May 8, 2012
Tree Care Industry Leader Greg Daniels to Retire as President of Bartlett Tree Experts

After a notable 45-year career in arboriculture Greg Daniels will retire as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bartlett Tree Experts on December 31, 2012. During his tenure with the company, he has been involved in more than 20 acquisitions, 31 office openings and the establishment of new locations in the U.S. and abroad. In 2011, Mr. Daniels received the TCIA Award of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the organization to an individual that has positively impacted the practice of arboriculture.

Read the full story here.

March 21, 2012
TCIA Seeking Part-Time Regional Outreach Coordinators

TCIA's newly created outreach coordinator positions will concentrate on creating groups of tree care business owners who meet and interact regularly (face-to-face and online) and facilitating increased participation in TCIA programs via regional workshops that address both owner and employee needs (EHAP, CTSP, etc).

Regional coordinators will live and work in their assigned regions to organize member gatherings (breakfasts, after hour's gatherings, etc) where current members can interact and prospective members are invited to see what they are missing. Coordinators will work to strengthen the visibility of professional tree care through consumer awareness opportunities at events, via social media, and traditional press.

Target areas for coordinators are Chicagoland base for upper Midwest area, Southern California base for West coast area and Atlanta to Charlotte corridor base for the Southeast area. Other locations will be considered depending on strength of the candidate, local industry, location, and TCIA strategic plans.

To read the complete job description, requirements and application details, visit the listing on TCIA's JobBoard here.

March 6, 2012
New Installments to Board of Tree Care Industry Association

Kevin Caldwell as chair of the Board of Directors. "Kevin has been an active influence in the industry for many years and TCIA is thrilled to welcome such a professional and passionate leader as Chair of our Board of Directors," said Mark Garvin, president of TCIA. Read more about Kevin Caldwell here. Read a Q&A with Caldwell here.

TCIA also announced one addition to the TCIA Board of Directors: Andy Felix, president of Tree Tech, Inc. in Foxboro, Massachusetts, was installed in February as a member of the TCIA Board of Directors. Learn more about Andy Felix here. Read a Q&A with Felix here.

January 26, 2012
Restrictions on Cell Phone Use while Driving Company Vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA, a division of DOT) has amended its regulations to restrict the use of cell phones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This rulemaking is intended to reduce the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries. The federal rule became effective January 3, 2012.

Any violation of this restriction may result in a civil penalty imposed on drivers in an amount up to $2,750. A civil penalty of up to $11,000 may be imposed on employers that fail to require their drivers to comply. The Agency has also amended it regulations to implement new driver disqualification sanctions for CMV drivers and CDL-holders. Individual States' DOTs are required to adopt rules that are at least as effective or stringent as the federal rule within three years. TCIA is aware that many states have already done so.

If you have any questions regarding this new rule, please contact TCIA at 1-800-733-2622, or email peter@tcia.org.

Note: The CMV referenced in this regulation is any company vehicle that weighs 10,001 lbs or more. If the vehicle is pulling a trailer such as a chipper or stump grinder, then the combined weight of truck and trailer is what is counted.

January 25, 2012
Terex Woodsman has signed on as TCIA's newest Crown PACT (Partners Advancing Commercial Treecare) partner.

Originally founded in 1994, Woodsman was acquired by the Terex Corporation in May 2011. Terex Woodsman is an industry leader designing and manufacturing a full line of durable, high performance environmental hand-fed brush chippers and biomass chippers. Terex Woodsman serves its customers from their headquarters in Farwell, Michigan.

"Terex Woodsman is proud to become the newest PACT member of the TCIA," says Barry DeLau II, global sales and marketing director for Terex Woodsman. "This shows Terex Woodsman's commitment to the industry by supporting one of the main industry associations through its PACT program."

The PACT program supports many of TCIA's education and training programs and, through those, TCIA's mission for the Transformation of the Industry.

