched my own holistic arborist company, Pacific Coast Arborists in 2004. In 2018, we expanded into chemical-free and 2-cycle-fuel-free commercial horticulture and rebranded as Pacific Coast Companies. Pacific Coast has had the distinct privilege of decades-long collaboration with Irvine Company, Disneyland Resort, the Segerstrom family, and many other landmark institutions. It has been my privilege to care for the historic trees of Orange County, from the Nixon Library & Birthplace’s pepper tree, to the heritage pepper tree at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, the farm-era blue gum windrows in Irvine, to the Cecil B. Demille Senegal date palm and Dominguez Family palm at Disneyland.

 

In 2024, after twenty years with Pacific Coast, and thirty years in the profession, I was ready for a new challenge and I accepted the role of Urban Forester at the Disneyland Resort. It has been an incredible platform where I get to lead research & development, envision and implement industry-leading best practices, and cultivate a world-class suite of technical services.

 

I’ve had some great opportunities to collaborate with other arborists and educators over the years. I served on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s advisory committee for arboriculture; I volunteered on the WCISA’s Spanish Committee for several years and am especially proud of having launched the first ever Spanish Regional Conference during my time as chairman; and I have recently been elected to the WCISA Board of Directors. I also currently serve on the Board of Trustees for Oak Valley College.

 

I’ve had the privilege of addressing my colleagues and peers over the years through public speaking venues including the Turfgrass & Landscape Institute; the Landscape Expo; Street Tree Seminar’s Western Tree Management Symposium; TCIA’s Executive Arborist Workshop; and the Western Chapter ISA annual conference.

 

Thank you for extending to me the deep honor of inclusion into the Green Industry Hall of Fame.