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S UTHERN ISA SOUTHERN ISA

Southern Chapter Report

by Skip Kincaid, Southern Chapter Executive Director

As I look out my window into the garden, I’m blessed with many signs of a very active spring! Flowering plants providing a great display include azaleas, rhododendrons, and doublefile viburnum. And some of the native plants are blooming as well.

Dogwoods are hanging on, but the redbuds are pretty well finished. While the flowers are all great signs of spring, my favorite sign is the morning gobbles from wild turkeys. Even here in the city, I hear them. Nature provides so many surprises!

Southern Chapter provides surprises too! (See what I did there?) We have a new “Jobs Board” on our website. Check it out! It’s very new and we need to populate it and let folks know it’s available. The page has a form that folks can fill out and we will then post their job opening info. Pretty cool, eh? And a pleasant surprise. Our conference just wrapped up in Memphis, and the after-conference catch-up is a little less hectic than the preparations were. I hope you had the opportunity to get to Memphis and enjoy the educational offerings and time to hang with your tree brothers and sisters. Check out a story in this issue to see just how far the reach of the Southern Chapter has become.

Our new board of directors is now in place with new officers. I’m excited to get things rolling with incoming President Chris Diffley and continue our work serving your needs and providing fantastic educational opportunities. Stay tuned for specifics about another Prescription Pruning Qualification (PPQ) course. This time, we will focus on the Charlotte area and likely announce dates soon for a November course. And we’re putting the final touches on another Tree Biomechanics class with Chris Luley and Frank Rinn. This class will be in Baton Rouge in late September. The Upcoming Events section of our website will have details for these classes soon. TRAQ and Certified Arborist prep classes continue to be popular. There are a few offerings in the events calendar for these opportunities as well.

That’s all the news I have from the woodpile ... Don’t forget to go outside and enjoy it!

Be sure to save these dates: February 24-26, 2026 Myrtle Beach, SC

And now it’s time to say goodbye

Well, hello, again. It is so hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I first introduced myself to you. I have been so honored to have been chosen to serve as the Chapter President in 2024.

We have worked to respond to the needs of Chapter members and to provide excellent training and continuing education opportunities for you, the Chapter Member. As I transition to the role of Past President and Chris Diffley (North Carolina) assumes the role of President of the board, I anticipate we will see many

Hallie Dozier, Past President

good things from our board — ever improving membership support, increasing public awareness of the importance of tree and professional tree care, and, of course, we will continue to encourage and support young scholars seeking to put their roots down in this industry.

I will continue to work to enhance our role in member states and to support all of our committees as we move the Southern Chapter forward and upward. I look forward to the next year in a new and exciting role within the Southern Chapter and pledge my support to the entire board of directors and Southern Chapter staff.

I have enjoyed meeting many of you over the last year. And even though my role is changing, please feel free to reach out to me anytime. Together we can move forward and upward.

Message to the Membership

Chris Diffley, Southern Chapter President

That Time I Almost Lost the Gavel My First Day as President, and Other Updates ...

“And with that, this meeting is adjourned. See y’all in Myrtle Beach!”

Cue satisfying gavel pound, and into my bag it went.

Never thought about it again, until I watched my carry-on make that dreaded move where it gets pushed to the side on the TSA conveyor belt, and was asked:

“Do you have a hammer in here?”

So, our gavel was made from the Wye Oak, the State Champion White Oak from Maryland from 1941 ’til its demise in 2002, and lived for about 400 years. It was presented by Earl Yingling during his time as president of the Chapter in 1975. Here we are in its fiftieth year of existence.

As a lot of inappropriate words rushed through my internal dialogue, I stumbled over trying to explain it was a gavel for our board meeting. The TSA agent gave me dubious looks as she pulled it out, and thankfully called over her supervisor. She’s examining it while I’m running through all of my options on how to get it checked and still make my flight, or having to let the board know a terrible mistake has been made in my election.

