Sponsors

Key Dates

August

Aug. 27, 2025 - Jan. 12, 2026

Cherry Valley Hotel - Conference Hotel

Book Your Room Today!

Newark, OH

View All

 

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
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