Women In Tree Care
Pre-Conference
Sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts, Davey Tree Expert Company, and Rainbow Tree Company
The Women in Tree Care Pre-Conference is back!
Join an exciting lineup of women to speak about allyship, networking, mentorship, and how women and other underrepresented groups can support, amplify, and advocate for each other.
This year’s agenda includes topics like:
Growing Stronger Together: The Power of Networking and Mentorship for Tree Care Companies
Branching Out Together: Allyship in the Tree Care Industry
Speakers include: Ash Connelly, Charleston Tree Experts; Jess Jimoh, Rainbow Companies; Cindy Schwab, The Davey Tree Expert Co
EVENT SPONSORED BY: Rainbow Ecoscience, Bartlett Tree Experts and The Davey Tree Expert Company
Women in Tree Care Scholarship
TCIA will provide two $1,000 scholarships for women in the tree care industry in an effort to help fund their attendance to TCI EXPO. Funding goes towards registration for the All-Access Pass (3 days of education for TCI EXPO). The remaining funds can be used for additional expenses such as hotels, travel, etc.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, October 27th.
Session Descriptions:
This interactive session will cover a range of topics essential for cultivating effective allyship. We will begin by examining different types of allyship and their significance in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the tree care industry. Through engaging in discussions and activities, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the importance of allyship as a catalyst for positive change.
Key Workshop Components:
- Definitions and Examples: We will provide a clear definition of allyship, explore real-life examples, highlight successful allyship, and demonstrate how it can be applied in the tree care industry.
- The Business Case for Allyship: We will delve into the compelling business case for fostering allyship in the tree care industry and how an inclusive workforce translates into enhanced creativity, productivity, and innovation.
- Building Effective Allyship: Participants will acquire practical strategies for becoming effective allies. We will explore proactive behaviors, such as advocating for equal opportunities, amplifying women’s voices, and actively challenging gender biases.
- Addressing Challenges and Overcoming Barriers: This workshop will provide a space to discuss common challenges faced by women and other underrepresented groups in the tree care industry and explore solutions.
- Allyship in Action: Empowered by newfound knowledge, participants will engage in interactive breakout group exercises designed to develop allyship skills and techniques. Through role-playing common scenarios, we will explore practical ways to implement allyship strategies in daily work interactions.
By the end of this workshop, participants will have a deepened understanding of allyship in the tree care industry, a repertoire of effective allyship practices, and a customized action plan to implement in their professional lives. Together, we will create a supportive network of allies, working collaboratively to advance gender equality and propel toward a brighter and more inclusive future in the tree care industry.
During this one-hour session, Ash Connelly from Charleston Tree Experts, will delve into the power of networking and highlight the significance of mentorship in the tree care industry. This workshop promises to provide invaluable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance your business growth.
It will include break out groups so participants can dial into fully engage and do some hands-on activities to engagement in meaningful conversations, exchange business ideas and forge valuable relationships with fellow tree care professionals.
By attending these workshops, attendees will leave equipped with a solid understanding of the pivotal role networking and mentorship play in the success of tree care companies. Attendees will also have practical tips and strategies to implement into the business, fostering a strong network and mentorship culture that will propel business and personal growth and pave the way for long-term success.
Speaker Bios:
Ash Connelly began her professional career in the legal field as a degree holding Paralegal for 12 years. Native to South Carolina, with an eye for details and a desire to be outdoors, she daringly pursued a career change to arboriculture in January 2020. An analytical skill set a decade in the making translated well and has equipped Ash in forwarding the importance of professionalism in the industry. Ash believes communication and education are key to striking a balance between client wants and tree needs. As the Vice President of Charleston Tree Experts, Ash has instilled personal and professional development in her team members. She developed and oversaw the initiatives that doubled the company size and tripled gross revenue in 2 years. She has pursued opportunities to both build community relationships and further educate the greater Charleston area about the value of the living assets in our fractured urban forest. Her drive to make a difference and raise industry standards are seen in the effort she puts forth in micro and macro ways.
