Event Schedule

Sponsored by North American Rescue

Speaker: Matt McCarty, Director of Public Safety and Instructor, North American Rescue

Learn how to address life threatening bleeding, how to apply a tourniquet, as well as how to wrap and pack a wound from the American College of Surgeons Stop the Bleed standards. Participants get a printable Certificate of Completion. Every attendee receives a full stocked PABC Kit as part of registration.

Cost:
$50 – TCIA Members
$65 – Non-Members 

Max attendance: 50 

Sponsored by SingleOps

Learn from real business owners and arborists as they candidly share their own journeys integrating technology into their tree care businesses. Join our workshop to gain invaluable insights into how technology can be used in your business, from sales to the back office. In the morning session, we will cover marketing trends and strategy, and in the afternoon session we will share actionable tips on how to use industry-specific software (using SingleOps as the example) to streamline sales and production as well as key back-office processes. Plus, we’ll share success stories and practical advice to take your use of technology to the next level.

Morning session 10:00am – 12:00pm

Lunch included 12:00pm –1:00pm 

Optional afternoon workshop 1:00pm – 4:00pm 

Cost:
$150 – TCIA Members
$190 – Non-Members 

Max attendance: 50 

Facilitated by Sam Hill, Sam Hill Tree Care, Steve Hilbert, Asplundh Tree Experts, Wayne Dubin, Bartlett Tree Experts, Patrick Anderson, TCIA Corporate Representative, Dr Tom Smiley, Bartlett Tree Research Labs, and Bob Rouse, TCIA, and many additional A300 committee members.

Learn about important updates on current and upcoming ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards committee activities, including some key developments tree care companies need to be aware of. Using ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards as a basis of your tree care operations can:

• Improve efficiency at your company
• Ensure your company provides proper tree care services
• Promote good communication between your salesperson, the tree crew and the client
• Protect your company from costly service callbacks, claims and lawsuits

It will also include a review of current issues and common work-proposal mistakes that can result in costly claims and lawsuits. The new ANSI A300 2023 standard offers some protection and work specification writing guidance that can mitigate these issues and help protect you and your company. Each registrant will receive a copy of the new A300 Tree Care Standard ($119.00 value).

• 12:30 PM – Registration opens
• 1:00 PM – Overview of ANSI A300 Standards, their purpose, development and use – Sam Hill, ASC A300 Committee Chair
• 1:45 PM – A300 Pruning – Steve Hilbert and Wayne Dubin, Asplundh and Bartlett Representatives
• 2:00 PM – A300 IPM Patrick Anderson, TCIA Corporate Member Representative
• 2:45 PM – Break with Attendees and Speakers
• 3:00 PM – A300 Tree Risk Assessment – Dr. Tom Smiley (Plant Physiologist and Soil Scientist, Bartlett Tree Research Lab)
• 3:45 PM – Practical applications, writing work specifications using A300 Standards – All committee members
• 4:30 PM – Wrap Up – Bob Rouse

Max attendance: 60

Sponsored by ArboRisk Insurance

Your employees are out driving your vehicles every day, yet many tree care companies do not take the proper steps to minimize risk. Having an effective Drive and Fleet Management Program is essential for the success of your business. During this workshop, you will learn about the appropriate written policies and procedures needed to setup the expectations for all employees to follow and how to develop driver training and fleet management programs. Attendees will be sent a Driver & Fleet Workbook to complete prior to the workshop.

Max attendance: 50

This intermediate-level workshop focuses on essential skills for plant health care technicians, covering three key areas: 

Honing Diagnostic and Management Skills 

Mike Raupp, Ph.D and Paula Shrewsbury, Ph.D. lead a hands-on session on diagnosing and managing tree and shrub problems. Participants will learn to recognize damage categories, associate damage with insect and mite groups, practice diagnostic techniques, and identify management approaches. Attendees will work in teams with living and preserved samples to learn how to recognize five major categories of plant damage caused by key insects, mites, diseases, and abiotic factors. 

Understanding Tree Nutrition and Soil Management 

Zack Shier, BMCA, explores the relationship between urban trees and soil. Topics include diagnosing tree health issues, understanding nutrient products, and applying real-world solutions using the arborist’s toolbox. Attendees will gain a better understanding of the complete relationship between urban soils and tree nutrition. 

