TCI EXPO ’23 in St. Louis, Missouri, included presenters and topics covering all aspects of the tree care industry. One highlight was a panel discussion with Caitlyn Pollihan, CEO and executive director for the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA); David White, president and CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA); August Hoppe, vice chair, TCIA Board of Directors; and Chris Walsh, past president, ISA. The panel discussed a variety of topics affecting the future of the tree care industry. For this article, we went back to Pollihan and White for a deeper dive into some of the key issues affecting both organizations, and how they are working together for the good of the industry.

Taking part in a panel discussion on collaboration between TCIA and ISA during TCI EXPO ’23 were, from left, August Hoppe, David White, Caitlyn Pollihan and Chris Walsh. TCIA photo.

CEOs’ backgrounds bring meaningful experience to their roles
Prior to joining ISA, Pollihan served in several leadership positions in forestry and governmental affairs. She actively participates in several coalitions and committees, including the Sustainable Urban Forestry Coalition, the Women’s Forest Congress Advisory Council and the i-Tree Executive Committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in contemporary media and journalism/public relations from the University of South Dakota and a master’s degree in organizational communication from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She has a certificate in Nonprofit Organization Management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management and has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential, the highest professional credential in the association industry.

David White was previously executive director of the Northeast Public Power Association, a nonprofit trade association that represents consumer-
owned utilities in New England. Additionally, he served as the director of external affairs and strategy for the Massachusetts Dental Society. White holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Northeastern University and an MBA and Juris Doctor degree from Suffolk University. He also has earned the CAE credential.

Organizational differences invite collaboration
Working together is seen as a priority for both organizations. Pollihan and White started their respective positions about seven years ago, within a few months of each other, and have worked hard to ensure the two organizations work together.

“We strive for open communication and collaboration. We are not competitive,” says White.

“One thing our boards were very clear about when we started was that we should work together,” explains Pollihan.

When asked what the difference is between TCIA and ISA, Pollihan and White both weigh in. “Company owners are members of TCIA, and individuals are members of ISA. The initiatives aren’t overlapping, they are complementary,” says Pollihan.

“An over-simplified answer I give is, if you want to be a great arborist, you need ISA. If you want to own a great tree care company, you need TCIA. We need both. This is the basis of our collaboration,” says White.

TCIA certifications
TCIA Accreditation is an extensive third-party, consumer-confidence verification program that helps identify qualified tree care companies that conduct business in a safe, legal and ethical manner. Any commercial tree care company in the United States and Canada can apply for Accreditation. The program helps tree care companies build documented safety and training programs and establish policies to help employees perform better.

TCIA’s Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) program is the only individual safety-credentialing program in the industry, and is designed to address several of the safety challenges that tree care companies face. Having a CTSP on staff enables companies to increase production and reduce time lost to employee injuries and accidents. It also conveys a favorable perception by insurers and regulatory entities for taking proactive safety measures, and enables companies to convey their safety commitment to potential and current customers.

ISA certifications
ISA offers a range of individual credentials, including ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Utility Specialist, ISA Municipal Specialist, ISA Certified Tree Climber, ISA Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist, Board Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ).

“We continue to see interest in our credentialing program to show the public that an individual has the knowledge and skills to properly care for trees. And with the release of our rebranded Certified Tree Climber, there has been a significant amount of interest in that certification,” explains Pollihan. “ISA performs job-task analyses on all our credentials every five years, so we ensure the certifications are meeting the needs of current and future professionals.

Maximizing the impact of education
TCIA’s CTSP program complements ISA’s certifications by providing continuing education units (CEUs) that can be applied toward ISA certifications. This integration creates a seamless pathway for professional growth within the industry. “When we were in Columbus (TCI EXPO ’17, Columbus, Ohio), you had two pieces of paper to track CEUs. First for CTSPs, the second for ISA certification,” explains White. “This was not convenient for participants. Now they scan their badge and it automatically goes into our file, and if their ISA certification number is on file, it goes to ISA on a list at the end of EXPO.”

To maintain the CTSP credential, candidates must earn 30 CEUs during their three-year recertification period. CEUs must be earned in two categories: Continuing Education and Training & Development. To support these requirements, TCIA offers a variety of courses online and at conferences and workshops. Many of these CEUs also can be used for ISA certifications.

“When TCIA holds an educational event or training, the organization submits it to ISA. ISA reviews the content and information and awards CEUs based on the content and length. Those CEUs then can be submitted to ISA to show a certification holder’s investment in continuing education,” explains Pollihan.

Facing industry issues together
When asked about other ways the two organizations have worked together, White recalls the first joint letterhead at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We mobilized and created our first-ever joint letterhead and were able to leverage the credibility of the two organizations to say, ‘Yes, tree workers are essential.’ We were able to pivot quickly to help our members navigate PPP (Payroll Protection Program) loans,” says White.

“We were able to keep our certification program going and give exams throughout COVID, in part due to this partnership,” adds Pollihan.

Workforce challenges is another issue affecting the industry, and both leaders added to the conversation.

“Workforce is a huge issue, and it is about keeping the current people who are working in the green industry in the green industry and ensuring that future workers know there are jobs with family-sustaining wages available in our sector,” says Pollihan. “When we have held discussions, like during our recent ‘pipelines and pathways’ meetings, there has been quite a bit of focus on youth and adolescent programming and training as an opportunity.”

White adds, “We have board minutes going back to the 1940s with this as a problem. How do we work together to promote this industry as a great career? You have to be a scientist, engineer, artist. It’s a complex industry, and it’s better if we tackle it together.”

TCIA’s Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program fills a gap
White points to the TCIA Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program as another example of collaboration to address the workforce issue in the industry. Recently, ISA’s Credentialing Council approved the Eligibility Equivalency request that the TCIA apprenticeship program be an Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program. This was done through a rigorous documentation and review process to ensure the program meets the eligibility requirements for the ISA Certified Arborist credential. “This new facet of the partnership between ISA and TCIA is a welcome one, as both of our organizations are invested in the growth of a safe and qualified workforce,” said Nicolaas Verloop, ISA past president, in a recent press release.

Erin Aaron, TCIA’s manager, workforce recruitment & retention, worked closely with ISA to coordinate the effort. “ISA’s recognition of TCIA’s Arborist Apprenticeship Training Program as meeting the eligibility requirements for the ISA Certified Arborist marks an important synergy between our organization,” says Aaron. “It establishes an opportunity for TCIA and ISA to work more closely together to support members with the development of Registered Arborist Apprenticeship Programs, encourages industry workers to become certified arborists and supports workforce development in the tree care industry.”

Collaboration to continues at TCI EXPO ’24
The conversation will continue at TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 8, 2024. Pollihan and White will meet again to discuss where the industry has been and where it is going, with a discussion moderated by Paul Putman, president and CEO of the Tree Research and Education Endowment (TREE) Fund.

Susan DiPietro is managing editor for Tree Care Industry Magazine.