While Terex Woodsman is making this move to support education and training in the industry, its research and development department has also been further reinforcing the company's commitment to the tree care industry. A recent addition to the Terex Woodsman product portfolio is the Woodsman 700 Brush Chipper. Key features include a 24-inch-diameter by 1 1/4-inch-thick disc, auto feed, a telescoping tongue and a 360-degree swivel chute.

In addition, the new Woodsman 810 and 830 Trommel Screens are designed to work in woodchip, topsoil, compost and recycling applications with the company's biomass line of wood chippers.

"Terex Woodsman's engineering, design and manufacturing is all aimed at creating products to make our customers' operations more productive and profitable," says DeLau. The full product range can be seen on their website www.terexwoodsman.com.

Terex Woodsman's customers include commercial tree care companies, landscape and rental companies, utilities and municipalities. Customers of its biomass chippers include biomass producers, land development companies and mid-size to large contractors. All these customers are key in the continuing growth of Terex Woodsman.

"Terex Woodsman is committed to industry leading customer responsiveness, from parts availability and on-time delivery to technical support for their products, all of which cater to meet our customers' needs," says Delau. "This combination of delivering quality products with excellent customer support firmly place Terex Woodsman in an excellent position for the future."

For more information about TCIA's PACT program contact Deborah Johnson at djohnson@tcia.org or 1-800-733-2622.

January 9, 2012
A300 Integrated Vegetation Management a. Utility Rights-of-way Under Public Review

The public review period for the A300 Part 7-(2006) Integrated Vegetation Management a. Utility Rights-of-way standard has started. This part of the A300 standards applies to the creation and implementation of integrated vegetation management plans. This is the second, and intended final, revision draft of this standard.

The public review period runs through February 20, 2012. Please click here to learn more.

November 14, 2011
EHAP Workshop Host Deadline Extended to January 2, 2012

The deadline to apply to be an Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP)  workshop host through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program  has been extended to January 2, 2012.

The federal grant, awarded to TCIA in September, will develop approximately 25 free EHAP workshops in 2012 in order to train 750 or more employers and employees of tree care companies in safe ways to handle electrical hazards associated with trees. The cost of the workshop and all EHAP enrollment materials, including EHAP manuals and enrollment into the TCIA EHAP program, will be FREE to all participants, with the exception of a small fee to cover the cost of food and beverages.

To learn more about the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, click here. To learn more about the EHAP program click here.

October 28, 2011
EAB detected in new areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Tennessee

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is adding Winona County, Minnesota, Claiborne County, Tennessee, and La Crosse County, Wisconsin to the list of quarantine areas for emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis. EAB, an invasive wood boring beetle, is native to China and eastern Asia. Since its first U.S. detection in Michigan, EAB has been responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of U.S. ash trees. The interstate movement of firewood from quarantine areas is an especially high-risk pathway for spreading EAB. APHIS works with State cooperators and foresters to raise public awareness about this pest and the potential threats associated with long distance movement of firewood.

The Federal Orders outline specific conditions for the interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from the quarantined areas in order to prevent the spread of EAB to other states. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from the quarantined areas is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. EAB is present in some portions of the United States. Due to the continuing spread of EAB, APHIS has established quarantine areas, which are designated in the Federal regulations located at 7 CFR 301.53-3 and the Federal Orders located at the following APHIS website.

October 28, 2011
Entire State of Indiana under quarantine for pine shoot beetle

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) added the entire State of Indiana to the list of quarantined areas for pine shoot beetle (PSB), Tomicus piniperda. PSB is an introduced pest of pines. It was first discovered in the United States at a Christmas tree farm near Cleveland, Ohio, in 1992. PSB can cause severe decline in the health of the trees, and in some cases, kill the trees when high populations exist.

Prior to this action, APHIS established quarantine areas in 68 Indiana counties, and the State of Indiana established and enforced an equivalent State-level quarantine. However, in June 2011, Indiana elected to rescind its PSB quarantine. For this reason, APHIS is establishing the entire State of Indiana as a quarantine area in order to prevent the spread of PSB to other states.