Pruning According to ANSI A300 

Thomas Pain, CTSP, conducts an interactive session on structural tree pruning. Participants will practice pruning techniques on container trees, learn about ANSI A300 standards, and review case studies. Attendees will have an opportunity for hands-on pruning with hand pruners, saws, and/or mechanical pruners. 

Attendees will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience in plant health care, enhancing their ability to diagnose issues and implement effective solutions for trees and shrubs. This comprehensive training will equip participants with the skills needed to succeed in a plant health care career.  

Includes continental breakfast and boxed lunch. 

Max attendance: 50

Sponsored by Husqvarna

This important summit will provide industry-driven strategies and realistic resources that tree care businesses can implement to positively impact their recruitment and retention initiatives, leading to a safe, productive and empowering workplace for all employees.

Participants will gain and share knowledge about:

• Recruitment trends in the industry
• Apprenticeship
• Credentialing programs
• Best practices for recruitment and retention
• Current TCIA workforce development initiatives supporting tree care companies.

Max attendance: 50

Speaker: Brick Reilly, CTSP, Supervisor, Department of Public Works, Millburn Township, New Jersey

With his years of experience as a deaf climber, and his passion for continually working on the mind, body and spirit, Brick will bring a different view on how we can approach longevity in this industry.

Speaker: David Marks, Vice President, Environmental Design

Over the last 43 years, David has been responsible for almost every aspect of the tree transplanting business at one time or another. Environmental Design’s large tree transplanting projects include many large Estates, Zoos, Universities, Golf Courses, Municipalities, and Casinos. Environmental Design has transplanted thousands of large and giant trees, including many in the 30″ to 100″ diameter range. These massive trees have weighed up to ONE MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND pounds, and have an impressive 99% survival rate.

Speakers: Dr. John Ball, CTSP, Professor, South Dakota State University and Tim Walsh, CTSP, Townsend Company

Arboricultural operations are one of the highest risk activities in the United States. Tree workers have a fatality rate 15 to 30 times higher than the all-industry average. They also suffer from a disproportionally high severe nonfatal rate compared to other industries. One means of reducing these high rates is for tree workers to follow the Z133 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations. The new revision of the Z is now completed and there are many important changes in the new standard. Tim Walsh, VP of Safety and Training with Townsend Company LLC and John Ball, Professor of Forestry, South Dakota State University, will lead you through these changes from electrical hazards to training requirements and cover the incidents that adherence to the standard will reduce or prevent.  

Speaker: Brick Reilly, CTSP, Supervisor, Department of Public Works, Millburn Township, New Jersey

With his years of experience as a deaf climber, and his passion for continually working on the mind, body and spirit, Brick will bring a different view on how we can approach longevity in this industry.

Speaker: Edward Morrow, Edward the Arborist, LLC

Learning about accounting may never be as exciting as tree care but understanding the “language of business” is crucial in maintaining a profitable service. This super-charged conversation helps tree care professionals understand the importance of bookkeeping, how to read financial statements, and use their numbers to improve operations—all without turning them into bean counters. Climb into simple, yet innovative, concepts to elevate your current business model, and create a more sustainable organization.

Speaker: Lindsey Purcell, LP Consulting Group

In order to improve the quality of tree care interventions, such as pruning, a process of evaluating tree conditions and preparing an objectives-based prescription before pruning a tree should be created.

This presentation will describe a method of how to communicate the tree conditions that concern the prescribing arborist, and which branches to prune to the arborists performing the work. Arborists can become more aware of how to communicate owner’s objectives, and which branches to prune to the production arborist performing the work. This new perspective will improve the quality and consistency of work creating better value for the tree owner and improved efficiencies in the crew.

Speaker: Tyler Zuniga, North American Training Solutions

We all know clear, concise communication is critical to safety on a worksite. But what happens when you have crews who speak English as a second language, or who speak no English at all? This is a prominent issue in the workforce, often only witnessed or experienced among the Spanish-speaking crews themselves. Common arboricultural terms are lost in translation and on occasion, the confusion can lead to injury or worse.

Speaker: Jon Foote, NJ Crane Expert

Crane climbing is a highly specialized and hazardous job that requires adherence to safety standards and best practices. In this session you will learn about the requirements and best practices for assisting a crane as a climber in tree removal operations.

