ArborEXPO '25

Location: Mallary Building

Location: Mallary Tradeshow Classroom

Selecting the "right tree for the right place" is crucial for fulfilling your client’s landscape goals while supporting a resilient and healthy urban canopy. Proper species selection lays the foundation for tree health, followed by thoughtful planning, placement, and planting. Well-chosen urban trees can survive and thrive amidst challenges like rising temperatures, drought, and infrastructure constraints such as powerlines and driveways.

In this session, we will examine the best tree species for urban environments in our region, key factors to consider when making purchases, and effective strategies for optimal placement, all while addressing essential environmental considerations.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CT DEEP: 1 (categories 3A, 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Russell Holman

Location: Mallary Lobby Classroom

The dynamic of the work environment is changing, and the way we “train” needs to keep pace. The tree care industry is no longer what it used to be. New employees are no longer willing to wait for years to gain knowledge, advancement, and pay – they'll move on to the next company offering better pay and opportunities.

In this session, we’ll explore how industry leaders can recognize this shift and embrace it as an opportunity to become mentors, fostering a skilled and knowledgeable team. Attendees will learn how mentoring can lead to a less stressful work environment and better work-life balance for everyone.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Sydney Hudzinski-Huber

Location: Young Classroom

The new Z133 standard is coming out, with numerous updates to reflect changes in technology – think of the expanding use of remote tools – and hazards.

This session will review the most common fatal incidents and highlight the changes in the standard that, if followed, could help reduce these risks. Key standards that will be discussed include the new training guidelines and revisions to the electrical hazard section, which now classifies arborists into one of four categories, among other important updates.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; CT DEEP: 1 (categories 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

John Ball, Ph.D., BCMA, CTSP 

Location: Mallary Tradeshow Classroom

Sometimes the old ways are best, but sometimes new technologies can make previously miserable tasks downright easy.

In this presentation, we will walk through a few worthwhile ways to integrate new tools like AI, drones, social media groups, web content, and more. As important, we will review and dispel common myths about the potential downsides and discuss situations where it may be better to avoid upgrading to the latest tech fads.

CEUs: ISA: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Josiah Georgeson

Location: Mallary Lobby Classroom

Join us for an engaging and action-packed session on Aerial Rescue Operations and Procedures for Arborists! This dynamic presentation will cover essential techniques to safely and efficiently respond to emergency situations in the canopy. From assessing risks to executing life-saving maneuvers, you’ll gain valuable insights to enhance your rescue readiness. Discover how to use specialized equipment, master communication strategies, and maintain composure under pressure.

With real-world scenarios and expert guidance, this class empowers you to be prepared for the unexpected. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or new to the field, you’ll leave with the knowledge needed to safeguard lives and elevate your professional skills.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; CT DEEP: 1 (categories 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Ryan Swederski

Location: Young Classroom

By following a few basic steps with an ethical and professional mindset, we can set ourselves up for success. The first step is to prioritize the customer’s best interests. To do this, we need the appropriate contracts in place to allow us to work with and for our customer. Keep in mind that contract requirements vary by state, so a one-size-fits-all approach may not apply.

Key elements to include are a three-day right to rescission, possibly an Assignment of Benefits, a Direction to Pay, and fully disclosed pricing. When these are set up correctly, you can continue working for the customer and help them get their invoices paid – all while adding a layer of protection against anyone who might consider keeping your check for themselves.

CEUs: ISA: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Joe Whitledge

Location: Demo Area Must be present to win!

Location: Demo Area - led by NATS Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is one of the fastest growing areas in safety, especially for tree and green industry workers.

In this talk, we will discuss the requirements of PPE, according to OSHA, as well as employer and employee responsibilities with clear simple guidance in the following areas:
• Who is responsible for paying for PPE?
• What is required when training employees on PPE?
• Where to find quality information on PPE requirements.
• Why PPE requires a hazard certification.
• When is employee PPE allowed?
• And, how can we improve awareness on relevant PPE issues?

