Explore every episode of the podcast The Municipal Arborist
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 - What Has Been Going On? | 26 Aug 2024 | 00:39:39 | |
In this episode I provide some updates on what I have been up to working with the: | |||
| 51 - Steve Lane - Great Lakes Urban Forestry | 25 Aug 2024 | 01:06:44 | |
Steve Lane joins us again! Steve is an Urban Forestry Consultant with Great Lakes Urban Forestry management where he specializes in GIS based tree surveys, tree risk management, urban forestry management, planning, appraisals and other innovative forestry solutions for a variety of public and private sector clients. He is also the past president of the Illinois Arborist Association, where he teaches a variety of advanced training courses for the organizations. Steve recently joined the ISA Board of Directors. He is also the bass player of a bunch of lousy bands you've never heard of. His opinions here are his own and do not constitute any form of legal advise. | |||
| 42 - Miguel Reyes - City of Des Plaines & Migarey Tree Corp. | 20 Nov 2023 | 01:43:24 | |
Miguel Reyes is an ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ qualified & has also completed the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) Advanced Training Domain. Miguel has worked with the City of Des Plaines for the last 12 years. He worked his way up from Maintenance Operator to his current title of Streets Crew Leader. As the city arborist, he oversees the health and care of over 22,000 trees in all public right-of-ways. He proudly partakes in the yearly tree planting program and Arbor Day activities across the local school district. The knowledge he acquires through the IAA workshops, allows him to educate the community on proper tree maintenance. Additionally, his company Migarey Tree Corp., supports his goal to enhance urban canopy and build a stronger urban forest. _________________________________________________________________________ | |||
| 41 - Melissa Custic - Chicago Region Trees Initiative | 13 Nov 2023 | 01:31:07 | |
Melissa Custic manages operations for the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI)—a collaboration of regional partners working together to improve the health, diversity, and equity of trees in the seven-county Chicago region. Melissa works closely with colleagues of partner institutions to increase canopy cover, reduce the impacts of invasive species, and increase the preservation of oak ecosystems in the Chicago region. She has developed several resources and training programs aimed at improving tree selection, planting, and care, as well as targeting invasive woody removal and replacement. She serves as Vice President on the Illinois Invasive Species Council and as lead on the Chicago Wilderness Urban Tree Canopy Sub-Committee. Her professional interests include urban forestry, urban ecology, environmental justice, invasive species, climate change, and soil ecology. | |||
| 40 - Scott Grams - Illinois Landscape Contractors Association | 05 Nov 2023 | 01:31:56 | |
Scott Grams has served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) since 2008. ILCA is the leading non-profit trade association for landscape, lawn care, nursery, and allied trades professionals in Illinois. Since 1959, ILCA has provided landscape contractors with the resources needed to enhance their performance and ensure continued growth and success. The Association’s mission is to enhance the professionalism and expertise of members by providing leadership, education, representation, and services while advancing environmental awareness and the value of the landscape industry. ILCA employs a wide variety of means to fulfill its mission including; seminars, workshops, publications, trade shows, awards, networking, scholarship grants and social events. ILCA is based in Oak Brook, IL. Scott has been involved in trade association management for his entire career. He graduated from Purdue University and holds a Master's Degree from Northwestern University. | |||
| 39 - Stephanie Adams, Ph.D, BCMA - The Morton Arboretum | 22 Oct 2023 | 01:43:39 | |
Dr. Stephanie Adams is a Tree Pathologist and an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist who serves as the Plant Health Care Leader at the Morton Arboretum and as the Research Director for the Illinois Arborist Association. She has been involved in the tree care industry for 23 years. She enjoys performing clinical plant disease diagnosis, conducting research on tree diseases and other plant health issues, and delivering these findings to green industry professionals. | |||