These actions are necessary to restrict the movement of PSB-host material. The Federal Order describes the expanded quarantine area, along with the associated reference to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 7 CFR §301.50, which lists the provisions for the movement of PSB-host material.

October 6, 2011

Telling Stories, Saving Lives
They're stories that no one wants to hear, yet they're stories that carry important lessons. Lessons that will save others from injuries and deaths. These stories include a man killed after being thrown against heavy equipment, and another who died from a fall while installing solar panels.

They are stories being told by Laura Styles and her coworkers in the Occupational Health Branch’s Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program.

The FACE program tracks and investigates workplace fatalities, and makes recommendations on how to prevent similar incidents.

A new strategy in its prevention effort is using video storytelling to share the tragic stories that carry life-saving lessons.

"We think these stories are going to resonate with viewers and prevent future deaths," said Styles (left). "We want people to realize that this could happen to them, and provide the tools to prevent workplace deaths. The data charts and summary tables alone don’t show the personal devastation that these incidents cause."

Styles developed the idea after attending a workshop on digital story telling.

The first video from the FACE program tells the story of a worker who was thrown against a wood chipper after a rope became tangled in the machinery. Styles worked with a video contractor, who taught her how to edit the photographs and narration.

The victim’s employer places a strong emphasis on education and recognized the value in participating in the project. His coworkers reenacted what happened on the day of the fatal incident. The man’s widow didn’t want her husband’s life, or death, to be forgotten and contributed photographs of happier times.

"Participating in this video has been a positive experience for everyone because they are part of the solution," added Styles.

"This is an innovative and creative project," added FACE Program Principal Investigator and Chief of the Occupational Health Surveillance and Evaluation Program Bob Harrison. "We believe it has the potential to change how our audience thinks about the importance of work-related fatalities."

Feedback, so far, has been overwhelmingly positive. Not just because of the story that’s told, but also because the way a story is used for education. Government outreach efforts don’t usually involve storytelling, but it’s gaining greater acceptance as an educational tool. This video is available in English and Spanish.

FACE plans to produce four more videos. The next will be about the solar panel installer who fell off a roof, highlighting one of the dangers in that growing industry.

"While public health’s invisibility may be a testament to its success, we need to do a better job of telling stories about our programs," Styles said. "Especially how they are changing and saving lives."

Other FACE staff involved in the project includes Hank Cierpich, James Rogge and Egils Kronlins.

September 29, 2011

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) today announced the awarding of a federal grant in the amount of $165,000 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). 

The grant was awarded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, which provides funding for nonprofit organizations to conduct in-person, hands-on training and educational programs for employers and workers on the recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in their workplaces.

"With the help of this grant, we can work toward keeping workers safe" stated Mark Garvin, TCIA president. "It is an important component toward achieving our industry's goal of reducing injuries and fatalities with respect to electrical hazards in tree care work."

TCIA will develop approximately 25 free workshops in order to train 750 or more employers and employees of tree care companies in safe ways to handle electrical hazards associated with trees. These select workshops, financed 100 percent through federal funds, will be offered to affected employees and owners of small businesses, including limited-English, low-literacy, and hard-to-reach workers.

TCIA will develop approximately 25 free workshops and train 750 employers and employees of tree care companies in safe ways to handle electrical hazards associated with trees. These select workshops, financed 100 percent through federal funds, will be offered to small businesses and limited-English, low-literacy, and hard-to-reach workers throughout 19 states.

"No one should ever suffer injury or death for the sake of a paycheck," retary of Labor Hilda L. Solis in announcing the grant. "The grants awarded by the federal government today will provide tools for worke said Secrs and employers in some of the most dangerous industries to identify and eliminate hazards. This education and training will help ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of his or her shift."

