Opening General Session: Survivor Tree’s Legacy Grows On - Mark Bays, Urban Forestry Coordinator, Oklahoma Forestry Services

At the highest point on the grounds of the Oklahoma City National Memorial stands a very special tree in the hearts of the victims’ families, survivors and all those impacted by a senseless act of violence that struck the in heart of Oklahoma City 24 years ago. This native American elm has come to represent hope and healing and stands strong as a symbol for all to reflect upon while remembering those whose lives were lost and honoring their memories. Before the bombing, this tree was the only source of shade in the parking lot between the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and the Journal Record Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Today known as the “Survivor Tree,” it – like the Oklahoma City community – stands strong honoring those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever from the April 19, 1995 bombing.

Come hear the special story of the recovery of the Survivor Tree, its ongoing care and the legacy that continues to grow from Mark Bays, Oklahoma Forestry Services Urban Forestry Coordinator, who has been involved in the mission since its inception.

Submitted for ISA Credits

DEC Track: Cornell Pest Update: The Next Worst Thing: Landscape Pests and Planning for 2019 - Dan Gilrein, Entomology / Interim Associate AG Program Director, Cornell Cooperative of Suffolk County

This presentation will cover some of the increasingly common pest problems of ornamental plants such as scale insects, certain leafminers, and caterpillars. This session will cover some invasive pest threats such as box tree caterpillar recently discovered in Canada, spotted lanternfly controls (if not covered by the designated speaker), and ambrosia beetles. Results from some LIHREC trials will be covered, as well as updates to the Cornell Tree and Shrub Guidelines.

Submitted for DEC and ISA Credits

Tree Academy Track: Credentialing: What’s In It for You

Got credentials? Not sure if you need them or which ones to get? Then this session is for you! For the first time ever, ISA, TCIA and ASCA executives will come together to discuss the benefits of their professional credentials and their impact on professional development. Each organization will explain:
• The credentials it offers
• Who the credentials targeted to
   o Field employee
   o Management
   o Owner
   o Consultants
• The time, cost of obtaining and maintaining credentials
• Which credential is right for which type of business and the career options available
• Why credentials are important and how they improve your credibility
• How credentials and training can affect your bottom line
  o Safety
  o Improved productivity
  o Retention of employees and professional image
• How credentials can help grow your business.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore your options for continuing education and determine your best route to success.

Submitted for ISA Credits

DEC Track: A Holistic Approach to Plant Health Care – A Practitioner's Perspective  - Aaron Dickinson, BCMA, Certified Arborist, RCA, Owner, Arborcology LLC

In an era of instant gratification, fast food, drive-up windows and same day delivery, society has come to expect instant results. Have we, as arborists become a by-product of society expectations and when discussing tree care, do we prescribe the “silver bullet” treatment first? Our communications with the client requires the aspect of cultural practices that can remedy the plant’s issue, with the assistance of a chemical control and lead to reduce applications?

Many companies are growing their plant health care divisions with the expectation of generating 30% or more of the revenue from PHC. I have seen companies prescribing a chemical approach to the plant care problem and down playing the necessity to cultural care. Are we being true stewards of the environment when we encourage treatments annually and forego the practices of solving the problem?

This presentation will explore some common PHC problems that frequently have repeated applications that benefit from cultural approaches or the consideration of different chemical approaches combined with the cultural practices.

Submitted for DEC and ISA Credits

3:15-4:30pm

Tree Academy Track: No Splash, No Ripple - A Path to a Better Job Brief - Shawn Reed, Certified Arborist, Contract Arborist for National Grid

If we look at an accident as a splash and the effect that an accident has on a person's family and friends as ripples than we need to stop the splash. A job brief is the first step. This presentation is about the importance of a meaningful, quality job brief. We will talk about everything that makes up a quality job brief from the heading to the hazards. So bring your company's Pre-Job Safety Brief and join the conversation!

