05/18/2026
From delivering expert Plant Health Care services throughout Southern California, to growing through the ranks with dedication and leadership, to keeping the Urban Wood shop running with unmatched craftsmanship and reliability — Manny Tafoya, Rey Acevedo, and John “Skipper” Stratford exemplify the hard work, professionalism, and commitment that drive our teams forward every day. Thank you for everything you do for West Coast Arborists!
Manny Tafoya - Plant Health Care
Manny has been with WCA for a year as a Plant Health Care Arborist. In that time, he has shown his commitment to excellence by taking on multiple travel jobs in Southern California. He can perform a variety of work types such as data collection and treating trees for insects and disease.
Rey Acevedo - North San Diego
I would like to formally nominate Rey for Employee of the Month in recognition of his exemplary work ethic and dedication. Since joining WCA, Rey has demonstrated remarkable growth—beginning as a groundman and advancing to a trimmer within a short period of time. He consistently exhibits a strong commitment to improvement, actively seeks opportunities to learn, and approaches his work with a positive and proactive attitude. Rey’s ambition and professionalism position him well for future advancement, with clear potential to take on a foreman role.
John Stratford - Urban Wood
From trophies and plaques to benches, chairs, dining tables, and everything beyond John Stratford, better known as Skipper, is the steady hand that keeps the Urban Wood shop running smoothly. John doesn’t just react to problems he anticipates the next move, sets the team up for success, and makes sure work flows efficiently from one step to the next. What truly sets John apart is his reliability and consistency. When something needs to get done right, on time, and with care, John is the person we count on. His craftsmanship, attention to detail, and calm approach allow complex projects to come together seamlessly, even under pressure. Urban Wood’s success is built on people like John people who see the whole picture, support the team, and quietly make excellence the standard. We simply couldn’t do this without him.
