Background, Letters and Thank-you Notes
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Home owner - March 6, 2009 - Medford, Oregon Mario did a fantastic job. I had a big big problem with my Red October Glory, it split towards the top. With his eye bolts and cables he was able to bring my sagging tree back to life. I have used him the past 3 years. He does outstanding work and my neighbors have used him since I found him. He has the best rates in Jackson County and trust me, I have received estimates from others. Great arborist and very sad to see him leave our area and move back to Portland. Mike |
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OREGON STATE GOVERNOR - THEODORE R. KULONGOSKI November 30, 2005 
Dear Mr. Vaden Thank you for your six years of service to the State Landscape Contractors Board. Your talent, experience and input to the board has been very beneficial. ...I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation for your work. Thank you for your time, talent and effort in this important role, and for your willingness to be involved in public service. I commend you for your unselfish contribution to the citizens of the State of Oregon. Sincerely, THEODORE R. KULONGOSKI
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PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE - September 11, 1985 To the Landscape Contractors Advisory Board, RE: Mario Vaden ...He has assisted me with two landscape jobs and I was pleased with his expertise and ability to work......I personally have found Mario to be very interested in and dedicated to the landscape industry. Sincerely, Mr. John Wirth, Department Chairman: Agriculture, Construction, Science |
UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND - February 15, 1985 - Portland, Oregon To whom it may concern: ...Mario Vaden has been employed in my department since June 1984... ...we have found Mario to be reliable, dependable and hard working ... ... I think you will be satisfied if you consider hiring him. Sincerely, L. Cordas, Grounds Foreman |
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Home & business owner - August 27, 2008 - Hillsboro, Oregon I recommend Mario Vaden highly. He is a talented individual who enjoys what he does and it shows in his work. He took some very poorly maintained trees and bushes at our house and improved the look of them 100%. He is on my list of very skilled and knowledgeable people. C. Milne, Computer Craft Designs of Oregon |
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HOMEOWNER - January 26, 1998 - Portland, Oregon (To) Oregon State Contractors Board: To whom it may concern, Mario is very knowledgeable in his field, and willing to share this with those for whom he works. We have always found his work well done, and the clean up extra careful. He is an excellent workman who takes pride in his craft. We became good friends over the years. Sincerely, Mr. Donald Nichols |
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ROCK CREEK COUNTRY CLUB - February 28, 1983 - Portland, Oregon To whom it may concern, ... Even with the adverse weather conditions of the winter of 1982 - 1983, Mario maintained the golf course in equivalent, if not better, condition than during the previous winter with less manhours and less fuel consumption. Paul Gabrilis, Owner |
BROOKINGS - HARBOR GARDEN CLUB - February 22, 2007 - Brookings, Oregon Dear Mario Vaden, Thank you for taking the time to come and speak at our meeting. As you could tell from the response of our members your presentation was well received. We all learned so much about pruning trees and shrubs. The Brookings - Harbor Garden Club, by John Sullivan, Corresponding Secretary |
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HOMEOWNER - February 21, 2000 - strong>Beaverton, Oregon Hi Mario, Thanks very much for the fine job you did. I appreciate it. Regards, Mr. M. Rogers |
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HOMEOWNER - April 2007 - Central Point, Oregon Thank You ! Did a great job !! We'll call you again - Regards, D. & M. Tomlinson |
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January 10, 1985 ... Mario did a fine job for me and his enthusiasm especially in the tree maintenance department was quite commendable ... |
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HOMEOWNER - August, 2004 - Aloha, Oregon Thank you for the quick work! The yard looks much better. I will not hesitate to recommend your service to others. B. Collins . |
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HOMEOWNER - D. McCutcheon - November 7, 1989 - Beaverton, Oregon Just a brief note to thank you again for the very professional job you did in pruning the hedges. We did not believe you would have so much material to remove but the "finished product" is excellent...and the subject of several very, very favorable comments around the neighborhood ... D. McCutcheon . |
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INTERNATIONAL DUNES COMPANY - September 13, 1985 - Portland, Oregon ... Mr. Vaden is a competent and knowledgeable landscaper and we will consult with him about any further problems we might have with the grounds ... L. Lusk |
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HOMEOWNER - P. Doherty - Wilsonville, Oregon February, 2004 Dear Mario,After your phone call I braced myself to see the shrubs. Jim and I both love them! And the cherry tree looks so much better. My neighbor, Mrs. Sher..., gave her approval too! Thank you. Sincerely, P. Doherty |
