Published by Joe Hansen
Conversations on arboriculture, the tree care industry and all things tree related as told through the perspective of a municipal arborist.
Listen on Apple PodcastsEric Petersen has been helping great tree care companies become extraordinary for over 20 years. Using ArboRisk’s exclusive risk management approach, he gets his clients to build a better business while lowering their insurance cost at the same time. Eric is a Past President and Honorary Life Member of the Wisconsin Arborist Association and currently sits on the TCIA Board of Directors. _______________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Fallon is a Utility Arborist and Executive Director of the Utility Arborist Association . Prior to his current role he was responsible for leading vegetation management programs across several upper Midwest USA states on behalf of a large investor-owned utility. He’s also been an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he facilitated the Utility Vegetation Management Certificate Program – a combined effort of the Utility Arborist Association and the Utility Vegetation Management Association. Fallon has an undergraduate degree in Urban & Community Forestry and a Master’s degree in Forestry from the University of Minnesota-St. Paul and is currently serving as vice-president on the college’s Alumni Society Board. _______________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Dylan Daisuke Loy Saito is from Portland, OR & Vancouver, WA and is a PNW-ISA Member (former Editor-in-chief), ISA Certified Arborist & TRAQ qualified, an ODA Public Pesticide Applicator , FEMA Incident Commander, ODOT Traffic Controller, and holds the Adult Mental Health Aid Certification. Dylan was born and raised on a volcano in the Pacific Ocean. It taught him to connect with the planet and forced symbiosis with nature. It was this life experience where he learned the gift of ALOHA, and still shares and practices this everyday. After migrating to Oregon in 96', it became obvious he landed on a much bigger island than he grew up on, with more forests, wildlife, and people. It was here Dylan found his calling to share his love of nature with everyone through Arboriculture. He worked with a local tree company as a "branch manager", and literally learned the ropes of aerial access in trees. 10 years went by, worked with several premium tree care providers, career volunteer with multiple green industry nonprofits, and became a municipal Arborist with the City of Portland. It was in this role he utilized all his career experiences to reach an entire city of tree-centric communities! Dylan spent years volunteering with the PNW-ISA regional chapter as a judge for the regional climbing competitions, as the Editor of the Chapter publication, speaker and presenter at multiple Annual conferences, and co-founder of the PNW Tree Failure Database with Chris Rippey and Jonathan Pywell. Dylan has now been in the industry for over 20 years, and still sharing the ALOHA he was gifted long ago. He enjoys spending time with his son Ronin and daughter Hana, and teaching them the same connection with our planet. _______________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
As the Chicago Region Trees Initiative Manager at The Morton Arboretum, Colette Copic stewards national and state funding opportunities for healthier and more resilient tree canopies in our communities. This includes helping communities build capacity within their forestry programs through funding opportunities, resources, and training. As an ISA-certified arborist Copic's background includes work in urban and community forestry, tree protection policy, ecological restoration, and community engagement. _______________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care ________________________________________________________________________
Casey Jogerst is the Permitting and Regulation Manager for the Urban Forestry Division in the Parks and Recreation Bureau at the City of Portland, OR. Casey holds a B.S. in Science from the University of Iowa and a M.S. in Forestry from Michigan Technological University. Casey completed her master’s degree concurrently with service in the Peace Corps and continued her path in forestry at the City of New York City where she worked as a forester on the Million Trees Campaign. In 2012, Casey relocated from New York to the Midwest to further her work in the field of urban forestry as an Urban Forestry Manager for the City of Milwaukee, WI. Building on the experience gained in NY and WI, Casey accepted her current position as the Permitting and Regulation Manager in Portland, OR where she’s been for the past 11 years. She currently leads five urban forest regulatory teams managing all aspects of tree regulations in the City of Portland with the goal of protecting and enhancing the City’s urban forest. Casey is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist, ISA Municipal Specialist, ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, attended the 2014 Urban & Community Forestry Society (UCFS) Municipal Forestry Institute (MFI) and currently serves as an educational facilitator for MFI and as an advisory member of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). ________________________________________________________________________ UCFS Arborist Exchange Program ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care ________________________________________________________________________
Paul Filary is the Director of Operations for Kramer Tree Specialists and is the Commercial Director for the Illinois Arborist Association. Paul holds a B.S. in Forestry from Michigan State University, is an ISA Certified Arborist and has been working in the industry for two decades. Through this time he has become more involved with understanding motivational leadership and helping others achieve their goals in the field of forestry/arboriculture. He believes that whether you want to work the physical aspect, research focused or a leadership role, forestry/arboriculture will provide you those opportunities and allow you to not only help and make an influence with your peers, but also influence how people interact with the natural environment around us! ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care ________________________________________________________________________ IAA Careers in Arboriculture Demonstration Event, Lisle, Illinois October 17-18th
