Updated: 12/18/25
Schedule is subject to change.

Learn more about each presenter by clicking on their name.

SOIL SOLUTIONS: IMPROVING URBAN TREE VITALITY THROUGH TARGETED AMENDMENTS
Dr. Glynn Percival, Senior Arboricultural Research Manager, Bartlett Tree Experts

Soil amendments have long played a vital role in arboriculture, serving as tools to enhance tree health and resilience in urban landscapes. Recent innovations have expanded the range of available materials, including biochar, synthetic and inorganic compounds, organic fertilizers, mycorrhizal inoculants, seaweed extracts, molasses, humic substances, biostimulants, and protein/fish hydrolysates. These products are widely promoted for their potential to improve soil structure and fertility, stimulate root development, mitigate pest and disease pressures, and bolster tolerance to abiotic stressors such as drought and heat.

Despite their promise, the effectiveness of these amendments varies widely-ranging from significant improvements in tree performance to negligible impact. This presentation will examine the current understanding of soil amendment efficacy, with a focus on four key areas:

• Alleviating Soil-Moisture Stress: A critical concern in unirrigated urban landscapes where tree survival depends on natural precipitation.

• Enhancing Root Systems: Addressing transplant-related root loss, which contributes to water deficits and increased mortality.

• Adapting to Climate Change: Exploring amendment strategies to mitigate the effects of increasingly hot and dry summers.

• Managing Disease Pressure: Evaluating how soil amendments influence pest and pathogen dynamics.

Through a synthesis of research findings and field observations, this talk aims to provide practical insights into the strategic use of soil amendments for improving urban tree health and landscape sustainability.

THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL: THE FLASHY BUT DESTRUCTIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Forest Health, North Carolina State University

It’s beautiful, it’s bold—and it’s bad news for our plants. The spotted lanternfly, first detected in the U.S. in 2014, may look flashy with its bright wings, but behind the showgirl exterior lies a destructive pest that threatens vineyards, orchards, landscape plants, and forests. It is spreading quickly, leaving behind plant damage, sticky messes, and big headaches for landowners. This presentation will cover the full story of the spotted lanternfly—its life cycle, the damage it causes, and, most importantly, what can be done about it.

CULTIVATING INNOVATION: AN UPDATE FROM THE TREE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND (TREE FUND)
Dr. Paul G. Putman, President & CEO, TREE Fund

POWERING PEOPLE: ATTRACT, TRAIN & RETAIN YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES
Steve Samuels, Business Consultant, SingleOps

Hiring is tough, but keeping great people is tougher. This talk dives into real-world strategies top companies use to turn onboarding into a retention machine—boosting productivity, culture, and the bottom line.

TO BE ANNOUNCED
Randall H. Miller, Director of Research and Development, Eocene Environmental Group

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SPEAKING TREES TO THE LAYPERSON. BUILDING TRUST AND A LIFELONG CLIENT
Christie Bryant, Owner, Speaking for Trees

This talk is designed to equip arborists with the communication tools necessary to effectively "talk trees" with clients, transforming everyday interactions into opportunities for education, trust-building, and long-term care. Arborists often carry deep technical knowledge, but translating that into meaningful, accessible language for the average property owner is both an art and a skill. This course explores strategies to demystify arboriculture for clients—breaking down complex concepts like risk assessments into clear, engaging explanations that empower informed decision-making. We’ll examine how to reframe a risk assessment not just as a report of liabilities, but as a chance to educate clients about tree biology, structural integrity, and proactive care. Additionally, the class will clarify the vital difference between a consultation and an estimate, helping arborists define their roles as both service providers and professional advisors. Through real-world scenarios and guided discussion, attendees will leave with practical approaches to elevate client conversations—turning each site visit into an opportunity to grow both trees and trust.

A GROWING QUESTION FOR TREES: IMPLICATIONS FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Dr. Richard Hauer, Director of Urban Forestry at Eocene Environmental Group; Professor Emeritus of Urban Forestry, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point

Lets’ take a journey and explore how biology is a basis for how trees grow. Trees have limits and learn the limits that make trees thrive and how growth responds to changes. Learn how cultural treatments, site changes, and site limitations can affect growth rates. Estimating elongation rates for vertical and horizontal twigs based on site conditions, tree attributes, past maintenance, and other factors is covered. In summary, learn about tree growth and how to make management decisions based on biology and how sites and maintenance affect tree growth.

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