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michael slater

Planning, Design & Urban Forestry

Resume

Skills
& Expertise

  • Planning & Land Use

  • Landscape & Garden Design

  • Urban Design

  • Arboriculture & Horticulture

  • Policy & Analysis

  • Professional Writing

  • Community Engagement

  • Project Management

  • Budget Management

  • Communications & Media Relations

Education

2023 - 2025

​Master’s in Community & Regional Planning
University of Oregon | College of Design

1988 -1992

Bachelor's in History
University of Minnesota 

Certifications

2025

2022 - 2028

Graduate Certificate in Ecological Design
University of Oregon | College of Design

Certified Arborist
International Society of Arboriculture

Work
Experience

2025

Planner

AKS Engineering & Forestry

2020 - Present

Owner
Michael Slater Consulting | Salem, OR

  • Provide landscape design services to private and public clients, including installation supervision. Provide arboriculture services related to tree selection, plant health care, and collection management. 

  • Designed a new ornamental garden for a historical park in Salem, Oregon. 

  • Developed a successful proposal to rehabilitate an existing linear park in Salem. 

  • Co-manage a 40-acre ornamental garden in a historical public park. 

2018-2020

President
Mission Street Parks Conservancy | Salem, OR

  • Co-founded a parks conservancy

  • Managed all aspects of its establishment: board recruitment, governance documents, tax-exempt status, budget and fundraising, branding, volunteer management, and projects.

  • Initiated, co-designed, and managed the rehabilitation of an overgrown space.

  • Initiated and led the writing of a plant collection policy; establishment of a GIS database; and, data collection.

President

Project Vote | Washington, DC​​

  • Led a multimillion-dollar nonprofit organization focused on voting rights

  • Supervised leadership team and managed stakeholder relations

  • Managed the strategic and annual planning process

  • Initiated and managed specific projects

  • Set litigation policy and direction; served on litigation team

  • Supported staff in managing projects and making critical decisions

Leadership

2024 - 2025

President
Salem Planning Commission| Salem, OR

2020 - Present

Commissioner
Salem Planning Commission | Salem, OR

Skills

  • Microsoft Office

  • Adobe Suite

  • ArcGIS Pro

  • Rhino 8

  • Enscape

  • SketchUp

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