Submitted for ISA and CTSP Credits

4:45-6:00pm

DEC Track: Spotted Lantern Fly Overview and Treatment Options - Jeff Picher, Certified Arborist, Technical Rep/Arborologist, Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements

Attendees will learn the history of SLF introduction to the United States, life cycle and identification, damage caused by nymphs and adults, methods of distribution, impact on agricultural, viticulture and home landscapes, host list over 70 different genus to date, insecticidal treatment options: foliar, soil injection, trunk injection, bark spray, herbicide treatments to control Ailanthus, egg scraping and sticky bands, Pennsylvania law requiring homeowners to treat for SLF on their property, 24 C pesticide label allowing 3 times A.I per acre, an why action is needed now. A questions and answer period will follow.

Submitted for DEC and ISA Credits

Tree Academy Track: The Leadership Tree: Growing Yours from Seed to Stand - Keith Pancake, Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist, Operations Manager New England Region, ACRT Inc.

Like many of us in our industry, I had no formal training when I first started in a leadership role. As an avid reader of history, I started looking at successful leaders to see what lessons were out there to learn. The shelves are overflowing with volumes of material on leadership, and I by no means read or cover all of them!

From this presentation, attendees can expect a review of several of these leaders’ proven methods from the early 19th century Sea of Cortez battle of Trafalgar to a 21st century neighborhood in Pakistan, along with lessons from 20th century industry where chaotic and dynamic situations were managed, and won, using what I found to be very similar threads in leadership styles.

Attendees will learn:
· How these leaders were able to gain efficiency from their teams by empowering their people.
· The common themes used to build effective leaders from within.
· Exploration of how the traditional organization chart can be altered to foster greater understanding of an organization’s strengths, increasing chances to reach and exceed goals.

Submitted for ISA Credits

Networking Breakfast: Credentialing Round Table

Spill the beans during this caffeinated round table with ISA, TCI and ASCA credentialing representatives to discuss their credentials and contribute your ideas on how to improve the credentialing process. Your input is requested to determine:
• How to improve talking points on what the entry-level credential is
• How to simplify the credentialing process for members and the general public
• What entry level credential allows holders to participate in the CEU process
• Is it necessary to limit or remove duplicate credentialing
• The concerns regarding the costs of credential overload
  o Personal – time, travel and expense
  o Business – cost of compliance and non-compliance
• Overreach
• How to avoid credential overload
• How to improve reciprocity and cooperation between the three groups
• How to allocate funds to better educate clients of the value of these credentials.

The breakfast will wrap up with a brief conversation about state licensing. Now is the time to make your voice heard.

Submitted for ISA Credits

DEC Track: Arboriculture Below Ground / Tree Health Care from the Roots Up? - Aaron Dickinson, BCMA, Certified Arborist, RCA, Owner, Arborcology LLC

In the urban environment, trees and shrubs typically grow in soils that are nutrient poor, lack natural soil biology and are likely compacted. Many arborists will access declining trees in these conditions and recommend fertilization to improve the plant’s health. Because so many companies start their Plant Health Care department with offering annual fertilization it is an easy recommendation and one a client quickly understands. However, are we doing due diligence to caring for these trees with fertilization and solving a problem, or are we masking the symptoms.

This presentation explores the possibility of changing the paradigm fertilization in the urban environment to restoring the natural process of decomposition and soil biology to our landscape trees for creating a healthy soil for trees to grow rather than fertilizing for trees to survive.

Will be submitted for DEC and ISA credits

Tree Academy Track: Brooklyn Bridge Park: Managing Trees Ecologically - Rebecca McMackin, Certified Arborist, Director of Horticulture, Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre, organic park in the middle of New York City, was created with ecology in mind. The park's beautifully designed, award-winning piers are a venue for top-notch recreation and relaxations, from basketball to bocce to opera to outdoor films. The piers also contain native woodlands, freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and meadows. These areas closely mimic native ecosystems and are managed with an emphasis on wildlife habitat.