| 38 - Aaron Schauer - Gateway Technical College | 16 Sep 2023 | 01:04:48 | |
Aaron has been a practicing arborist for over 20 years. He began his career completing his BS in Urban Forestry from UW-Stevens Point. After graduation, he worked full-time as a climber, at first in WI, and later traveling to work 1.5 years in New Zealand. Upon returning, he started his own business working as a contract climber for companies around the southern half of WI. In 2010, Aaron moved to Oceanside, CA, working as a climbing arborist in North San Diego County. In 2011, he moved back to WI and completed his masters degree in 2015 from UW-Stevens Point. In 2017, Aaron began the Arboriculture/Urban Forestry program at Gateway Technical College, where he continues to instruct and help students grow and find their way in the tree care industry. He is also the ISA representative for the Wisconsin Arborist Association, serving on the WAA Board of Directors since 2018. | |||
| 37 - Jim Flott - Community Forestry Consultants | 12 Jun 2023 | 01:13:12 | |
Jim Flott is President of Community Forestry Consultants, Inc. (CFC). CFC provides | |||
| 36 - John Wayne Farber - Hoppe Tree Service | 02 May 2023 | 01:19:01 | |
John Wayne Farber is the Director of Operations for Hoppe Tree Service, is a Board Certified Master Arborist, a TCIA Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP) and a past board member of the Wisconsin Arborist Association. | |||
| 35 - Frank Calvello | 16 Apr 2023 | 01:43:01 | |
Frank is the Village Forester for the Village of Schaumburg, Illinois though when we recorded this he was with the City of Berwyn, Illinois. Frank has an excellent outlook on our industry and life in general! | |||
| 34 - Steve Ludwig | 25 Mar 2023 | 01:39:35 | |
Steve was the first guest ever on the show and I am so glad to have him back for another discussion! Though he has retired from his previous role as the General Services Superintendent at the Village of Algonquin, Illinois, he is still very active in the industry owning Ludwig Speaks, LLC and is also a consultant with Great Lakes Urban Forestry. | |||
| 33 - Brandon Dobnick - Vertical Services Tree Care Professionals | 27 Feb 2023 | 02:36:57 | |
Brandon Dobnick is a Certified Arborist, CTSP, and a 13 year veteran to the | |||
| 50 - Protect Our Urban Forests | 12 Mar 2024 | 03:39:48 | |
This special episode features a few of my favorite friends and colleagues including Village Forester Kevin Sorby from Wilmette, Illinois and Streets Superintendent Tony Dati from Niles, Illinois. | |||
| 32 - Beau Nagan - Cantigny Park | 07 Feb 2023 | 02:33:29 | |
This episode’s guest is Beau Nagan who has worked in the tree care industry for over 20 years. He has two associate degrees from Juliet Junior College in Landscape Management and Turf Management and a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis on urban forestry from Western Illinois University. He has worked for Davey Tree as a climber, Davey Resource Group as a Utility Work Planner on the south side of Chicago and the Morton Arboretum where he worked as an arborist for 6 years. He is currently the Forestry Manager at Canigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois. He is an ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist and TRAQ qualified. He is a certified TCIA trainer and also works as a trainer for the Illinois Arborist Association, not to mention past president of the chapter. He us a competitive tree climber and has represented Illinois at the ISA International Tree Climbing Competition six times. | |||
| 31- Decoding Municipal Ordinances Q&A | 14 Jan 2023 | 01:06:03 | |
In this episode I answer questions that were submitted during webinars hosted by PlanIt Geo titled "Decode Municipal Tree Ordinances" where I was a panel speaker. Both recordings can be found here: | |||
| 30 - Kelly Bougher | 30 Nov 2022 | 01:32:29 | |
Kelly Bougher is a Certified Arborist with a background in conservation and natural resource management. Her appreciation of the natural world paired with a diverse background of nearly 15 years of experience in restoration lead her to a career in arboriculture and she currently works in urban forestry. | |||
| 29 - Robyn Flakne - Village of Glenview, Illinois | 06 Nov 2022 | 01:32:48 | |
