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Key Dates
August
Aug. 27, 2025 - Jan. 12, 2026
Cherry Valley Hotel - Conference Hotel
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Newark, OH
OTCC Program | Certified Arborist Prep Course
Program Days: Tuesday, February 3 | Wednesday, February 4 | Thursday, February 5
Prep Days: Tuesday, February 3 | Wednesday, February 4 | Thursday, February 5
OTCC Program
Tuesday, February 3
9:00 am - 10:00 am | Before You Spray, Read the Label! Mimi Rose |
10:15 am - 11:30 am | Root Collar Excavation and Compacted Soils - The Tools and Demonstration Andrew Freeman |
11:30 am - 12:30 pm | Lunch |
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm | PHC: Tools and Application Keith Lambert & Rick Towe |
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Soils: Analysis, Sampling, Tools & Application Guy Fortner, John Johnston |
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm | Urban-Compatible Tree Architecture Dr. Ed Gilman |
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm | Break |
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm | Urban-Compatible Tree Architecture Dr. Ed Gilman |
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall |
Wednesday, February 4
7:00 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast |
8:00 am - 5:00 pm | Certified Arborist Review Course / Pre-Registration Required |
9:00 am - 10:30 am | Keynote Presentation - PPQ Dr. Ed Gilman |
10:30 am - 11:00 am | Break |
Time | Commercial | Municipal | Utility | Climbers' Corner |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Assessing Establishment Success of North American Oaks Mary Gardiner, Christopher Riley, & Erika Wright |
Cincinnati's Urban Forest: Past, Present, Future Crystal Courtney & Garrett Dienno |
First Energy Green Teams & the Community Tree Program Jessica Schaffer |
Clip It, Check It, Don't Wrect It Russell Tree Experts |
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Lunch | |||
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Latest Safety Equipment Scott Brenner |
Avoiding Off Target Issues Dewey Goss |
Knot Your Average Anchors Russell Tree Experts |
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2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Guidelines for Managing BLD Cory McCurry |
Growing Potential through Land Banks & Urban Forestry Shawn Carvin, Lydia Lynch, Isaac Robb |
The Future of Vegetation Management: Digital, Smart, & AI Powered Joseph Delong |
No Swing, Just Bling Russell Tree Experts |
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Rooted in Excellence Paul Snyder |
From Nursery to Neighborhood William Barnhill, Brigitte Hisey & Chad Hoff |
Employee Retention Brigette Orrick |
Anchor Down, Rescue Up Russell Tree Experts |
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Buckeye Bash |
Thursday, February 5
8:00 am – 9:30 am | Annual Breakfast Meeting & Education |
9:00 am - 12:00 pm | ISA Written Exams / Registration begins at 8:30 am |
Time | Commercial | Municipal | Utility | Climbers' Corner |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 am – 11:00 am | Ohio Forest Update Tom Macy |
Big Ash, Big Responsibility Rich Simpson |
UAV's In Utility Arboriculture Dustin Polasek |
Talk the Talk, Cut the Cut Russell Tree Experts |
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Setting Up for Success: Remediating Urban Soils Ahead of Planting Lizzie Sords |
Buttressing Beneficial Bugs Sam Ward |
AVAT Jacob Wolfgong |
Spar Me the Drama Russell Tree Experts |
11:30 am – 12:45 pm | Lunch (Ohio Event Center) |
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm | Elm & Ash Update Kathleen Knight / Mary Mason |
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Tree Amigas |
Certified Arborist Prep Course Schedule
Tuesday, February 3
7:00 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast |
8:00 am - 9:30 am | Tree Biology Mike Long |
9:30 am - 10:30 am | Tree Risk Assessment and Management Joe Moeglin |
10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Tree Selection Phil Olsen |
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Lunch |
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Installation and Establishment Phil Olsen |
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Tree Support & Lightning Protection Brian Goodall |
2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Tree Identification Brady Holko |
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Diagnosis and Plant Disorder Brady Holko |
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall |
Wednesday, February 4
7:00 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast |
7:30 am - 8:30 am | Urban Forestry Joe Moeglin |
8:30 am - 9:00 am | Soil Science Andrew Freeman |
9:00 am - 9:30 am | Water Management Andrew Freeman |
9:30 am - 10:30 am | Plant Health Care Andrew Freeman |
10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Pruning Phil Olsen |
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Lunch |
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Trees & Construction Brian Goodall |
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Tree Nutrition and Fertilization Andrew Freeman |
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Tree Worker Safety & First Aide Brian Goodall |
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Climbing and Working in Trees Brian Goodall |
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Buckeye Bash |
Thursday, February 5
8:00 am – 9:30 am | Annual Breakfast Meeting & Education |
9:00 am - 12:00 pm | ISA Written Exams / Registration begins at 8:30 am |