This talk will detail strategies for managing an ecological park and cultivating biodiverse landscapes with an emphasis on tree selection, functionality and care.

Submitted for ISA credits.

Spanish Language Session: TCIA Aerial Rescue Training Session - Leo Roldan, SavATree

Submitted for ISA and CTSP credits

DEC Track: NYS DEC Invasive Pest Update - Rob Cole, Forester, Division of Lands and Forests - Forest Health, NYS DEC

Forest pests and diseases continue to impact our wild and urban forests at what seems like an increasing rate. DEC Forest Health monitors for new introductions of several pests such as thousand cankers disease, Asian longhorned beetle, and spotted lanternfly. Forest Health conducts management activities to eradicate or slow the spread of high priority pests such as hemlock woolly adelgid, southern pine beetle, and oak wilt. Impacts from native pests and abiotic factors will be discussed as well.

This presentation will cover priorities and strategies used by Forest Health to monitor and/or manage these pests including tree removals, pesticide use, and regulations. This presentation will also cover services offered to professionals and landowners such as the Forest Health Diagnostic Lab and on-site consultations.

Come to this presentation to learn more about the work DEC Forest Health is conducting around the state and how it relates to and possibly impacts your work.

Submitted for DEC and ISA credits

Tree Academy Track: Going Out on a Limb: Sharing My Story about the Accident that Almost Ended My Career - Keith Pancake, Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist, Operations Manager New England Region, ACRT Inc.

A first-person account in which Keith reflects on his accident that occurred after a major New England winter storm, which led to the eventual loss of his arm. Keith takes a deep dive into the small, intangible events that can mean the difference between a life-altering injury and going home safe each day.

Submitted for ISA and CTSP credits

DEC Track: NYS DEC Rules and Regulations Update - Catherine Ahlers, Pesticide Control Specialist II, NYS DEC

Attendees will hear an update on pesticide application rules and regulations and what to expect during an inspection including common violations, record keeping and lawn care contracts.

Submitted for DEC and ISA credits

Tree Academy Track: Development and Evolution of a Municipal/NYC Parks Tree Risk Management Program - Benjamin Osborne, BCMA, Certified Arborist, Certified Municipal Specialist, Director of Tree Preservation , NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

Attendees will learn about the framework, history of prioritization, Bronx case study from Danielle’s UEC presentation or other existing presentation, reminder of TRAQ inspection criteria, how to scale up from assessing individual trees to prioritizing work across a city with limited resources looking at standardization, timeframe and quality control, side-by-side comparison of TRAQ with NYC pre-failure methods and post-failure methods, review of software and cheat sheets, an overall analysis of the program with a look at case study and risk mitigation response times and next steps.

Submitted for ISA credits

DEC Track: Plant Health Maintenance: Focus on Plant Health, NOT the Pest - Fran Reidy, Certified Arborist, Owner, Dryad Tree & Shrub Diagnostics, LLC

This course will assist Certified Applicators, Arborists, and Gardeners to expand their plant health toolbox, service list and enhance the sustainability of the landscape environment. Attendees will understand the methods to wean their clients and their yards off pesticides and offer alternative services. Attendees concerned about the present state of the environment would find this information useful.

Submitted for DEC and ISA credits

Tree Academy Track: Urban Formal Pruning (or Spouts Gone Wild) - Bill Logan - Founder, President and Lead Arborist

Attendees will learn the show good ways and means to make different kinds of trees. Bill will discuss in what situations they are useful and beautiful and their very deep tradition, stretching back to the Mesolithic, from which they come.

•Where the pruner takes a hand in shaping the tree.
•Using Heading Cuts: Sprouts emerge. Shigo’s teaching about heading cuts.
•Why?
•Coppice
•Standards
•Aerial Hedges
•Pleaching
•Pollards
•The Sources of formal pruning

Submitted for ISA Credits