2019 Texas Tree Conference
Welcome to homepage for the
39th Texas Tree Conference, Academy, Trade Show and Tree Schools
Waco Convention Center
September 25-27, 2019
Click here to view speaker presentations
Click here to see pictures from the Texas Tree Conference
(Photo credits Blake Hampton)
Thank you for attending the Conference! See you next year – September 23-25, 2020
Mark your calendar now for the biggest and best Texas Tree Conference yet!
We anticipate over 1,000 attendees again and will have Texas, national and international speakers. There will be tracks for Commercial, Municipal and Utility arborists with plenty of time to socialize and visit the exhibitors at the packed Trade Show.
You can attend several events this year including:
- The Thursday and Friday Tree Conference and Trade Show that includes educational tracks for Commercial, Municipal and Utility Arborists, an awards luncheon, networking socials, receptions and more.
- The Wednesday pre-conference Tree Academy. On Wednesday, there will be three different Tree Academy sessions and a TRAQ renewal course.
- And the Friday Tree Schools for English and Spanish-speaking tree workers and supervisors.
2019 Texas Tree Conference Links
| Click On The Links Below | Link Description |
| Register Here | Texas Tree Conference, Academy and Tree School Registration. |
| Download the Texas Tree Conference App for iPhone or iPad | Or search 2019 ISAT in your app store |
| Download the Texas Tree Conference App for Android | Or search 2019 ISAT in your app store |
| Link to the Texas Tree Conference event app in a web browser | To open the 2019 Texas Tree Conference App in a web browser |
| Exhibitors and Sponsors Click Here | For more information on exhibiting or sponsorship, contact Brad Hamel, Trade Show Chair, (512) 954-4056. Scroll down this page to see our Sponsors and Exhibitors. |
| Texas Tree Conference and Academy On-Site Brochures | Download the Texas Tree Conference and Tree Academy Brochure |
| Click Here for Silent Auction Information | To donate to the Silent Auction, contact Ginny Sills at 214-278-4066 or email at ginny.sills@gmail.com |
| Poster Display Information and Signup | Contact Daniel Vetter at daniel.vetter@co.kendall.tx.us |
| Click Here to Volunteer | Volunteer to help out at the Conference |
| CEU's | Scroll down this page to see ISA CEU information |
| Texas Tree Award Nominations | Click on the link for the 2019 Texas Tree Award Nominations. Nominations closed |
| Scholarships - Government and Non-Profit | Offered by the Texas A&M Forest Service |
| TRAQ Renewal Course Registration | Offered as a separate event on Wednesday, September 25th at the Waco Convention Center - Registration Closed |
| Utility Specialist Certification Study Guide | The Utility Academy will review the newly published ISA Utility Specialist Certification Study Guide (written by Kempter and Miller). The Guide is not included with Academy registration. Click on the link to purchase the Guide |
| Hilton Waco at the Waco Convention Center | Hilton room block is sold out. A block of Hilton Waco rooms has been reserved for September 24, 2019 - September 27, 2019. The special room rate will be available until September 3rd or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. |
| Courtyard Waco at the Waco Convention Center | A block of Courtyard Waco rooms has been reserved for September 24, 2019 - September 27, 2019. The special room rate will be available until September 3rd or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. |
| ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Certified Tree Worker and Municipal Specialist Exam Info | Click on the link for more information on the exam at the Conference on Friday, Sept. 27 from noon to 4:00 pm. |
| Contact the Conference Chair here | For more information contact Jason Alfaro, 2019 Texas Tree Conference Chair at (713) 466-2139 |
| Sponsor and Exhibitors Listing | Scroll down this page to see the Sponsor and Exhibitors listing |
For more information contact Jason Alfaro, 2019 Texas Tree Conference Chair at (713) 466-2139 or jalfaro@ci.jersey-village.tx.us
2019 Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show
Thursday, Sept. 26 & Friday, Sept. 27
At this years Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show, we will continue our history of providing outstanding education programs featuring nationally known speakers, the latest in tree research and arboriculture, an expanded trade show, an awards luncheon, and numerous networking opportunities.
Learn from national leaders in research, commercial, utility and municipal arboriculture, urban forestry, urban planning and landscape architecture.
