The Municipal Arborist

Steve was the first guest ever on the show and I am so glad to have him back for another discussion! Though he has retired from his previous role as the General Services Superintendent at the Village of Algonquin, Illinois, he is still very active in the industry owning Ludwig Speaks, LLC and is also a consultant with Great Lakes Urban Forestry.Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArboristInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comLearn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptionsCheck out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource libraryhttps://arbsession.com/Winkler Tree & Lawn Care

Brandon Dobnick is a Certified Arborist, CTSP, and a 13 year veteran to thearboriculture world. He is a production arborist through and through where he lives,breathes, and eats trees day in and day out. Getting his start in the ResidentialCommercial sector after college, he has seen the Industry from the production grind of Utility hazard removals that no one wants to do to the meticulous pruning of the largest Oak Collection in the world. He is a Big Tree Registry tree hunter, and advocate for safety and the pursuit of the very best practices the industry can provide. Currently He resides in Stamford, Vermont where he is the owner of Vertical Services Tree Care Professionals, a collaborative contract climbing and training company, as well as Dobnick Timberworks furniture and woodworking company.Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArboristInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comLearn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptionsCheck out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource libraryhttps://arbsession.com/Winkler Tree & Lawn Care

This episode’s guest is Beau Nagan who has worked in the tree care industry for over 20 years. He has two associate degrees from Juliet Junior College in Landscape Management and Turf Management and a Bachelors of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis on urban forestry from Western Illinois University. He has worked for Davey Tree as a climber, Davey Resource Group as a Utility Work Planner on the south side of Chicago and the Morton Arboretum where he worked as an arborist for 6 years.  He is currently the Forestry Manager at Canigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois.  He is an ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist and TRAQ qualified. He is a certified TCIA trainer and also works as a trainer for the Illinois Arborist Association, not to mention past president of the chapter.  He us a competitive tree climber and has represented Illinois at the ISA International Tree Climbing Competition six times.  Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Patreon: http://patreon.com/TheMunicipalArboristLearn more about PlanIT Geo’s tree canopy data subscriptions Check out PlanIT Geo’s urban forest resource libraryWinkler Tree & Lawn Care 