Since 2000, Robyn Flakne has been the Natural Resources Manager for the Village of Glenview. The position has allowed her to be involved with restoring and creating naturalized open space and green infrastructure throughout the municipality, starting with the redevelopment of a former naval air station. The West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River has been a major focus as approximately 70% of the Village’s stormwater drains to this waterway. The Village has implemented several water quality improvement projects, including streambank stabilization and naturalization, detention basin naturalization, adding riffles and pools, and some channel re-meandering. Robyn has obtained funding and managed engineering and construction bids and volunteer workdays for these projects. She also serves as staff liaison to the Village’s volunteer Environment and Natural Resources Commission. Robyn also serves as the Tree Preservation Officer for the Village, administering the Tree Preservation Ordinance as it applies to tree removal on private property. She is co-chair of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Trees and Green Infrastructure work group and a member of the Executive Board of the North Branch Watershed Working Group. She also teaches Forest Resources, Green Infrastructure and Wildlife Resources at Northeastern Illinois University. | |||
| 28 - Robert Hendricksen - R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care (Part 2) | 11 Oct 2022 | 01:12:22 | |
Part 2: Bob has been working with R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care since he was able to use a rake and follow his dad around on the job. His dad and uncle started Hendricksen Tree Care in1964. Bob received his bachelor degree in Administration Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point in 1989. Bob has grown up with a passion for trees and finding solutions for healthy trees. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, a TCIA CTSP and is a member of the Illinois Arborist Association, The Tree Care Industry Association and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. | |||
| 27- Norm Hall | 27 Sep 2022 | 01:10:09 | |
Norm shares with us a few stories from his lifetime career in the tree care industry . He is a climbing arborist, a passionate educator, volunteer, motivator and is the co-inventor of the Port-a-Wrap. | |||
| 26 - Robert Hendricksen - R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care (Part 1) | 19 Sep 2022 | 01:02:48 | |
Bob has been working with R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care since he was able to use a rake and follow his dad around on the job. His dad and uncle started Hendricksen Tree Care in1964. Bob received his bachelor degree in Administration Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point in 1989. Bob has grown up with a passion for trees and finding solutions for healthy trees. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, a TCIA CTSP and is a member of the Illinois Arborist Association, The Tree Care Industry Association and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association. | |||
| 25 - Tricia Bethke - The Morton Arboretum | 23 Aug 2022 | 01:11:32 | |
Tricia conducts statewide outreach and training on invasive forest pests in Illinois. This includes identifying and training key stakeholders about invasive species, pest identification, regulations and quarantines, as well as reporting protocols. | |||
| 24 - Dan O'Brien - Russo Power Equipment | 17 Aug 2022 | 01:46:19 | |
Dan O'Brien is a Certified Arborist, the Arbor Supply Supervisor with Russo Power Equipment and the Vice President at the Illinois Arborist Association. | |||
| 23 - John Paul McDonell -SavATree | 27 Jul 2022 | 01:06:45 | |
John Paul McDonell is a Consulting Arborist with SavATree and shares with us his journey from municipal forestry to the private side and everything in between. | |||
| 49 - Michael Collins - Village of Riverside, Illinois | 04 Mar 2024 | 02:38:12 | |
Michael Collins has been Riverside's Village Forester for 19 years. Prior to his arrival there, he worked at Cantigny Gardens as a Grounds Arborist and at the Morton Arboretum as a Research Assistant. Mr. Collins received his bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in Forest Science and a masters degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Natural Resources. He has been a Certified Arborist for over 25 years. He has also received his Municipal Arborist Specialist certification and is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ). Michael serves on the Illinois Arborist Association's Board of Directors as the Municipal Director and also serves as the Co-Chair for the Tree Stewardship & Planting Workgroup with the Chicago Region Tree Initiative (CRTI). | |||
| 22 - Elizabeth Schulte - PlanIt Geo | 21 Jun 2022 | 01:14:06 | |
