The ISA Canopy Partners program is a collaborative initiative that brings together industry leaders to support ISA’s mission to promote the professional practice of arboriculture, inform the public about tree benefits, and provide a global network of arborists, urban foresters, and people who care for trees.  

In addition to supporting ISA, our Gold Canopy Partners continue to promote the professional practice of arboriculture within their own organizations by emphasizing the importance of credentialing, encouraging a culture of safety within their organization, and focusing on their employees’ career development.  

ISA recently spoke with several members of the leadership team with the Asplundh Tree Expert Company, an ISA Gold Canopy Partner, to discuss the ways they further professionalism within their company. 

What are some ways your organization promotes the profession of arboriculture within your organization, the public and within the industry as a whole? 

From a business standpoint, it's not easy to draw a straight line between promoting the industry and the bottom line. But the culture at this company is to make sure that we continue to make a positive contribution to the industry as a whole, from funding research to making sure our leaders are part of important industry organizations.  

Asplundh has a long tradition of supporting the arboriculture industry. We were an early supporter of arboriculture research, which was promoted by Hyland Johns (whose endowed research fund we announced last month). Asplundh has always had dedicated people in the organization, like Hyland, whose job it is to be engaged with the industry with a specific purpose of providing leadership, guidance, participation and support. In the past our Technical Services Department, led by industry figures like Jim Orr and Geoff Kempter, filled that role. Asplundh recently hired me to fill that very role. We know that promoting the industry is also good for our company in the long run. We all benefit.  

-Bob Bell, Director of Industry Engagement   

Can you share a success story about how your company has promoted the profession? 

I mentioned the Hyland Johns fund earlier, and I think that has been a success in driving arboriculture science. Hyland was responsible for establishing a scientific basis for the work Asplundh did and understood the importance of independent research in the credibility of what we do. Our decision to permanently endow that work with the Asplundh – Hyland Johns Research Fund demonstrates our commitment to that research.  

Hyland was instrumental in putting the study together that launched PA Gamelands 33, which has been providing research to the arboriculture industry for more than 70 years now. It’s the longest-running study of its kind. Asplundh was in on the ground floor of funding that research and has continued to do so ever since. Drs. [William] Bramble and [Richard] Byrnes get a lot of credit for their work in that study, which they deserve, but without Asplundh’s support, it wouldn’t have been possible.  

-Bob Bell, Director of Industry Engagement    

How do you see the future of the arboriculture profession over the next 100 years? 

We’re in a period in which technology is growing at an ever-greater rate of change. In the next 100 years, we’re going to see technology do the same for forestry science and the actual practical application of arboriculture and advance our profession. It’s exciting when you think about it. We will be taking new technology and applying it to organisms that have been around for more than 200 million years. And to a science, when you think about forestry and arboriculture, it is more than 500 years old.  

A specific example that will make an impact right away is remote sensing technology, which is getting better and better all the time. Right now, I think remote sensing technology and the application of artificial intelligence are going to have the biggest impact on our industry over the next 25 years.  

After that, I think we’ll see a lot of advancement in the same kind of science Gamelands 33 is involved in—the study of how vegetation management can be practiced in harmony with the natural habitats, particularly those of pollinators and birds. The science has come a long way here, but I think we will see it continue to advance in a way that’s a real benefit to the environment.  

-Bob Bell, Director of Industry Engagement    

Does your organization promote credentialing, and if so, are there benefits to being credentialed? 

Yes. Within our organization, credentialing is an important part of building both safety and career excellence. We maintain our own internal Line Clearance Qualification Standard (LCQS) process to ensure employees meet the technical and safety requirements to perform utility vegetation management work. In addition, we actively encourage employees to pursue external industry-recognized credentials such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certifications, OSHA training, and other specialized certifications tied to their role. 

The benefits are twofold: for employees, credentials validate their expertise, enhance credibility and open the door to advancement opportunities; for the company, a credentialed workforce strengthens our safety culture, ensures regulatory compliance and reinforces our reputation with customers as a trusted industry leader. 

-Tyler Mizvitowicz, Director of Talent Management and Development 

Is there a connection between your company culture and industry safety? 

Asplundh is part of the OSHA strategic partnership for electrical transmission and distribution, which is made up of the IBEW and the CEOs of the country’s top transmission and distribution contractors. The group analyzes workplace hazards, develops standards for workplace safety and establishes best practices for training among.  

I am currently the President of the Utility Line Clearance Safety Partnership (ULCSP), which is made up of 14-line clearance contractors representing 95% of all Line Clearance Tree Trimmers (LCTTs) in the industry, working collaboratively to improve safety for all.   

We also actively participate on the UAA Safety Committee, with a seat held by Senior EHS Specialist Derek Williams.  And we have openly shared with the industry our work related to High Energy Icons and associated Controls. 

-Dan Oberlies, Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety 

What are some of the ways in which your organization approaches employee career development? 

We take a structured and supportive approach to career development that includes: 

• Formal Training & Development Programs: Multi-day safety and leadership training for field leaders, as well as structured development programs for supervisors and executives. 
• On-the-Job Learning: Hands-on skill development in the field through mentorship, coaching and real-world project assignments. 
• Certifications & Continuing Education: Support for employees seeking professional certifications such as ISA, OSHA and equipment/operator licenses that broaden their career paths. 
• Career Pathing & Succession Planning: Individual development plans (IDPs), performance feedback and succession pipelines that align employee aspirations with organizational needs. 
• Coaching & Feedback: Leaders are trained to provide ongoing guidance, so employees understand their strengths, opportunities and potential career trajectories. 

This blended approach ensures our employees grow in their current roles, while also preparing them for future opportunities within the company. 

-Tyler Mizvitowicz, Director of Talent Management and Development