By speaking at local committee meetings, presenting to various grade levels and assisting in hosting tree care workshops, among other efforts, Ash strives to broaden common knowledge on proper tree care and serve her community. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, a Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) member and presently certified as a TCIA Grounds Operations Specialist, TCIA Chipper Operations Specialist as well as a TCIA Treecare Apprentice. To expand her arboricultural understanding and practices, she routinely attends industry workshops and conferences, including the TCIA Executive Arborist Workshop, TCI Expo, ISA Annual Conference, American Society of Arboriculture (ASCA) Annual Conference, TCIA Winter Management Conference, as well as local workshops.
Kasey is from Oswego, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. She graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in Urban Forestry & Horticulture and an associate degree in Business Management. Kasey has had a career in the green industry since 2013. She joined Bartlett Tree Experts as an Arborist Representative in 2019.
An ISA Certified Arborist, Kasey uses her knowledge and experience to provide sound advice about tree and shrub care to help clients reach their property goals.
Kasey lives in Whitesboro, New York with her husband and three children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family camping, snowboarding, and hiking through the Adirondacks.
Jess Jimoh is serving as the Director of Marketing, Communications, DEI Council Leader, and Board Member at Rainbow Companies. With a deep passion for people, Jess is devoted to fostering inclusive environments and empowering individuals to unlock their full potential. Drawing upon her education and expertise in marketing and business communications, Jess has amassed over 15 years of experience in these fields. In addition to her successful corporate career, she has expanded her dedication to people development through her certifications as a Certified Integrative Health Coach and a Certified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Practitioner
Natalie McNeill is an operations Manager for The Davey Tree Expert Company based in Fort Collins, CO with more than 22 years of experience in arboriculture and urban forestry.
She has been an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #RM2353B since 2019, Certified TreeCare Safety Professional #2237 since 2016, and has held the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. Natalie was awarded the 2020 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) True Professional of Arboriculture Award as well as the 2020 ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter Arborist of the Year award. She has served on the ISA Rocky Mountain Chapter Executive committee since 2016 and is currently in the Treasurer role.
Outside of the obvious love of trees and helping them thrive in urban settings, Natalie’s passion lies in the education, growth and development of the future leaders in the arboriculture and urban forestry fields. She has been stepping outside the box since she began her career and strives to find new and sustainable ways to encourage strong, educated individuals to pursue her chosen career path.
Assuming responsibility for recruitment across the Midwest and Western regions. With a career spanning over two decades in the Green Industry, Cindy’s expertise encompasses diverse roles including fieldwork, sales arborist responsibilities, as well as management of both field and office teams.
She has a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stevens Point in both Urban Forestry and Parks & Recreation, an M.B.A. from National Lewis University, Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from The Ohio State University. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, has her SHRM Senior Certified Professional and is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE).
Women In Tree Care Symposium Agenda
Jen McPhee
Neal Glatt, managing partner and co-founder of GrowTheBench
Never before has it been more true that our people determine whether we win or lose in business. Women in the Tree Care industry are uniquely positioned to help their companies succeed by building a thriving team, yet sometimes struggle to know where to start and how to influence sustainable change. Sales, profit, employee retention, safety, and productivity have all been proven to be dependent on the team’s ability to thrive. In this session, Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench.com, will discuss:
- Why a diverse team has the most potential for success
- How a strengths-based approach unlocks the highest employee potential
- The twelve factors that drive employee engagement and deliver great business outcomes
- Where to start influencing organizational change from any position immediately
In addition, each attendee will receive a self-assessment guide to identifying company areas of success and opportunities to thrive which will enable the process of transformational change towards a thriving team.
Speakers: Kate Bolkin, Community Educator and Joi Mayo, Community Engagement Manager.
Panelists: Jane Myers, TreesCharlotte and Laurie Reid, City of Charlotte.
