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Key Dates
August
Aug. 27, 2025 - Jan. 12, 2026
Cherry Valley Hotel - Conference Hotel
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Newark, OH
OTCC Program | Certified Arborist Review Course
Program Days: Tuesday, February 3 | Wednesday, February 4 | Thursday, February 5
Prep Days: Tuesday, February 3 | Wednesday, February 4 | Thursday, February 5
OTCC Program
| TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Time | General Track (Woodhall ABC) | Research Track (River Birch) |
| 7:00 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast – Ohio Event Center | |
| 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Certified Arborist Review Course – Pre-Registration Required (Barrel Room) | |
| 9:00 am – 10:00 am | Before You Spray, Read the Label! Mimi Rose |
|
| 10:15 am – 11:30 am | Root Collar Excavation and Compacted Soils – The Tools and Demonstration Andrew Freeman |
Growing Better Choices: 60 Years of Tree Evaluation at Secrest Arboretum Jason Veil |
| 11:30 am – 12:30 pm | Lunch | |
| 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm | PHC: Tools and Application Keith Lambert & Rick Towe |
Modern Arboricultural Research – Branches, Biology and Paclobutrazol Zack Shier |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Soils: Analysis, Sampling, Tools & Application Guy Fortner, John Johnston |
The Biomechanics Behind Tree Assessment Gregory Dahle |
| 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm | Urban-Compatible Tree Architecture Dr. Ed Gilman |
|
| 4:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Break | |
| 4:15 pm – 5:00 pm | Urban-Compatible Tree Architecture Dr. Ed Gilman |
|
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall | |
Wednesday, February 4
| 7:00 am – 8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Certified Arborist Review Course – Pre-Registration Required |
| 9:00 am – 10:30 am | Keynote Presentation – PPQ Dr. Ed Gilman |
| 10:30 am – 11:00 am | Break |
| Time | Commercial | Municipal | Utility | Climbers' Corner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Assessing Establishment Success of North American Oaks Mary Gardiner, Christopher Riley, & Erika Wright |
Cincinnati's Urban Forest: Past, Present, Future Crystal Courtney & Garrett Dienno |
First Energy Green Teams & the Community Tree Program Jessica Schaffer |
Clip It, Check It, Don't Wrect It Russell Tree Experts |
| 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch | |||
| 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Latest Safety Equipment Scott Brenner |
Data-Driven Decision-Making with Smart Tree Inventories Josh Behounek |
Avoiding Off Target Issues Dewey Goss |
Knot Your Average Anchors Russell Tree Experts |
| 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm | Guidelines for Managing BLD Cory McCurry |
Growing Potential through Land Banks & Urban Forestry Shawn Carvin, Lydia Lynch, Isaac Robb |
The Future of Vegetation Management: Digital, Smart, & AI Powered Joseph Delong |
No Swing, Just Bling Russell Tree Experts |
| 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm | Rooted in Excellence Paul Snyder |
The Buckeye State Tree Nursery William Barnhill, Brigitte Hisey & Chad Hoff |
Succession by Design: Linking Leadership Development to Employee Retention Outcomes Autumn Dickerson |
Anchor Down, Rescue Up Russell Tree Experts |
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Buckeye Bash | |||
Thursday, February 5
| 8:00 am – 9:30 am | Annual Breakfast Meeting & Education |
| 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | ISA Written Exams / Registration begins at 8:30 am |
| Time | Commercial | Municipal | Utility | Climbers' Corner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 am – 11:00 am | Ohio Forest Update Tom Macy |
Tiny Farmers, Massive Impacts: Tom Paul |
UAV's In Utility Arboriculture Dustin Polasek |
Talk the Talk, Cut the Cut Russell Tree Experts |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Setting Up for Success: Remediating Urban Soils Ahead of Planting Lizzie Sords |
Buttressing Beneficial Bugs Sam Ward |
AVAT Jacob Wolfgong |
Spar Me the Drama Russell Tree Experts |
| 11:30 am – 12:45 pm | Lunch (Ohio Event Center) | |||
| 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm | Elm & Ash Update Kathleen Knight / Mary Mason |
| 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm | Tree Amigas |
Certified Arborist Review Course Schedule
Tuesday, February 3
| 7:00 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast |
| 8:00 am - 9:30 am | Tree Biology Mike Long |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | Tree Risk Assessment and Management Joe Moeglin |
| 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Tree Selection Phil Olsen |
| 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Installation and Establishment Phil Olsen |
| 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Tree Support & Lightning Protection Brian Goodall |
| 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Tree Identification Brady Holko |
| 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Diagnosis and Plant Disorder Brady Holko |
| 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Grand Opening of Exhibit Hall |
Wednesday, February 4
| 7:00 am - 7:30 am | