People

Tom Prosser: Founder/CEO

Tom Prosser is the founder of Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements. Tom began Rainbow Treecare in the late 1970's out of his garage as a response to the Dutch elm disease epidemic in Minnesota. Tom saw Rainbow grow from a fledging tree health company to become one of the most recognized and highly reputible companies in the Twin Cities. In 1998, Tom founded RTSA to put a focus on research and protocol development to improve the science and the business of arboriculture. Tom is a Certified Arborist and is on the Board of Trustees for the TREE Fund.

Tom's focus on providing sound, responsible solutions and an unbending commitment to customer service form the cornerstones of RTSA's mission and our company's core values.

Jim Zwack: Vice President of Sales

Jim Zwack is the Vice President of Sales for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements (RTSA).  As its first staff member Jim has a deep understanding of both the company and the industry of arboriculture.  He sits on the Board of Trustees for the TREE Fund, and is also the chair person for the program and education committee for the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture. Jim is the leader of RTSA's Performance Group, which is responsible for our sales and customer service.

Prior to joining RTSA, Jim worked for the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  He earned his BS in Urban Forestry at the University of Minnesota in 1995.  In 1997, Jim graduated with honors from Iowa State University with his MS in Tree Physiology.

Jim has a competitive spirit which shines through in his other interests.  He has completed five Ironman triathlons, eight marathons and is currently focused on being a competitive cyclist.  On the off times that Jim is taking a less active approach, he enjoys watching hockey, both at the professional and collegiate level.

Jim has been married to his wife, Karen, for ten years.

Joel Spies: President

Joel has been working with RTSA since before it even had an office space, let alone a staff or, for that matter, a product line. With a background in commercial art and design, Joel first came to RTSA a freelance graphic artist to help create the first Dutch elm disease poster. Joel has since become the driving creative force behind RTSA, doing everything in the process from product branding to package design to marketing to education. As Marketing Director, Joel was the one responsible for many of the materials RTSA is best known for - informative product literature, customizable marketing materials, and innovative sales tools for arborists. Joel became President in 2009 and is the leader of the Business Solutions Group, the division of the company responsible for discovering and developing  entrepreneurial directions for the company.

Joel is a proud father of four, and lives with his wife, Julie, in Burnsville, MN. In his scarce free time Joel enjoys woodworking, talking wooden boats, and cheering half-heartedly for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Shawn Bernick: Director of Research and Development

Shawn Bernick is the Director of Research and Development for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements, where he spearheads the development of products that perform predictably for arborists.  Shawn received his BS in Horticulture and Agricultural Education from the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and his MS in Plant Pathology from the University of Minnesota.  Over the past ten years Shawn has been involved with numerous research projects in the plant health care industry. He has conducted trials throughout the United States on a variety of insect, disease and abiotic problems that affect tree health. 

Shawn was born and raised on a dairy farm in Central Wisconsin and currently resides in Prescott, WI with this wife and their two children, Teddy and Ruby.  He enjoys hunting and fishing, and is an avid Green Bay Packers fan.

Dave Anderson: Director of Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs

Dave Anderson was welcomed into the Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements community as Director of Manufacturing and Regulatory Affairs in 2006.  He received his BS in 1991 and his MS in 1994 from Iowa State University in the field of Horticulture.  Prior to joining RTSA, Dave spent 12 years developing retail lawn and garden products, including a patent for a more effective mouse trap.  

Throughout the year Dave partakes in a variety of outdoor pastimes, including ice hockey and fishing.  He currently resides in Champlin, MN with his wife and their 4 sons.

Dean Morris: Territory Manager / Tree Health Care Specialist

Dean Morris has been employed with Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements since February 2007 as a Territory Manager / Tree Health Care Specialist.  Responsible for the company’s Midwest Territory, Dean works with clients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and the Dakotas.  As Territory Manager he strives to give each client hands-on, in the field training and technical support.

Dean earned his BS in Urban Forestry from Western Illinois University.  He is a Certified Arborist who, throughout his many years in the tree care industry, has become very familiar with the problems faced by arborist practitioners and the most effective ways of combating tree diseases and disorders.

A native of Illinois, Dean is a devoted outdoorsman.  When not in the office he can be found fishing, hunting and snowmobiling.

Mark Nega: Territory Manager/Tree Health Care Specialist

Mark Nega joined Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements as a Territory Manager / Tree Health Care Specialist in 2008, working with clients in Indiana and in his home state of Illinois.  He is an organized, customer service oriented professional who brings a sincere passion for the tree health care industry to his daily work.
An ISA Certified Arborist and a member of the Midwest Association of Golf Superintendents, Mark has worked in the tree health care industry for over 14 years.  He earned his BS in Resource Management from the University of Wisconsin – Steven’s Point and moved on to manage Plant Health Care divisions for two major Chicagoland organizations prior to working with RTSA.  This summer, he was nominated as Industrial Chair for the Illinois Arborist Association, of which he is an active member.

