Dave Leonard

Dave Leonard has been promoting tree health care in Lexington, Kentucky and the Bluegrass area for 47 years. As an active member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) for 44 years, Dave has served as both president and executive director of ISA’s Kentucky Chapter and has been an active member of its Board of Directors for 25 years.

Dave was part of the team that composed the ISA Arborist Certification exam and the Board Certified Master  Arborist  exam. He earned a Forestry degree from the University of Kentucky in 1974 and became a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists in 1993. Dave has been a rider in the Tour des Trees, an annual cycling event that raises money for urban tree research and education 18 times, riding over 9,000 miles around the country. Dave has personally raised over $58,000 for the TREE Fund.  In 2009, Dave was recognized by the ISA as one of the first seven recipients of their new “True Professionals of Arboriculture” award, recognizing arborists who help increase public understanding of arboriculture and the skills of professional arborists. In 2010, he was awarded the “Arborist of the Year” Award by the Society of Commercial Arboriculture. He always strives to educate both himself and others on the latest trends in arboriculture. His favorite tree is the Bur Oak.