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Our Founder and Crew

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Damien Carré

Damien is Certified Arborist, Certified Tree Risk Assessor and the owner of Oregon Tree Care. He takes pride in precision, skill, and community development through his work and philanthropic ventures. He currently resides on the Board of Directors for a local group, Ascending the Giants and chairs the PNW-ISA committee for the local and regional tree climbing championships.

His desire to pay it forward is exemplified through the creation of Expedition Old Growth where others are allowed to experience the world through adventure, conservation and awareness with a particular focus on our forests and the habitat contained within.

When he is not “going out on a limb” in the local communities, he is out enjoying it. His adventurous lifestyle and passion for the outdoors is contagious.

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Zach Malcom

Originally from Illinois, Zach has resided in Oregon for over 15 years. He is classically trained in fine woodworking and furniture making. He also was an instructor for over 5 years at The Northwest Woodworking Studio here in Portland. After many years of running his own furniture making business he needed to pivot due to the pandemic. He enjoys watching football, obviously woodworking and enjoying PNW IPAs.

Derek Brown

Derek is our Operations Manager.  Following a brief career working in the vineyards and cellars of Oregon wine country, Derek threw himself into the arboriculture world obtaining his ISA certification and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. He is excited to apply his knowledge and expertise in caring for plants towards your trees.  Passionate in explaining the many benefits trees provide to local life and culture, Derek is interested in preserving old trees and and active member of the Portland Heritage Tree Committee. When he’s not working outside in the rain, Derek loves exploring our amazing state. Find him hiking a local volcano, fly fishing the Metolius River or camped under the stars at the coast.

ISA Certified Arborist # PN-9864A
ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor

Gage Bryers

Gage earned his Bachelor's of Environmental Science with a focus in applied ecology in 2018 from Oregon State University. Gage obtained his ISA certification in May of 2025. Before joining Oregon Tree Care, he installed ziplines and aerial adventure parks in forests all over the west coast, including Hawaii and Alaska. He enjoys skiing Mt. Hood, climbing Smith Rock and surfing the Oregon coast. Otherwise he likes to play guitar and enjoys the Portland music scene. He believes healthy trees mean healthy people and is excited to care for the trees of Portland.

ISA Certified Arborist # PN-10368A

Gunner Rogers

Gunner, originally being from Arizona, loves the cool Oregon weather and nature. There are many hobbies he is passionate about, such as: amateur radio, high speed morse code, learning new things, hunting, and making slingshots. Although he's very new to working with trees, he is very excited to learn all aspects of Arboriculture! 

Rodrigo Troya

Rodrigo is originally from Quito, Ecuador, where he worked as a Naturalist Guide in the Amazon Rainforest for over 10 years. It was in the heart of the jungle that he discovered his passion for trees. In Ecuador, he started a small arborist company with two of his close friends.
When he moved to the U.S. to be with his partner, he worked for an ISA Certified Arborist in Seattle for three years before joining Oregon Tree Care. He is currently working toward becoming a certified arborist. Rodrigo loves climbing and learning about the trees of the Pacific Northwest.
He is fluent in Spanish and enjoys connecting with Spanish-speaking clients to provide expert tree care guidance.
Outside of work, he can be found walking his dog, playing soccer, or doing anything that involves snow.

Alex Diniz

Born and raised in Boston, Alex studied economics at the New School before finding his way out west. An avid rock climber, he spends most of his time in the mountains or unsuccessfully trying to tire out his dog Daphne with his fiancé Jacqui.

ISA Certified Arborist # PN-9146A
ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor

Brendon Green

Brendon made his way to Oregon by way of Colorado, where he spent years working on horse ranches and honing skills in trail maintenance and machine operation. His curiosity has taken him across the western states exploring ranch life, edible landscaping, and now arboriculture. As a new, but committed, resident of Portland, he’s excited to build his future in tree work with Oregon Tree Care.

Outside of work, Brendon enjoys discovering the PNW, taking on home improvement projects, finding new hobbies, and traveling with friends.

Henry Knutsen

Henry began climbing trees as a kid growing up in Michigan and has carried that love for the outdoors with him ever since. After completing his BFA in Creative Writing, he unexpectedly found his way into arboriculture and quickly realized it was exactly where he belonged. He is currently studying for his ISA certification and continuing to grow his skills in the field.

