Ed Thomas Email & Phone Number

Paradise, California, United States

Performed tree risk assessments on fire damaged trees posing a risk to right of ways. Assessed over 11,000 fire damaged trees in less than 6 months in mountainous terrain.

Richland/Kennewick/Pasco, Washington Area

Responsible for the landscape maintenance and chemical applications to school properties. • Maintained the highest number of school properties of all the grounds employees (10 schools/school properties, totaling approximately 67 acres) including the highest priority landscapes (Administration buildings).• Acted as a lead chemical applicator of the Richland School District, operating the largest of the boom sprayers for school grounds and acted as the main contact to chemical companies. • Used, on average, less fuel comparative to other employees.

46 Sonova Rd, Prosser, Wa 99350

As the conservation manager, I managed all areas on the farm not under cultivation. This included the trees for windbreaks, habitat areas, grasslands, landscapes (to farm properties-office, winery, and houses), and irrigation to those areas. • Managed over 2,500 acres of native vegetation for wildlife including natural waterways & ponds to benefit fish and waterfowl species.• Installed over 500 new trees to serve as windbreaks to the row crops.• Designed and installed 3 new landscapes (2.9 acres, 2.7 acres, & 0.5 acres) to company properties• Restored over 20 acres of areas damaged by cultivation equipment. • Propagated new trees from seeds and cuttings.

Washington State University

While working in the genomics lab under the direction of Dr. Dhingra and Kathie Nicholson, the goal of the project I am part of is to transform grape and strawberry plants using Agrobacteriam to make them resistant to powdery mildews. My primary responsibilities have been to micropropagate grapes and strawberries using aseptic techniques to maintain stock plants for use in transformations. Another major part of my work at the lab has been to make different types of media for a variety of tissue culture and transformations with the appropriate plant hormones/antibiotics. For more information on the genomics lab, see the link below.

Pullman, Wa

During my internship I worked with powdery mildews and studied the early infection processes. The first challenge I faced was being able to grow the powdery mildews in the lab being that they are obligate parasites. I developed a new method for inducing conidial germination in vitro on detached leaves in two-layered Petri plates. I also mapped out areas infected with powdery mildews around Washington State University and shared that information with the TA to the General Plant Pathology course at WSU. He used that to teach the lab on powdery mildews which helped the class see a number of different species of powdery mildews. After my internship, I participated in the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities competition (SURCA) and took first place in “Organismal, Population, Ecological, and Evolutionary Biology”. See the link for more information.

Las Vegas, Nevada Area

As a project manager, I collaborated with community managers and boards of directors in designing and implementing the management of 65 + acres of landscaped common areas and parks. Proposed plant and irrigation renovations. Provided tree/plant, and irrigation inventories. Performed tree risk assessments on large trees. Directed hiring and operations for 5+ crews. Translated English to Spanish for the owners at safety meetings. Taught English classes to Hispanic workers.Scheduled the irrigation, directed 3+ irrigation techs on irrigation repairs, tested and repaired backflow assemblies to make sure irrigation water did not contaminate city water, tested for cross-connections (of potable water with grey water) on golf courses, did irrigation audits, mapped out all irrigation using GPS coordinates on google earth.While working at Par 3 I obtained multiple certifications. Previously held certifications: Certified Arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture WE-8591A (cert. held for 4 years), Certified Irrigation Auditor with the Irrigation Association #006945 (3 years), Certified Backflow Assembly Tester with the California - Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association#13576 (2 years), Certified Cross-Connection Control Specialist with the California - Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association#02251 (1 year).

Master Of Science In Agriculture– Plant Health Management, Plant Sciences

This degree focuses on management of commercial-scale agricultural operations and addresses problems associated with plant pathogens.

Bachelor Of Science In Integrated Plant Sciences, Major-Agricultural Biotechnology/Minor-Horticulture

The Agricultural Biotechnology major provides a comprehensive understanding of genetics, plant pathology, entomology, organic.

Biology, General