BY TYLER LYON, CTSP, ASP; and CHRIS SPRAGUE, MEng, CTSP, ASP In 1986, millions of people witnessed the Challenger space-shuttle explosion that tragically killed seven astronauts, including a civilian teacher on board for the Teacher in Space initiative. Investigations revealed the explosion was caused by the failure of a large O-ring designed to seal a fuselage joint in the rocket booster. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY TAMSIN VENN Out in the 150-mile stretch between Duluth and Twin Cities, Minnesota, Brandon Pankey, owner of Blue Pine Works LLC, a two-year TCIA member company, has honed a respected reputation for tree work by having an emphasis on safety. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY HOWARD GAFFIN, BCMA, RCA A cold wind blew outside. Holed up in my toasty office, I was contemplating how grateful I was to no longer have to endure the agony associated with getting the feeling back in my numb digits so I could work the climbing rope and resume the task at hand on a sub-freezing day. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY EDWARD MORROW It’s one thing to project the financial results you want. It’s something else to do the right things to produce those results. And it’s a whole other process to become the person who can make it all happen. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY KELSEY GRUENWOLDT In tree care, it’s easy to get consumed by the urgency of the day – storm calls, high-risk removals, employee situations, scheduling pivots, equipment issues. But if you want a sustainable company – one that thrives even when you step back – big-picture thinking must be woven into your daily execution. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY HEATHER DIRKSEN As tree care companies look to deepen client relationships and diversify their revenue streams, one opportunity continues to stand out – launching a plant-health-care (PHC) program. Yet, for many business owners and managers, the idea of starting a new service line – especially one that requires technical knowledge, licensing and client education – can feel overwhelming. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN Strengthening the green industry was the driving force behind last year’s merger of SingleOps, Landscape Management Network (LMN) and Greenius, says Steve Samuels, the merged company’s senior account executive. The former GM/CFO of multiple businesses, including landscape and arborist companies, had served with SingleOps for four years before the merger went through October 31, 2024. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY TIM BARTELT Ricky Folse, founder of Veteran Tree Care, a second-year TCIA member company based in Houma, Louisiana, is a man on a mission, and that mission is to help both men and women. Military veteran men and women, to be more precise. Even though Folse was unable to complete the requisite military time commitment, he considers himself an “extreme veteran-activist” and has dedicated his adult life, and the entire business model of Veteran Tree Care, to the employment of and advocacy for...
BY TCHUKKI ANDERSEN, BCMA, CTSP If you’re looking to save your strength and move smoother on your next climb, Dekota Wall wants you to know how the Petzl Knee Loop can do that for you. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY PETER FELIX It is with profound sadness that we say farewell to Jon H. Hickey, who passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, at the age of 88. Jon, a resident of North Massapequa, New York, was not only a legendary arborist but also a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and friend. His life was a testament to passion, integrity and a genuine love for trees and people. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY MARIE HAWKINS This column was written in response to the article “Insurance Pruning: Cut Risks, Not Canopies,” by Jim Kasper in the July 2025 issue of TCI Magazine. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY KATHY GLASSEY Let’s face it, when most people think of plant health care, they think about solving a customer’s problems and getting rid of the pests causing the problems. What they don’t think about – until the moment of truth arrives – is what to do with that half-empty jug of pesticide living rent free in the shop. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY BAILEY GRAVES On June 12, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14308, “Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response.” The order cites the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as an example of the need for faster and more effective response and coordination. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY ELIZABETH RODEWALD, CTSP As the tree care industry continues to evolve, professionals are constantly seeking opportunities to grow their skills, network with peers and stay on the cutting edge of technology. Enter TCI EXPO ’25, returning bigger, bolder and more exciting than ever. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY CHARLES KEMPER, CTSP For decades, gas-powered tools have defined the daily operations of professional tree care – bringing with them the unmistakable exhaust, engine maintenance and fuel handling that come with traditional equipment. But the industry is evolving. Concerns over worker safety, rising fuel costs, noise and increasing equipment maintenance are driving momentum toward battery-powered alternatives. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY JENNIFER MCPHEE In the tree care industry, we often talk about building strong crews. But what if we thought of our entire company like a championship sports team? That’s the mindset we embraced this past year, inspired by Jack Stack’s book, “The Great Game of Business,” which outlines his economic engagement model, formerly referred to as open book management.” Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY ANDY JONES, CTSP The tornado outbreak that ripped through the greater St. Louis area in early May 2025 left an indelible mark on the region’s urban forest and the people who call it home. What happened in those brief, violent minutes reshaped entire neighborhoods, devastated tree-lined streets and toppled century-old giants in Forest Park. As an arborist and a local, I’ve never seen anything like it. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSP When I was a little kid – and if I’m being honest, it’s still this way today – I idolized the men in my family. My paternal grandfather was a serious goofball, and in many ways I feel like my sense of humor came from him, along with a sense of curiosity in finding diamonds in the rough. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY AARON SCHAUER, CTSP, WITH ERIC PETERSEN This is the second installment of a two-part article. Part 1 looked at the benefits of being a subcontractor and working with subcontractors (TCI Magazine, June 2025). Part 2 looks at how to become and operate as a subcontractor Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here.
BY DANIEL KALLAI While in some areas of the country power companies are hardening their systems against high winds and torrential rains, here on the West Coast we have the additional hazard of fire. Power companies are employing thousands of hands in the effort to prevent fires from igniting, especially from trees contacting power lines. I’ve met tree workers who’ve traveled across the United States to assist in this effort. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by cli...