Learn cutting-edge tree care techniques from industry experts and dive into hot topics with top-notch speakers at ArborEXPO. Our 2023 lineup doubles the education offered in previous years. New this year is the NATS skills arena and an educational track designed specifically for business owners–you can’t miss this!

Early birds get 25% off the full conference pass when you register before March 28th.

Preconference

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

7:00 a.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Opens
Pick up your badge, show bag, and swag!

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8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Expo Classroom – Carriage House
Crane Operation Safety Workshop Part 1

CEU:
• MCA Safety: 4
• CTSP: 6
• ISA: Certified Arborist: 7, Utility Specialist: 7, Municipal Specialist: 7,
Aerial Lift: 7, Management: 7, Climber Specialist: 7
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 7

Maximum number of attendees: 70

It is essential that all members of the job site are aware of safe crane operation. This full-day session will cover crane operation, OSHA & ANSI standards, pre-operation inspection, load charts, lifting requirements, and more. This course is recommended for anyone that will be working with a crane, not just operators or climbers.

Hans Tielmann & Mark Moeske
New Jersey Crane Experts
Flemington, NJ

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11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Crane Workshop Lunch

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12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Outdoor Expo
Crane Operation Safety Workshop Part 2
New Jersey Crane Experts

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3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Carriage House Classroom
Innovation, Technology & the Future of Tree Care

CEU:
• ISA: 3
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 3

Maximum number of attendees: 125

The care of mature trees provides a wealth of business and environmental benefits for arborists – and yet in the U.S. millions are cut down annually, often to make way for new construction. Join us for an interactive forum focused on the innovative ways arborists are working smarter through the creative use of tools and technology. Together, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities facing our industry and think critically about how seasoned expertise, combined with fresh inspiration, can generate transformative, revenue-generating solutions. Collaborating with peers, who bring varied experiences and perspectives, is always a catalyst for learning, growing, and positive change. As business guru Bill Taylor says, “Nobody is as smart as everybody!”

Presenters:
John Ball, Ph.D., BCMA, CTSP
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
and
Dennise J. Vidosh 
RE-TREE Companies & Green Acres Tree Farm 
Pontiac, MI

Moderator:
Deborah Howe, ASLA
Lighthall Company
Lincoln, MA

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4:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Closes

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6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Carriage House 
Preconference Reception

Join speakers Dr. John Ball and Dennise Vidosh, our sponsors, as well as your old and new industry friends at a reception immediately following the session. Plan your next few days at ArborEXPO while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. It’s a great way to connect and continue the conversation one-on-one with your colleagues.

This reception is included in the registration price for the Innovation, Technology and Future of Tree Care Session and is open only to those who registered for this session.

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Thursday, March 30, 2023

7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Opens
Pick up your badge, lunch tickets, and show bag and swag!

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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Expo Classroom – Better Living Center
Tree Health Update: What to Expect in 2023

CEU:
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• Pesticide New England States: (1) 35, 36, CORE(L)

Catch up on the latest tree health concerns in New England. Get up-to-the-minute information on common tree pests and diseases including spongy moth, beech leaf disease, emerald ash borer, hemlock wooly adelgid, and white pine needle disease. We’ll discuss the latest concerns, newest threats, and potential new invaders such as spotted lantern fly, southern pine beetle, and oak wilt. See examples of how our trees are affected by these issues and learn management strategies to employ this season.

Nicole Keleher
Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (MDCR)
Amherst, MA

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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Carriage House Classroom
Business Health: Know Your Numbers

CEU:
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

An important part of business health is understanding your numbers. This presentation will take a deep dive into understanding your pricing and will open your eyes to opportunities to maximize your profit potential. This session is part of the educational track for business owners, and is designed for new and experienced owners alike.

Bob Mead
Mead Tree & Turf Care
Woodbine, MD

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9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Expo Classroom – Better Living Center
Pneumatic Air Tool Use in the Field

CEU:
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Learn how to use pneumatic soil excavation tools to better care for, make repairs, and transplant mature trees responsibly. From bare-root transplanting to reducing soil compaction, the air excavation tool has a wide range of practical and environmentally sound uses in arboriculture. 

Discover why relocating, or repurposing, a specimen tree with the use of a pneumatic air tool is fast becoming the industry’s gold standard. The number of roots retained with bare-root transplanting prevents tremendous stress caused by other methods and should be considered a valuable tool in every professional arborist’s toolkit.