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HOMEOWNER - February, 1998 - Tigard, Oregon ... Mario has always been prompt, diligent and very dependable. We have always been happy with his work especially his creativity in the application of his skills. He is a very professional and skilled arborist... We would not hesitate to recommend Mario for any pursuit ... J. Chandler |
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HOMEOWNER - July, 2003 - Portland, Oregon Thank you so very much. It looks wonderful, you really did and excellent job. We will keep you in mind, when our next outdoor project comes up... C. & S. Marshall |
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HOMEOWNER - L. Mullen - October 12, 2003 - Portland, Oregon Great job of opening up Mom's back and side yard. What a difference......The gal that lives in the house was shocked - she had no idea the yard was so big. L. Mullen |
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OREGON HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY - September, 1984 - Portland, Oregon Mario Vaden...is working as Grounds Keeper I. He has maintained our south campus area in excellent condition and has made many improvements in this area....He also has been involved with special projects. He completes assignments with minimum amount of supervision. Mario has maintained good working relations with other employees and with Physical Plant employees working in his area....Mario maintains a commercial pesticide applicators license....I would recommend Mario for any position in grounds maintenance N. Ray, Superintendent of Grounds. |
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HOMEOWNER - March 15, 2004 - Portland, Oregon Thank you again for the beautiful work! We've mentioned you to all of our friends, and encouraged them to tell their friends. Warmest Regards, S. Burch |
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HOMEOWNER - E. Jackson - October, 2003 - Tigard, Oregon Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! |
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HOMEOWNER - September, 1985 - Gaston, Oregon To whom in may concern:... I was very impressed with Mr. Vaden's work, which was performed quickly and efficiently in a very professional manner. Sincerely, C. Hendrickson |
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HOMEOWNER - June, 2001 - Beaverton, Oregon ...What a lovely surprise to find when I returned from Vermont. -- how very kind and thoughtful of you... G. Herztein |
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HOMEOWNER - July, 2004 - Tigard, Oregon Thanks. Trees look great and the monkey puzzle makes us both sleep easier... Mr. "D" |
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HOMEOWNER - April, 1998 - Charbonneau, Oregon Thank you so much for getting in touch with us regarding pruning...We are in Maui right now, however, you can do the pruning any time....After the wonderful job you did with all our pine trees and everything else, I was so dissappointed when you told us you were leaving, and I just kept procrastinating on calling someone else to to it. Now, I'm glad I didn't do it. Sincerely yours, L. Marsden |
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HOMEOWNER - February 1998 - Beaverton, Oregon To whom it may concern,Mario Vaden has done pruning for us...as well as at a rental home that I manage...1990 through 1997. His work is in the superior range. He is honest, fair and trustworthy and takes great pride in doing good work for you....Since his move...I have no idea who I might emloy of his caliber & work ethic. Thank you. A. Martin |
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HOMEOWNER - February, 1998 - Tigard, Oregon To the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board...Mario Vaden...His work was excellent. He kept us informed of the progress as he worked. He explained what he was doing and why. And he fulfilled the work on time and on budget. In addition, he took the time to walk the property with us, to identify each tree by type and characteristics, and recommended landscaping concepts, some of which we adoped in later work on the property. I consider him to be a fine professional, and a pleasure to deal with, and would recommend him to any employer D. Kidd |
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HOMEOWNER - October, 2004 - Beaverton, Oregon Thanks - the job was done very nicely - D. & D. Kennish |
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HOMEOWNER - September, 2005 - Jacksonville, Oregon Thanks so much for such an excellent job done - C. Borntraeger |
Administrator: Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists - L. Phillips - November, 2006 Hi Mario, I just thought you might like to know that your article has produced more comments and is the most popular article ever featured on the Seminars. So far this month, over 50 tests have been recorded on your article. This is more than most articles get in the average two month Seminar.... ... I am even getting emails from people about your article. They are all telling me how good it is and are there any more like this coming. Do you have another topic you would like to write about? Thanks again for thinking about the Seminars when you wanted to publish. |
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Homeowner - September 27, 2007 - Central Point, Oregon Hi Mario, Thank you so very much. You did a "Great" job. It all looks so good ! I so appreciate what you did. God Bless, K. Burrill |
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Homeowner - December, 2007 - Medford, Oregon We appreciate all your wonderful ideas as well as all your hard work and dependability. D. & N. Scafani |
Images: 2003 Mario in office, 2005 with wife and youngest children, 2005 landscape board meeting, 2007 oldest son, 2006 oldest daughter.
