TCI EXPOClimb™

The Academy Team

Using simple configurations and minimal gear, turn your friction saver into multiple types of anchors.

Comprehensive Safety in Arboriculture Operations (Spanish)

Mao Gonzalez Munoz, Notch Equipment

La sesión abordará los principios de la seguridad integral aplicada al arborista trepador, incluyendo evaluación de riesgos, inspección de equipo, configuración segura de sistemas de ascenso y posicionamiento, coordinación con el equipo en tierra y nociones básicas de respuesta ante emergencias.

Durante la demostración en vivo se mostrarán técnicas correctas de instalación de línea, ascenso y posicionamiento seguro, integrando teoría y práctica en tiempo real.

The session will cover the principles of comprehensive safety for climbing arborists, including risk assessment, equipment inspection, safe setup of ascent and positioning systems, coordination with the ground crew, and the basics of emergency response.

During the live demonstration, correct techniques for line installation, ascent, and safe positioning will be shown, integrating theory and practice in real time.

Speaker Bio:

Munoz, Mauricio (Mao) – Notch Equipment 

Mauricio González Muñoz (@mao_ropelombia) is a Colombian climbing arborist, tree care professional and competitive climber. He serves as training director and instructor at Ropelombia Academy and holds a professional degree in occupational safety and health. He is certified in Colombia as a trainer of trainers, work at heights instructor and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) inspector, is a Notch ambassador and currently works as a climbing arborist for Bartlett Tree Experts.  

González Muñoz has more than eight years of experience identifying occupational risks in arboriculture operations and supporting strategies to prevent accidents and occupational diseases. Their work focuses on safe climbing practices, compliance with regulations for working at height, arboriculture training, and the health and well-being of tree care workers. Through professional training programs, he collaborates with tree care workers, business owners and other stakeholders to promote safe work practices, regulatory compliance and international arboriculture standards. 

An active participant in tree climbing events throughout Latin America, González Muñoz took first place at the Uruguay climbers meet in 2024. He received the competitor’s sportsmanship award at the 2023 Bolivia Jamboree and was recognized for his sportsmanship as a judge at the Second Latin American Tree Climbing Championship in Brazil in 2022. In 2021, his team won first place at the Rescue Challenge Aerial in Guadalajara, Mexico, and he took first place individually in the aerial rescue event at the Jamboo Fest in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Carni Bejamin, 2 Dog Crew and Andy Harem, Highline Tree Care 

A buck strap and set of hooks, with a can-do attitude was the way of our past. OSHA & ANSI require more. How do you set yourself up on a spar to be secure, productive, and comfortable? What are all these new lowering devices and how do we set them up and use them? We will also demonstrate cinching system setups, lanyard use, and small extra bits of kit that can make your afternoon on a spar even better. We will also go over work practices to set up safe, productive climbing & rigging systems, particularly for negative rigging on spars.

Speaker Bio:

Benjamin, Nicole – 2 Dog Crew, LLC 

Nicole ‘carni’ is an ISA Certified Arborist, and primarily a production arborist. She was lucky enough to get started in the industry with Heartwood Tree Service, setting her up for steep learning curve and experiences in a broad range of production tree work. In 2018, she and her husband started their company 2 Dog Crew, LLC; working on various projects ranging from line clearance and utility, to residential removals & pruning, municipal projects, helicopter removals, even zipline and treehouse builds. Throughout her career she has been the groundie, (contract) climber, crew leader, general foreman, operations manager, owner, chief safety officer, trainer, and the list continues. Despite those roles not always getting along, she’s found necessity and respect are deserved for all of them. 

She currently lives off grid in rural WNC with her husband, daughter, dogs, too many chickens and meat rabbits. They often travel around the continental USA to attend tree climbing competitions, conferences, visit and work with friends, assist with the Academy Trained, Burke Outdoor Canopy Class, the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop, and other arbor related trainings and workshops. Her favorite tree changes regularly, but she is always grateful for Charlotte, NC’s massive Willow Oaks – Quercus phellos, and Tulip Poplars – Liriodendron tulipifera