When he is not hard at work, Mark enjoys fishing, golfing and spending time with family and friends, including his Jack Russell Terrier, Doc Holiday.

Stephan Carbonara: Territory Manager/Tree Health Care Specialist

Stephan Carbonara joined Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements in July 2008 as a Territory Manager / Tree Health Care Specialist working primarily with clients in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.  Since that time his territory has expanded to include Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia and the entire state of Pennsylvania.

An outdoor enthusiast, Stephan was naturally drawn to a profession in the tree care industry at a young age.  Before joining RTSA, Stephan explored various channels of the tree care industry, working his way from Ground Man to Manager of Operations.  He is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds his Ohio Applicators License.  Being in the industry for over 17 years has given Stephan an intimate knowledge of all aspects of the field and the solutions required for success.

Stephan’s enthusiasm for the natural world permeates his non-work activities, which include hunting, fishing, archery and camping.  In fact, Stephan appreciates the outdoors so much that he took an eight month journey through Alaska to live off the land in a tent.  He currently resides (indoors) in Columbus, Ohio.

Shaun Malady: Technical Support Specialist/Tree Health Care Specialist

Shaun Malady is a Certified Arborist and Technical Support Specialist for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements (RTSA).   When he isn’t exploring the world by backpack, kayak, bike, or XC skis, he is responsible for providing technical assistance and field training to RTSA staff and arborists across the country.

Shaun’s arboriculture career began early with a love for the outdoors and a passion for conservation.  He earned his A.A.S. in Landscape Horticulture at Dakota County Technical College in 2000.  After graduating, he worked with RTSA’s sister company, Rainbow Treecare, for four years as a plant healthcare technician and tree climber.  Shaun has also been an urban forestry intern for Parks and Recreation Departments in both South Dakota and Minnesota.

Shaun’s travels have taken him to New Zealand and throughout North America.  In the summer of 2009, he rode his bike over 500 miles as part of the annual Tour des Trees to support the TREE Fund.

Cayla J. Olson: Territory Manager/Tree Health Care Specialist

Cayla J. Olson is a Territory Manager for for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the country.  As a TM, Cayla works to bring her technical knowledge of plant health care and business operations to her clients.  Cayla has worked for florists, garden centers and arboretums, and was most recently a purchasing manager for a high-end landscape contractor.

Cayla graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture, double-majoring in Environmental Landscape Design and Plant Production.  In college, Cayla held the titles of Vice President and Treasurer of the Horticulture Club, where she volunteered, hosted events, and participated in the MACHS competition.  She has been a Certified Professional through the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association since 2004.

Cayla’s hobbies include photography, travel, gardening and painting.  A Minnesota native, she lives in Burnsville with her husband and their two pets.

Karin Strub: Management Support Representative

Karin Strub was the Marketing Manager for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements since the fall of 2007, and is now working with the management of the company's Performance Group.  She works closely with the Vice President and Solution Center staff, leading daily project management and marketing workflow. Karin is also RTSA's contact for our largest clients and remains a strong voice in the company's marketing efforts.

In 2000, Karin received her degree in Mass Communications with an emphasis in TV and Radio/Public Relations from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and the University of Wisconsin – Superior.  Her previous job experience includes marketing management for Customer Facing Media and over ten years of Special Events coordination for the Anheuser-Busch wholesaler system.  Her work with Anheuser-Busch gained her company-wide recognition and placed her in the MN Beer Wholesalers Hall of Fame. In addition, Karin is a founding member of the Cancer Shoot Out, a non-profit hockey tournament that raises money for breast cancer awareness.

Amidst her busy life of work and travel, Karin enjoys live music, friends, and spending time with her 7 year old nephew Christopher, who refers to her as a “fun maker.”

Brandon Gallagher Watson: Communications Director/Tree Health Care Specialist

Brandon Gallagher Watson is a Communications Director and Tree Health Care Specialist for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements (RTSA).  He is responsible for the content on company websites, e-marketing, and various graphic design products, as well as answering technical plant health questions for clients.

With an Art and Design background, Brandon’s arboriculture career was sparked by a love of trees and a concern for the global environment.  He obtained his education from the University of Minnesota – College of Natural Resources for Urban and Community Forestry and was one of the first participants in RTSA's summer internship program.  Prior to his current role with RTSA, Brandon worked for two years within the technical support area and Research Department for Rainbow Tree Companies and later became a Territory Manager for Texas, Florida, and California.  An ISA Certified Arborist, Brandon holds a variety of tree industry memberships, including ISA, Arboriculture Research and Education Academy, Minnesota Society of Arboriculture, and California Arborists Association. 