“You a judge or something?”

For those of you who know me, that’s not a look I can pull off, particularly in my recently acquired swag t-shirt and hat I convinced Greg with Sennebogan to give me (Stanley, NC, represent!). I again stuttered into explaining about being president of a tree board, which sounds ridiculous even to me, and she handed it back and told me not to hit anyone.

Crisis averted.

So, anyway, my name is Chris Diffley, and I’m your new president of the Southern Chapter.

This is the part where I tell you a bit about myself, but I think the story above probably sheds enough light on what you’re getting. I’ve been in various aspects of the private side of our industry for twenty years, and now help run a small business.

As we head into the year, there are many challenges and

transitions we face as a Chapter, all of which present new opportunities to grow and continue to find ways to serve our membership better. One thing I want to highlight here is that we are changing the timing of our annual Tree Climbing Competition and the Conference. With the increasing difficulty of securing appropriate spaces that will allow us to host the TCC, we have decided to separate the comp from the conference. This gives us the freedom to host the TCC in places more welcoming to climbers running through their trees, without being tied to an event space to hold the conference. We will also be able to ensure the event timing doesn’t conflict with other events going on in the spring, allowing more competitors to enter. This also enables us to showcase the competition and the incredible climbers, without conflicts for anyone who wants to see or participate in both the competition and educational sessions. I believe this to be a smart decision and will continue to evaluate how to make both events better. More to come.

I will continue to provide other updates in this newsletter, and I appreciate any and all feedback. Hit me up at chris@arborki.com, or pester Skip with an email because I want to be sure he stays busy. Thanks again, and don’t worry, I’m driving to Myrtle so the gavel should stay safe.

People-first approach to arboriculture

by Jonathan Reid

I don’t have a background in biological or Earth Sciences and didn’t spend time in my childhood going on hikes in state or national parks. I’ve said that I’m not a tree hugger, but more of a Black people lover, seeking solutions to help offset the harmful effects of air, water, and soil pollution from companies in the South Memphis community that raised me.

I’ve entered the arboriculture space with a people-first approach, seeking to find practical ways to leverage trees for the benefit of community members, specifically those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods burdened by industrial polluters and higher concentrations of trucks and cars emitting toxic fumes into the lungs of locals.

I returned to Memphis in January 2020 for the Chinese New Year holiday, as I had been residing in Beijing, China, for 4 years at that time, working at a local boarding school and developing programs to help students learn more about colleges and universities in the United States. Due to the prevalence of air pollution in China, I became very familiar with everyday solutions that were widely used by residents, including masks, at-home air filtration systems, air quality monitors, and the importance of proper window installation. I thought this experience was worth something to my family and other residents of the community.

While building modules for families to better understand the impact of pollution, I met Wes Hopper, a Memphis-based arborist who understood my heart for people and how it could align with the larger environmental ecosystem. I was introduced to the West Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and its passionate member base, many of whom serve as master gardeners, arborists, park managers, and naturalists across the region. This initial introduction has led to my involvement with the City’s Tree Board, participation in environmental education initiatives with local non-profit Memphis Kids in Nature, and a Memphis Urban Art Commission project addressing the indigenous history of South Memphians and their relationship with the environment.

In addition, I’ve had an opportunity to expand upon my own initiatives, including offerings from my PTTP brand that directly support tree programs and neighborhood community gardens (Frayser Community Garden, etc), as well as a forthcoming program intended to provide culturally-relevant environmental education.

In many Black communities, residents view trees as liabilities, something that could create more bills by causing home damage during a storm or potentially upending cement driveways. I seek to highlight the importance of trees as assets, warriors on the front lines of defense against legacy pollution, and energycost savers with increased tree canopy coverage. Black families need more opportunities to heal their oftentimes long-standing trauma with the outdoors, understanding the reciprocal relationship that exists between all of us and the land that provides so much in return.

