David White

When I was 19, working at the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s office, I learned a lesson that has stayed with me ever since: loyalty is practical. It is not a slogan or a mood; it is a habit. It shows up in the quiet decisions we make every day – how we treat people, how we stand by our commitments and how we keep showing up even when it would be easier not to.

That early experience shaped how I see our work at TCIA. Loyalty means trust, dependability and a deep commitment to our shared mission: advancing professional tree care companies so they can be safer, stronger and more successful. It means advocating consistently – not just when times are good, but especially when they are not. It means remembering that our presence, our voice and our follow-through matter.

I see that loyalty in our members. I think of the Felix family that kept the National Arborist Association moving forward all those years ago. I think of leaders like Tad Jacobs and Alan Jones – people who give generously of their time and experience so the industry can grow. They serve on committees, mentor peers and show up for difficult but necessary conversations. Their example reminds me that our work is larger than any one company. It is about building an industry where professionalism and safety are the standard.

My time in Boston politics reinforced that perspective. Meaningful progress requires patience and persistence. Trust is built one decision at a time. The same holds true in our industry; we move forward when we invest in relationships, not just transactions.

Long before politics, I rowed on a public school team. That’s where I learned about “swing.” Swing is that almost magical moment when a boat is perfectly synchronized – each rower aligned in timing and power, the boat moving cleanly through the water. You cannot force it. It happens when everyone commits to the same rhythm and goal.

That is how I think about TCIA today. Our 45 staff members, along with our members and partners, are rowing in the same boat. When we align around shared values and priorities, we gain momentum. When we do not, we feel the drag – duplicated efforts, missed opportunities and slower progress.

To support that alignment, we have been intentional about our staff core values: be of service, be team players, be driven and do the right thing even when no one is looking. These are not decorative phrases. They shape how we hire, evaluate performance and make decisions. Skills matter, but without shared values, they do not add up to real success.

We are also fortunate to work alongside outstanding partners such as Caitlyn Pollihan of the International Society of Arboriculture, Paul Putman of the TREE Fund and Dennis Fallon of the Utility Arborist Association. Together, we focus on practical tools. One example is our QR-based self-assessment tool, designed to help you gauge where your business stands across six domains of a successful tree care company – beginning with safety and extending to workforce development, training and business strategy. The goal is clarity. When you understand where you stand, your next step becomes clearer.

We also recognize that the economic landscape is shifting. That’s why we are investing in comprehensive sales training and strengthening TCIA Accreditation as a framework for operational excellence. Self-assessment, training and Accreditation together provide structure in uncertain times and help turn good intentions into consistent practice.

Our loyalty to this mission drives our advocacy work as well. Through government relations and public policy efforts – particularly around OSHA regulations – we are working to ensure professional tree care companies are properly understood and represented. This work is often complex and unfolds far from the field, but it is essential to building a regulatory environment that supports safe, professional practice.

In the end, everything we do at TCIA is rooted in that simple idea I learned at 19: loyalty to a mission, lived out through daily action. I am deeply grateful for the commitment of our staff, our members and our partners. Together, we are building an industry that rows in sync, moves with purpose and continues to raise the standard for professional tree care.

David White, certified association executive (CAE), is president and CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association.