Congratulations to Barb Kohler for 36 Years of Service

“I’m Retired. You’re Not.”

Those words on her pink t-shirt set former Friends of Trees board member Barb Kohler apart from the crowd at her retirement party on Feb. 21. Barb worked at Portland General Electric for 36 years in a number of roles, most recently as an organizational development consultant.

It turns out that several of Barb’s friends and colleagues at the party actually had retired from PGE, too, including former CEO Peggy Fowler. Both Peggy and current President and CEO Jim Piro were among those who praised and thanked Barb publicly at the event.

A recurring theme ran through everyone’s comments: appreciation for Barb’s thoughtfulness, dedication and enthusiasm—and her big smile. You can see her smile in these photos that Linda Peerenboom took at the party.

“I remember an especially muddy planting,” said Friends of Trees Executive Director Scott Fogarty. “There was Barb, all covered in mud, and she still had a smile on her face.”

Barb served on Friends of Trees’ board of directors from 2006 to 2011. During that time, she represented FOT at community events, co-chaired the planning committee for FOT’s Fun Run for Restoration, and planted trees at multiple plantings each year, in both our Neighborhood Trees and Green Space Initiative programs. She continues to support FOT and even planted at last weekend’s Memorial Park planting in Wilsonville, which PGE sponsored.

Friends of Trees is grateful for Barb’s support over the years and for the decades of support we’ve received from PGE. We were honored to be chosen as one of the nonprofits that people can donate to in honor of Barb’s retirement. We’re looking forward to partnering with PGE and planting with Barb and her PGE colleagues for many years to come.