CEUs: ISA: 1; CT DEEP: 1 (categories 3A, 3D, PA); NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

North American Training Solutions (NATS)

Location: NATS Skills Arena The indoor NATS Skills Arena™ will showcase a scaled-down arbor work zone featuring NATS SafeTree™ Simulators (patent pending). Here, tree crew teams will compete in hands-on skill challenges that test both their mental and physical abilities, all while a live audience cheers them on from a safe viewing area!

Note: Teams of two will compete in Technical Skills Competitions each day. NATS will supply materials and PPE for the contestants. All ArborSPORTS™ competitors must successfully complete the NATS Skills Arena™ event to be eligible to compete in the outside ArborSPORTS™ Stadium event.

Location: WTCW Instructors Booth #854 As arborists, we often focus heavily on maintaining trees, equipment, gear, our client base, certifications, and keeping enough work to cover payroll – the list is never ending. But in the process, it’s easy to overlook two essential tools we rely on every day: our body and mind.

Join us for an engaging discussion on simple ways to adjust daily habits to optimize your body and mind, helping you better manage the challenges of work and life.

CEUs: ISA: .5; CTSP: .5; NJ LTE/LTCO: .5

Speakers:

Nicole Benjamin

Location: Heli-Ax Demo Booth # 908

Forces applied throughout the canopy must be identified and quantified. Without knowing the actual force exerted on terminal points or redirects, you risk exceeding the maximum limit and causing a failure – whether climbing or rigging.

In this demo, you’ll learn how angles play a crucial role in dissipating these forces and optimizing your approach. Walk away with foundational knowledge to start making informed and safer decisions.

CEUs: ISA: .5; CTSP: .5; NJ LTE/LTCO: .5

Speakers:

Bill Burley 

Attendees can enjoy BBQ style lunch – free with registration!

Location: Outdoor full-scale model work zone ArborSPORTS™ Finals! Join us at the outdoor full-scale simulated arbor work zone, featuring NATS SafeTree™ Simulators (patent pending), where qualifying teams from the NATS Skills Arena™ will go head-to-head in the first annual ArborSPORTS™ competition. Cheer the teams on as they compete for prizes and the ultimate first-ever bragging rights!

Note: Qualifying teams of two will compete in a knockout round tournament competition in the disciplines of Chainsaw Cutting Skills, Technical Tree Climbing Skills, and Technical Rigging Skills. NATS will supply materials and PPE for the contestants. All ArborSPORTS™ competitors must successfully complete the NATS Skills Arena™ event to be eligible to compete in the outside ArborSPORTS™ Stadium event.

Location: WTCW Instructors Booth #854

We don’t have to operate in a silo – our industry has so many amazing branches that can cross pollinate with so many other fields. In a casual conversation, we’ll explore how you can grow and expand your career in ways that excite and energize you. The possibilities are limitless when it comes to building a career you love!

CEUs: ISA: .5; CTSP: .5; NJ LTE/LTCO: .5

Speakers:

Amanda Whitton

Location: Mallary Lobby Classroom

La seguridad en el lugar de trabajo es importante, pero mantener la seguridad a la vista es igualmente importante. Si bien a menudo confiamos en que nuestro personal seguirá las mejores prácticas y los estándares de la industria, confiar únicamente en las buenas intenciones no es suficiente. Sin un programa de seguridad claro, lo único que podemos esperar es que los valores del equipo sean tan altos como los estándares de la industria. Con un programa de seguridad bien definido, puede capacitar a su equipo para superar constantemente las expectativas, reducir los accidentes, fomentar el desarrollo de habilidades y crear un ambiente de trabajo donde los empleados prosperen tanto profesional como personalmente.

