TCI EXPOTree™
Experience the Original Tree Demo!
TCI EXPO is proud to be the originator of the Tree Demo, where top industry trainers bring real-world techniques to life—on a tree, right on the trade show floor!
These dynamic 45-minute sessions are your chance to see cutting-edge safety skills, rigging methods, climbing techniques, and more—featuring the industry’s favorite experts. Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro, you’ll walk away with practical knowledge you can apply immediately.
TCI EXPOTree Schedule
| Day | Time | Title | Session Description | Speaker Biography | CEUs | Room | Number | hf:tax:ept_schedule_day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM | No More Boot-Scooting: Moving Laterally in the Tree |
Carni Bejamin, 2 Dog Crew and Andy Harem, Highline Tree Care Our gear is optimized to get us UP into the tree, but our work is often lateral, whether that involves making the cut, tip tying a branch for rigging, or retrieving a drone stuck on the canopy’s edge. We will cover the rationale, methods, and gear that enable safer work positioning in both MRS & SRS. Even more importantly, we will cover body mechanics and positioning to move with confidence laterally in the tree creating a more efficient work day while also staying safe aloft. 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 | View | .75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 15 | thursday |
| Thursday | 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM | Feel the Forces: Rigging Fundamentals – Part 1 |
Emmett Shutts, CTSP and Corey Shepard, CTSP, The Davey Tree Expert Company Feel the Forces takes a practical, hands-on approach to illustrating the forces placed on a tree during rigging and climbing operations. The first session explores concepts such as force amplification, bending, and forces generated by deviations through interactive demonstrations that introduce basic terms including mass, leverage, tension, compression, and bending. Using co-presenters and audience members as “trees,” presenters demonstrate how a suspended rope bag (mass) affects a platform, represented by a person, in various configurations. This approach helps attendees better understand how forces are transferred through tree parts by allowing participants to physically experience and describe the loads being applied. Presenters will demonstrate how trees have a greater capacity to resist failure when their parts are placed in compression, a concept referred to as rigging to advantage. This will be contrasted with scenarios that illustrate bending and leverage, known as rigging to disadvantage, helping attendees recognize how rigging choices can significantly affect the forces acting on a tree. Speaker Bio: Shepard, Corey, CTSP – The Davey Tree Expert Company Corey has been practicing arboriculture since 1998 with most of that time as a climbing arborist. He attended and presented at numerous ISA chapter and industry events. You will likely see him volunteering at NATCC and ITCC as he has done for many years following his time as a competitive climber. Corey has worked proudly for the Davey Tree Expert Co. since 2004 as a crew member, crew leader, regional safety specialist, and arborist skills trainer. He has been involved with employee development and training since 2017. Corey has a BS Forestry from UMASS Amherst and is a CTSP. He is happiest climbing trees and spending time with his three ladies; wife of 22 yrs and Amber and Haley his two daughters. Shutts, Emmett, CTSP – The Davey Tree Expert Company Being in the industry since 2006 has allowed Emmett to fine tune his abilities as a leader. His teaching strategy that incorporates fun hands-on learning and his ability to connect with diverse groups of people have caused him to rise through the ranks after joining Davey in 2018 from an arborist skill trainer to a manager for arborist skill trainers. In his role, Emmett helps create a training curriculum that enhances the education and development of safety skills within Davey’s field teams. Emmett has a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation from the University of Connecticut and is a Connecticut licensed arborist, Certified Tree Care Safety Professional(CTSP), board member of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association, and enjoys volunteering and competing in tree climbing competitions. | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 21 | thursday |
| Thursday | 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM | Accessing the Canopy: Route Planning, Anchor Selection, and System Setup |
Levi Woodal, Cumberland Valley Tree Service This session presents canopy access as a decision-making process driven by route planning, anchor selection, and system setup. Attendees will learn how to evaluate the scope of work, assess tree structure, and choose effective tie-in points based on climbing objectives. Emphasis is placed on building intentional systems, adapting to real-world limitations, and improving efficiency before leaving the ground. Supporting concepts such as throwline use and access methods will be discussed to reinforce a complete approach to canopy access. Speaker Bio: Woodal, Levi – Cumberland Valley Tree Service and Landscaping Levi is a climbing arborist, crew leader, and trainer based in the Mid-Atlantic region. He is actively involved in both production tree work and competitive climbing, bringing an intentional and systems-based approach to arboriculture. | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 27 | thursday |
