job descriptions and bios
who's looking out for public trees

Melinda Adams, City Forester

Melinda holds a Bachelors of Science in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University with a minor in Biology and is a member of Xi Sigma Pi, the National Forestry Honors Society. She has been a certified arborist since 1997 and sat on the International Society of Arboriculture, Texas Chapter Board of Directors from 1998 to 2004. 

Prior to her current position, she spent five years as an Arborist with the Department of Planning and Development for the City of Dallas. Melinda's job description as City Forester includes overseeing the Forestry Section, managing trees on public property throughout the city, and assisting citizens with tree care concerns. What she enjoys most about her job is shepherding the city's public trees, which she feels are one of Fort Worth's richest historical and cultural resources.

Chris Haworth, Forestry Field Operations Supervisor

Chris is responsible for the day to day field operations of the Forestry Section, supervising 20 employees who perform tree maintenance, removal and replacement of trees in the 600 plus square miles incorporated by the City of Fort Worth.

Chris earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Horticulture from Redding University in Idaho.  Since earning his degree, he served as a Grounds Manager for Premier Education with Aramark and oversaw the grounds maintenance of 325 schools in the Houston ISD.  Chris also worked for the City of Arlington as a Crew Foreman over the MLK Sports Complex, Vandergriff Park and Craven Park.   Under his management, MLK Sports Complex was voted Best Sports Field in Arlington by the Arlington Youth Association. 

While employed by the City of Arlington, Chris assisted in retaining the Certification of Achievement from the Audubon International Signature Cooperative Sanctuary Program for the MLK Sports Complex as an Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary. 

Chris is a member of the Sports Turf Managers Association and was an active member of the Arlington Youth League Association.

Steven Hernandez, Forestry Assistant Field Operations Supervisor

Steven has been with Fort Worth's Forestry Section since 1988. Since that time he worked his way from an Arborist to a Crewleader and now he is the Assistant Field Operations Supervisor. He has acquired years of knowledge working in positions that will help him in his current job duties.   In Steven's current position as Assistant Field Operations Supervisor, his duties include inspecting city trees for hazards and removal, and assigning crews to prune or remove hazardous city trees.

He has taken classes provided by the City of Fort Worth such as selection Interviewing 101, Relationship Awareness, Win-win communication, and Leadership program. He has also attended various tree care seminars. Steven states that when he first began working for the Forestry Section it was just another job but over the years it has become his profession.

Melanie Migura, Forester

Melanie Migura is a Forester for the City of Fort Worth. She administers the city’s hazardous tree removal contract and coordinates the B&B Tree Grant Program. In addition to these responsibilities, she is the coordinator of the Citizen Forester program. 

A graduate of Texas A&M University with B.S. and M.S. degrees in horticulture, Ms. Migura has over 10 years experience providing education and training programs to diverse audiences. She is an active member of the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council and a certified special education teacher. In her spare time, Melanie enjoys cooking, reading and antiquing.

Michelle Villafranca, Forester

Michelle began working for the City of Fort Worth in September 2004 as a Forester.  She is responsible for the Neighborhood Tree Planting Program, which provides 5-gallon container trees for neighborhood parkways throughout the city.  She is also involved in Forestry outreach efforts with the Volunteer Foresters program.  Michelle has also taken the lead in creating the Fort Worth cable show "Cowtown Adventures," which is a kids' show focusing on science and its everyday applications within the city.  Michelle is also responsible for various GIS/tree inventory projects throughout the City, as well as being the webmaster for Forestry's website.  She is currently involved in a native habitat restoration project at Tandy Hills Park. 

Michelle earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Southwest Texas State University, majoring in Resource and Environmental Management with a minor in Wildlife Biology.  She has continued her education by taking several Graduate courses at UNT, and also takes continuing education courses at local colleges.  

Prior to joining the City, she worked as a Biological and Forestry Technician and a Wildland Firefighter with several federal land management agencies including U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service and The Nature Conservancy.  She specialized in Fire Ecology and endangered species research.  All of her fieldwork pertained to surveying vegetation and avian response to wildfires and prescribed burns. 

In Michelle’s spare time, she enjoys bird-watching, hiking, photography, reading, travel and home-improvement projects.  

Will Pemberton, Crewleader-Greenhouse/Tree Production

Will has worked with the Forestry Section since 1994. He supervises four employees and is responsible for planting and maintaining the tree farm, repairing irrigation, digging and transplanting trees, and maintaining transplanted trees for a two-year period. In any given year Will supervises the planting of 800 to 1500 trees. 

Will has a class A driver's license, endorsement for tank vehicle, and is a licensed non-commercial pesticide applicator. He is the 1996 1st place winner for the Plant I.D. of the Metroplex Award.

Will finds his job rewarding knowing he has contributed to the beautification of the City of Fort Worth and that everyone can enjoy it including his family and himself.

Conception Torres, Crewleader

Conception began his career in the tree service industry in 1981 when he went to work as an arborist with a professional tree care service.  He developed his skills throughout the years as an arborist; including climbing and becoming proficient in the operation of an aerial bucket truck. 

In 2001, Conception became an Arborist with the City of Fort Worth in the Forestry Section.  In his position, Conception built upon his skills and in 2007, he was promoted to Crew Leader.  His responsibilities include supervising a crew of 2-4 arborists, obtaining/maintaining a Texas Commercial A Driver’s License, operating heavy chipper trucks, aerial bucket trucks and wood chippers, gas powered chainsaws and pole saws, as well as manual handsaws and pole saws. 

As a crewleader, Conception is  also a member of the Forestry Hazardous Abatement Response Team, which is responsible for the cleanup of any emergencies such as storm damaged city trees.   

“My years of experience have finally paid off with having the privilege of becoming a City of Fort Worth employee.”

Donald King, Crewleader

Donald has been with the Forestry Section since 1997. He worked for a private tree service for four years prior to working for the City, and has 14 years of experience caring for trees. Donald is certified for trimming near power lines. He enjoys working with the public.

Roger Whitmarsh, Crewleader

Roger has been with the City of Fort Worth's Forestry Section since 2000. Before that he worked for a line clearance company for 10 years where he was certified in Line Clearance. He has several achievement awards for his outstanding performance and customer service. He has also received a letter from the Mayor for his work. Roger participates in the annual preparations for the Arbor Day and Mayfest celebrations. Roger's interests outside of work include working on his classic cars.

Joyce Thomas, Office Assistant

Joyce is a 1971 graduate of Munday High School, Munday Texas. In 1972 she obtained a certificate for Business and Office Machines at I.M. Terrell Technical School, Fort Worth, Texas. She Started with the City of Fort Worth, October 1990, with the Public Health Department as an office assistant for the Preventive Medicine Clinic. She has been with the Forestry Section since July 1994. Prior to her positions with the city she worked five years with the Military Sealift Command, Oakland, California, Navy Exchange Division as a secretary. Joyce's job description as office assistant for the Forestry Section includes receiving tree calls from citizens and other City and park personnel and preparing tree work requests for the forestry inspector. She also enters data from daily work records from forestry crews, maintains a filing system of requests for tree work, vendor invoices, and all other job-related forestry files. What she enjoys most about her job is being able to assist a citizen in distress about a tree problem. She also enjoys being able to assist any area of her department whenever she is needed.

Joyce is the friendly voice on the other side of the phone when you call the Forestry Section.