Brandon is a golfer, skateboarder, wine-enthusiast, and home-brewer while still finding time for an avid bonsai and gardening hobby.  He and his wife Cheryl live in St. Louis Park, MN with their 2.5 year old daughter, Lily.

Jennifer Stethem: Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Office Manager

Since 2004, Jennifer (Jenny) Stethem has worked in various accounting and office management roles for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements.  Jenny earned her Associate’s Degree - Fifth Year from the University of Phoenix and is currently taking courses towards her Bachelor’s Degree.  As Office Manager for RTSA, Jenny utilizes her accounting, reporting and financial skills to keep the company running smoothly and efficiently on a daily basis.

Outside of work, Jenny promotes her love of animals through active memberships with the Humane Society and the ASPCA.  In addition to her career with RTSA, working towards her Bachelor’s Degree and enrolling in fitness boot camps, Jenny enjoys entertaining family and friends in her Northeast Minneapolis home.

Marilyn Kunde: Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables Specialist

Marilyn Kunde has been the Accounts Payables and Accounts Receivables Specialist for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements since December 2007.  On a daily basis she is responsible for invoicing, payment processing, reporting and fiscal management.  Marilyn holds a diploma from Hennepin Technical College and has worked in accounting and customer service capacities for Lennar Home Builders and for Engineering Productions Assoc./Bortech Sales.

Marilyn and her husband have been St. Louis Park, MN residents for over twenty years.  They love spending time with their children, grandchildren and extended family.  At home Marilyn also enjoys embroidering and gardening.

Sally Bell Pierce: Solution Center Team Lead / Customer Service Representative

Sally Bell Pierce, Solution Center Team Lead / Customer Service Representative, is rounding out her first year with Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements.  Sally’s primary responsibilities with RTSA include the daily management of the Solution Center phones and scheduling, order fulfillment, inventory management and sales reporting.

Sally has a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University, where she double-majored in English Literature and Theater Performance.  Prior to joining the RTSA community, Sally utilized her writing, accounting and communication skills at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN as Student Accounts Coordinator.  When this St. Louis native is not at work, she enjoys cooking, writing, listening to music, collecting vintage clothes and furniture, and spending time with her amazing Hubby in their South Minneapolis home.

Dan Majeres: Shipping Manager

Dan Majeres began working with Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements in 2007 as a Shipping Clerk, with several years of experience in customer service and retail under his belt.  Dan became RTSA’s Shipping Manager during the spring of 2009.  Not only does he supervise the shipment of all products in and out of the company’s four national warehouses, but Dan is also responsible for assembling equipment and managing inventory counts and production.

Dan earned his degree in English and Creative Writing at St. Cloud State University.  He is an ardent reader – especially of novels in the fantasy genre – and also loves writing, snowboarding, cooking, and making his fellow RTSA coworkers laugh as much as possible.  He and his lovely wife Nicole live in South Minneapolis with their pets Auden, Boo and Eddie.

Svetlana Gluhova: IT Director

As the IT Director for Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements, Svetlana Gluhova administers technical support for the entire RTSA staff.  Before joining the RTSA community, Svetlana worked as an IT Support Specialist and Software Developer for Cargill, Inc.  She earned her BS in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and is currently in graduate school for Computer Science at MetroState University.

This summer, Svetlana and her family moved to a new home in St. Louis Park, MN.  Between spending quality time with her family and friends, and educating her very active young son, Svetlana enjoys reading and dancing.  Being orginally from Moscow, Svetlana has a passion for travel, and  embarked upon a two week vacation to Russia, Hungary, and Budapest recently.

Tina Takerngpol: Multimedia Communications

Tina came to RTSA in 2010 to help meet the company's increasing need for interactive communication platforms for both our clients and our staff. Tina develops websites and multimedia tools for communicating our company message, products, and services to all the market segments RTSA serves. With a lifelong interest in the Fine Arts, Tina received an art history degree from the San Francisco Academy of Art and a degree in web design from Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Tina brings a wealth of both creative and technical knowledge to RTSA and also assists our sister companies with her media expertise.

A native of Thailand, Tina lives in the Twin Cities with her son where she enjoys cooking (spicy foods, naturally) and is a avid music affectionado. Tina is also a casual sports fan and will happily challenge your knowledge of college basketball.

Molly Bee Tlas: Retail Business Development Manager

Molly was recently the Office Manager for Rainbow Treecare Commerical Services and has moved over to help grow our relationships with retail businesses. Molly is a graduate of UW-Madison and has a background in Human Resources. By following her passions for gardening and nature, Molly is now continuing her education in Urban Forestry at Hennipen Technical College and growing her knowledge of plant health care by being an expert resource to retail garden centers.

Molly spends much of her personal time as a gardener and lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and her daughter.