Elizabeth Schulte is the guest on Episode 22! Elizabeth is the Marketing Director of PanIt Geo and she was a pleasure to talk to. | |||
| 21 - Scott Jamieson - Bartlett Tree Experts | 14 Jun 2022 | 01:13:27 | |
Episode21 of The Municipal Arborist features Scott Jamieson! | |||
| 20 - Joseph McCarthy - City of Chicago | 24 May 2022 | 01:22:36 | |
I am proud to have Joe McCarthy on as the guest of this episode! | |||
| 19 - Lee Mueller - Davey Resource Group | 11 May 2022 | 00:58:54 | |
This episode of The Municipal Arborist is with Lee Mueller from Davey Resource Group and we discuss a wide range of topics including his path in urban forestry, grants, inventories, urban forestry management, risk management, reforestation and investment in private tree planting. | |||
| 18 - Arbor Day Special with Fan Mail! | 29 Apr 2022 | 00:30:55 | |
In this bonus episode I talk about Arbor Day, Tree City, USA and how we educate the public daily in ways many people wouldn't immediately imagine. | |||
| 17 - Bob Burdick - Aspen Fuels | 25 Apr 2022 | 00:50:29 | |
Todays episode is with Bob Burdick the Director of Business Development with Aspen USA, Inc. Bob has 35 years in the outdoor power equipment industry including 10 years in retail, 9 years with Stihl and 11 years with Echo Power Equipment. He has spent considerable time training contractors, arborists and municipalities on equipment and chainsaws. We discuss his new role with Aspen, USA and what the fuel is all about. | |||
| 16 - Scott Altenhoff - City of Eugene, Oregon | 11 Apr 2022 | 00:56:24 | |
In this episode I sit down with Scott Altenhoff and we discuss how construction impacts trees and the politics sometimes involved with it. We also discuss Scott's involvement with the Society of Municipal Arborists, among other things. | |||
| 15 - Casey Selner - Arbsession | 27 Mar 2022 | 01:21:23 | |
In this episode I sit down with Casey Selner from Arbsession and Selner Tree & Shrub Care! I also announce the winners of our Instagram contest! | |||
| 14 - August Hoppe - Hoppe Tree Service | 12 Mar 2022 | 00:54:20 | |
Thanks to this episodes sponsors: | |||
| 13 - Matt Koepnick - City of Racine, Wisconsin | 28 Feb 2022 | 00:58:03 | |
Thanks to this episodes sponsor: https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcast | |||
| 48 - Kellie Schmidt - Illinois Landscape Contractors Association | 19 Feb 2024 | 01:00:16 | |
Kellie Schmidt is the Statewide Director of Development for the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, maintaining an office in Springfield, IL. She is responsible for advocacy, member outreach, and program development in the regions outside of the Chicagoland area. She also serves as a liaison to ILCA member nurseries. Before joining the ILCA, Kellie served as Executive Director of the Illinois Green Industry Association for five years. She brings two decades of marketing and sales experience to her work and is passionate about representing the hard-working people that work in all segments of the green industry. In her spare time, she serves at-risk youth and families through Christ-centered, equine assisted programs at Refuge Ranch in Rochester, IL. | |||
| 12 - Todd Kramer - Kramer Tree Specialists | 13 Feb 2022 | 01:24:25 | |
Thanks to this episodes sponsor: https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcast | |||
| 11 - Daniel Miraval - Green Extraction Technologies | 23 Jan 2022 | 01:23:31 | |
Thanks to our sponsor: https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcast | |||
| 10- Ian Hanou - PlanIt Geo | 01 Jan 2022 | 00:57:53 | |
In this episode I sat down with Ian Hanou the founder and CEO of PlanIt Geo in a hotel room in Louisville, Kentucky. We discussed GIS technology related to tree inventory software, training a new generation on its use, potential hurdles with the technology and other related topics. | |||
| 9 - Eric Petersen - ArboRisk | 29 Dec 2021 | 00:54:31 | |
In this episode we sit down with Eric Petersen the founder and President of ArboRisk. We discuss insurance for tree care companies, building companies to better succeed, industry topics, upcoming OSHA legislation, contracts for tree care companies and municipalities as well as other arboriculture topics. | |||
| 8 - Steve Lane - Graf Tree Care/Great Lakes Urban Forestry | 19 Dec 2021 | 01:20:45 | |
In this episode we discuss public speaking, the use of technology in tree care, potential liability issues, ordinances, resident issues and other arboriculture topics. | |||
| 7 - Zac King - Graf Tree Care/Great Lakes Urban Forestry | 12 Dec 2021 | 00:59:00 | |