Learn more about my initiatives at this website and follow on Instagram: @pttpstore.

Alabama report

by Anne Randle, AL Director

The coming months are full of opportunities for Alabama arborists to train with the experts. Whether preparing to become a Certified Arborist, TRAQ specialist, or maintain a credential, there are events all over the state that will help you reach your goals.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is offering Arborist Review classes this spring. The two-day workshop is designed to help participants prepare for the Certified Arborist exam and covers all the material in the ISA Certification Study Guide. Topics include tree biology and identification, pest and diseases, pruning, tree selection, design, urban forestry, worker safety, and the business of tree care. In addition to being a mustattend for those preparing to take the exam, it’s also a great refresher for current arborists seeking continuing education credits.

Arborist Review course

May 8-9, 2025, in Fairhope, AL

CEUs available for two-day workshop:

Board Certified Master Arborist: Science 4.75, Practice 2, Management 5.25

Municipal Specialist: 11

Tree Worker Climber Specialist: 6.75

Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist: 6.75

TRAQ qualification

Three-day course for new applicants. May 28-30, 2025, in Fairhope, AL.

Applicants for the TRAQ course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached.

If the in-person TRAQ prep course doesn’t work, please take a look at the online virtual course co-hosted by ISA Southern and several ISA Chapters across the country. The details for these courses, offered May 7 and August 6, can be found at the ISA Southern website

TREE Fund celebrates

Webinar anniversary

TREE Fund’s Webinar Series began in the spring of 2015 as a new way to present the research and feature the researchers who received funding from TREE Fund grant programs. The series, which is co-hosted by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, has grown in size over the past ten years, with over 5,000 participants viewing the webinars live in 2024.

“It has been fantastic to see the growth of the webinar series over the years and seeing it become, really, the premier webinar series on arboricultural and urban forestry topics in the whole world,” said Beau Brodbeck, Assistant Director for Field Operations at Auburn University, former TREE Fund Trustee, and brainchild behind the series. “One of our traditions to kick off each webinar is for everyone in attendance to put their location in the chat, and it is always fascinating to see arborists from all over the world tune in to see some of the latest research funded by TREE Fund.”

Viewers of the live webinars who are certified arborists through the ISA are eligible to receive one free CEU for attending. Brodbeck credits much of the growth of the series to the global pandemic in 2020, when arborists were not able to go to training sessions in person and needed to keep up classes for their certifications.

In addition to being presented live, each webinar is recorded and posted to TREE Fund’s website in the Webinar Archive section for future viewing for no additional charge.

UARF Grant anniversary

TREE Fund and the Utility Arborist Association are celebrating 15 years of the Utility Arborist Research Fund Grant Program (UARF Grant), which was created in 2010 and has granted out more than $712,500 to researchers since its inception.

The UARF Grant Program is a research grant managed by TREE Fund that focuses on research that is beneficial to utility tree care professionals. Co-sponsored by the UAA, it provides grants of up to $50,000 annually.

“The research that has been funded by the UARF Grant over the years has been imperative for the growth of industry best practices and the safety of utility arborists,” said Dennis Fallon, Executive Director of UAA. “In the grant description, it says that the purpose of the grant is to ‘finance work with real importance and benefit to utility tree care professionals,’ and we believe that the scope of what this program has brought will continue to be beneficial for years to come.”

Recent studies funded by the UARF Grant includes research projects titled “Improving Future Utility Vegetation Management Options by Developing a Public Collection of Open-Source Annotated Machine Learning Data Archive,” “Determining Failure Characteristics from Distribution Outage Reports,” and “Characterizing the Risk of Electrical Contact to Arborists,” which was done by John Goodfellow and John Ball, who presented their findings at a TREE Fund Webinar in 2023 to over 800 people.

For information on how to apply to the UARF grant or to make a donation directly to this grant program, visit TREE Fund’s website.