Presentation: TreesCharlotte “State of our Canopy” Presentation
Charlotte has an extraordinary tree canopy, but with Charlotte becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and welcoming roughly 120 new residents per day, it’s easy to understand how our tree canopy has taken a fast decline. Join TreesCharlotte to learn the history, importance, and current state of Charlotte’s prized tree canopy. TreesCharlotte will then take you through their Canopy Care pilot program to show actionable steps the organization is using to promote tree equity and care. By engaging with community partnerships, TreesCharlotte is working to enhance our under-canopied and underserved neighborhoods.
Afterward, join a thought-provoking panel discussion with female tree care professionals working in Charlotte, who are leading the city into a greener future. Get an up-close look at careers in community forestry and learn how similar tree advocacy and tree care programs reside in cities near you.
We would all love a clear roadmap to optimal health. And although each person requires something unique, there are five basic pillars of health that help us navigate a life well-lived. These need to be simple, attainable, and inspire us to make them a part of our daily habits. Wendie will provide a roadmap to help you manage your mood, your energy, and your brain to gracefully manage all of the things that life throws at you including:
- The five core aspects of health, how they are interconnected, and what role each plays in establishing and maintaining health
- How to flip the script and convert self-care from a “luxury” to our foundation
- The pitfalls of diets, all-or-nothing thinking and perfection culture
- Simple hacks in each category to “tip the scales” towards vitality
- The role that our family and friends play in our success (or failure)
Each attendee will receive a signed copy of “Dirty Girl-Ditch the Toxins, Look Great and Feel Freaking Amazing!”, access to a 4- week “Feel Freaking Amazing” Program, a pdf Non-Toxic Guide to Healthy Living, and a pdf detox-focused cookbook; all of which are designed to get you back on track, experiencing more vitality and leveling up your experience of life.
Neal Glatt
The employee onboarding experience has been proven to make or break employee retention and performance, yet only 12% of employees strongly agree their company does a great job of onboarding. Onboarding needs to be far more than a warm welcome, team introduction, and discussion of workplace policies to excite and inspire our new hires. Unfortunately, most organizations have no idea what should be included to set themselves up for success with onboarding. In this session, attendees will learn:
- Why most onboarding programs fail
- The five questions every onboarding experience must answer
- How a strengths-based approach unlocks employee potential
- The role of the manager in the onboarding program.
In addition, each attendee will receive an action planning worksheet to level up your onboarding experience with tactical steps which can be implemented immediately for success. We simply can’t afford an onboarding experience that is anything less than exceptional in today’s difficult labor market.
As a doctor, business owner, wife, and mother, Wendie is no stranger to a busy schedule. Join her for an informal, roundtable discussion about the effects of overwhelm. Hear Wendie’s strategies for running an efficient team; share your own secrets for success, and throw out those challenges to the group for their feedback. Ultimately, you will all leave feeling empowered to make small changes that lead to big results.
Tracey Miller, Content Manager, TCIA Magazine
Your company brand isn’t just about colors and creative graphics. Your brand identity is about how the public sees and remembers your company. It’s your reputation. Marketing is an opportunity to help you get to know your customer and for them to get to know you. Tracey will help you think about marketing in a whole new way to help create a memorable experience for your customers from their first impression to their last.
TCIA Member Cost: $295 | Non-Member Cost: $395
Limited seats are available. We encourage you to register early to secure your spot!
FREE Women in Tree Care Forum in Room 235
Be sure to check out the FREE Women in Tree Care Forum in Room 235 on Thursday, November 4 at 1:45 PM. It’s a moderated, open-forum discussion with key takeaways, AND some amazing raffle prizes, which you are totally eligible to win!
Workshop is Sponsored by:
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the TCIA CONNECT App!
Download the TCIA CONNECT app and set up/log in with your TCIA account. Access exhibitor info, scan badges, message other attendees on the app, and set up your agenda to never miss a thing. The app is free and a great resource for anyone attending the TCI EXPO 2023!
Connect with
the TCIA CONNECT App!
Download the TCIA CONNECT app and set up/log in with your TCIA account. Access exhibitor info, scan badges, message other attendees on the app, and set up your agenda to never miss a thing. The app is free and a great resource for anyone attending the TCI EXPO 2023!
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