In this episode Zac King and I discuss tree decline, planting and selection, identification, GIS technology, tree inventories and how how he got here. | |||
| 6 - Elected Officials & Urban Forestry | 11 Oct 2021 | 00:47:19 | |
In this episode we discuss what it can be like working with elected officials on urban forestry issues. We will discuss tree preservation ordinance issues as well as parkway tree plantings with audio examples from city council meetings. | |||
| 5 - Peggy Drescher - Education & Safety In Arboriculture | 14 Jul 2021 | 01:21:38 | |
Peggy Drescher is the guest on our 5th episode of The Municipal Arborist! Peggy has been in the industry for a few decades and has experienced a lot from both the private and municipal side through her time working with the Palatine Park District, the City of Park Ridge, the Village of Glen Ellyn and onto her work as the Midwest Regional Outreach Coordinator for the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). | |||
| 3 - Nick Kuhn - Being the First Arborist in a City....Twice | 13 May 2021 | 01:17:58 | |
This episode features Nick Kuhn who is the Operations Manager at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County located in Illinois. Nick is a man who has been around the block a few times in a diverse career spanning the entire United States. He shares with us some stories from performing inventories in the Northern California forests to building up an urban forestry program from scratch and the education of staff, residents and elected officials that comes with it. | |||
| 2 - Steve Ludwig - Creating Success | 29 Apr 2021 | 01:18:27 | |
On this episode we have Steve Ludwig who is a Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Arborist and Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist. He is the General Services Superintendent at the Village of Algonquin, Illinois and also owns Ludwig Speaks, LLC. | |||
| 47 - Derek, The Chocolate Botanist | 12 Feb 2024 | 00:54:26 | |
Following in the footsteps of notable black plant researchers and scientists like George Washington Carver and Percy Julian is no easy task, but Derek Haynes is more than up to the challenge. With a background in plant biology, and working in vaccine and therapeutics development using non-traditional plant-based technologies, Derek certainly practices what he preaches. Plants offer so much more than home decor, and Derek wants to show you how. He understands that the ancient and the modern don’t need to compete, but rather can work together in harmony, offering viable solutions to pressing questions like food insecurity and mind-body-spirit holistic wellness. | |||
| Episode 1 - An Introduction | 07 Apr 2021 | 00:23:52 | |
Welcome to the introduction episode of The Municipal Arborist. As you can imagine, this will be a brief introduction into who I am and what I am trying to accomplish. Future episodes will have great guests and open discussions about our trade and free CEU's. | |||
| 46 - Aaron Schulz - Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal | 31 Jan 2024 | 02:30:14 | |
Aaron Schulz is the Plant Health Care Director & Consulting Arborist at Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal. He has a B.S. in Agricultural Science with a minor in Urban Forestry from Western Illinois University and is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. He has served as the Past President for the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) and currently serves the organization as the Advanced Training Co-Chair, Advanced Training Instructor in Pest & Diagnosis Management, is an ISA Certification Workshop instructor, the Legislative Committee Chair and is the ISA Certification Liaison. | |||
| 45 - Welcome to 2024 featuring Rylan & Lilly | 09 Jan 2024 | 00:23:19 | |
This lighthearted introduction to 2024 features my two kids! | |||
| 44 - Leslie Berckes - Urban & Community Forestry Society | 13 Dec 2023 | 01:01:51 | |
Leslie Berckes is the Executive Director of the Urban and Community Forestry Society (formerly the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA). The UCFS is the professional membership home for people who make daily tree planting and care decisions in communities across the world. She brings over a decade of experience in urban forestry to the organization, having served as the Director of Programs for Trees Forever, a Midwest-based non-profit serving Iowa and Illinois. Leslie is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds a master’s degree in Public Policy with an Environmental Policy emphasis from the University of Northern Iowa in addition to a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. | |||