Randy Krouse has been the Urban Forestry Services Manager for the City of Milwaukee since 2019. He is responsible for directing forestry operations, workforce development, and long-range strategic planning. He held many previous positions with the City of Milwaukee since starting in 1995, including Urban Forestry Crew leader, Technical Services Supervisor, and Urban Forestry District Manager. Randy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and holds multiple professional credentials, including Certified Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified by the International Society of Arboriculture. He is an active leader within Wisconsin’s professional organizations—elected to the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council, serving as Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Arborist Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, and Past President of the Wisconsin Arborist Association. ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care ________________________________________________________________________ Certified Arborist Exam in Whitby, ON, CANADA November 8th, 2024
Nathan Schuettpelz is an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, ASCA Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualified, ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist, and ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified professional with 20 years of industry experience. His primary focus is consulting arboriculture, serving as a contract municipal forester and expert witness in litigation and insurance matters. Nathan has a passion for sharing his love of urban trees with others, providing speaking engagements with the WAA, ISA, WIDNR, and municipalities across the States of Wisconsin and Illinois. He has additionally served as the ISA WAA Chapter President and Tree Fund Liaison. ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Ian Brown is the City Forester for the City of Madison. He joined Madison in 2023 after over 15 years with the City of Milwaukee. He has worked on a variety of projects including hyperspectral imagery analysis, street tree inventory, ash treatments, urban wood utilization, and arborist apprenticeship. His work continues to increase recognition for the economic value of urban canopy and grow arboricultural career pathways. Ian attended the University of Minnesota – Morris (B.A.) and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (M.S.). ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
In this episode I provide some updates on what I have been up to working with the: Illinois Arborist Association International Society of Arboriculture Urban & Community Forestry Society Illinois Urban Forest Strike Team ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Steve Lane joins us again! Steve is an Urban Forestry Consultant with Great Lakes Urban Forestry management where he specializes in GIS based tree surveys, tree risk management, urban forestry management, planning, appraisals and other innovative forestry solutions for a variety of public and private sector clients. He is also the past president of the Illinois Arborist Association, where he teaches a variety of advanced training courses for the organizations. Steve recently joined the ISA Board of Directors. He is also the bass player of a bunch of lousy bands you've never heard of. His opinions here are his own and do not constitute any form of legal advise. ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
This special episode features a few of my favorite friends and colleagues including Village Forester Kevin Sorby from Wilmette, Illinois and Streets Superintendent Tony Dati from Niles, Illinois. ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Michael Collins has been Riverside's Village Forester for 19 years. Prior to his arrival there, he worked at Cantigny Gardens as a Grounds Arborist and at the Morton Arboretum as a Research Assistant. Mr. Collins received his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in Forest Science and a masters degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Natural Resources. He has been a Certified Arborist for over 25 years. He has also received his Municipal Arborist Specialist certification and is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ). Michael serves on the Illinois Arborist Association's Board of Directors as the Municipal Director and also serves as the Co-Chair for the Tree Stewardship & Planting Workgroup with the Chicago Region Tree Initiative (CRTI). ________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Kellie Schmidt is the Statewide Director of Development for the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, maintaining an office in Springfield, IL. She is responsible for advocacy, member outreach, and program development in the regions outside of the Chicagoland area. She also serves as a liaison to ILCA member nurseries. Before joining the ILCA, Kellie served as Executive Director of the Illinois Green Industry Association for five years. She brings two decades of marketing and sales experience to her work and is passionate about representing the hard-working people that work in all segments of the green industry. In her spare time, she serves at-risk youth and families through Christ-centered, equine assisted programs at Refuge Ranch in Rochester, IL. Huge thanks to ILCA for providing a place to record at their iLandscape Conference! _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Following in the footsteps of notable black plant researchers and scientists like George Washington Carver and Percy Julian is no easy task, but Derek Haynes is more than up to the challenge. With a background in plant biology, and working in vaccine and therapeutics development using non-traditional plant-based technologies, Derek certainly