Founded in 1938, TCIA is a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture. It develops safety and educational programs, standards of tree care practices, and management information for tree care companies throughout the world. TCIA also has the nation's only Accreditation program, a seal of approval that helps discerning consumers identify trustworthy companies.

TCIA's Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP), introduced in 1975, has helped train thousands of arborists - those involved in line clearance and those working on residential properties near energized lines.

Workshop dates and locations will be announced shortly. If you wish to be considered as an EHAP workshop host, contact Katherine Ritchotte at 1-800-733-2622 or ritchotte@tcia.org.

August 19, 2011

The Tree Care Industry Association has placed a call for public review on revision of the national tree care standard for:

• Management of Trees and Shrubs during Site Planning (Read Press Release)
• Planting and Transplanting of Trees and Woody Shrubs (Read Press Release)
• Management of The Roots and Rootzones of Trees and Woody Shrubs (Read Press Release)

The review documents are posted for public review here. The document contains instructions for submitting comments.

August 12, 2011

The proposed revisions to ANSI Z133.1-2006 (American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations - Safety Requirements), developed by the Accredited Standards Committee Z133, are available for public review through September 11, 2011. Learn more here.

August 8, 2011

TCIA will be conducting maintenance to our servers to better serve you.

As a result, our secure site will be down starting today, Monday, August 8, 2011 and will be back up again by close of business Tuesday, August 9. This will impact your ability to log-in to our secure site – members-only pages, event registrations and online shopping will be temporarily unavailable. We apologize for this inconvenience. Rest assured, if you would like to register for an event, purchase training products or access member information, you may do so by calling 800-733-2622.

July 22, 2011

A300 Integrated Vegetation Management Under Public Review

The public review period for the A300 Integrated Vegetation Management standard has started.

Please click here to learn more.

June 22, 2011

Dupont turf herbicide suspect in Norway spruce and white pine damage

DuPont Professional Products is warning that its DuPont Imprelis™ (aminocyclopyrachlor) turfgrass herbicide may cause damage to Norway spruce and white pine.

In mid-June, the company issued a statement saying some turf management professionals "are observing various unfavorable symptoms on certain species of trees. Our turf development team has been investigating these reports and we are trying to better understand the circumstances and whether the various symptoms are related to applications of DuPont Imprelis herbicide."

Symptoms on damaged trees include curling and twisting of new growth, consistent with growth regulator type herbicides, according to Kevin Frank of Michigan State University Extension, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.

Dupont said a majority of the reports involve Norway spruce or white pine, and that "in most cases, Imprelis was not applied alone, but in a mixture with other herbicides, either pre-emergent, post-emergent and/or with a liquid fertilizer."

The company added that there may have been errors in use rates, mixing practices and/or applications to exposed roots, or the tree, and was quick to point out that "most lawn care professionals and golf course superintendents have used Imprelis to successfully control weeds and have not reported unfavorable tree symptoms."

"As a precaution, until we can more fully understand the circumstances, and whether Imprelis may have contributed to the observed symptoms, do not apply Imprelis where Norway spruce or white pine are present on, or in close proximity to, the property to be treated." Dupont indicated that the damage could involve absorption through tree roots. "If that is the case, it would be critical to keep applications away from the root zones of non-target trees and ornaments," advised MSU's Frank.

Dupont advised, "When applying Imprelis, be careful that no spray treatment, drift or runoff occurs that could make contact with trees, shrubs and other desirable plants, and stay well away from exposed roots and the root zone of trees and shrubs. Consult a certified arborist if you are uncertain about the root zone of specific tree species."

June 20, 2011

Urban Tree Research Conference

The Urban Tree Research Conference took place April 13 and 14, 2011 in Birmingham, UK. Speaker presentation slides are now available to download as PDF files from the Institute of Chartered Foresters' website. Learn more and download the PDF's here: http://bit.ly/jrsvSU

June 14, 2011

TCIA's Peter Gerstenberger Testifying Before House Committee

TCIA's Peter Gerstenberger testified before a House committee Thursday, June 16 on whether OSHA is undermining state efforts to promote workplace safety.

To view an archive of this webcast, click here http://1.usa.gov/workplacesafety. And to download a written copy of Peter Gerstenberger's testimony, click here.

May 26, 2011

Supreme Court Upholds Arizona E-Verify Law

Washington, DC – In a 5-3 decision, the Supreme Court today upheld an Arizona law requiring employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the legal status of newly hired employees. The law also permits Arizona to revoke business licenses of employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Following the Supreme Court's decision, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.

E-Verify was created in the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. This web-based system allows employers to electronically verify that newly-hired employees are legally authorized to work in the U.S. Specifically, the Social Security numbers and alien identification numbers of new hires are checked against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security records in order to weed out fraudulent numbers and help ensure that new hires are genuinely eligible to work. Over 250,000 American employers voluntarily use E-Verify and an average of 1,300 new businesses sign up each week.

"I am pleased the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Arizona E-Verify law and their right to revoke business licenses for employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Not only is this law constitutional, it is commonsense. American jobs should be preserved for Americans and legal workers. E-Verify provides American employers who want to do the right thing with a straightforward tool to do so. Although the program is currently voluntary, over 250,000 American employers willingly use E-Verify and an average of 1,300 new businesses sign up each week. Because this program is so successful and well-liked by employers, I will introduce legislation soon to expand E-Verify and make it mandatory across the United States. Today there are seven million individuals working in the United States illegally. E-Verify will help turn off the jobs magnet that encourages illegal immigration."

May 24, 2011

Mountain Pine Beetle Destruction in Denver & Colorado Front Range

TCIA member company Swingle Lawn, Tree and Landscape Care warns of mountain pine beetle destruction in Denver and Colorado's Front Range.

Since 1996, mountain pine beetles have devastated 3.2 million acres of Colorado forest. Now, Tom Tolkacz, CEO of Colorado's largest tree care company, says the pests are infiltrating the Front Range's urban areas. "Mountain pine beetle infestations usually attack one species of pine, clear the forest, and run their course," said Tolkacz. "Not this time. The pine beetle palette has changed from forested lodgepole to landscaped scotch and ponderosa pines, and in an alarmingly short period of time."

The 2010 Colorado State Forest Service Annual Report indicates the mountain pine beetle infestation jumped from 22,000 to 229,000 acres along the Colorado Front Range in one year. This tenfold increase is heaviest in Larimer, Boulder, Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties. Last summer, beetles were found infesting many areas of the Denver metropolitan area from Arvada and Brighton on the north to Parker and Castle Rock in the south.

Proactive and preventive applications are essential for saving trees. In Northern Colorado plains communities, between 10 to 30 percent of trees previously attacked by mountain pine beetle died this spring. Preventive applications are essential to protect high value trees.

May 16, 2011

Altec NUECO Announces Acquisition of Aerial Lift of Connecticut Assets

Altec NUECO, a wholly owned subsidiary of Altec, Inc., announced today that it has finalized the acquisition of certain assets of Aerial Lift of Connecticut, Inc. of Milford, CT.

"This acquisition provides Altec with a unique opportunity to strengthen service to our tree care, landscape, and line clearing customers," said Lee Styslinger, III, Chairman and CEO of Altec, Inc. "Aerial Lift of Connecticut's well-established reputation for producing reliable, quality products for more than 50 years, will enhance Altec NUECO's already strong support for customers in these industries."

Read More....

May 11, 2011

Attention Virginia Tree Care Companies

Assisted by a coalition of members from the Tree Care Industry Association, the Department of Labor and Industry's Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program and the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board have adopted a final regulation for: Tree Trimming Operations, 16 VAC 25-73. The purpose of the new regulation is to provide comprehensive protection to private and public sector employees and employers exposed to tree trimming hazards.