Featured speakers include: Dr. Ed Gilman, Trainer & Consultant, Jacksonville, Florida, Dr. Rob Konopaske, Principal, ME360 LLC, and Director of the Institute for Global Business at the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University, Dr. Jason Gordon, Assistant Professor of Urban Forestry, University of Georgia, Carlos Llanos, Forester, Asesorias Forestales, Bogota, Colombia, Dr. Eric North, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Dr. Drew Zwart, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, San Rafael, California, Ralph Sievert, Director of Forestry, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Barbara Willey, Director, Monarch Gateway, Sugar Land, Texas, Paul Johnson, Texas A&M Forest Service, Austin, Skip Kincaid, Executive Director, Southern Chapter ISA, St. Louis, Missouri, Stephen Cieslewicz, UVM Consultant, Sebastopol, California, Geoff Kempter, Technical Services Manager, Asplundh, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marion Murray, IPM Project Manager, Utah State University, Smithfield, Randall Miller, Director of Research and Development, CNUC, Des Moines, Iowa, Kari Hines, Firewise Coordinator, Texas A&M Forest Service, Bastrop, Richard Leon, Urban Forest Manager, City of Jacksonville, Florida, Steve Grantham, Executive Director, Up With Trees, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Matt Grubisich, Director of Operations, Texas Trees, Dallas, April Rose, Urban Forestry Health Coordinator, City of Austin, Texas, David Marks, Owner, Environmental Design, Tomball, Texas, David Vaughn, Owner, ArborVaughan Consult, LLC, San Antonio, Texas, Phillip Kelley, Safety Team Leader, Wright Tree Service, San Juan, Washington, Steve White, Area Manager, Davey Resource Group, Manchaca, Texas, Peter Stoltman, Technical Specialist, Oncor Electric Delivery, Fort Worth, Texas, and more!
The 2019 conference theme is “Inspiring Change” and topics will include:
- EAB- Lessons Learned Through Experience
- Assessing and Mitigating Urban Soils
- Trees Power Lines and Fires in California
- Looking Forward at Community Forestry
- Pollinator/Wildlife Corridors in Utility ROW Management
- Communicating What You May Already Know: Upping Your Game
- The Role of Community Forestry in Urban Metabolism
- Legal Hot Spots for Arborists
- Danger, Risk, Hazard – How Utilities Characterize the Threat From Trees
- #HealthyTreesHealthyLives
- Canker Diseases of Landscape Trees
- Are You a Boss or a Leader?
- Radial Growth Ring Analysis of Urban Trees
- Wildfire Risk Assessment For the Arborist
- Lessons and Experiences Gained During Thirty Years of Arboriculture and Forestry in Colombia, SA
- How America’s Largest City Manages It’s Trees
- Working Effectively Across Generations
- Data Analytics for Vegetation Management
- We Don’t Need a Plan – We Have Google Earth
- The City of Dallas Has an Urban Forestry Master Plan! How They Got There and What’s Next
- Moving Giant Trees – Texas Style!
- Training the Next Utility Vegetation Management Leaders
- Make Partnerships Worth Your While
- How Trees Eat
- Advances in UVM Safety and Technology
and more!
(The Wednesday Tree Academy and the Friday Tree Schools are separate events from the Tree Conference and Trade Show)
Click here to register online for all events
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2019 Texas Tree Academies
Waco Convention Center
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
(the day before and a separate event from the Texas Tree Conference)
This year there will be three Tree Academies
Please pick one when you register
Academy One: A Day with Dr. Ed Gilman
Pruning Trees Today, to Enhance Tomorrow’s Landscapes: An Advanced Look at Arboriculture
10:00 to 5:00
(Registration opens 9:00 am)
(5.5 CEU’s)
Dr. Ed Gilman
Tree and Landscape Consultant
Despite pruning standards, pruning appears culture-based more than performance-based in many communities. Specifications based on standards can clarify customer expectations. Research inspired by American Pruning Standard comparing pruning approaches and tree responses with the long view will be discussed in light of improving structure and reducing risk. Come away with an understanding of why we do what we do.
Learner objectives: place your pruning approach in context with practices world-wide, know why standards and specifications matter, differentiate between structural pruning objectives to develop clear communication skills; beginning to advanced.
Topics covered will include:
- The branch union-a unique design
- Natural branch architecture in the nursery and arboriculture context
- Current state of our profession and strategies for improvement: Pruning at planting and in early years
- Pruning in the early to middle years
- Developing arborist-friendly branch architecture in the nursery
- Pruning mature trees: a systems approach (AKA Tree Preservation strategies)
- Outside exercises (we will be going outside to demonstrate pruning)
- Pruning specifications: a simple communication system with crew and clients
Academy Two: A Day with Dr. Eric North
1. Your Community Forestry Physical and 2. Engaging the Unengaged
10:00 to 5:00
(Registration opens 9:00 am)
(5.5 CEU’s)
Dr. Eric North
Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska
This workshop will address two subjects that through their mastery, will improve the care and access of citizens to its community forest. The first session will address a common challenge: compiling tree data that can by analyzed in a meaningful way. We will cover strategies to get the most out of your time in the field collecting valuable data. The second session will discover how to unleash the energy of our volunteers to improve the community forest. Improvement will come in two areas: our community forest is better maintained, while our citizens will have a closer connection with the trees that make up their community. Finally, we will conclude our day by offering case studies and information on engaging with people who don’t know their oak tree from their pine tree. We hope you can join us as we provide a day of learning to sharpen your skills on these two areas.
