Sarah Cusack, CTSP, SavATree
This session builds on the “Industrial Athletes: 6 Keys to Longevity from Ultra Endurance Sports” framework introduced at the 2025 EXPO, going deeper into the mindset domain with a focus on proactive mental resilience training.
Arborists are industrial athletes- but while most invest in physical tools and training, mental resilience often gets overlooked until adversity strikes. This session explores how ultra endurance athletes build a durable mind before injury, burnout, or a high-stakes moment demands it.
Drawing from neuroscience research on the anterior cingulate cortex and real wearable data collected during training, attendees will see how their bodies and brains respond to stress- and how to expand their capacity to handle it to take a more proactive approach to managing safety. Just like physical fitness, mental resilience is a trainable skill. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for stress inoculation and pre-task mental conditioning they can implement immediately- building the psychological durability to thrive across a long career in tree care.
Speaker Bio:
Cusack, Sarah, CTSP – SavATree
Sarah is the director of learning & development at SavATree and an ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP, and ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development. She specializes in building high-impact training programs for leaders in the tree care industry. Sarah is also an ultra-marathon runner who brings the science of endurance sports into her work, exploring how arborists can train smarter, recover better, and build the mental durability needed to thrive across long careers as industrial athletes.