| Friday | 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | May the Forces Be with You |
Rudy Rutemiller, Petzl and Justin Morejohn, CTSP, QT, UC Davis Building on their 2025 TCI Expo presentation regarding the potential forces created by slack in climbing systems, Rudy and Justin return to analyze the loads generated during routine tree climbing operations. Utilizing industry-standard force measurement equipment, this session examines the loads created during ascent across various techniques and the dynamic forces generated during swings. The presenters will compare force distribution between different anchoring setups and emphasize why a data-driven understanding of these mechanics is essential for the modern tree worker. Participants will learn practical methods to minimize impact on the tree, reduce stress on anchors, and lessen the physical toll on the climber—all with the ultimate goal of elevating safety and excellence within the industry. Speaker Bio: Morejohn, Justin, CTSP, QT – UC Davis Justin is an ISA Board Certified Master, Utility and Municipal Arborist who is passionate about teaching all aspects of arboriculture. He works at the University of California, Davis, supervising the tree team in caring for the 26,000 trees of the campus urban forest. An ASCA registered consulting arborist and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), he is dedicated to continuing education and safety in everything tree related. He has been climbing rocks for thirty years, climbing trees for twelve years, climbing ice for three years, and is a SPRAT certified rope access technician. Whenever possible, he explores the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his family, and camping under the stars. Rutemiller, Rudy – Petzl Rudy is an eleven-year ISA Certified Arborist with an affinity for helping customers solve their challenges. Rudy is Petzl’s national sales manager and works across all work-at- height markets. He previously worked for Bartlett Tree Experts as a groundsperson, climber, plant health care technician, and arborist representative. Rudy is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and has held numerous qualifications such as SPRAT Level 1 Rope Access Technician, Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), Tower Telecommunication Technician, and Qualified Applicator. He is a previous TCIA Speaker and holds a masters of business administration. When not working, Rudy is outside skiing, trail running, biking, cooking, or playing with his six-year-old border collie cattle dog. | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 44 | friday |
| Friday | 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Feel the Forces: Force Amplification and Advanced Rigging – Part 2 |
Emmett Shutts & Corey Shepard, The Davey Tree Expert Company This begins with a brief recap of Part 1, followed by a comparison of rigging to advantage versus rigging to disadvantage. Through hands-on demonstrations, presenters will use rope angles to illustrate how forces change and how certain rigging configurations can create force amplification, particularly when tree parts are subjected to bending. One example explores how moving an anchor point, such as a port-a-wrap, to an adjacent tree can create angles that increase stress on the rigged tree. The session will also examine how rope angles create vectors and influence loading. If the demonstration tree is suitable, presenters will show how rigging point selection can either bend or compress tree parts, using a plumb bob to visually compare branch deflection under different loading scenarios. The program concludes with an interactive positioning skyline exercise. Using fiberglass poles as trees, participants will experience how suspended loads create bending forces and how adjustments such as hold-back lines and wider rope angles can shift forces into compression, resulting in a more stable and efficient system. Includes time for Q&As. Speaker Bio: Shutts, Emmett, CTSP – The Davey Tree Expert Company Being in the industry since 2006 has allowed Emmett to fine tune his abilities as a leader. His teaching strategy that incorporates fun hands-on learning and his ability to connect with diverse groups of people have caused him to rise through the ranks after joining Davey in 2018 from an arborist skill trainer to a manager for arborist skill trainers. In his role, Emmett helps create a training curriculum that enhances the education and development of safety skills within Davey’s field teams. Emmett has a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation from the University of Connecticut and is a Connecticut licensed arborist, Certified Tree Care Safety Professional(CTSP), board member of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association, and enjoys volunteering and competing in tree climbing competitions. | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 50 | friday |
| Friday | 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM | El Punto de Suspensión Primario: Demostración en un Árbol Vivo – Parte 2 |