Soaking up the experience and learning at NATCC

by Becca Haught

Words can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am to have been given the opportunity to represent ISA Southern at the NATCC. Southern is where it all started for me three years ago when the bug bit me as I volunteered at the TCC.

The following year, I made Southern my first time competing, and here we are, third year in, going to Nationals. I was flooded with emotions, not just jitters, but just in awe because I couldn’t believe how a small-town transmission line clearance mom made it with only five years in the field (climbing right at three years).

Wright Tree Service has been absolutely amazing, supporting me as I chased my hunger to learn. In fact, it was my division manager who encouraged me to take that leap and for that I’m beyond grateful. Trust and believe I was shedding some tears on the plane home, sitting and reflecting on the journey I’ve had. To see how proud my pops was as he hugged me goodbye with tears in his eyes as he shared, “It felt like not that long ago I was looking for you behind dumpsters, and now I’ve been able to watch you chase your dreams and be the best mom you can be. In seven years, your world changed. I’m so proud of you, cowgirl.”

Then, to add to it, I have teammates who are following me. That itself is priceless. I went from only being a year in hearing, “She isn’t no climber,” and now I’m the one leading my guys in the field, opening doors and breaking cycles. I’m able to bring it home and apply it in the field. Getting the opportunity to share it is what truly fills my heart. I think that’s why I love the competitions. It isn’t about winning, it’s about the connection that feeds the soul. I always come back with a fresh set of eyes and a desire that shines.

I was asked, “How was Texas?” Well, I fumbled pretty hard and was being pretty hard on myself. But then remembered I was there to soak up the experience and learn. What was a defeat became a challenge of what I want to work on. Not just that, but on Day Two, I decided to switch things up. I’m here to try new things. I’d rather try something new and be surrounded by people who can educate me, versus just sticking to the basics.

It was my first time ever climbing on a Taz and a Rope Runner Vertec. I was digging as hard as I could during the head-to-head race. I was over the moon about my ascent because that was the smoothest I’ve ever moved, because I wasn’t so choppy.

My favorite part is during the gatherings that happen before and after. That’s when I take the most in, from practice climbs, to sitting at a dinner table using silverware, to show rope angles and ideas. The heart of the competition is in our fellow climbers and volunteers who make it so magical, and meeting new people who have become part of the tree family.

When I returned home, there were five kids jumping up and down, wanting to hear all about it. It just made this momma’s heart melt. So, I’d like to just say thank you to my ISA Southern Chapter for yet another life-changing opportunity, along with everyone who makes these events possible. It leaves such a strong impact.

Louisiana is falling into spring

Spring is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout from the ground, and hibernating animals awake. For trees, the arrival of spring signals the beginning of the growing season. As the photoperiod lengthens and temperatures increase, trees know it is time to break dormancy. Tree growth is most pronounced in the spring; we start to see certain trees flower and blossom during March and April.

Spring is a great time in Baton Rouge, but it’s a busy time for an arborist. Baton Rouge has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters, hot and humid summers, moderate to heavy rainfall, and the possibility of damaging winds and tornadoes year-round. The average spring rainfall is about 12.75 inches, with an average of 4.45 inches per month.

These storms pose a danger to our urban forest. Heavy rainfall combined with high winds has led to significant flooding, road closures, and fallen trees. During the spring months, we see downpours of up to three inches in a short time, which saturate our soil and weaken the ability of the soil to hold the roots in place. As we know, roots grow where conditions are favorable, and with this amount of rain, roots don’t have to grow to find their happy place.

Local government and residents of East Baton Rouge Parish are working together to ensure that our urban forest thrives.

by Brian Watkins, President Elect / Treasurer

Risk Mitigation Strategies

Tree Inspections Pre- and Post-Storms. Pruning. Remove dead or damaged branches. Thin the canopy to reduce wind resistance.

Soil Management and Root Care. Implement proper drainage solutions around your trees. Use mulch to retain moisture and protect roots.

Create Flood-Resistant Plantings. Plant native species that are adapted to local weather patterns.

Education.

Making the public aware of tree issues and how to reduce the risk of storm-related tree damage.

Check out the Southern Chapter’s online awards page for an impressive list of honorees, award criteria descriptions, and nomination form.

Florida Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants

by Stephen Dicke, MS Director

Paul Meehan of Natchez Tree Company presented the Florida Nursery Grades and Standards 2022 at the Professional Arborist Association of Mississippi (PAAM) in January. While these grades and standards are law in Florida, Paul and many other nursery growers outside Florida voluntarily use them to improve the understanding between buyers and sellers on what represents quality.

Paul recommends that buyers have a working knowledge of these grading standards prior to purchasing. With this knowledge, you can look for and contract with suppliers that can meet Florida Fancy or Florida #1 grade standards. These high-quality trees will have better structure and greater longevity in the landscape.

Paul also demonstrated how to use a Tree Grading Cue Card to quickly grade nursery trees during delivery. Ideal characteristics include a single straight stem, small branches with even distribution, a healthy, dense, uniform crown, and a solid, secure root ball that matches the stem size.

Additionally, look for proper pruning cuts and make sure the tree has no wounds. Be sure to reject all cull trees, including those with deeply buried root collars and/or circling roots that cannot easily be corrected.

We thank Paul for helping us learn how to select great trees, which will make our job as arborists much easier.

Left to right above: 30 gallon Autumn Blaze Maple, October Glory Maple, and 30-gallon Overcup Oak.

Left to right below: Florida Fancy Willow Oak, 2023 Willow Oak crop, and 30-gallon Overcup Oak, RCB 24 solo.

Three Diffleys in the tree industry

by Chris Diffley, Southern Chapter President

I’ve talked before about the strange turns that many people in our industry take to end up with a career in arboriculture, but now I’m watching it firsthand within my family.

Back in 2019, my brother Casey was trying to figure out life right out of school and still hadn’t found a calling. There are 15 years’ difference between us, so we never had much of a brotherly relationship growing up, much less a friendship. Anyway, I was doing some side work one weekend and he was around, so I asked him if he wanted to help. It was just some ornamental pruning on some crapes and other small trees, but by the time we finished, he was really into it.

I suggested he apply where I was working at the time, as the environment was strong on education and training, and also low impact enough that if it didn’t work out there would be no hard feelings. Fast forward to now, and he’s ISA certified with a TRAQ qualification and affectionately refers to our Executive Director as Uncle Skip.

My oldest son, Caleb, is 19 years old and is headed to NC State this fall for engineering. The restaurant where he was working closed its doors, and he was finding it difficult to find a short-term position (since he’s leaving in August). My friend Dustin Counts runs CoolWood Urban Forestry, and I’d consider him a good friend (though his response to that statement will probably be overlong and weird). Dustin needed some help and Caleb fit the description of “can take instruction, understand how not to get hurt, not impede production, and occasionally be useful.” So now my son is getting to learn how to back up a chipper, run ropes and a saw, how diesel engines work, and proper pruning (shout out to David Harmon for taking the PPQ in Memphis a of couple weeks ago and sharing the knowledge gained). It also reaffirmed Caleb’s desire to go to college because, in his words, “Everything y’all do is hard.”

I really find our industry gratifying (and also often ridiculous and frustrating), but it is pretty compelling to see my brother find a successful career, and my son to appreciate what we do, and realize why he wants to stay in school.

Left to right: Casey airspading; Danny Rose training Caleb how to operate a chainsaw; and me living my best life.

Upcoming Events & CEU Opportunities

in the Southern Chapter Region

Check out all the new CEU opportunities listed in the next few pages of this publication. This list is kept current on the Southern Chapter website as well. Save the site to your “favorites” as an easy access portal for events and registration information. If you know of opportunities we haven’t listed, please share! Email skincaid@isasouthern.org and we’ll get it posted.