Read the news release and text for the new Tree Trimming Operations regulation for Virginia, courtesy of Virginia Occupational Safety and Health. For more information, and training materials (both English and Spanish), please visit the website of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.

April 22, 2011

Bob Rouse on Entrepreneurial Insights radio show

Bob Rouse, VP of Industry Standards and Credentialing at TCIA, stopped by the radio show Entrepreneurial Insights to talk about the tree care and service industry and factors that enhance and build or preserve value. Host Pino Bacinelli says, "It's a must listen for anyone who currently owns or is considering purchasing or divesting of, a tree care or service business."

Read More...

March 25, 2011

Pine Shoot Beetle Quarantine Area Expanded

Effective immediately, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) expanded its pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda, quarantine area to include Warren County in Illinois, and Loudoun County in Virginia. This action is a result of the detection of beetles in the subject counties. All interstate movement of regulated articles out of these counties must comply with the pine shoot beetle regulatory requirements as per U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 7 CFR §301.50.

These actions are necessary to restrict the movement of  pine shoot beetle host material. The Federal Domestic Quarantine Order describes the expanded quarantine area, along with the associated reference to the CFR, which lists the provisions for the movement of PSB-host material. For more information, contact Joseph Beckwith, Regional Program Manager, at (919) 855-7345 or Brendon Reardon, National Program Manager, at (301) 734-5705.

March 14, 2011

New Installments to Board of Tree Care Industry Association 

Scott A. Jamieson, vice president for Bartlett Tree Experts, was recently installed as Chair of the TCIA Board of Directors during Winter Management Conference 2011 in Grand Cayman."TCIA is very fortunate to have a passionate and committed leader such as Scott Jamieson agree to share his talent on our Board of Directors," said Mark Garvin, President of TCIA. Read more about Scott A. Jamieson here.

TCIA also announced three additions to the TCIA Board of Directors:

• Bill Weber, team captain (and owner), of Arborwear, LLC in Newbury, Ohio, was sworn in as the new associate member of the TCIA Board of Directors. As the sole associate member director on the 10-member board, Weber represents the interests of the industry's suppliers, vendors and manufacturers. Learn more about Bill Weber here.
• Phil Chambers, president and chief operating officer of Townsend Corporation, was sworn in as a director on the TCIA Board of Directors. Learn more about Phil Chambers here.
• Peter Sortwell, president & CEO, of Arborwell Inc. of Hayward, California, was sworn in as a director on the TCIA Board of Directors. Learn more about Peter Sortwell here.

March 14, 2011

State of the Association

During the annual meeting at Winter Management Conference on Grand Cayman, Mark Garvin delivered the State of Association: A look back and ahead. Read it here.

Febuary 18, 2011

The Proposed 2011 ANSI Z133.1-2006 Standard Revisions (American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations - Safety Requirements), developed by the Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) Z133, are available for public review through April 4, 2011.

Read More.

Febuary 17, 2011

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved a major revision of ANSI A300 (Part 2)-2004 Fertilization on February 17, 2011.  ANSI also approved on that same date a new standard for tree risk assessment designated ANSI A300 (Part 9)-2011 Tree Risk Assessment a. Tree Structure Assessment.

Read the full press release (PDF).


January 13, 2011

TCIA member company and Student Career Days sponsor SavATree has established a challenge to benefit students of arboriculture: They are asking you to make a contribution that will help develop today's students into tomorrow's professionals.

Download the donation form here.

SavATree has donated $1,000 and is challenging other companies to contribute until we raise $15,000 to support Student Career Days (SCD) and the student travel reimbursement fund that provides financial support to students participating in the skill & knowledge development and career networking offered at SCD each year at TCI EXPO.

First to step up to the challenge was Bartlett Tree Experts, which in early January donated $1,000 as a primary sponsor of the golf tournament. Are you ready to step up?