The Primary Suspension Point: Live Tree Demonstration – Part 2 (Spanish)Marcos Vargas, CTSP, Bartlett Tree Expert Partiendo de los conceptos presentados en la Parte 1, esta demostración guiada se lleva a cabo en un árbol vivo dentro del trade show floor (recinto de la feria) y ofrece a los asistentes la oportunidad de ver los principios en acción. Los instructores recrearán diversas situaciones de trepa y aparejo, utilizando células de carga (dinamómetros) para medir y visualizar las fuerzas generadas en puntos de amarre y puntos de anclaje seleccionados. Al comparar las mediciones en tiempo real con técnicas prácticas de estimación en campo, los asistentes comprenderán mejor cómo se transmiten las cargas a través del árbol y cómo varían los niveles de fuerza durante las operaciones habituales de trepa. Esta demostración interactiva refuerza los conceptos clave para la elección de puntos de suspensión primarios seguros y ayuda a los participantes a reconocer cómo la toma de decisiones fundamentadas puede reducir el riesgo de fallo en los puntos de anclaje y de caídas desde altura. Building on the concepts introduced in Part 1, this guided demonstration takes place on a live tree on the trade show floor and provides attendees with an opportunity to see the principles in action. Presenters will create a variety of climbing and rigging scenarios and use load cells (dynamometers) to measure and display the forces generated at selected tie-in points and anchors. By comparing real-time measurements with practical field estimation techniques, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how loads are transferred through a tree and how force levels can change during normal climbing operations.This interactive demonstration reinforces the concepts behind selecting safe primary suspension points and helps participants recognize how informed decisions can reduce the risk of tie-in point failure and falls from height. Speaker Bio: Speaker Bio: Vargas, Marco, CTSP – Bartlett Tree Experts Marco, originally from Lima, Peru, began his arboriculture career working at Bartlett Tree Experts in Indiana after having attended La Molina University Forestry School in Peru. He quickly developed a strong passion for climbing and caring for trees. Over the years, Marco has also developed a passion for training and has become a regional Arborist Trainer for Bartlett in the Midwest. He leads Spanish language training programs and contributes significantly to safety leadership initiatives across the company. Marco’s achievements include representing the Indiana ISA chapter in the International Tree Climbing Championship in 2015; earning multiple safety and leadership awards; giving presentations and leading workshops at arboriculture conferences in Peru, Mexico, and Colombia as well as Ohio, Indiana and New Jersey in the United States. Some of Marco’s credentials include, ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ and a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP). Marco lives in Indiana with his wife, three children, and his dog named Cuzco. | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 58 | friday |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM | Chopocalypse Now: A Cutting Session with Ryan and Jaime |
James Chambrelli, CTSP, and Ryan Torcicollo, CTSP, SavATree Cutting aloft is where small decisions can turn into big consequences—pinched bars, surprise swings, torn wood, and pieces that don’t go where anyone planned. In Chopocalypse Now, Ryan and Jaime deliver a practical, demo-driven session on making controlled cuts overhead by reading tension and compression, predicting movement before the saw starts, and choosing the right technique for the scenario. Attendees will see best-practice approaches for work positioning, two-hand saw control, communication, and drop-zone discipline—plus common failure modes and how to avoid them. You’ll leave with a simple, repeatable checklist to help crews plan the piece, manage bind, and cut with control every time. Speaker Bio: Chambrelli, James, CTSP – SavATree Jamie has 20 years of industry experience, beginning his career as a production climber and progressing into safety and training leadership within the tree care industry. He currently serves as a regional safety manager for SavATree, supporting field operations and helping teams strengthen everyday execution through practical, scalable training systems. Jamie brings a Human Performance–based approach to safety—focusing on how work is actually performed in the field, building capacity for success, and improving systems so people can do the right thing under real-world conditions. He is a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP) and a Connecticut Licensed Arborist, and he specializes in creating repeatable programs that sharpen planning, hazard recognition, skills verification, and peer-to-peer coaching to drive consistent performance at scale. Torcicollo, Ryan, CTSP – SavATree With his passion for tree work and innovation, Ryan has rocked the climbing world, with multiple state competition wins and championship titles under his belt. The former owner of Wasatch Arborists, he now works as an assistant service line director, and the head of training for SavATree, promoting the safety of climbers across the country. | View | 0.75 ISA CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 72 | saturday |
| Saturday | 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM | Breaking Down the Tree |
Treesources, LLC | View | 0.75 ISA & CTSP CEUs | Trade Show Floor #1436 | 84 | saturday |
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