Some of the key components of the presentation with include:

1. PPE. Head to toe protection is required by OSHA and ANSI.
2. Emergency planning. How to make an emergency plan and how to prepare when crew members leave the jobsite.
3. JSA. How to perform a Job Site Assessment and who needs to be involved.
4. Hazard Mitigation. Common jobsite hazards and what we can do about them.
5. Communication. Effective communication methods and what we default to when electronics fail us.
6. Documentation. What records we should be keeping for the job.
7. Preflight inspection. Before being lifted, what we should look for with the crane and our own equipment.
8. Equipment selection. Different options to suit your needs for the task at hand.
9. Weight. How to calculate the weight of a tree section.
10. Crane ball placement. How to find center of mass.
11. Sling placement. Consideration for optimal sling placement and angles.
12. Work positioning. How to stay comfortable and safe for the cutting.
13. The cuts. Some options for different styles of cuts and when to use them.
14. What next? How we can be effective in communicating with the operator and grounds man to safely get the crane pic detached on the ground.?

Speaker: Tim Walsh, CTSP, The Townsend Company, LLC

In the evolving landscape of safety practices, the shift from traditional Safety I approaches to the contemporary Safety II, often referred to as Safety Differently, has been profound. Safety I, rooted in preventing incidents by focusing on workers’ behaviors, has undoubtedly shaped our safety culture. Over the years, it has significantly reduced recordable injuries, as evident in the downward trend of Total Recordable Injury Rate (TRIR) or Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR). However, despite these improvements, there has been a persistent challenge in reducing Serious Injuries and Fatalities (SIFs).

Safety I, being primarily reactive, tends to perceive workers as subjects needing fixing when incidents occur. The investigation process often places blame on the employee, assuming errors or intentional violations as the root cause. This approach, centered on negative outcomes, overlooks the actual dynamics of work in the field. Safety II, on the other hand, driven by Human Performance Improvement (HPI) or Human and Organizational Improvement (HOP), seeks to understand how work truly happens. It shifts the focus from preventing incidents to ensuring positive outcomes, utilizing workers’ knowledge and experience.

Safety II redefines safety by emphasizing the presence of capacity rather than the absence of negative outcomes. It aims to create resiliency, implement controls, and recognize that workers play a pivotal role in maintaining safety within a constantly changing, complex environment. Instead of scrutinizing individual behavior as the root cause, Safety II looks at the system in which the employee operates, acknowledging the importance of context in understanding incidents. Personal accountability is not disregarded but is examined within the broader organizational and environmental context.

In the aftermath of negative outcomes, Safety II advocates for a different approach to response through learning teams. These teams are instrumental in understanding the failures within the system, emphasizing a “what” failed rather than a “who” perspective. This shift is crucial in fostering a proactive and forward-looking safety culture. Safety II encourages a comprehensive understanding of incidents, recognizing that learning from failures is essential for continuous improvement.

In conclusion, the transition from Safety I to Safety II signifies a paradigm shift in safety practices. By focusing on the positive aspects of safety, understanding the complexities of work, and embracing a holistic approach to incidents, Safety II presents a transformative perspective for the utility vegetation management community. Implementing Safety Differently principles can lead to a more resilient and adaptive safety culture, ultimately enhancing the overall well-being of workers and the reliability of UVM operations.

Speaker: Andy Jones, CTSP, Rooted Arbor Care

Due to the rapidity of legislative changes surrounding gas/battery outdoor power equipment (OPE), manufacturers are developing robust power management systems to ensure that their consumers are able to operate their OPE continuously without interruption from lack of charger battery packs. Many of these manufacturers are taking very different approaches to combating the runtime concerns, so we are likely to see several different “solutions” to this common concern. We continue to get feedback on this topic, and the power management concern is really the greatest barrier for many end users. This session will also give you the latest pros and cons of the various technologies available on the market.

Sponsored by SavATree

Speaker: Panel moderated by Ash Connelly, SavATree

Join an exciting interactive panel discussion to discover a multitude of DEI proactive solutions. Learn from industry experts how to facilitate employee connectivity, amplify initiatives and create an inclusion working environment. In a productive and open dialogue, this session will provide opportunities for attendees to pose real life experiences and gain actionable strategies to break traditional barriers.

Speaker: Eric Petersen, ArboRisk Insurance and Aaron Schauer, Gateway Technical College

Whether you’re a business owner or a subcontracted tree care professional, this presentation will provide an insight into the world of utilizing collaborative business relationships to benefit both parties. Eric and Aaron will present from their own perspectives and experiences about both sides of the contractor-subcontractor relationship.