DATA ANALYSIS
- How to collect data
- What data to collect
- What useful analysis you can you do with the data
- Sources for additional imagery sources
- How to use the free sources
- What you need for analysis
- Analyzing canopy cover change through time
- Effectively share the information to your community
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
- Using citizen science as a volunteer engagement
- How volunteer engagement works
- How good is volunteer data?
- How to train volunteers to get the data
- How to engage the disengaged
Academy Three: An overview of the newly published ISA Utility Specialist Certification Study Guide – presented by its two authors
10:00 to 3:00
(Registration opens 9:00 am)
(5.5 CEU’s)
Geoffrey Kempter, Technical Services Manager, Asplundh Tree Experts
and Randall Miller, Director of Research and Development, CNUC
This workshop provides an overview of Utility Arboriculture, The Utility Specialist Certification Study Guide (written by Kempter and Miller). Questions and discussion will be encouraged. You can purchase the Study Guide here (not included in the price of the Academy)
Topics include:
- Safety
- Program Management
- Pruning,
- Integrated Vegetation Management
- Electrical Knowledge
- Storm Preparation and Response
- Communications.
Additional requirements apply for certification. More information available at https://www.isa-arbor.com/Credentials/Types-of-Credentials/ISA-Certified-Arborist-Utility-Specialist
(The Tree Academy requires a separate registration from the Conference and includes lunch)
Click here to register online for all events
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Texas Tree Schools
Friday, September 27, 2019
English and Spanish Tree Schools
(this is a separate event from the Tree Conference)
Waco Convention Center
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Track 1 – An Introduction to Arboriculture – 5.0 CEUs
This course is intended for field workers and their supervisors, and will teach how to perform top quality tree care in an efficient yet safe manner.
Classroom topics include:
- Job site safety
- Tree industry fatality causes and statistics
- Tree hazard assessment
- Decay fungi ID
- Tree biology and its relevance to pruning and CODIT
- Proper pruning techniques
Field demonstrations will include:
- Numerous moving rope system (MRS) and stationary rope system (SRS) climbing techniques
Lead instructor is Certified Arborist Guy LeBlanc of Arbor Vitae Tree Care of Austin, assisted by Mike Sills, Texas A&M Forest Service.
Track 2/Pista 2 – Jornadas para Trabajadores de Arboles – 5.0 CEUs
A Spanish language workshop covering topics including:
- Safety & security during tree work – 30 years of lessons & experiences
- Oak Wilt identification, management practices for control & communication with customers
- Practical applications in the care and maintenance of trees
- Basic tree biology and CODIT
- Pruning practices
- Tree myths
Un taller presentado en español sobre la seguridad durante el trabajo en árboles, 30 años de lecciones y experiencias. Identificación de Oak Wilt, prácticas de manejo para el control y la comunicación con los propietarios. Aplicaciones prácticas en el cuidado y mantenimiento de árboles, la biología básica de árboles, CODIT, prácticas de poda y mitos de árboles.
(The Tree School requires a separate registration from the Conference – includes lunch)
Click here to register online for all events
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ISA CEU’s
Our Sponsors & Exhibitors To Date
Please visit them and thank them for their support
Platinum Sponsors:
Bartlett Tree Experts
CenterPoint Energy
Husqvarna Professional Products
Texas A&M Forest Service
Gold Sponsors:
Davey Tree Resources
Vermeer Texas-Louisiana
Silver Sponsors:
All About Equipment
Arborjet
Brabandt Equipment – Bandit
DeepRoot Green Infrastructure
Target Specialty Products
Exhibitors:
ACRT
All About Equipment
ArboRisk
Athens Tree Farm
Arborjet
Arbormetrics Solutions
ArboRisk
ArborStakes
Athens Tree Farm
AP Equipment Financing
Bayer VM
Brabandt Equipment – Bandit
Blue Mountain Equipment- STIHL Distributor
BOBCAT OF DALLAS
Chemical Containers, Inc
Clogger
CREATIVE SALES,INC
Custom Truck One Source
Davey Tree Expert Company
DeepRoot Green Infrastructure
Dynamic Green Products
Environmental Design
Grande Truck Center
Husqvarna Professional Products
IML North America
ITouch Lab BY MD
Minick Materials of Texas
Rotochopper
Stanley Parts and Equipment
Supersonic Air Knife
Target Specialty Products
Texas A&M Forest Service
Texas Chapter International Society of Arboriculture
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association
Top Notch Tree Farm
Tracked Lifts Inc
Tree Care Industry Association
Tree Clinic Pharmacy
Treefolks
TREE Fund
Tree Stake Solutions
TruPulse (formally MedicPad)
Vermeer Texas-Louisiana
Want to be a sponsor or exhibit?
Click Here
Link to the 2018 Conference Page
2020 Conference date: Sept. 23-25, 2020