We have worked hard to partner with organizations to be sure you get a wide range of opportunities to stay sharp. This list contains upcoming events that we are aware of. All the courses and conferences listed provide opportunities to earn ISA CEUs that help you maintain your ISA certifications. ISA is also offering no-cost quizzes for articles to give you more opportunities to earn CEUs.

Webinar Developers and Hosts

TREE Fund

Urban Forestry Today

Forestry Webinars

Urban Forest Connections USDA Forest Service

Utility Arborist Association

North Carolina Urban Forest Council

Arborjet Webinars

Professional Arborists Association of MS (PAAM)

Alabama Extension

Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Webinars

Educational Events

April 30, 2025

Arboriculture Basics and Safety

Charlotte, NC

Most events are approved for ISA CEUs. Check each registration site for details.

Another event in the North Carolina Urban Forest Council’s “Carolina Canopy” series, this half-day features some great speakers at a fantastic venue. Topics include IPM, tree planting techniques, and safety. Info and registration HERE

May 7, 2025 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online)

Co-hosted event with ISA Southern, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Midwestern Chapters This is a virtual renewal option and is only available for those who already have the TRAQ credential with an expiration date occurring within 18 months prior to the date of this course. The course fee includes all fees for the course and exams. After you attend the course, ISA will send you information about completing the exam process. Please read “Virtual TRAQ Renewal Info for Candidates” to be very clear about the course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached or 30 days prior to the course, whichever comes first. Register early!! Only register for this course if you already have a current TRAQ credential and your TRAQ expiration date is after May 7, 2025. Do not register if your TRAQ credential will expire prior to the class date. Your eligible renewal window begins 18 months prior to your expiration date. Attending a renewal course and successfully completing the exams prior to your expiration date will result in five years being added to your current expiration date.

If you register for a class date that occurs after your expiration date, you may not be notified of this mistake until 30 days prior to the course. Your registration will be cancelled and your registration fee will be refunded, less a $50 service fee.

If the class has filled, you can send us an email and ask to be placed on a waiting list or check for other available dates listed on this webpage. It is very rare that we can accommodate those on the waiting list, but we try to get you into the class of your choice when we can. A non-reply means we have no last-minute cancellations or cannot accommodate those on the waiting list.

Click HERE to Register for May 7, 2025 Renewal Course (Closes April 6 or when capacity of 30 is reached)

May 8-9, 2025

Arborist Review Class Fairhope, AL

A two-day workshop covering all 16 chapters of the ISA Certified Arborists Guide. This program is meant to assist in the preparation for the ISA Certified Arborist’s exam. It is also a good refresher for current Certified Arborists seeking CEUs to support their ISA credentials. Anyone interested in the science and art of tree care will find the workshop informative and interesting as it covers biology, identification, pest and diseases, pruning, tree selection and design, urban forestry, tree worker safety, and the business of tree care. Info and registration HERE.

Educational Events (continued)

May 9-11, 2025

Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop (WTCW)

North Carolina Tree Climbing Weekend Workshop in Efland, NC

Our friends at WTCW continue to provide some of the best training and motivation for those wanting to take that next step in their skills and confidence! ISA Southern Chapter continues to support this fantastic group of instructors and their mission. This tree climbing workshop is unique as it’s an all-inclusive event, providing great food, lodging, excellent instruction (with a low student/teacher ratio), use of tree climbing equipment, networking, and of course. professional CEUs. You will learn how to climb trees with an emphasis on arboricultural skills. The classes are tailored for beginners to experienced climbers alike based on our participants’ needs and wants. This safe, empowering experience will renew your spirit and allow you to bond with others who are curious and excited to advance their knowledge. Most importantly, you will leave with new skills, confidence, friends, and a professional network. Info and registration HERE. You are worth it!!

