TCI EXPOGrow

Amy Tetreault, Tree Care Industry Association

Learn why yoga is important for arborists before moving through some simple poses that will help you stay focused, flexible, and health for your tree care career.

Biography

Amy Tetreault is the Executive Vice President at TCIA and, in this role, is responsible for implementing organization-wide goal setting, company operations, and employee productivity. In addition, she is the Director of Teaching at Sol Power Yoga. In this role, she teaches multiple classes per week, mentors studio teachers, and builds training programs focused on helping students understand the power of yoga – on and off the mat.

Sarah Cusack, SavATree

Do you want to extend your career as an arborist or help your team understand the keys to longevity in tree care? Though there is limited research on the foundations of longevity for industrial athletes, there is much to learn from the world of ultra endurance sports. Learn from a certified arborist and ultra marathon runner about the latest in sports science on nutrition, hydration, recovery, physical tools for longevity, cross training, and mindset. Sarah will discuss specific, actionable steps you can take in each of these six domains to perform better, feel stronger, and work smarter for decades to come.  

Biography

Cusack, Sarah, CTSP – SavATree
Sarah is the director of learning & development at SavATree. She is a Certified Arborist, TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development, and ultra endurance athlete. Sarah is passionate about development and specifically loves working with leaders in the tree care industry to develop advanced leadership skills.

Derek Furry, Bartlett Tree Experts

In this program we will take a look at three areas that helped us get to where we are as arborists today, whatever our role may be. And consider how we can be involved in the growth that occurs when we engage in relationships across the spectrum of experience and expertise in our field.

1. Who helped us get to where we are? (A mentor or someone we leaned on for advice on either casual or more formal arrangements)
2. How did/do they build us up, hold us accountable and encourage us to push past our comfort zones.
3. What opportunities do we have to do this for the next generation of arborists on our team and throughout the industry.

Many times, the newest person on the team (or new to the particular role they are now in) are in a state of either conscious or unconscious incompetencies and can easily become overwhelmed and discouraged. By establishing partnerships in a mentoring program, more advanced professionals can be there to help answer questions, listen to venting or be key connectors to specialists within our field so these folks can work toward getting to the next step and creating a solid foundation from which to build on. More often than not, the “mentor” is doing as much learning as the “mentee” and both sides of the relationship benefit from the experience.

Biography

Furry, Derek – Bartlett Tree Experts
After completing the Penn State Mont Alto Forestry program, Derek joined Bartlett Tree Experts in 2011. From his start in the Nantucket, Massachusetts office, Derek’s career progressed. He has held positions including crew leader, plant health care specialist, and local office safety coordinator prior to becoming an arborist representative.

An ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Derek holds a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) and is also a licensed pesticide applicator in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, and a Licensed Tree Expert in Maryland. Derek has a comprehensive understanding of all phases of tree care and he loves meeting new people and developing lasting relationships! His favorite part about working with trees in the landscape is learning about the underlying reasons people care about their trees.

Derek serves as a past president to the Rotary Club of Waynesboro, participates on the board of the Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance and Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Derek is a board member of the Penn State Mont Alto Forest Technology Advisory Board and is an advisor to the Waynesboro, PA and Shepherdstown, West Virgina V Shade Tree Commissions.

Derek, his wife and two boys live in western Franklin County, PA. They enjoy spending time with family, going to church, working in the garden, tending to their animals, and being outside!

Edward Morrow, Tree S.T.A.R.S.

Creating engaging tree walks can be a heavy lift–but highly rewarding and impactful. Climb aboard with arborist/author Edward Morrow as he shares his experiences in building educational programs and collaborating with communities to dispel the many tree misconceptions that plague property-owners. Learn how to develop, market, and unleash urban forestry programs designed to impact your community–and elevate you into a tree care superstar.

Biography

Morrow, Edward – Tree S.T.A.R.S., LLC
Edward combines his knowledge as an accountant, arborist, and author to help tree care professionals supercharge their careers. He develops engaging urban-forestry programs for communities and created TREE S.T.A.R.S, an outdoor-adventure series to show how important–and awesome–arborists are.

Jared Abrojena, Academy-Trained

Achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence with a few simple tools. This presentation explores the development of a comprehensive assessment program tailored for your tree care company, designed to evaluate skills, identify gaps, and enhance team performance. Learn how to create a structured onboarding and training process to promote safety, ensure compliance, and build a strong foundation for long-term success. Equip your workforce with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive while safeguarding your business and reputation.

Biography

Abrojena, Jared – Academy-Trained
Jared Abrojena is a second-generation arborist dedicated to advancing arboriculture and raising standards across the tree care industry. Growing up in his family’s business, Evergreen Tree Care, Jared developed a passion for arboriculture and competitive tree climbing early on, entering his first Western Chapter competition at just 15 years old. His skill and dedication led him to represent the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Western Chapter multiple times, culminating in major victories at the 2009 International Tree Climbing Championship and the 2010 North American Tree Climbing Competition (NATCC).

In 2009, Jared became an industrial-sponsored athlete, marking the start of his contributions to industry education and training. His commitment to professional development led him to co-found Academy-Trained in 2019, a company devoted to delivering hands-on, comprehensive training to elevate industry standards in a controlled environment. Through collaboration with leading experts, Jared and Academy-Trained continue to drive innovation, safety, and excellence under their guiding mission to “Elevate the Standard.”

Expanding his impact, Jared founded American Knuckleboom Arborist (A.K.A) in 2023, a specialized crane company delivering tree-care-specific crane services throughout the West Coast. In partnership with BIK, A.K.A not only provides premium crane services but also offers crane sales and training to strengthen the capabilities of tree care companies across the region.

Jared further extends his influence through the Two Tree Guys Podcast, a platform he co-founded to share industry insights, expertise, and trends with a wide audience of professionals and enthusiasts alike.

He holds numerous certifications, including ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ), NCCER Crane Certified, and Qualified Applicator, reflecting his deep commitment to excellence, safety, and leadership in arboriculture.

Mariah Sachs, Pro Tree Outdoor Services

A career in arboriculture is as rewarding as it is challenging and crew dynamics are key. Everyone from groundies to business owners work toward satisfied clients. We are also responsible for fulfilled arborists. Whether new to the industry, a seasoned climber, or in a management role, there are a few areas of focus to move yourself and those around you forward. This presentation explores three strategies for getting through the hard times, staying engaged in the industry and encouraging smooth day-to-day operations.

Biography

Sachs, Mariah – Pro Tree Outdoor Services
Mariah is a TRAQ qualified Board-Certified Master Arborist and tri-state climbing champion. She is passionate about plants and the network of people who work on them. She has been in the industry for 10 years, in roles from plant health care (PHC) intern to forestry technician at a native plant nursery. She currently works as a crew leader in Minnesota.