Speaker: Ash Connelly, SavATree

There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and maximizing profit is essential for business sustainability and growth. In an interactive presentation, you’ll gain creative and progressive estimating strategies that assure nothing is left on the table. We’ll explore the art of guessing…or, scientifically calculating—consumer behavior, setting prices, project costing, and dodging expectation pitfalls. Learn tree-mendously valuable insight on using readily available data, market trends, and resource management to enhance profitability while improving the customer experience. By the end of this session, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to implement these strategies effectively, ensuring their customer base multiplies in a competitive landscape.

Speaker: Mike Tilford, CTSP, SavATree

Join us for the annual Arborist Safety Update at TCI EXPO ’24, a highly anticipated session that brings the latest insights and developments in arborist safety. This workshop is a favorite among returning attendees, offering essential updates on best practices, industry standards, and new safety protocols. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, this session will provide valuable information to help you stay safe and compliant in your daily work. Don’t miss out on this popular workshop that keeps arborists informed and prepared year after year!

Speaker: Chelsi Abbott, Davey Tree Institute

Diagnosing plant problems is one of the most important skills an arborist can have in their tool kit, but it can be quite a daunting task. This is because plant issues are often being caused by any number of different insects, fungi, and environmental factors all occurring at once. Where does one even start? Diagnostics is a skill, but it is also a systematic process. This talk will aim to demystify the process to build a foundation that attendees can use to build upon and hone their own practice of diagnostics.

Speaker: David Marks, Vice President, Environmental Design

Over the last 43 years, David has been responsible for almost every aspect of the tree transplanting business at one time or another. Environmental Design’s large tree transplanting projects include many large Estates, Zoos, Universities, Golf Courses, Municipalities, and Casinos. Environmental Design has transplanted thousands of large and giant trees, including many in the 30″ to 100″ diameter range. These massive trees have weighed up to ONE MILLION, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND pounds, and have an impressive 99% survival rate.

Speaker: Brian Pope, CTSP, Duke Energy

This talk will focus on how to utilize out of industry resources to grow your residential tree care business to fill your schedule. You’ll learn methods of capitalizing on economies of scale and maximizing mobilizations utilizing time efficient and cost-effective strategic marketing to eliminate the need for EDDM or paid lead generation.

Speaker: Jeff Wraley, Groundwork Sales Software

You can buy nearly everything virtually. But what about tree and plant healthcare services? There are certainly reasons to not provide pricing without seeing the issue first-hand. But what if you could reduce drive time, eliminate low-quality leads from your pipeline, and even sell jobs 100% virtually?

• Join us to discuss ways we’ve seen tree service companies adopt a more virtual-first strategy without sacrificing customer service or profitability. The speakers will cover: Misconceptions about virtual/remote sales
• The cultural expectations that support a shift to virtual sales
• Common mistakes with virtual/remote sales
• Three keys to success in a virtual/remote sales strategy

Speaker: Heather Dirksen, Canopy Service Partners, LLC

Discover how to elevate your tree care company with a presentation on launching a Plant Health Care (PHC) service line. Heather Dirksen, head of PHC growth at Canopy Service Partners will provide a comprehensive talk tailored for tree care professionals looking to expand their services and meet the growing demand for holistic plant health solutions. You’ll gain insights into the benefits of integrating PHC, assessing your company’s readiness, and developing a strategic plan. Learn how to build and train a skilled team, market your new services effectively, and monitor performance for continuous improvement. Heather will highlight the importance of eco-friendliness, focusing on soil health, and adopting a prescriptive approach to plant care. This presentation is perfect for those ready to transform their tree care company and unlock the potential of Plant Health Care services.

Speaker: Alison Herrell, Community Assistance Forester, Oregon Department of Forestry

As we all know, the best way to preserve tree canopy is to preserve the trees that we already have. One of the major challenges arborists faces is being able to diagnose what problems our trees have and match them with the correct management techniques. In this session, we will work to deepen the diagnostic skills that we have gained in other sessions or from our experience on the field. We will review common pest, pathogens, and abiotic disorders, and discuss effective management options of these issues. The goal is to leave with some confidence to make plant healthcare recommendations that are realistic and efficacious to the clients that we serve.

Speaker: Sam Hill, Chair, A300 Committee/Sam Hill Tree Care and TCIA ANSI A300 committee members

Using ANSI A300 Tree Care standards as a basis of your tree care operations can:

• Improve efficiency at your company
• Ensure your company provides proper tree care services
• Promote good communication between your salesperson, the tree crew, and the client
• Protect your company from costly service call backs, claims, and lawsuits.