May 28-30, 2025

TRAQ 3-DAY COURSE FOR NEW APPLICANTS

Fairhope, AL

Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early! Additional information can be found here

June 2-4, 2025

CERTIFIED ARBORIST PREP COURSE Wilson, NC

Participants of this two-day workshop will receive professional instruction to improve their technical competence. Sponsored by the NC Urban Forest Council, NC Cooperative Extension, NC Forest Service, and ISA Southern Chapter. Info and registration HERE

June 4, 2025 8:00am - 12:30pm Eastern

ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Wilson, NC

ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist written exams are scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Applicants for each exam must register by May 19, 2025, at the ISA website. If you’re new to ISA, you’ll need to create an ISA profile here Registering for an exam includes 2 steps. First, you must complete an application for your selected credential. On your ISA profile, find the link “Apply for an ISA Certification.” Complete the application for your selected credential. Second, once the application is submitted and approved by ISA, you can register for an exam. Be sure to submit your application well in advance of registering for an exam, as it can take several weeks to get a submitted application approved.

Scholarship Program

A scholarship is also available to assist with costs for a master’s student to attend ISA Southern conference.

JANUARY 31 DEADLINE Scholarships up to $2,000 for students attending 2-year and 4-year college or university.

June 16-18, 2025

TRAQ 3-DAY COURSE FOR

Knoxville, TN

NEW APPLICANTS

Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for either course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information can be found here Register HERE for June 16-18 TRAQ Course (Closes May 16 or when capacity of 20 is reached)

August 6, 2025 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online)

Co-hosted event with ISA Southern, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, and Midwestern Chapters

This is a virtual renewal option and is only available for those who already have the TRAQ credential with an expiration date occurring within 18 months prior to the date of this course. The course fee includes all fees for the course and exams. After you attend the course, ISA will send you information about completing the exam process. Please read “Virtual TRAQ Renewal Info for Candidates” to be very clear about the course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached or 30 days prior to the course, whichever comes first. Register early!!

Only register for this course if you already have a current TRAQ credential and your TRAQ expiration date is after August 6, 2025. Do not register if your TRAQ credential will expire prior to the class date. Your eligible renewal window begins 18 months prior to your expiration date. Attending a renewal course and successfully completing the exams prior to your expiration date will result in five years being added to your current expiration date.

If you register for a class date that occurs after your expiration date, you may not be notified of this mistake until 30 days prior to the course. Your registration will be cancelled, and your registration fee will be refunded, less a $50 service fee.

Click HERE to register for August 6, 2025, Renewal Course (Closes July 6 or when capacity of 30 is reached)

November 19-20, 2025 PARTNERS IN COMMUNITY FORESTRY CONFERENCE Hendersonville, Nevada. Sponsored by our friends at the Arbor Day Foundation. Additional information HERE.

Your work demands experts. We deliver them.

We’re invested in our people, the ones who help power the future and drive progress forward.

As experts in their field with a passion for nature, they’re never complacent in helping to deliver solutions on behalf of our clients and the communities they serve.

At Davey, our workforce is continuously developing and refining their skills through ongoing training, helping drive shared success for all. From evolving technology to developing safer work practices, we prepare for what’s coming—so you’re always at the forefront. What keeps coming are compliance updates and technology evolution. And what’s vital is having a partner whose dedicated, highly trained people understand the complexity of the industry now and in the future.

That’s real power. See

2025

ISA

Southern Chapter

Conference & Trade Show in Memphis | Photos by Hannah Imagine Shaw and Donna Elbon

2025 Southern Chapter ISA Conference & Trade Show in Memphis

Comments from ISA member and Southern Chapter member

Luciano Riva from

Varese, Italy

“Great idea, the prescriptions for pruning trees in urban areas, and the course that qualifies as a prescriber. Municipalities and perhaps private individuals who own parks and gardens will ask for a prescription before carrying out pruning and maintenance interventions on trees.

Well-done course with field exercises. Serious exam, which qualifies for work in the field.

As far as my reality is concerned, I will certainly bring some topics from the pruning prescriptions course to the arboriculture courses where I teach (Fondazione Minoprio is an agricultural school and Tree Climbing Italia is an association of tree climbers). Considering the consequences of incorrect pruning on the tree in public spaces, on the health of citizens, and on the possibility that plants can become dangerous, it is desirable that qualification courses for pruning prescriptions can be created. The courses would serve to safeguard urban trees in general, to reduce tree risk, to better maintain urban ecosystems, to have more ecosystem services, and to improve the naturalness of urban areas.

My experience during the April 2025 conference was very positive, with tree care companies represented and many interesting seminars. Those that, in my opinion, were most interesting include: Urban comparable tree architecture (Ed Gilman), Reviving urban landscape and solutions to decompaction soils (Glynn Percival), and Feeder roots health and healthy root system (Stephanie Adams).

Thank you for allowing me to participate in the course on pruning prescriptions. I hope to see you again soon.

Oh, I forgot, on my day off, I visited the Memphis Botanical Gardens, the tropical greenhouse is very beautiful.”

Message from Chaz Griffith President, Tennessee Urban Forestry Council

Dear ISA Southern Chapter Members,

Greetings from the Volunteer State!

On behalf of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council (TUFC), I’d like to extend our appreciation for the continued collaboration and support from our colleagues across the ISA Southern Chapter. It was a pleasure connecting with so many of you at the recent conference in Memphis. The conversations around community engagement, professional development, and the evolving needs of our urban forests were both inspiring and energizing!

TUFC offers many opportunities for ISA credential holders to engage with communities in an effort to better educate and inform tree owners and managers. Folks educated about their trees feel empowered to take action. When arborists are involved in community projects, it builds public trust in the industry. Trees can only benefit from our participation!

Here in Tennessee, we’re entering one of our busiest and most rewarding times of the year: arboretum inspection season. With more than 100 certified arboreta across the state, this program continues to serve as a cornerstone for public education and community pride. TUFC is proud to support municipalities, schools, and civic groups in maintaining these living libraries, and we welcome new applications from communities looking to deepen their commitment to urban forestry.

Our work is stronger because of partnerships like those found in the Southern Chapter. TUFC remains committed to serving as a bridge between certified arborists and the communities they serve, and we look forward to growing those connections in the seasons ahead.

With gratitude and in service,

Chaz Griffith, President Tennessee Urban Forestry Council info@tufc.com | www.tufc.com

Three generations of arborists (one in the making). Mizell Tree Experts are students for life!

2024-2025 State Directors

Alabama:

Anne Randle

Green Business Certification, Inc.

Arkansas: Brian Pope

ACRT

Louisiana: Fred Fellner

Mississippi: Steve Dicke

Shady Arbor PLLC

North Carolina: Leslie Moorman Town of Cary

Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: Christian W. Torres Santana Coccoloba AgroEnvironnemental Consulting and Coccoloba Nursery

South Carolina: Paul Mitchell Wright Tree Service

Tennessee: Hannah Imagine Shaw

SiteOne Landscape Supply

At-Large: (open)

Southern Chapter ISA Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (314) 215-8010

Email: isasouthern@isasouthern.org

Skip Kincaid, Exec. Director 1609 Missouri Avenue St Louis, MO 63104

2024-2025 Southern Chapter Officers

President: Chris Diffley, Arbor Ki Tree Solutions

President Elect / Treasurer: Brian Watkins, Recreation and Park Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge

Vice President: Dena Whitesides, SC Forestry Commission

Component Council Rep: David Vandergriff, Griff Arbor|Hort

Tree Climbing Championship: Scott Winningham

TREE Fund Liaison: Matt Searels, Eocene Environmental Group

Past President: Hallie Dozier, LSU AgCenter

Media Director and Editor: Sarah Mitchell

Conference Planner: Connie Hilson

Executive Director: Skip Kincaid

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