In this episode I answer questions that were submitted during webinars hosted by PlanIt Geo titled "Decode Municipal Tree Ordinances" where I was a panel speaker.  Both recordings can be found here: https://planitgeo.com/library/decode-municipal-tree-ordinances/Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://arboriskinsurance.com/https://www.aspenfuels.us/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Kelly Bougher is a Certified Arborist with a background in conservation and natural resource management. Her appreciation of the natural world paired with a diverse background of nearly 15 years of experience in restoration lead her to a career in arboriculture and she currently works in urban forestry.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.rainbowecoscience.com/products/mectinitehttps://www.aspenfuels.us/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Since 2000, Robyn Flakne has been the Natural Resources Manager for the Village of Glenview. The position has allowed her to be involved with restoring and creating naturalized open space and green infrastructure throughout the municipality, starting with the redevelopment of a former naval air station. The West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River has been a major focus as approximately 70% of the Village’s stormwater drains to this waterway. The Village has implemented several water quality improvement projects, including streambank stabilization and naturalization, detention basin naturalization, adding riffles and pools, and some channel re-meandering. Robyn has obtained funding and managed engineering and construction bids and volunteer workdays for these projects. She also serves as staff liaison to the Village’s volunteer Environment and Natural Resources Commission. Robyn also serves as the Tree Preservation Officer for the Village, administering the Tree Preservation Ordinance as it applies to tree removal on private property. She is co-chair of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative’s Trees and Green Infrastructure work group and a member of the Executive Board of the North Branch Watershed Working Group.  She also teaches Forest Resources, Green Infrastructure and Wildlife Resources at Northeastern Illinois University.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://www.rainbowecoscience.com/products/mectinite(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Part 2: Bob has been working with R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care since he was able to use a rake and follow his dad around on the job.  His dad and uncle started Hendricksen Tree Care in1964.  Bob received his bachelor degree in Administration Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point in 1989.  Bob has grown up with a passion for trees and finding solutions for healthy trees.  He is an ISA Certified Arborist, a TCIA CTSP and is a member of the Illinois Arborist Association, The Tree Care Industry Association and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.https://www.rwhendricksenco.com/Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://arboriskinsurance.com/https://www.aspenfuels.us/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Norm shares with us a few stories from his lifetime career in the tree care industry .  He is a climbing arborist, a passionate educator, volunteer, motivator and is the co-inventor of the Port-a-Wrap.  Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://arboriskinsurance.com/https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.rainbowecoscience.com/products/mectinite(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Bob has been working with R.W. Hendricksen Tree Care since he was able to use a rake and follow his dad around on the job.  His dad and uncle started Hendricksen Tree Care in1964.  Bob received his bachelor degree in Administration Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point in 1989.  Bob has grown up with a passion for trees and finding solutions for healthy trees.  He is an ISA Certified Arborist, a TCIA CTSP and is a member of the Illinois Arborist Association, The Tree Care Industry Association and the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association.https://www.rwhendricksenco.com/Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://www.rainbowecoscience.com/products/mectinitehttps://www.davey.com/environmental-consulting-services/environmental-consulting-contact-map/https://www.aspenfuels.us/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Tricia conducts statewide outreach and training on invasive forest pests in Illinois. This includes identifying and training key stakeholders about invasive species, pest identification, regulations and quarantines, as well as reporting protocols.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors!https://www.rainbowecoscience.com/products/mectinitehttps://www.davey.com/environmental-consulting-services/environmental-consulting-contact-map/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Dan O'Brien is a Certified Arborist, the Arbor Supply Supervisor with Russo Power Equipment and the Vice President at the Illinois Arborist Association.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsor:https://www.davey.com/environmental-consulting-services/environmental-consulting-contact-map/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

John Paul McDonell is a Consulting Arborist with SavATree and shares with us his journey from municipal forestry to the private side and everything in between.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://www.davey.com/environmental-consulting-services/environmental-consulting-contact-map/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Elizabeth Schulte is the guest on Episode 22!  Elizabeth is the Marketing Director of PanIt Geo and she was a pleasure to talk to.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

Episode21 of The Municipal Arborist features Scott Jamieson!Scott Jamieson is the Vice President of Community Business Partnerships and Midwest Division Leader for Bartlett Tree Experts. Bartlett has over 130 offices in the U.S., Canada, England and Ireland.Prior to joining Bartlett, Scott was with The Care of Trees, a national tree care firm based inChicagoland, for nearly 20 years. He served as President and CEO during his final 10 years with The Care of Trees.Scott has served as president of the board of directors for the Tree Care Industry Association andThe National Association of Landscape Professionals. He currently serves on the board for the American Public Gardens Association. He has served as a board member for The National Safety Council, The Alliance for Community Trees and Openlands in Chicago. He has lectured at the Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Michigan State University and Purdue University. He received his BS in Urban Forestry from Purdue, a Master Degree in Urban Forestry from Michigan State University and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.He is the recipient of Lawn and Landscape Magazine’s Leadership award. He was honored with Purdue University’s College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni Award as well as theCertificate of Distinction from the Purdue Agriculture Alumni Association.Scott resides in Arlington Heights, IL just outside of Chicago with his wife Diane.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