En esta sesión, discutiremos sus programas de seguridad actuales, cómo iniciar un programa de seguridad (si aún no tiene uno), áreas a supervisar en el lugar de trabajo, cómo documentar las visitas y hallazgos del equipo de seguridad del sitio, cómo capacitar a su tripulaciones en estándares de seguridad y procedimientos operativos de seguridad, y formación de equipos para el liderazgo de la tripulación, la moral de la tripulación, la misión, visión y valores de la empresa.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Erick Palacios 

Location: Demo Area Must be present to win!

Location: Demo Area - led by NATS Personal Fall Protection Systems used in Tree Care Operations is an exciting area where arborists are leading vertical trades through innovative solutions to access our work at height more easily and safely. When we have workers aloft, it is critical that employers and employees understand the requirements according to OSHA in the safe application of Personal Fall Protection Systems.

In this talk, we will discuss the requirements of Personal Fall Protection Systems, according to OSHA, and introduce NATS’s six-step fall protection system for improved safety and effectiveness when performing work at height.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; CT DEEP: 1 (categories 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

North American Training Solutions (NATS)

Location: Heli-Ax Demo Booth # 908

Anchors! With so many configurations available, what is the best anchor for climbing?

In this demonstration, we’ll explore the most common anchor points used today, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right anchor is key to a safe and enjoyable climb!

CEUs: ISA: .5; CTSP: .5; NJ LTE/LTCO: .5

Speakers:

Bill Burley 

Location: Mallary Tradeshow Classroom

Protect your assets through safety, training, and compliance. There are so many daily challenges -- but don’t lose focus on what’s important.

In this session, attendees will come away with a better understanding on how to protect themselves, their assets through daily safety awareness, ongoing training, and compliance with industry standards.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Jared Abrojena

Location: Mallary Lobby Classroom

Site safety is important, but keeping safety in sight is just as important. While we often trust our crews to follow best practices and industry standards, relying solely on good intentions just isn’t enough. Without a clear safety program, all we can hope for is that team values are as high as industry standards. With a well-defined safety program, you can empower your team to consistently exceed expectations, reduce accidents, foster skill development, and create a work environment where employees thrive both professionally and personally.

In this session, we will discuss your current safety programs, how to start a safety program (if you don’t have one yet), areas to oversee on the worksite, how to document site safety crew visits and findings, how to train your crews in safety standards and operating safety procedures, and team building for crew leadership, crew moral, company mission, vision, and values.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Erick Palacios 

Location: Young Classroom

Building a strong safety culture goes beyond industry buzzwords. It requires intentional leadership and company-wide commitment. This session will explore practical strategies for fostering a safety-first mindset that ensures compliance with industry standards.

We’ll discuss how to establish a top-down approach that integrates safety into daily operations, drives accountability, and promotes a proactive work environment. Learn how to move beyond policies on paper to create a culture where safety is a core value, not just a requirement.

CEUs: ISA: 1; CTSP: 1; NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Speakers:

Bill Burley 

Location: WTCW Instructors Booth #854

Have you ever opened a tree gear catalog to the rope section and immediately overwhelmed, thinking, “Why are there so many options?” and “How am I supposed to pick the right one?”

The world of ropes is vast and ever-growing, but this talk will simplify the decision-making process. You’ll be guided in selecting the right rope for the job, your personal preference, and – most importantly – your favorite color!

CEUs: ISA: .5; NJ LTE/LTCO: .5

Speakers:

Kate Odell

Location: Mallary Building

Early bird Price $255 | Regular Price $275
Location: Young Upstairs Room

This full day workshop explores all the nuances of adding, growing, and improving any Plant Health Care (PHC) programs in your business, discussing the “how to get started” to “how do I grow my business’ existing services?”

We will cover a wide range of topics from getting started in PHC to safety, product and equipment choices, regulations, the different type of applications, diagnostics, Consulting Arborist Conversations, and pricing of services.

No matter what level your company is at in performing PHC, this workshop covers the details of safety to be considered, how to present and prescribe PHC to your clients using a holistic approach, and how to consider pricing of your services.

