Shows
TCI Magazine Audio EditionThe Ins and Outs of Subcontracted Tree Care Professionals, Part 1BY AARON SCHAUER, CTSP, WITH ERIC PETERSENThis is the first installment of a two-part article. Part 1 looks at the benefits of being a subcontractor and working with subcontractors. Part 2, in a future issue of TCI Magazine, will look at how to become and operate as a subcontractor. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2025-06-0316 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionThe DMM Kinisi Max Climbing SaddleTCI Magazine corralled the climbing arborists of Girard Tree Service, a 17-year TCIA member company based in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, to test drive and review the DMM Kinisi Max climbing saddle. They shared their initial impressions and experiences for this article and a related video Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2025-06-0104 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionSolving the Language Issue for Spanish-Speaking Workers in Tree CareBY LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QTI presented on this topic at TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore, where I had a great audience and received excellent feedback. When I started working on that presentation, I realized we had never really addressed language and cultural barriers for our tree workers. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2025-04-0117 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionPretty Simple – PPE Works!BY DON STARUKWe asked about a dozen arborists, all of whom have been contributors to TCI Magazine at one time or another, if they had an example of a time when personal protective equipment (PPE) made or could have made a difference on the job. Could they briefly recount a time when PPE saved the day? Or when the lack of it cost or nearly cost someone an injury, or worse? Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2025-04-0119 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWITC Scholarship Winner: Seizing the Opportunity to Connect With Other Women in Tree CareBY SUSAN DIPIETROTCIA offers two scholarships for travel and related expenses for women in the industry to attend TCI EXPO and take part in the Women in Tree Care (WITC) Pre-Conference Workshop held there each year. The winners for TCI EXPO ’24 were Jabeen Ratanshi of Ontario, Canada, and Katie Kranich of Delaware. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2025-03-0705 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWhat Makes Someone a Legend?By DON STARUK, EDITORWhen we recognize a person as a legend, typically it is an honor we confer because of that person’s achievement or their impact on us personally. TCI Magazine staff surveyed some key industry contacts as well as fellow TCIA employees, asking for nominations for a new “Legends” feature. Our staff ranked the dozens of suggestions received, and six people were selected to profile in this issue. We then invited fellow arborists to write their profiles. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-11-0101 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionPowering the Transition to Battery OPEBY ANDY JONES, CTSPLast November in a TCI EXPO ’23 presentation, I explored the merits of battery-powered outdoor power equipment (OPE) and posed the question: Is it time to seriously consider transitioning to battery-operated tools? Initially, the Rooted Arbor Care team and I had modest expectations regarding the performance of battery products, but after a full year of rigorous field testing, we were pleasantly surprised by the advancements in technology. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-11-0125 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionStaunch TCIA Member – Actually, One of His Trees – Takes Center Stage at TCI EXPO ’24BY RICK HOWLANDEver wonder about that large, sturdy, fully grown tree standing as a centerpiece amid the show booths, equipment and convention goers at TCI EXPO? Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-10-0807 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionOn the Main Stage: Fresh Perspectives at TCI EXPO ’24 in BaltimoreBY TRACEY MILLER This year at TCI EXPO, taking place November 7-9 in Baltimore, Maryland, attendees with an All-Access Pass will have exclusive access to engaging and educational Main Stage Sessions. These sessions will feature speakers offering fresh perspectives and invaluable insights tailored to tree care professionals. Here’s a glimpse of the topics they’ll be covering. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-10-0109 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionIt's all in the details A Consultative Sales ApproachBY ASH CONNELLYTCI EXPO ’23 Saturday morning, like the sunset of a few days jampacked full of learning, connecting and staying up late. Coffee in hand and sleep in their eyes, an unexpectedly large crowd filled the room to gain a few tricks of the sales trade. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-09-0511 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionTCI EXPO Makes Its Mark: Past Attendees and Exhibitors Share Their StoriesBY TRACEY MILLERFor many attendees, TCI EXPO is not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for tree care professionals, a place to meet new friends and reunite with old ones. The industry is growing and changing rapidly, and many companies bring their whole teams each year. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-07-0508 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionFall Protection and Rescue Plans for Nontraditional Job Sites – Case StudiesBY RUDY RUTEMILLER, TIMOTHY M. WALSH, CTSP, and JEREMY LEWISIn November 2023, at TCI EXPO in St. Louis, Missouri, we three authors presented two case studies where The Davey Tree Expert Company and Petzl worked congruently to find safe and compliant work-positioning solutions for crews on unique and nontraditional work sites. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-07-0309 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionHeartwood and Heart Rot, Part II: Heart Rot – Is It Serious?BY CHRISTOPHER J. LULEY, PH.D., AND KEVIN T. SMITH, PH.D.Part 1 of this two-part series, “Heartwood and Heart Rot, Part 1: Are They Important to Arborists?” ran in the May 2023 issue of TCI Magazine. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-07-0209 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionAn Introduction to Supplemental Tree-Support Systems, Part 1: The Need for Supplemental SupportBY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP At TCI EXPO ’23 in St. Louis, Missouri, we hosted a training on the show floor called “Cabling Made Easy.” With the assist of our training partner, Thomas Paine, CTSP, we demonstrated our preferred method of cable installation and attempted to explain the merits of this method. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-06-0407 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionThe Well-Prepared ClimberBY JEFF JEPSONThe following is an excerpt from the newly revised “The Tree Climber’s Companion,” by Jeff Jepson. This excerpt, mostly new content from Part 1 of the revision, was adapted for TCI Magazine by Jeff Jepson. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-05-0710 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionThe One Thing to Rule Them AllBY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSPBack in November 2023, at TCI EXPO in St. Louis, Missouri, I gave a presentation titled “The One Thing to Rule Them All.” The premise of the presentation was based upon finding one thing we can focus on in our day-to-day work to help with our longevity in the industry, to make sound decisions on the job site and to prevent accidents, incidents and injuries. Work positioning, in my opinion, is that thing. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-05-0212 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionPart 6: Work Practices Near an Electrical HazardBY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSPP art 1 of Chapter 4, Safe Work Practices (TCI Magazine, March 2024), covered the job hazard analysis (JHA), work plan and job briefing. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-04-0118 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWomen in Tree Care and DEI Are Part of the Fabric of TCIABY SUSAN DIPIETRO A grassroots event took place at TCI EXPO ’17 in Baltimore, Maryland. Led by TCIA members, a group of women and others came together in a way that wasn’t as prevalent then as it is now, and the first TCIA Women in Tree Care Forum came to life. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-03-1505 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWITC Scholarship Winners: No Holds Barred for Amber Lloyd and Margaret GardnerBY Don Staruk with Erin (Demers) AaronTCIA offers two $1,000 scholarships annually for travel and related expenses for women in the industry to attend TCI EXPO and take part in the Women in Tree Care (WITC) Pre-Conference Workshop held there. The opportunity has garnered great interest in the past, and this year was no different. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-03-1507 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionLeveraging AI and Social Media for Growth in Tree CareBy Joe JurecI had the honor of giving a presentation at the 2023 TCI EXPO in St. Louis this past November. I addressed some common fears and reservations that small-business owners in the tree care industry might have about embracing new technologies. It makes sense that terms like “artificial intelligence” (AI) and “emerging technology” can seem intimidating and even irrelevant to the work done in tree care. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2024-01-0424 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionEHAP Revision, Chapter 2, Part 1: Electrical Hardware Recognition: Voltage-Management and Protective DevicesBY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSPBasic terminology and how the electric-power system works from generation to the end consumer was covered in Part 1 of this series (TCI Magazine, October 2023). This article will focus on the distribution system. Trees are often near these lines, so arborists need to be familiar with the associated electrical-system equipment. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-12-0115 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionMaximize Your TCI EXPO ’23 Experience: Know the Show!Here comes TCI EXPO ’23, the ultimate trade-show experience that will immerse you in every aspect of the tree care industry. Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional or a newcomer looking to network, learn and explore the latest trends, TCI EXPO has something for everyone. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-10-0108 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionCumberland Valley Tree Service LandscapingBy Patricial ChaudoinWhen TCI Magazine first wrote about Cumberland Valley in 2013, the company had 30 employees. A decade later, they have 85 full-time, year-round employees. "When we hit the growing-pains size of our company, we realized we needed everything TCIA offers to help us," says George Pogue, co-owner with his wife Lisa. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-09-0512 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionBanding EagletsA New Niche for Tree Climbers: Banding Eaglets By Susan Dipietro with Ryan TorcicolloRyan Torcicollo, CTSP, is no stranger to climbing, but his latest adventure was an unforgettable experience for him. Based in Essex, Massachusetts, Torcicollo is a safety and skills trainer with SavATree, an accredited, 37-year TCIA member company.The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, known as MassWildlife, needed help with a banding project for eagles, and he jumped at the chance. In turn, we jumped at the chance to talk with him about it. Remember to s...2023-07-0104 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionSeven Questions to Ask When Buying GearSeven Important Questions to Ask When Buying Climbing Gear, Part 2BY TIM BUSHNELL, CTSP; ALEX JULIUS, BCMA; and EMMETT SHUTTS, CTSPThe last decade has seen a large influx of new climbing equipment that can potentially make climbing safer and more efficient. But it is important we use products that are reliable, safe and intended for tree care, so we can keep our focus on the work to be done and doing it safely. And how do we do that?This article gives you the information you need to ask important questions when buying cl...2023-07-0113 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionTraining Tree Crews on Wildland Fire PreventionTraining Tree Crews on Wildland Fire Prevention and Suppression By Geoffrey Taylor, MAThe constant threat of wildland fire events seems to be growing more intense and destructive each year. Equipping arboricultural workers with the knowledge to address the looming risk of fires is critical to protecting not only the people on the ground, but the communities they serve. As tree work often turns into hazardous wildland fire operations, it is important to provide teams working in vulnerable areas with the right training, equipment and expertise to understand, respond and mitigate fire in an em...2023-07-0111 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionTCIA Offers a Portal to a Better Career PathBy David Rattigan TCIA Career Pathways, a new online education and training program, offers tree care workers new opportunities to advance their careers. At the same time, it provides individual companies an opportunity to provide structured training and create career pathways that can help stabilize their workforce. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-07-0113 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWhy Apprenticeship? One Company's JourneyBy Josh MorinThis past November, I enjoyed the opportunity of sharing some of my experiences with the Registered Arborist Apprenticeship program alongside August Hoppe at TCI EXPO ’22 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was really energizing to share what we’ve learned so far with those who attended the talk. We are now seeing a shift in our awareness and a shift in federal and state government support of skilled trades. We see that, in order to have a healthy society and economy, we need to invest in all types of career paths, especially ones that...2023-06-0110 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionTree-Related Electrical Incidents: Us Versus Them Tree-Related Electrical Incidents: Us vs ThemBY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSPContinuing the popular “Us Versus Them” series, this article focuses on tree-related incidents that occurred on distribution lines – the primaries and secondaries, including house drops –by arborists, landscapers, other occupation workers and the public. The percentage of incidents from direct or indirect contact while working in or on a tree range from one in 10 to nearly half of the incidents in a distribution system. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org. Remember to subscri...2023-06-0111 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionThe Economics of MechanizationThe Economics of Mechanization: Rise of the MachinesBY DAVID RATTIGAN Tree care companies are increasingly incorporating machinery into their operations to improve efficiency, safety and profitability. For many business owners, the investments are paying off. “Mechanized solutions in the agriculture industry have a higher initial cost up front, but they lead to greater savings,” says Ed Martinez, vice president of Rancho Tree Service. He notes that they also reduce crew footprint, human exposure and liability. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0114 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWho Should Buy Used Equipment, and Why?BY TAMSIN VENNIn the realm of tree care equipment, the allure of brand-new machinery is undeniable. Yet the used equipment market holds its own appeal. With new equipment still facing challenges, including availability and increased costs, many tree care companies are turning to the used market. Not only does used equipment offer readily available options at a fraction of the cost, but it also presents advantages such as simpler maintenance and fewer electrical complexities. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0114 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionIncidental Line ClearanceWhat Incidental Line-Clearance Arborists Need to Know About Working Around Electric UtilitiesBY GEOFF KEMPTER AND STEPHEN HILBERT Incidental line clearance refers to work near electrical hazards when arborists are not employed by or contracted to a utility-system operator. The ANSI Z133 standard requires that incidental line-clearance arborists must be able to identify exposed energized parts, the nominal voltage they are exposed to and the minimum approach distance (MAD) that must be maintained for that voltage. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0116 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionReal Aerial Rescue, How Will You Respond?By LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QCLChris and I each had made several cuts when Vale started to yell. Chris was in danger. He said a branch had hit Chris and was resting on top of him. Vale was repeatedly asking, “What do we do?” At that moment, I wasn’t focused on the problem. I could not react to what was happening. I was in a state of shock. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0105 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionLearn How Safety Can Drive Your Business at EAW in San DiegoBY SUZI GUZMANExperience the transformative power of integrating safety into your business at our upcoming Executive Arborist Workshop August 7-9, 2023, in San Diego, California. Join industry experts and thought leaders as we delve into the crucial intersection of safety and business strategies, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to cultivate a safety-centric culture within your tree care company. For more information and to register, visit eaw.tcia.org/eaw-2023-san-diego-ca/. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0102 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionFounder of Truetimber Academy Finds Value in CTSPBY TAMSIN VENN Andrew “Drew” Dunavant was a professional tree climber for more than a decade and a three-time Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC) ISA champion working for Truetimber Arborists, a 22-year TCIA member company based in Richmond, Virginia, when a new opportunity came his way. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0104 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionGrapple Booms and MechanizationRevisiting the Industrial Revolution BY JOSEPH B. PIPITONE For most of us, middle school is a good number of years in the rear-view mirror. But if we recall our lessons from those years, no doubt a few weeks of history class focused on the Industrial Revolution. It might be argued that the tree care industry today is going through its own form of Industrial Revolution, moving from climbing, sawing and lugging by hand to mechanization for those tasks and others. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0111 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionMaximizing Margins When Purchasing EquipmentBY JEFF HEYBRUCK Too often, we see businesses in equipment-intensive industries making purchases just to have shiny new equipment. Often, they purchase equipment before understanding the return on investment (ROI), i.e., how much money they will make using that item. A better plan is for tree-service companies to acquire new equipment with the goal of maximizing profit margins. With this goal in mind, let’s consider a few key questions owners or operators should ask when considering new equipment buys. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-06-0112 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionHeartwood and Heart RotHeartwood and Heart Rot Part 1 Are they Important to Arborists BY KEVIN T. SMITH, PH.D., CHRISTOPHER J. LULEY, PH.D., AND TOM DRAVES Tree care professionals frequently assess or estimate the strength of wood within a living tree or standing snag. This is often quite informal, with training and experience that guides decisions to remove or retain a major stem, or where to tie off lines and place a felling hinge. This article will look at the importance of heartwood and how it can impact decisions where wood strength and decay status might affect tr...2023-05-0109 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionWhat is Needed?In this Outlook column, Josh Morin discusses the importance of relationships. He states "In some ways, working as a sales arborist is being a professional “needs-meeter” in the world of people and trees. Being clear on how we can show up to meet the needs of others while fulfilling the needs of our organization can make for a thriving business, satisfied clients and happy trees." Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-05-0103 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionOpen House as a Recruiting ToolBy David Anderson, CTSPAre you looking for good people? That’s a rhetorical question, obviously. Who isn’t? A great recruiting tool and, by extension, retention tool is to host an open house at your office. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.2023-05-0103 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionStudent Career Day EXPO'23Student Career Day article in May 2023 issue by Susan DiPietro and Erin DemersChanges coming to Student Career Day at TCI EXPO ’23 in St. Louis, Missouri, November 16-18, are aimed at enhancing the experience for students and expanding opportunities for tree care companies to get in front of student participants. Partnership opportunities include more face time for tree care company representatives at the show. They also include exposure options for companies that won’t be in attendance but still want to support the industry’s future workforce. Remember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag...2023-05-0106 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionValidity of TIP Pull TestJudging the validity of the TIP pull test by Jim Kasper May 2023Climbing arborists use various techniques to assess tree stability and ensure safety. A pull test is used to determine the structural integrity of the tree at the tie-in-point (TIP). By applying a concentrated load to a specific point on a tree, climbers can determine its structural integrity. ANSI standards even prescribe pre-testing TIPs before ascent. Is it useful? Does the TIP pull test actually make sense? Industry experts including John Ball, Ph.D., Craig Bachman, CTSP, TRAQ, Jeff Inman Jr., CTSP an...2023-05-0112 minTCI Magazine Audio EditionPfanner Protos Integral Helmet Review Protos Integral Helmet review article Andy Jones May 23Since its launch in 2012, the Pfanner Protos Integral Helmet has been building a reputation as one of the premier personal protective equipment (PPE) items in the world of industrial safety. The “integral” refers to its integrated ear, face and neck protection, with a chin strap and rear ventilation between the inner and outer shell. In April 2022, Pfanner officially released its new Protos Bluetooth Communication System units in the United States. Pfanner’s proprietary Bluetooth communication system is purpose-built to integrate with the Protos Integral Helmet. Remember to subscri...2023-05-0109 min