I am proud to have Joe McCarthy on as the guest of this episode!   Joe McCarthy is a Senior City Forester with the City of Chicago Bureau of Forestry.Since 1990, Joe has worked to foster cooperation with other city departments in ensuring that all reasonable options are explored to preserve and protect city trees in capital improvement projects. In 1998, he researched relevant Federal, State and local road design codes, design standards and policies which aided in the development of flexibility in roadway design standards.  Most recently in 2019, Joe’s regulation and standards research work identified changes to the IEPA regulations that resulted in the first trial of Cure in Place Pipe and Pipe Bursting use on private sewer drains to comply with separation requirements during water main projects. Developed tree protection standards as well as Tree Removal and Replacement policies for the City that place a monetary value on these valuable City assets.Developed protocols for measuring changes in Chicago's street tree population. Over the past thirty years has Implemented four (4) random sample inventories (1994, 2003, 2013 and 2021) to assess, monitor and track changes in the street tree population. Developed street tree diversity targets and guidelines. This research has provided relevant data to the City's exotic insect eradication (ALB) and management (EAB) programsHe has relevant experience in Invasive Species programs as, in response to the Asian Long Horned Beetle Infestation of 1998, he was appointed the Project Manager of the Chicago’s program to combat this dangerous threat to the urban forest.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

This episode of The Municipal Arborist is with Lee Mueller from Davey Resource Group and we discuss a wide range of topics including his path in urban forestry, grants, inventories, urban forestry management, risk management, reforestation and investment in private tree planting.For a number of years, Lee Mueller has worked to achieve balance at the intersection of vibrant communities and healthy environments. Lee has served as staff, board member, or volunteer for a variety of community initiatives dedicated to parks, forestry, and environmental causes. He is a Certified Arborist and Certified Forester, with forestry degrees from Michigan State University. He’s a Market Manager with Davey Resource Group, Inc. and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

In this bonus episode I talk about Arbor Day, Tree City, USA and how we educate the public daily in ways many people wouldn't immediately imagine.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes) 

Todays episode is with Bob Burdick the Director of Business Development with Aspen USA, Inc.  Bob has 35 years in the outdoor power equipment industry including 10 years in retail, 9 years with Stihl and 11 years with Echo Power Equipment.  He has spent considerable time training contractors, arborists and municipalities on equipment and chainsaws.  We discuss his new role with Aspen, USA and what the fuel is all about.Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://arbsession.com/https://www.aspenfuels.us/

In this episode I sit down with Scott Altenhoff and we discuss how construction  impacts trees and the politics sometimes  involved with it.  We also discuss Scott's involvement with the Society of Municipal Arborists, among other things.Scott Altenhoff is the Management Analyst for the City of Eugene’s Urban Forestry Program. Scott has been working as a municipal arborist/urban forester for the City since 2005. Prior to that, he worked for 13 years as a commercial arborist and forest surveyor, based in Eugene but working throughout the Pacific Northwest. Scott has a longstanding passion for big, old trees and the wide variety of organisms that depend on them. In 2004, he co-founded the Pacific Tree Climbing Institute in an effort to raise public awareness about the importance of ancient trees and old-growth forests. For several years, Scott taught courses in Beginning and Advanced Arboriculture at Linn-Benton Community College. Scott has a B.A. in Classics (Latin, Greek, and Ancient Philosophy) from the University of Oregon and a Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry from Oregon State University. Scott is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist, Municipal Specialist, and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor and currently serves as Immediate Past President of the Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) and as Incoming Co-Chair of Canopy Watch​.Check out the recent podcast I was a guest on! The Plant  Trillion Trees Podcast:https://anchor.fm/plantatrilliontrees/episodes/Episode-75---Joe-Hansen-is-the-Urban-Forester-for-the-City-of-Park-Ridge--Illinois-e1gpj9bQuestions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)

In this episode I sit down with Casey Selner from Arbsession and Selner Tree & Shrub Care!  I also announce the winners of our Instagram contest!   Questions or comments?themunicipalarborist@gmail.comhttps://www.instagram.com/the_municipal_arborist/Thanks to this episodes sponsors:https://planitgeo.com/Municipal-Arborist-Podcasthttps://www.aspenfuels.us/https://arbsession.com/(ISA CEU'S are no longer offered on older episodes)