Sponsor the Robert Felix Memorial Golf Tournament with a contribution of $500 or more and become a primary sponsor, or donate however much you are able and be recognized as a supporter. The tournament takes place at Winter Management Conference in February. All proceeds benefit students of arboriculture!

But you can help meet the challenge by making a donation any time before November 2011, when the 15th annual SCD event will be celebrated at TCI EXPO. The sooner you make your donation, the more ROI your company will receive. Contact Deborah Johnson, TCIA director of development, at 1-800-733-2622, ext. 123 for more on ROI and how to contribute.

The mission of the Tree Care Industry Association Foundation is to advance education and professional development in the green industry, improve safety and reduce accident rates in the tree care industry and to disseminate information key to practitioners and consumers about proper tree care.

January 3, 2011

Environmental Design, Inc. and The Davey Tree Expert Co. agree to merge Davey's tree relocation business into Environmental Design and enter into a strategic marketing alliance

Environmental Design Inc. (EDI), the nation's premiere tree relocation company and The Davey Tree Expert Company, North America's original tree care company, have entered into an agreement to combine their large tree transplanting resources and expertise into EDI. The strategic alliance will supplement the marketing of the service nationwide through the Davey network of tree and landscape experts.

EDI was founded in 1977 and has participated in the development of some of America's most distinctive landscapes through the transplanting and supply of specimen trees.   The Davey Tree Expert Company was founded in 1880 and has grown to have operations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

 "We are excited about the possibilities that will be realized by combining our tree relocation activities and look forward to our collaboration with Davey to deliver superior aftercare for our tree relocation projects." said Tom P. Cox, EDI President.

Karl J. Warnke, Davey Chairman, President and CEO said, "We have always respected Environmental Design's tree relocation expertise and innovation.  This partnership allows both EDI and Davey to benefit from the combined experience of both companies and the support offered by Davey's extensive network of tree and landscape experts."

The combined company will be headquartered in Houston, Texas in EDI's existing facilities.

November 2, 2010

HMI Adds Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care to Authorized Member Network

