TCI Magazine Audio Edition

BY MICHAEL ROCHE, CTSP When you walk out from a safety lecture by Dr. John Ball, you definitely feel better informed, but it’s also likely you feel a little unnerved. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY JIM KASPER In an issue dedicated to the “legends” of the industry, there’s no avoiding the name Mark Chisholm. His official tree-climbing career began more than 40 years ago, at age 12, helping with his dad’s business on weekends. He was making money rigging out trees before many in this industry today were born. But don’t let that fool you. “I could outclimb my 26-year-old world- championship...

BY ALEX JULIUS, BCMA For many, the transition from a job to a career in arboriculture starts with the purchase of the “ISA Arborist Certification Study Guide.” And when making that leap, it feels even more official when that certificate comes in the mail saying you’re now an ISA Certified Arborist. But, as with anything, someone was behind the scenes, leading the effort, and that someone was Sharo...

By DON STARUK, EDITOR When 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 profil...

BY ANDY JONES, CTSP Last 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, w...

BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP  In Part 2 of this series, we explored the deployment of steel and dynamic  cable systems as risk-mitigation solutions for damaged trees or those with mechanical vulnerabilities. In Part 3, we will focus on another primary method of supplemental support: bracing. We also will touch briefly on guying and propping. Remember to get your free subscription...

BY RICK HOWLAND Ever 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 get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY CHELSI ABBOTT, MSC In this article, we’ll look at which characteristics help identify some of the fungi that can create hazardous trees for arborists. We’ll also look at fungal management and managing client expectations for trees with wood-decay rot. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY JULIE BEE  You knew it from the beginning – being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park. Hard work, hustle and the occasional all-nighter come with the territory. But if “up to your eyeballs” has become your everyday reality, you’re headed for trouble.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY SYDNEY HUDZINSKI My start in this industry was rough. The first three months were a struggle. They were mentally, physically and emotionally draining. I remember white knuckling the steering wheel on my way home, wondering if I could do this job.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY CHRIS GIRARD, CTSP  I'm sure every tree worker has run into a case when you get a phone call to come in and remove a hazardous tree after construction has just been finished on a building site. Of course, it would have been so much easier and safer if the contractor had just called you beforehand. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY 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 get your...

BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN From the Americas to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, Waco Boom Manufacturing LLC has built a solid reputation in what company sales director Geoff Abel calls a “niche market” for filament-wound, insulated fiberglass booms.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY REBECCA SEIBEL, BCMA, CTSP The Six-Step Felling Plan is a checklist you and the people who work alongside you can apply to every tree-felling operation. It’s also a training tool. Employees who have achieved basic chain-saw safer- operator skills and who are prepared to do more can follow this. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN Taking the high road in his business practices is something Matt Hogarth, owner of Higher Ground Tree Care – an accredited, nine-year TCIA member company based in Granger, Indiana – holds dearly as one of his core values. “Our secret sauce is, we’re going to serve every customer well even if it’s to our detriment – even that cantankerous, high-maintenance customer,” he says. “...

BY MASON BRANDENBERGER, CTSP Running a successful tree care company requires more than just technical expertise and a solid work ethic. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY JOSIAH GEORGESON A masterful estimate involves establishing trust, providing effective solutions and setting the stage for your crew to exceed expectations. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY TRACEY MILLER When Jeff Gillis, president of WellTree Inc. – a 23-year TCIA member company based in Brunswick, Maine – first considered offering his employees a 401(k) program, he was daunted by the potential administrative burden and cost. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY ERIC PETERSEN Everyone in your organization is in sales. There, I said it. Don’t agree with me? Keep reading, and let’s see if I can change your mind. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY ASH CONNELLY TCI 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 get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY MICHAEL ROCHE 416 That’s a number that should resonate with you if you are a tree care owner or manager. It’s a number that should be in a company’s employee handbook, and in today’s business world, you need a good handbook more than ever. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY DAVID RATTIGAN Noel Boyer has never taken the step to hire a business advisor, but has brought in professional help to lighten the load for himself and his staff. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY DAVID JOSEPH Accountability is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions or duties.” But in the realm of leadership and organizational management, it’s more than a definition. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY RON EDMONDS With a high level of merger-and-acquisition activity in the tree care industry, owners are naturally interested in what is driving all the activity and how it will affect their businesses. One term being bantered about is the EBITDA, a measurement of a business’s value. So what is your business’s EBITDA, and why should you care? Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine...

BY CHARLIE WHITE I was attending a recent ISA event and overheard a young climber seeking advice about doing the gnarly stuff in tree work. The response was well intended and does have a bit of truth: “It’s easier with people you trust.” Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .