Presenters
as of 12/18/2025Click on a presenter’s name to learn more about them.
Joel Bickley ~ Dr. Kim Coder ~ Dr. David Coyle ~ William Hascher~ Dr. Richard Hauer ~ Samantha Kennett ~ James Komen ~ JP McDonnell ~ Randy Miller ~ Dr. Kelly Oten ~ Glynn Percival ~ Dr. Paul G. Putman ~ Dr. Paul Ries ~ Steve Samuels ~ Delaney Serpan ~ H. Imagine Shaw ~ Dr. Robert Vanderhoof ~ Kendra Wagner ~ Jimmy Walters ~ Liz Westberg ~ Andy White
JOEL BICKLEY
Joel Bickley has worked at Dominion Energy for 21 years in the Transmission Vegetation Management department. He attended Clemson University, earning a BS in Forest Resource Management (1995) and Masters of Agricultural Education (2000). Joel is a SC Registered Forester and ISA Certified Arborist.
DR. KIM CODER
Dr. Kim D. Coder is Emeritus Professor of Tree Biology & Health Care, University of Georgia, & Past President of ISA. Degrees from Iowa State University in forestry, tree biology, and forest ecology. Elected world President of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and served as President of the Southern Chapter of ISA, the international Arboriculture Research & Education Academy (AREA), and the Georgia Urban Forest Council. Appointed to the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). First person to receive four of ISA’s world awards – the Shigo, Harris, Lilly, and Merit awards. Granted the Arbor Day Foundation’s highest award -- the J. Sterling Morton award. Awarded the Mary Helen Ray Legacy Award by the Georgia Tree Council. International lecturer and consultant on tree biology and structure, tree health under climate change, tree biomechanics, and urban ecosystems.
DR. DAVID COYLE
Dr. David Coyle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. His extension and research program focuses on tree health and invasive species management in natural and managed landscapes across the Southeast, and he creates educational materials for professionals and non-professionals on everything from native and invasive arthropods to invasive plants.
Dave is Past-President of the North American Invasive Species Management Association and has won national awards from the Society of American Foresters, Forest Landowner Association, and Entomological Society of America, and North American Invasive Species Management Association. He grew up on a farm in southeastern Minnesota and completed his B.A. in Biology at Luther College, M.S. in Entomology and Forestry at Iowa State University, and PhD in Entomology at the University of Wisconsin.
WILLIAM HASCHER
William “Bill” Hascher is the Arborist Operations Manager at the historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, where he leads all aspects of tree health assessment, preservation, and long-term canopy management across the estate’s diverse and iconic landscape. With over three decades of field experience, Bill specializes in risk assessment, decay detection, and holistic tree care in both historic and natural settings. A Board Certified Master Arborist® through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), Bill is among a select group of professionals recognized for their advanced knowledge and commitment to best practices in arboriculture. His leadership at Biltmore combines technical expertise with a deep respect for cultural landscapes, ensuring the estate’s trees thrive for future generations. Bill frequently collaborates with arboricultural consultants, researchers, and landscape conservationists, and he is a trusted resource in the southeastern U.S. for tree diagnostics, storm recovery planning, and preservation during construction. His work blends modern science with historic stewardship, making him a valued voice in both the professional and academic arboriculture communities.
DR. RICHARD HAUER
Dr. Richard Hauer is the Director of Urban Forestry at Eocene Environmental Group and an Emeritus Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. He was honored as the 2023 Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Education and the 2018 & 2024 L.C. Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research. He has published over 200 publications and presented over 500 talks throughout the world.
SAMANTHA M. KENNETT
Samantha M. Kennett is an urban ecologist whose research focuses on invasive species in urban ecosystems. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Southern New Hampshire University before completing her master’s degree in Integrative Biology at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. For her master’s work, Samantha led the research team that identified the “ManhattAnt,” an invasive ant species in New York City. Samantha gained extensive outreach and community engagement experience through co-leading the Urban Kings Project, a community science project studying eastern king snakes in Metro Atlanta, and during her time working at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell, Georgia. She is currently a PhD student working with Dr. David Coyle at Clemson University studying the ecology, management, and impact of the invasive crape myrtle bark scale.
JAMES KOMEN, ESQ.
James Komen is a consulting arborist in California specializing in risk assessment and tree appraisal. He helps clients make informed management decisions for individual trees and for tree inventories. His work has been published in various peer-reviewed journals. He is an ISA TRAQ instructor and an ASCA TPAQ instructor, and he has presented around the U.S. and Canada. He is also a licensed California attorney.
JP MCDONNELL
JP McDonnell is the Service Line Director for SavATree’s Natural Resources Consulting Group, where he leads a national team of consulting arborists focused on delivering actionable tree intelligence to clients. JP is passionate about serving the community of practice by volunteering on committees like the ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards Committee, ISA Test Committee, ASCA Membership Committee, and others. He is a Registered Consulting Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist and is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualified. JP received a Master of Natural Resources degree from Virginia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Sewanee: The University of the South. JP resides in Nashville, TN with his wife and two cats!
RANDALL H. MILLER
Randall H. Miller joined CNUC in 2017 and serves as the director of research and development for Eocene Environmental Group. Randall received his Bachelor of Science in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison before obtaining his Master of Science in urban forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has more than three-and-a-half decades of experience, previously working as director of vegetation management for PacifiCorp and serving on ACRT’s board of directors.
Randall serves on the ISA Board of Directors, has been chair of the TREE Fund Board of Trustees, president of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) and twice chair of the Edison Electric Institute Vegetation Management Task Force. He has also served on the ISA Certification Test Committee and many other industry committees. Randall is the author of the ISA Integrated Vegetation Management Best Management Practices and co-author of the Utility Specialist Study Guide. He speaks widely on arboricultural topics and performs formal utility vegetation management (UVM) surveys of North American utilities. When he isn’t working, Randall enjoys bicycle and motorcycle riding, hiking and skiing.
DR. KELLY OTEN
Dr. Kelly Oten is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Forest Health at NC State University. She has always loved insects and has degrees in Entomology from Texas A&M, University of Tennessee, and NC State. Her research and Extension programs focus on the ecology and management of destructive forest pests, such as the emerald ash borer and elm zigzag sawfly.
DR. GLYNN PERCIVAL
Dr. Glynn Percival is the Senior Arboricultural Researcher at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory based in Charlotte, NC. He is the author of over 100 scientific papers, magazine articles and book chapters. In addition, Dr. Percival is on the editorial board for Arboriculture and Urban Forestry and Urban Forestry Urban Greening and is the co-editor of the proceedings of the Trees, People and Built Environment Conference, published by the Forestry Commission. Reading University made Dr. Percival an honorary visiting research fellow, citing his valuable contributions within the Plant Science Department and the University. Dr. Percival is also a visiting lecturer at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens and was awarded the prestigious Arboricultural Association Award for Research and Education in 2017 and the International Society of Arboriculture LCC Chadwick Award for Research in 2020. Dr. Percival is actively involved in managing urban and rural landscapes for the Royal Households and Duchy of Cornwall.
DR. PAUL G. PUTMAN
Paul G. Putman, PhD, President & CEO, TREE Fund, joined Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund in 2023 as President & CEO. TREE Fund is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in urban forestry and arboriculture. Since 2002, TREE Fund has distributed over $6 million in research grants, scholarships, and funding for arboriculture-connected education both nationwide and around the globe to advance the science, practice, and safety of tree care and engage the next generation of tree stewards.
Prior to TREE Fund, Dr. Putman worked at the Cleveland Foundation, the world’s first community foundation, where he served in both grantmaking and philanthropy departments for 15 years. As a Program Officer with the Community Responsive Grantmaking team, Paul facilitated grantmaking across multiple sectors by focusing on efforts to strengthen nonprofit organizations and improve access to services for underserved populations. In the Philanthropy department, Paul served as Senior Director of Philanthropic Services, leading a team of professionals in working with individuals, families, and nonprofits throughout greater Cleveland to help them achieve their philanthropic goals. Prior to joining the foundation, Paul spent a decade leading the Center for Leadership and Service at Cleveland State University (CSU).
DR. PAUL RIES
Dr. Paul Ries has worked as a practitioner and educator in natural resources, urban forestry, arboriculture, and wildland fire management at the state, local, International, non-profit, and academic levels for over 35 years. He currently teaches urban forestry, green infrastructure, and arboriculture at Oregon State University and provides consulting, teaching, and facilitation services through Insightful Nature LLC, a natural resources consulting, communications, and training company. He holds BS and MS degrees in Natural Resources and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Paul is a Past-President of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 1988.
STEVE SAMUELS
DELANEY SERPAN
Delaney Serpan is a Ph.D. student in the Forest Health Lab at NC State University. Her research focuses on the biology, behavior, and management of a novel invasive pest, elm zigzag sawfly.
H. IMAGINE SHAW
H. Imagine Shaw is an experienced arborist and horticulturist. ISA certified, she has a background in consulting, plant healthcare, and sustainable landscape management. Shaw is passionate about educating communities and resides on the board of both the Southern Chapter of the ISA-Tennessee State Director/Education Committee and the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council Liaison/Education Committee.
Her favorite tree is the Bald Cypress, or Taxodium distichum, because of its reddish fibrous bark and Metasequoia-like foliage. When she’s not working, you can still find her outside camping, fly fishing, reading, or whittling. “If I can help people understand and implement more sustainable, plant healthcare-focused approaches to caring for our landscapes, then I know I am doing something meaningful and worthwhile,” says Shaw.
DR. ROBERT VANDERHOOF
Winner of the David H Nabi Award for dedication and service, Robert Vanderhoof earned his Ph.D. from the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University in 1995. He also holds certifications as an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, a Utility Specialist and is TRAQ qualified. A veteran natural resource manager, Robert spent 15 years as Florida’s deer management program leader during which time he coordinated range management activities across Florida’s seven-million-acre wildlife management area system. In 2004 Robert earned the Florida Chapter of the Wildlife Society’s award for “Extraordinary Vision, Leadership, and Dedication”. From 2008-2023 Robert applied his management experience as a Utility Vegetation Manager for PacifiCorp across Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. He currently teaches Urban and Community Forestry at the University of Wisconsin—Stevens Point and works as a Research & Consulting Subject Matter Expert for ARBORMETRICS. Robert also heads up Tall Tree Learning LLC which specializes in preparing students for ISA certification as arborists and Utility Specialists. Winner of the UAA Education Award in 2023, Robert currently serves on the UAA Board of Directors, has written several articles on natural resource management, and routinely speaks on utility vegetation management issues.
KENDRA WAGNER
Kendra Wagner is a Research Scientist at Rainbow Ecoscience, where she leads nationwide research trials focused on advancing plant health care solutions. She brings a diverse background in arboriculture, tree injection, and integrated pest management (IPM). Kendra earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick and a diploma in Urban Forestry. She studied Forest Entomology at Mississippi State University, conducting international research on drought impacts and forest management in relation to invasive species. At Rainbow Ecoscience, her work centers on understanding drought stress and improving drought tolerance strategies for trees and landscapes.
JIMMY WALTERS
Jimmy Walters is a Certified Arborist and Past President of the ISA Southern Chapter. He is retired from the SC Forestry Commission and now is a part-time consulting arborist. An ISA Approved Instructor for TRAQ, he has taught over 70 TRAQ courses in the Southern, Florida, Texas, Michigan and Georgia ISA Chapters. Jimmy is a Registered Forester and serves on the Board of the SC Vegetation Management Association. He is Chairman of Woodland Clinic LLC, a forestry skills competition for high school students in Upstate South Carolina.
LIZ WESTBERG
Liz Westberg is originally educated as a Wildlife Ecologist, earning her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. Since transitioning to the Utility Arboriculture industry, she has earned the ISA Utility Specialist and Professional Utility Vegetation Management credentials. Liz has held several roles for Growth Solutions – a tree growth regulator application company – including operations, quality assurance, safety, technical training, and most recently business development; and has been speaking on tree and safety topics around the country. She was awarded the Will Nutter Silver Shield Award for safety contributions to the industry in 2024, and currently chairs the Utility Arborist Association safety committee.
ANDY WHITE
Andy White is a nationally recognized, multiple award-winning landscape designer; Certified Member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD #167) for 20 years (1996-2016); Registered Consulting Arborist® (RCA #510) for 10 years (2011-2021); Landscape Industry Certified Manager (NALP) for 17 years (1999-2016); N.C. Licensed Pesticide Applicator (#4146); ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor (TRAQ); ASCA Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification (TPAQ).
Andy White is a nationally recognized, award-winning landscape designer with over 45 years of experience as a landscape company owner in Ohio and North Carolina. He holds a master's degree in Ecology from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor's in Zoology from Miami University. A Certified Member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers for two decades, Andy also served as a Registered Consulting Arborist®, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, and ISA Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. He is a licensed pesticide applicator, general contractor, and North Carolina Registered Landscape Contractor. His work has been widely published and honored with 12 national and state design/build awards, including the prestigious NCNLA Oakland Award for lifetime achievement. A prolific writer and industry thought leader, Andy contributed for 13 years as a feature columnist for *Builder/Architect* magazine and regularly consulted for other leading landscape publications. His former company, Wayside Landscape Services, Inc., was a consistent recipient of national safety awards for excellence in operations.