This workshop will cover different diagnostic techniques, tools, and different considerations in the recommendations for the treatments and care of your client’s trees, all while considering our environmental responsibilities with the prescription of pesticides.

There is a shifting paradigm in PHC as our profession considers the use of fertilizers versus biologicals and pesticides versus products that induce Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) of Induced Resistance (IR). We will introduce some of these products as well as the concepts of how they work and the expectations of success.

Attendees of the PHC workshop will leave with an introduction of different equipment, products and approaches to caring for trees, and an understanding that proper PHC requires cultural practices, which will be discussed within many of the tree care issues faced by Arborists in the North East.

8:00 am - 3:00 pm Classroom Instruction
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch (Included)

CEUs
NY - Category 3A - 2.75 CEUs
New England States reciprocate with NY or MA
MA – Approve 3.5 CEUs for Core and Cat....... 36 (Turf & Ornamental)
NJ - Core 4 CEUs, Ornamental 3 CEU's, Forest 2 CEUs
NY DEC - 2.75 CEUs
ISA: Practice 2, Management 2.75, Science 1 - 5.75 credits total broken down as previously stated by category 2 credits for Practice, 2.75 credits for management and 1 credit for science.

Click here to see a video from Aaron Dickinson

Speakers:

Aaron Dickinson

Early bird Price $269 | Regular Price $289 (30 people max)
Location: Young Meeting Room B

This immersive experience delves into the intricate techniques of operating grapple saws, emphasizing precision cutting and efficient production. Attendees will gain valuable insights and practical knowledge to enhance their proficiency in this vital aspect of crane operations.

Includes indoor and outdoor instruction and lunch.

8:00 am - 12:00 am Classroom Instruction
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch (Included)
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Outdoor Instruction

CEUs: ISA: 6; CTSP: 7; CT DEEP: 7 (categories 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 6;

*Participants must bring their own proper PPE for the outdoor portion.

Click here to see a video from Hans Tielmann

Speakers:

Hans Tielmann 

Early bird Price $250 | Regular Price $270 (40 people max)
Location: Young Meeting Room A

One day classroom session/second portion online

NATS OSHA 10-Hour General Industry for Tree Workers training course is a two-day, 10-hour LIVE instructor led training delivered in a hybrid format.

Day 1 will be delivered as an instructor led training (ILT) person at ArborEXPO 2025.
Day 2 will be delivered as an instructor led video teleconference via Zoom (VTC).

Note: All attendees must attend the in-person training on 3/26/2025 in order to attend Day 2.

Day Two virtual class to take place on Thursday, April 17 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Eastern. Zoom link will be sent.

Participants must take part in both Day One (live) and Day Two (virtual).

8:00 am - 5:00 pm Classroom Instruction
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch (Included)

NATS has received special approval from OSHA to deliver our OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 general industry tree worker trainings via live video teleconference from our best-in-class NATS OSHA Authorized Trainers. This course is specifically geared toward tree workers and green industry trade workers, and provides “awareness level” training, which is intended to increase awareness of certain factors contributing to safety risks and injuries among industry personnel. A focus on general industry safety and health hazards a tree worker may encounter on a work site is discussed, as is an emphasis on hazard identification, avoidance, control, and prevention. Additionally, the course provides information on employee rights, how to file a complaint, and employer responsibilities according to OSHA.

OSHA 10 Hour General Industry for Tree Workers Topics:
• Introduction to OSHA
• Hazard Communication (Haz Com)
• Walking and Working Surfaces
• Exit Routes, Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans, and Fire Protection
• Electrical Safety (1 hour)
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Bloodborne Pathogens
• Ergonomics
• Fall Protection
• Safety and Health Program

CEUs: ISA: 10; CTSP: 10; CT DEEP: 10 (categories 3D); NJ LTE/LTCO: 10;

*Participants will receive their certificates, as well as their OSHA 10 cards, only after successful completion of all course requirements.

Click here to see a video from Ed Carpenter

Speakers:

Ed Carpenter