This session will give you an update on current and upcoming ANSI A300 Tree Care standards committee activities, outline some key developments tree care companies need to be aware of as well as some lessons learned from previous years of experience using A300 standards.

This workshop includes a review of current issues and common work proposal mistakes that can result in costly claims and lawsuits.  The new ANSI A300-2023 standard offers some protection and work specification writing guidance that can mitigate these issues and help protect you and your company.

Speaker: Jeff Inman, CTSP, Truetimber Arborists

We speak on standards as an industry and how we need to follow the shalls and mind the shoulds. Oftentimes, we find ourselves in a situation, especially when teaching, training and trying to enact change, where we interact with folks who aren’t all about following these standards. How do you interact with those individuals? How do you enter into a conversation about what you’re seeing vs what you know is written down? OSHA and the Z133 are a lot for folks to digest and often people throw their hands up saying, “I’ve done it for years and never had an issue. Why do I have to change just because that book says so? Because the safety person says so? I’m fine! Leave me be and let me work!”

This presentation dives into the heart of where our standards are born as well as how to interact with people to promote change in an organization.

Speaker: Zachary Richards, Contract Climber & Trainer

Between flashy gear options, and social media clips of wild rigging operations, we can get wrapped up in the complexities of rigging, and forget how simple it can actually be. Oftentimes when approaching tight quarters tree removals, It’s easy to become overwhelmed and resort to the trusty “cut and chuck.” Join Zach for a discussion on advanced rigging, simplifying solutions to complex situations, and why looking for opportunities to rig could lead to an overall better jobsite culture.

Sponsored by Arborjet | Ecologel

Speaker: Joe Aiken (ISA Certified Arborist) and Korey Lofy (ISA Certified Arborist), Arborjet | Ecologel

Brought back by popular demand, Joe and Korey will host a live episode of their award-winning podcast, Discovery Forestry, to discuss the past, present, and future state of technology and practices in the plant health care industry. With over 60 years of combined experience in the field, Joe and Korey will discuss where PHC is today, what the newest advances are, and where things will be in the future. Between new technology, clean energy, legislative restrictions, labor challenges, and new research, there’s plenty of topics to explore!

There will be time at the end of the session for questions and answers.

Speaker: Bill Owens, Monarch Tree Services, Director of Arbor Operations, CTSP

How can arborists sustain optimal performance throughout their careers by using the ready to work model? In this session, we will define optimal performance, and relate the concept to longevity in tree care. We will discuss the ready to work model and how you can use it to meet the demands of tree care in a sustainable way.

Using the ready to work model helps you optimize your physical capacity, mental capability, and emotional agility. We will discuss these three dimensions of performance and provide you with specific tools and techniques you and your team can use to optimize performance in each of these three dimensions. Applying these tools will support you in finding new and interesting ways to sustain optimal performance in your career as an arborist. You will leave the session inspired, and ready to work, with new tools to manage your physical, mental, and emotional energy.

Speaker: Korey Conry, CTSP, Mountain F. Enterprises, Inc.

Training trainers to effectively use PowerPoint involves a systematic approach to ensure they can confidently deliver engaging presentations. Here’s an outline of the process:

1. Need Assessment
2. Content Development
3. Training Delivery
4. Slide Design and Visuals
5. Presentation Techniques
6. Feedback and Evaluation
7. Ongoing Support and Resources

Remember, training the trainers is an iterative process. Continuously assess their progress, address any emerging challenges, and adapt the training program as needed to ensure sustained improvement and effectiveness.

Speaker: Zach Shier, Joseph Tree Service

The world of arboriculture is always changing and as the industry moves away from some of the old methods of treating for tree nutrient deficiencies, new products and methods have emerged. The increased use of organic based products, emphasis on foliar and soil testing, and improved methods for amending soil and understanding tree deficiencies can be challenging to navigate. This presentation will help make sense of why organic products are becoming more popular and help explain the different types. We’ll go over modern methods and why some of the traditional methods may be less than optimal as well as explaining some of the comparisons between types of fertilization and other products in the Arborist’s toolbox.

