Background, resume, letters & thank you notes
As a service, M. D. Vaden began in Beaverton, Oregon, summer of 1988. Over the years, hundreds of homeowners, not just horticulture, made business an enjoyable adventure. Presently, Mario Vaden is involved with every project, whether 2 hours or several days worth. And customers benefit from over 30 years of experience.
Below, you will find some letters, testimonials and resume link for Mario Vaden, the owner. And a personal history segment near the end of the page
Personal history ~ Mario D. Vaden. The Resume file is a download. MS Word ~ Resume .doc
~ Letter 1
Homeowner - 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
~ Letter 2
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
Governor
~ Letter 3
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
~ Letter 4
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
~ Letter 5
Administrator: Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists - L. Phillips - November, 2006
www.on-line-seminars.comHi 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.
~ Letter 6
Homeowner - December 18, 2009 - Portland, Oregon
I was not even sure what a French Drain was, but knew it would provide some insurance for my house on a hill. M. D. Vaden came out, assessed the need, designed the drain, constructed the drain, and left the area looking way better than it looked when the project started. He was very easy to work with, and I'd recommend hm to anyone.
J. Merrick
www.jeffmerrick.com
~ Letter 7
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
~ Letter 8
BROOKINGS HARBOR GARDEN CLUB - February 22, 2007 -
Brookings, OregonDear 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
~ Letter 9
Homeowner - February 21, 2000 - Beaverton, Oregon
Hi Mario,
Thanks very much for the fine job you did. I appreciate it.
Regards,
Mr. M. Rogers
~ Letter 10
Homeowner - October 16, 2009 - West Linn, Oregon
Hi Mario! Hoping this note finds you well and happy! ...... OK - here's the scoop: since Justin, Scotty and Brad had to hear so much today about how thrilled we are even still with the work you did here on these trees, it seems only fair I tell you how blown away I am with them too!
They were beyond awesome ...... I just can't stop smiling at what y'all (together) have worked here in this yard. ...... making me even happier about getting to move here! ...... thank you again, for everything!
All best wishes - more later - and be calling you again in a few months! Most sincerely,
J. Pritchard
~ Letter 11
Homeowner - April 2007 - Central Point, Oregon
Thank You ! Did a great job !! We'll call you again - Regards,
D. & M. Tomlinson
~ Letter 12
SUMMERFIELD GOLF COURSE - R. Sullivan, Superintendent - Tigard, Oregon January 10, 1985
... Mario did a fine job for me and his enthusiasm especially in the tree maintenance department was quite commendable ...
~ Letter 13
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
~ Letter 14
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
~ Letter 15
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
~ Letter 16
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
~ Letter 17
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
~ Letter 18
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
~ Letter 19
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
~ Letter 20
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.
~ Letter 21
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
~ Letter 22
Homeowner - E. Jackson - October, 2003 - Tigard, Oregon
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
~ Letter 23
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
~ Letter 24
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
~ Letter 25
Homeowner - July, 2004 - Tigard, Oregon
Thanks. Trees look great and the monkey puzzle makes us both sleep easier...
Mr. "D"
~ Letter 26
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
~ Letter 27
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
~ Letter 28
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
~ Letter 29
Homeowner - October, 2004 - Beaverton, Oregon
Thanks - the job was done very nicely -
D. & D. Kennish
~ Letter 30
Homeowner - September, 2005 - Jacksonville, Oregon
Thanks so much for such an excellent job done -
C. Borntraeger
~ Letter 31
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
~ Letter 32
Homeowner - December, 2007 - Medford, Oregon
We appreciate all your wonderful ideas as well as all your hard work and dependability.
D. & N. Scafani
~ Letter 33
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
~ Letter 34
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
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, from which I gained a brother Michael and sister Melina. Presently, Michael has a family at Mt. Shasta, California, and Melina her family are at Clatskanie, Oregon.
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 at 3rd & Alder downtown Portland; another in Arlington, Oregon; another at Timber Junction, aloing highway 26 on the way to Seaside.
Currently, my hobby of making walking sticks replaces 6 years of 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 mall in Portland, Oregon.
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, Georgia, too.
From 1999 to 2005, I was appointed by Governor Kitzhaber and Governor Kulongoski, to serve two consecutive terms as a board member of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board, which is responsible for testing and licensing of Oregon landscape contractors.
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. Harvey Bresee, was a dentist. Her brother Randy Bresee, works in banking.
We have 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 tried Jacksonville, Oregon, between Medford and Grants Pass in 2005. That home was west of Medford in the Applegate Valley community of Ruch.
The small adventure in 1998, moving to Savannah for 8 months to see the east coast, brought us right back to Oregon. If it wasn't for the fire ants, sand gnats and humidity, we may have stayed. The Savannah area is attractive. The beach was interesting with many different kinds of shells and shark teeth to collect.
I like Oregon's coast better - less shells - but plenty of character. Maybe it's because it feels like home. 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
My father was born on the Greek island of Zakynthos, and later lived in Athens, about 160 miles to the east. He was one of 4 sons of Apostolos & Maria Baden.
Paul Vaden was born Paul Baden, spelled with the letter Beta. Our ancestors were from Germany: a German last name, like Baden Baden, WiesBaden. When he moved to Canada, they change his last name from Baden to Vaden.
During 4 vacations to Ontario, 1961 and 1970 to 1973, I visited my grandmother on my mother's side who spoke Polish and no English. Conversation was exchanged as hugs and gestures and hot blueberry pie. I only saw my grandfather there once in 1961.
On my father's side, it was only my Grandmother whom I met, in 1970 when she visited the United States. She only spoke Greek, which I never learned: again, smiles, hugs and gestures. That grandmother made outstanding orange cake.
Images: our children were involved with business over the years: from moving soil to data entry. 2006 Tricia our oldest daughter hiking at Red Buttes Wilderness. 2007 Greg our oldest son on Neakahnie Mountain. 2004 Sarah our youngest daughter in Beaverton. 2009 Michael at Redwood National Park, helping me explore.
