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 Silver 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 Tree Care Manager Greg Roberts at Sennebogen, an ISA Silver 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?
Sennebogen is committed to increasing the safety and efficiency of arboriculture. By providing a solution that allows tree companies to spend less time in the tree and having an operator in a safe and protected cab structure, our machines provide tree companies with a much more protected solution to tree removals.
Can you share a success story about how your company has promoted the profession?
We were contacted a few years ago by a small tree service company. The owner was also the primary climber. Due to an accident and back issues, he was unable to climb trees and be with his crew on the job. With the investment in our machine, that owner can now be with his crew and extend his time with the company on the site and become more productive and can ensure that his crew is safe and can spend better time with his family.
How do you see the future of the arboriculture profession over the next 100 years?
Arboriculture will continue advancing with mechanization and increasing safety. The jobs will be finished faster, and the tree removals will become more proactive. Plant health care will become a common residential investment.
Does your organization promote credentialing, and if so, are there benefits to being credentialed?
No person would want a non-credentialed electrician to wire their home. In the same way, we feel that professional tree companies invest in their people and their industry to make it safer and more mature. We strongly encourage credentialing.
Is there a connection between your company culture and industry safety?
There is a strong connection with our culture and safety. Since we promote our machines being the safest and most productive in the industry, we have to create that same standard with our sales and product support teams.
What are some of the ways in which your organization approaches employee career development?
We encourage our sales teams to become industry experts in their field. We have sales team members that are certified arborists, credentialed tree care professionals and certified crane operators.