Speaker: Bethany Kemppainen, Guardian Tree Experts

People are the most valuable part of any organization. Employee turnover can be high in the arboriculture industry, leading to wasted time, money and energy. This presentation will focus on company culture being the “secret sauce” to retaining top talent. Good culture doesn’t mean you have to force people into a mold or act against their nature to fit in at your company. It’s an intentional focus on providing care and compassion, which benefits everyone in the long run. So how do you create a collaborative culture that inspires people to stay and grow with your company? We will explore that, ways to improve culture, and why you should examine yours more closely.

Speaker: Aaron Dickinson, Arborcology, LLC

In an era of instant gratification, fast food, drive-up windows and same day delivery, society has come to expect instant results. Have we, as arborists, become a by-product of society expectations and when discussing tree care, do we prescribe the “silver bullet” treatment first? Our communication with the client requires the aspect of cultural practices that can remedy the plant’s issue, with the assistance of a chemical control and lead to reduce applications.

Many companies are growing their plant health care divisions with the expectation of generating 30% or more of the revenue from PHC. I have seen companies prescribing a chemical approach to the plant care problem and downplaying the necessity to cultural care. Are we being true stewards of the environment when we encourage treatments annually and forego the practices of solving the problem?

This presentation will explore some common PHC problems that frequently have repeated applications that benefit from cultural approaches, or the consideration of different chemical approaches combined with the cultural practices.

Speaker: Craig Bachmann, Tree133 LLC, Lead Arborist & Founder, CTSP

Learn valuable lessons from a recent climber fall and resulting state-level OSHA investigation. Attendees will receive practical guidance to improve work planning, team communication, PPE inspection, skills development and documentation. With these steps, your company can build a

stronger safety culture and more effectively prevent on-the-job incidents.

In August 2022, Tree133 experienced a climber fall resulting in a severe injury. For a well-respected company owned by a recognized trainer, this was an unthinkable event that challenged everything we believed about ourselves and our culture. This presentation will share valuable lessons learned from that incident and the resulting state-level OSHA investigation. Attendees will learn practical steps to improve work planning, team communication, PPE inspection, skills development and documentation. By sharing this experience, Tree133 can help other companies build a strong culture of safety and prevent on-the-job incidents.

Speaker: Emmett Shutts, Jr., CTSP, QCL, and Corey Shepard, CTSP, The Davey Tree Expert Company

Arborist trainers will agree to teach rigging and climbing forces is technical and the terminology can be challenging for learners. In January of 2019, we started a journey of refining a hands on approach to teaching the forces we create while working with trees. This talk will share how we have developed our training method. Attendees will leave with techniques and ideas they can use to make for fun and engaging rigging training.

Speaker: Glynn Percival, Ph. D., Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory

During their lifetime, trees planted within urban landscapes are susceptible to pathogenic fungi and bacteria that, if uncontrolled, can result in tree decline and eventually death. Presently, conventional management relies heavily on repeat application of insecticides and/or fungicides applied as foliar sprays, trunk injection or soil drenches. Build-up of pathogen resistance coupled with environmental concerns means alternative methods of pest and disease management are warranted.

Trees possess a range of active defense systems that can “switched on” prior to infection by a plant pathogen by the application of specific organic compounds. This concept of boosting a tree’s own inherent immunity is known as induced resistance (IR). The IR response is critical and can reflect the difference between coping and succumbing to necrotizing pests and pathogens. This presentation will discuss the range of inducing agents available for professionals involved in tree management as well as their effectiveness, time of application and strategies for use within urban landscapes.

Speaker: Monica Hemingway, Tree Care Marketing Solutions and Jonathan Mast, Whitebeard Strategies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help tree service companies streamline operations, improve customer service, and make data-driven decisions for a more successful business. But most people are still stuck thinking about AI along the lines of “How to use ChatGPT to write 100 social media posts in five minutes!”.
 
This presentation goes well beyond the usual “Gee whiz, isn’t this AI stuff fun?” content. Instead, we focus on the AI-powered tools and processes that affect a company’s bottom line. We take the mystery out of how to use these powerful platforms, reduce the cost and complexity that can be associated with AI, and generate high-quality data and outputs that you can use in your business. Plus, we throw in a few fun things you can do with AI that you probably haven’t heard about before. If you want to know what AI can do to help your business, this presentation is for you!