October 19, 2010

HMI Adds JL Tree Service, Inc. to Authorized Member Network

Congratulations to TCIA’s own staff arborist, Tchukki Andersen who is now an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA). This credential is for arborists who have reached the pinnacle of their profession and have met a selection of pre-requisites through measurable experience, formal education, related credentials, or professional experience and also passed an exam that covers science, practice and management. To put this distinction into perspective, there are about 28,000 Certified Arborists worldwide, but only about 300 Board Certified Master Arborists. Learn more about the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist program here. As TCIA’s staff arborist, Tchukki answers inquiries about tree care, tree health and arboriculture, and writes articles for the TreeWorker newsletter and Treecaretips.org, the association's consumer web site. She is also the editor of the TreeWorker newsletter. Jim Zwack Joins The Davey Institute KENT, OHIO - Jim Zwack has been named Director of Technical Services for The Davey Institute, the technical support, research and development, education and training, and environmental compliance division of The Davey Tree Expert Company. He will oversee the technical staff and be a key contributor toward strategic planning for the Institute. Zwack has more than 17 years of education and experience in tree care. He earned a master of science in plant physiology from Iowa State and a bachelor's degree in urban forestry from the University of Minnesota. He has held numerous leadership positions in industry associations, is a former director for the Society of Commercial Arboriculture, and currently serves as a Board member of the TREE Fund. The Davey Tree Expert Company, with U.S. and Canadian operations in 45 states and five provinces, provides a variety of tree services, grounds maintenance, and consulting services for the residential, utility, commercial, and government markets. Founded in 1880, Davey is employee owned and has more than 7,000 employees. For more information, go to www.davey.com. Member Announcement: Mark Garvin named president of the Tree Care Industry Association Manchester, N.H. - "We are pleased to announce that the board unanimously agreed to select Mark Garvin as the association's next president," announced Randy Owen, chair of the board of directors. The decision follows an extensive executive search involving internal and external candidates. Since November, Garvin has served as interim president of the nation's only trade association dedicated to advancing tree care businesses. Owen said that Garvin's work as interim president "clearly demonstrated his strong leadership skills, combined with the ability to execute the association's strategic initiatives and a strategy of delivering increasing member value. We have recruited a president who will hit the ground running, with a deep knowledge of the association and the industry." "Mark has been in the industry and the association for many years, so he is familiar with the people and the issues. He believes in our cause. He's demonstrated his skills on the political side, helping strengthen our voice in Washington. He understands the importance of building new relationships and strengthening our relationships with our allies in the industry – OSHA, ISA and the TREE Fund. He understands that we need to continue growing and building these relationships to further safety, unity and advancements in tree care for the future." Owen commended Garvin's leadership during the last nine months. "Mark and the rest of the association's staff have gotten us through these tough economic times without sacrificing services or having to draw on our reserves," Owen said. "His leadership during this interim period has allowed us to maintain stability and to make a seamless transition, so that we can move forward and maintain the focus on our members, both small and large, and their needs. But, Owen added, the work has only just begun. "Ours may be a small industry, but it is an important one. We are the original Green Industry, and part of Mark's challenge will be to deliver that message through greater recognition of what our industry does for society and a sustainable environment." Garvin joined the association in 1996 as managing editor of Tree Care Industry Magazine, served as vice president of public policy and communications, and as chief program officer. Prior to joining the association, he worked as a journalist, editor, business consultant and lobbyist in New England and Washington, D.C. "I am extremely honored to be asked to help lead the industry toward a more professional and profitable future," Garvin said. "This is an exciting time to be involved in the green industry, and I have promised the board – and through them the membership – that we will continue the positive momentum developed over the past decade. The industry and the profession face a number of long-term challenges. We will work together on those issues, fully aware that the efforts of utility and commercial tree care companies can significantly improve the environment in which we live." Anchor Bridge Ropeworks, Inc. is calling for the immediate cessation of use of the Anchor Bridge Replacement Rope Bridge (part # ABR 7110) (pictured below Fig. 1) This product (ABR 7110) has been included on Weaver Cougar Harnesses, model numbers 08-01075 (with leg loops) and 08-01076 (with batten seat), since January of 2010 or may have been purchased as a separate unit from local Arborist Supply Shops. This unit has a red core and a solid black sheeth covering the core with white whipping at the throat of the eye splices. If you have this product on your harness, remove it from service immediately. We have become aware of a single product failure, that occurred within normal use of the product, resulting in no injury to the climber. This isolated incident suggests a problem with the long term structural integrity of this product which has the potential to result in injury if the rope bridge is not immediately pulled from service. We ask owners of this rope bridge to immediately remove the product from your harness and render the rope bridge inoperable by safely cutting the cord on one or both of the eyes with a pair of scissors. (see below Fig. 2 ) For any questions on how to remove the bridge from your harness or if you have questions as to whether your harness has this bridge in use please contact Rich Hattier at 216.276.1581 or contact your Arborist Supply shop where the harness was purchased. Anchor Bridge Ropeworks has begun working aggressively with its dealers to identify all end users of this product in order to implement the immediate cessation of use and replacement of this product. Suitable replacement units for the ABR 7110 Rope Bridge will be supplied in coordination with the Arborist Supply Retailer where the unit was purchased. The replacement bridges will be made available as quickly as possible at no cost to the user upon verification that the unit has been rendered inoperable. This issue has nothing to do with the workmanship, manufacture, design, or production of Weaver Leather’s Cougar harnesses. Intensive testing is being performed on the single failed bridge as well as numerous new bridges to determine the cause of the failure. Further information will be released as it becomes available. I would greatly appreciate any and all assistance with implementing this call for cessation of use and apologize for any incovenience that this action may cause to users of this product. Richard Hattier Anchor Bridge Ropeworks, Inc.

Click here to visit the Anchor Bridge Ropeworks website for full recall details.