When he’s not working, Henry can be found exploring the Pacific Northwest with his dog, Buck.

Michele Waterman

Michele joined OTC as the Office Manager in the summer of 2020, after many years working in the seasonal tourism industry. Her love of travel and the outdoors, brought her to Alaska where she lived for several years. She visited Portland every winter for the warm weather, before moving here permanently, just prior to the pandemic. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling and volunteering.

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Partners

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Expedition Old Growth

Imagine a view that so very few people in the world have experienced. You see the photos, hear the stories and know they just do not give justice as compared to soaking it in yourself. Life amongst the old growth trees – experience, learn and appreciate.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Expedition Old Growth provides tours of the region’s beautiful forests while assisting adventure-seekers with their guided ascent to the upper most canopies of the majestically ancient trees. Along the way, we create a greater appreciation for the living habitat and unique flora thriving at the forest floor and up into the tree-tops.

International Society of Arboriculture

The International Society of Arboriculture is a worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology, and the professional practice of arboriculture. ISA continues to be a dynamic medium through which arborists around the world share their experience and knowledge for the benefit of society. ISA, aligned on many fronts with other green organizations, is working hard to foster a better understanding of trees and tree care through research and the education of professionals as well as global efforts to inform tree care consumers.

Tree Care Industry Association

Established in 1938 as the National Arborist Association, today’s Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) is a trade association of more than 2,200 commercial tree care firms and affiliated companies. Our mission is to advance tree care businesses. TCIA develops safety and education programs, standards of tree care practice, and management information for arboriculture firms around the world. Produced by arborists, for arborists, and tested in the field, you can be confident that all training material is relevant and applicable.

Pacific Northwest International Society of Arboriculture

The mission of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (PNW-ISA) is to foster a greater appreciation of trees and promote the professional practice of arboriculture through education, research, and technology. The local, regional chapter for the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Friends of Trees

Friends of Trees brings people in the Portland-Vancouver metro area together to plant and care for city trees and green spaces. Our Certified Arborists and their families donate time throughout the year to help train local residents on proper tree care and young tree pruning. We are an Arborist Partner with Friends of Trees by committing to continue our volunteer service for training, planting events and inventory programs each year.

Archangel Ancient Tree Archive

Locating, archiving, and propagating the best trees to help solve the world’s environmental problems.

Ascending the Giants

Ascending the Giants is a non-profit organization that produces an ongoing series of expeditions to measure the largest tree of each species. These trees demonstrate the pinnacle of what a species can be; they are called champion trees. With the support of videographer John Waller the team is able to capture some of the first and only footage inside the canopies of these remarkable trees. Ascending the Giants now showcases these specimens as a means to increase knowledge of their existence and their ecological importance in our forests and our community. Our owner, Damien Carre, volunteers his time with this organization by holding a Board position, participating in treks to document trees and through educational forums as a guest speaker and professional in the field of arboriculture.

Hoyt Arboretum

At Hoyt Arboretum, every tree has a story to tell. Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate the community, Hoyt Arboretum encompasses 187 ridge-top acres, accessible by 12 miles of hiking trails. A place of beauty and serenity in all seasons, the Arboretum is easily accessible from anywhere in the Portland metropolitan area, by car, bus or the MAX light rail. We work with the Hoyt Arboretum as an Arborist Partner at the highest level by not only making monetary donations to them but also by donating hours to help maintain the trees and landscape for patrons to enjoy. We also participate in and are a sponsor of the Arborists in the Arboretum event held every September. We are proud to support them as a partner in their endeavors.

Chip Drop

Chip Drop is a website that connects gardeners with arborists
to get their wood chips. Arborist’s wood chips make a great mulch for your yard, garden or playground. Plus, they’re local!

Oregon Wild

Oregon Wild works to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for all Oregonians.

Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center

Promoting conservation through educational experiences in wilderness.

Ancient Forest Alliance

The Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA) is a registered non-profit organization working to protect BC's endangered old-growth forests and ensure a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry.

Portland Fruit Tree Project

Portland Fruit Tree Project is a 16+ year old nonprofit dedicated to taking care of and harvesting from the trees that feed and shade our neighborhoods. They offer workshops on caring for fruit trees under 20 feet tall, and harvest and distribute fruit for our urban canopy's trees, shrubs and vines. Their mission is to increase equitable access to healthful food and strengthen communities by empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of city-grown produce.