Speaker: Mike Raupp, Ph. D., University of Maryland

Factors of the abiotic, non-living world and those of the biotic, living world act individually or in concert to imperil the health and beauty of woody plants in landscapes. Designing a therapy to restore plant health requires an accurate diagnosis of what the problem is and elucidation of factors contributing to the problem. Using a variety of case studies of native and non-native pests, this interactive presentation will present a methodology for diagnosing causes of tree decline and provide solutions to improve plant health and appearance. While the emphasis will be on problems caused by insect pests, problems associated with pathogens and abiotic factors will also be discussed.  

Speaker: Basil Thomson, Ulman Public Policy and Bob Rouse, Tree Care Industry Association

Describing and marketing professionalism in tree care for contracting agencies is an ongoing problem.  TCIA, ISA, and other green industry partners are banding together to provide a solution. This session will review our solutions, including some valuable, new resources.

The allocation of $1.5 billion in funds for the United States Forest Service (USFS) to distribute as grants for tree planting and maintenance, career pathways into arboriculture and other related projects revealed significant gaps in comprehension regarding the tree care profession. Grantees and other agencies and clients lack the understanding and resources to contract for tree work with professional companies and to verify that completed work meets industry standards. Furthermore, grantees seeking to provide and prepare workers for career opportunities in the tree care industry lack access to and knowledge of credentials and training programs. TCIA is banding together ISA and other green industry groups to lead the development of a green industry clearing house that provides the base knowledge and resources that grant recipients, such as pass-through grantees, municipalities, non-profits, and community-based organizations, and clients need to recognize and contract for professional tree services and provide new career pathways into arboriculture. 

The project will include:

• A Tree Care Industry Resource Hub where contracting agencies can find resources that help them understand what it means to be a professional tree care company, the related credentials that professional tree care companies and professional arborists hold, and the resources needed to help them contract with those professionals.
• An outreach program to encourage IRA grantees, municipalities, government agencies, commercial companies and other contractors to use these resources in order to contract with professional tree care companies and arborists.

Speakers: Dr. John Ball, CTSP, Professor, South Dakota State University and Tim Walsh, CTSP, Townsend Company

Arboricultural operations are one of the highest risk activities in the United States. Tree workers have a fatality rate 15 to 30 times higher than the all-industry average. They also suffer from a disproportionally high severe nonfatal rate compared to other industries. One means of reducing these high rates is for tree workers to follow the Z133 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations. The new revision of the Z is now completed and there are many important changes in the new standard. Tim Walsh, VP of Safety and Training with Townsend Company LLC and John Ball, Professor of Forestry, South Dakota State University, will lead you through these changes from electrical hazards to training requirements and cover the incidents that adherence to the standard will reduce or prevent.  

Speaker: Aaron Dickinson, Arborcology, LLC

Ethics is not a term that we use on a daily basis, and when we do describe an ethical/ unethical action, we have an understanding of what it means, but when asked what IS ethics, the definition tends to elude us, but yet, we somehow understand it. So, what does Business Ethics mean and how does that affect our business? Our profitability, the company reputation, the company culture? or the work force we attract?

Understanding Six Principles of Business Ethics can help guide our businesses to a better work force that works together for a greater purpose, a greater client experience, a higher quality work product and greater profits.

Speaker: Mark Chisholm, CTSP, Aspen Tree Expert Company

Growing up in the tree care industry has given Mark a unique understanding as to where the industry was, where it is, and where it is going. This talk will be a fun walk down memory lane where Mark shares pictures, videos and insights about what it takes to be a true professional and how make sure you are representing yourself and our profession in the best possible light.

Speaker: Tyler Lyon, CTSP, and Chris Sprague, CTSP, Bartlett Tree Experts

In 1986, millions witnessed the Challenger space shuttle disaster that tragically killed seven astronauts. Searching for an explanation, sociologist Diane Vaughn developed the concept of normalization of deviance, the gradual drift towards risk-acceptance and unsafe behaviors that set the stage for the Challenger explosion. Drawing from Vaughn and other safety research, Tyler and Chris will expound upon the concepts of normalization of deviance and drift to help understand risk in our behaviors and decisions in tree care at individual, group, and organization levels. Tyler and Chris will challenge attendees to reevaluate the way they perceive and manage safety, while providing tools and resources from this framework to help avoid these pitfalls.

Speaker: David O’Neill, Contractor

Discuss the hazard assessment process for storm damage scenarios, with reference to applicable regulatory standards. We will then delve deeper into these concepts in a demonstration using a Jekko track mounted crane and a Platform Basket Spider lift to highlight the use of various techniques and pieces of equipment in order to handle these scenarios safely and in compliance.