practices what he preaches. Plants offer so much more than home decor, and Derek wants to show you how. He understands that the ancient and the modern don’t need to compete, but rather can work together in harmony, offering viable solutions to pressing questions like food insecurity and mind-body-spirit holistic wellness. Merging together education, his signature wit and humour, and his keen love for plants and science, Derek’s mission is to pull the traditional knowledge of our ancestors into the mainstream. Known affectionately as The Chocolate Botanist on Instagram, Derek has built a community of over 10K like-minded people, who have come to respect both his incredible depth of knowledge and the palpable joy he cultivates with the subject matter. His earnest passion has landed him features in The Guardian , Lifehacker , and has been a guest on renowned podcasts like Black in the Garden and In Defense of Plants . He has also worked with the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in developing educational workshops on botany and plant science. Through his dedicated commitment to fostering community and providing the necessary tools to expand knowledge, Derek is solidifying his place in the plant world—continuing to pave a new and sustainable path for the next generation of young, Black botanists. Derek's Website & Derek's Instagram Huge thanks to ILCA for providing a place to record at their iLandscape Conference! _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Thank you to our sponsors: Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Aaron Schulz is the Plant Health Care Director & Consulting Arborist at Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal . He has a B.S. in Agricultural Science with a minor in Urban Forestry from Western Illinois University and is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. He has served as the Past President for the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) and currently serves the organization as the Advanced Training Co-Chair, Advanced Training Instructor in Pest & Diagnosis Management, is an ISA Certification Workshop instructor, the Legislative Committee Chair and is the ISA Certification Liaison. _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
This lighthearted introduction to 2024 features my two kids! _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Davey Resource Group Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Leslie Berckes is the Executive Director of the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA). The UCFS is the professional membership home for people who make daily tree planting and care decisions in communities across the world. She brings over a decade of experience in urban forestry to the organization, having served as the Director of Programs for Trees Forever , a Midwest-based non-profit serving Iowa and Illinois. Leslie is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy with an Environmental Policy emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa in addition to a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Learn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptions Check out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource library Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Jason Cutler developed a love for trees at an early age. As a freshman in high school, he was invited to be a part of a Forestry Career Development Event team through the Future Farmers of America (FFA), and has been pursuing his love of trees ever since. He spent nine years as a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, teaching over a thousand students various agriculture topics. Jason has been actively involved in helping many students and teachers learn the basics of forestry. The 2011 Joplin Tornado and subsequent recovery efforts led him to a local community forestry group, and a Certified Arborist prep course. Jason has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2012, TRAQ qualified since 2019, is a 2022 American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Consulting Academy graduate, and a Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) since 2022. He left the classroom in 2019 to pursue an opportunity of working with some awesome arborists at All About Trees in Springfield, Missouri. Jason was the Plant Health Care Manager, as well as a member of various-sized tree crews. He has competed or judged multiple tree climbing competitions since 2019. As a teacher of a Certified Arborist prep course, he has helped arborists prepare for the ISA Certified Arborist exam. In 2022, Jason started Arbor Cutler LLC , a consulting and tree care company. _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Learn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptions Check out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource library Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care
Miguel Reyes is an ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ qualified & has also completed the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) Advanced Training Domain . Miguel has worked with the City of Des Plaines for the last 12 years. He worked his way up from Maintenance Operator to his current title of Streets Crew Leader. As the city arborist, he oversees the health and care of over 22,000 trees in all public right-of-ways. He proudly partakes in the yearly tree planting program and Arbor Day activities across the local school district. The knowledge he acquires through the IAA workshops, allows him to educate the community on proper tree maintenance. Additionally, his company Migarey Tree Corp ., supports his goal to enhance urban canopy and build a stronger urban forest. _________________________________________________________________________ Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArborist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/ Questions or comments? themunicipalarborist@gmail.com Learn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptions Check out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource library Arbsession Winkler Tree & Lawn Care