Dennise J. Vidosh
RE-TREE Companies & Green Acres Tree Farm 
Pontiac, MI

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9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Carriage House Classroom
The Z133 Standards: What You Need to Know

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• MCA Safety: 1

Anyone engaged in pruning or tree removal is considered an arborist by OSHA and must follow the safety requirements outlined in the American National Standard Z133. It is a long read, as standards usually are, but becoming familiar with, and adhering to, its requirements may prevent an injury or fatality. Gain an understanding of the Z subsections and revisions that address the most common incidents in tree care.

John Ball, Ph.D., BCMA, CTSP
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD

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10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Trade Show Open (Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits)

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10:25 a.m. – Demo Area
$500.00 Cash Giveaway
$1,200 Buckingham Gear Raffle
Must be present to win!

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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Demo Area
Tree Demo 
Competency Assessments: Ensuring Compliance for Green Collar Trade Workers

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Through hands-on competency assessments, employers can ensure their workforce has the KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) to mitigate potential risks and hazards safely, effectively, and efficiently, as well as perform the work in which they are engaged. Join us at the heart of the show floor for a live demonstration of these assessments that can be implemented in your own business.  

Rebecca Seibel and Ed Carpenter

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
NATS  Skills Arena  

The Skills Arena is a hands-on and engaging team-based learning experience that allows participants the opportunity to improve their knowledge around safe work practices while showcasing their technical skills.  

Teams of four are invited to sign up for specific challenges each morning on the event floor; challenges are first-come, first-served, and space is limited.  Each one-hour session will include dynamic and engaging instruction, as well as a demonstration by NATS trainers of industry best practice of skills.  Teams will compete in one of two skill challenges:  chainsaw cutting operations and arborist rigging operations.  The teams with the safest and most proficient performance will win a prize package full of gear and equipment from our Safety Alliance Partners. 

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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1:55 p.m. – Demo Area
$500.00 Cash Giveaway
Must be present to win!

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2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Demo Area
Tree Demo 
Utilizing Team-Based Competition to Improve Engagement of Your Workforce

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Who doesn’t love a little healthy competition, especially when it involves showing a team’s knowledge and skills in a collaborative environment? In this case, there’s more at stake than bragging rights. Introducing a team-focused competition engages your workforce in a creative way while providing the opportunity for training and professional growth. In a world driven by competition, use this to your advantage while increasing engagement and building camaraderie among your team.

Rebecca Seibel and Ed Carpenter

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Carriage House Classroom
Developing Relational Sales Skills

CEU:
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

People who work in the trades are incredibly talented in their craft, be it tree care, landscaping, or construction. We spend years building the skills needed to do our jobs day-to-day, but we do not often place the same importance on developing our sales approach. Just because we understand how to price work doesn’t mean we understand selling. It is a skill, just like our craft. Level up your sales approach and deliver excellent service to your clients.

Paul Biester
Tree Awareness Inc/Forged Consulting
Woolwich Twp, NJ

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3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
NATS  Skills Arena  

The Skills Arena is a hands-on and engaging team-based learning experience that allows participants the opportunity to improve their knowledge around safe work practices while showcasing their technical skills.  

Teams of four are invited to sign up for specific challenges each morning on the event floor; challenges are first-come, first-served, and space is limited.  Each one-hour session will include dynamic and engaging instruction, as well as a demonstration by NATS trainers of industry best practice of skills.  Teams will compete in one of two skill challenges:  chainsaw cutting operations and arborist rigging operations.  The teams with the safest and most proficient performance will win a prize package full of gear and equipment from our Safety Alliance Partners. 

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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4:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Closes

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4:00 p.m.
Trade Show Closes (Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits)

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4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Basketball Hall of Fame
Welcome Reception

Join ArborEXPO staff, speakers, exhibitors, and all your fellow industry colleagues at the Welcome Reception held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The facility is a fantastic destination for everyone, from lifelong basketball fans to those who can just appreciate a good pick-up game. Play the slam dunk game against your friends, shoot some hoops on the game floor, and take a walk through the legends of the game who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame! The Basketball Hall of Fame is located in downtown Springfield, so after the reception, you can keep the party going and hit the casino or numerous restaurants and bars.
Free food and cash bar. 

Sponsored by:

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Friday, March 31, 2023

7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Opens
Pick up your badge, lunch tickets, and show bag and swag!

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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Expo Classroom – Better Living Center
Climb Safe: Proper Gear Inspection

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA:  1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• MCA Safety: 1

Mandatory pre-climb inspections, and thorough maintenance of climbing gear, are essential to tree worker safety. Learn how to conduct effective climbing gear inspections with a focus on common misconfigurations, equipment that regularly fails inspection, and specific failures that can occur during a climb. 

Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, MCA, ISA, TRAQ
RBI/Shelter Tree
Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop
N. Attleboro, MA

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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Carriage House Classroom
Business Health: Empowering Others to Lead

CEU:
• ISA:  1
• CTSP: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1

Leaders are excellent at recognizing and unlocking potential. This presentation will focus on compliance versus competency and knowing your crews. You will gain a deeper understanding of how to assess the skill levels of your employees, how to develop training to grow and enhance competencies, as well as how to make sure the right skills are assigned to the right jobs. This session is part of the educational track for business owners, and is designed for new and experienced owners alike. 

Bob Mead
Mead Tree & Turf Care
Woodbine, MD

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9:15 – 10:15 a.m. – Expo Classroom – Better Living Center
The Big Five Must-Know Decay Fungi of Urban Living Trees

CEU:
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• Pesticide New England States: (1) 35, 36, CORE(L)

This presentation will teach arborists how to identify wood decay fungi and will introduce the five most common and important decay pathogens of urban trees. Dr. Luley will identify the type of decay, its mode of action, and tree-health symptoms to help arborists in the field make sound decisions and develop effective management strategies.

Christopher J. Luley, Ph.D.
Urban Forestry Diagnostics LLC
Naples, NY

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9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Carriage House Classroom
Achieving Resiliency and Efficiency with a Culture of Optimal Safety

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• MCA Safety: 1

There is strong scientific evidence that safety has multiple layers and is interconnected in all that we do. The HeartMath Institute, a science-based research organization that has extensively studied the key drivers of human performance, has identified four domains of safety: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When these domains are in sync, an optimal state of performance is achieved. When individuals are in a state of optimal human performance, the result is a culture of optimal safety. As certified HeartMath Trainers, NATS will share techniques to add to your toolbox that ensure a resilient workforce while reducing injuries and increasing efficiency.

Rebecca Seibel and Karen Hauck

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Trade Show Open (Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits)

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10:25 a.m. – Demo Area
$500.00 Cash Giveaway
$1,200 Buckingham Gear Raffle
Must be present to win!

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10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Demo Area
Tree Demo
Rigging Your Way To Branch Manager

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• MCA Safety: 1

In this session, ArborMaster will demonstrate and discuss different types of rigging techniques, in the removal of limbs and wood.

Examining the forces applied to our equipment, as well as the tree, to optimize productivity and work safely around jobsite obstacles.

ArborMaster®
Willington, CT

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12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
NATS  Skills Arena  

The Skills Arena is a hands-on and engaging team-based learning experience that allows participants the opportunity to improve their knowledge around safe work practices while showcasing their technical skills.  

Teams of four are invited to sign up for specific challenges each morning on the event floor; challenges are first-come, first-served, and space is limited.  Each one-hour session will include dynamic and engaging instruction, as well as a demonstration by NATS trainers of industry best practice of skills.  Teams will compete in one of two skill challenges:  chainsaw cutting operations and arborist rigging operations.  The teams with the safest and most proficient performance will win a prize package full of gear and equipment from our Safety Alliance Partners. 

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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1:25 p.m. – Demo Area
$500.00 Cash Giveaway
Must be present to win!

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1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Demo Area
Tree Demo
When The Storm Hits, Make Sure The Plan Fits

CEU:
• CTSP: 1
• ISA: 1
• NJ LTE/LTCO: 1
• MCA Safety: 1

A deep dive into storm situations working with both uprooted and hung-up trees.

Applying special rigging, cutting, and positioning techniques to these situations to increase overall safety. Emphasis will be placed on Skill, Critical Thinking, and Situational Awareness.

ArborMaster®
Willington, CT

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2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
NATS  Skills Arena  

The Skills Arena is a hands-on and engaging team-based learning experience that allows participants the opportunity to improve their knowledge around safe work practices while showcasing their technical skills.  

Teams of four are invited to sign up for specific challenges each morning on the event floor; challenges are first-come, first-served, and space is limited.  Each one-hour session will include dynamic and engaging instruction, as well as a demonstration by NATS trainers of industry best practice of skills.  Teams will compete in one of two skill challenges:  chainsaw cutting operations and arborist rigging operations.  The teams with the safest and most proficient performance will win a prize package full of gear and equipment from our Safety Alliance Partners. 

North American Training Solutions (NATS)
Douglas, MA

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2:00 p.m. – Better Living Center
Registration Closes

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3:00 p.m.
Trade Show Closes (Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits)

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