My father, Paul Vaden, was born in Greece, and met my mother, Eleanor Mulski, in Vancouver, B.C., where they married.
I was born in Vancouver B.C., Canada in 1959, and our family moved to the United States in 1960. By 1963, we were in Oregon, where I attended school for 12 years, in Beaverton. I remained in Beaverton most years between 1963 and 2005. Beaverton had about 7,000 residents in 1963 - mainly rural. Dad re-married with Carla Anderson, from Tillamook, Oregon - from which I gained a brother Michael and sister Melina.
1980 was the beginning of my my work with horticulture, which eventually included landscaper, arborist, greenskeeper, horticulturist, golf course superintendent, and business owner. Add "student" too. The early work years involved 6 golf courses, 2 university campuses and 2 landscape companies, followed by countless projects in business. Add one summer job at age 16 for my Dad's friend's new golf course in Pendleton - was called Grecian Heights at that time.
Before 1980, my experience included construction, new home inspection and my parent's restaurants; one was at 3rd & Alder downtown Portland; another in Arlington, Oregon; another at Timber Junction on the way to Seaside.
Currently, my hobby of making walking sticks replaces 6 years of fine woodworking which I enjoyed in high school. My senior year at Aloha High School, I received a design trophy from a woodworking competion held at Washington Square mal in Portland, Oregonl.
Enrollment at Portland Community College began 1983, leading to certification as a Landscape Technician. My college started more as a matter of workplace competition, but I immediately found enjoyment in tree care and landscape design. The college was a good move - I was getting bored with turf management fast. Discovering that science and technology existed for trees, plants and soil, gave my mind a fresh start and understanding. Business started in 1988, specializing in pruning. In time, landscape design was added. Most projects have been in Oregon towns. 8 months in Savannah, Georgiatoo.
From 1999 to 2005, I was appointed by Governors Kitzhaber and Kulongoski, to serve 2 terms as a board member of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board which is responsible for testing and licensing of Oregon landscape contractors. In the image to the right, is a 2005 landscape board meeting held in Grants Pass, Oregon. Most meetings were at the State Capitol in Salem.
My mother - one of 13 brothers and sisters, was born in Keewatin, Ontaria, Canada, now Kenora, Ontario. We visited my grandmother there in my early teen years: each visit included fresh blueberry pie from a woodstove oven. That was 1972, and my grandmother had a woodstove, no running water, and a few electric lights. My grandmother spoke Ukrainian, so our communication was limited to a few words and hugs. Honestly, I know very little about my dad's background in Greece, and only met my grandmother from there, twice. Dad had 4 brothers, and was the oldest.
My wife Jan, and I, met in Beaverton and were married 1991 in Portland. I grew the Fuschias and she made the wedding cake. Jan was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and grew up in Medford. Before we met, she was a medical assistant. Of Jan's siblings, two became nurses and her step father Dr. Harvery Bresee, was a dentist. Her natural dad Mr. Bill Ward, worked with electrical. Her mother Sandi Bresee, lived most years near Medford and Central Point, then later near Portland, to be with family Jan also has a step brother Randy Bresee, who works in banking.
We have children and plenty of pets. 2 boys and 2 girls; an 18 year spread from youngest to oldest: Michael, Sarah, Greg and Tricia. We lived in Beaverton for at least 14 years (with an 8 month experiment to try Savannah), then relocated near Jacksonville, Oregon, between Medford and Grants Pass, in July of 2005 (Applegate Valley at Ruch). Pets ranged from mini schnauzer, long-hair chihuahua, rotweiller, papillon, African grey parrot, blue and gold macaw, conures and Indian ringneck parakeet.
The small adventure in 1998, moving to Savannah, Georgia, for 8 months to see the east coast, brought us right back to the Beaverton area. If it wasn't for the fire ants, sand gnats and humidity, we may have stayed.
The Savannah area is attractive including Spanish moss draped from limbs of oak trees. The beach is very interesting to walk on because there are many different kinds of shells. People there enjoy collecting shark teeth. We collected hundreds of shark teeth.
I like Oregon's coast better - less shells - but plenty of character. Maybe it's because it feels like home. Four favorites places among many are Ecola State Park, the long drive-on beach near Gearhart, Beacon Rock across from Cascade Locks, and Nehalem Bay State Park. Without a doubt, the Oregon coast is our favorite destination for a drive, relaxing or camping. We also enjoy the southern Oregon coast, combining it with the north California Redwoods.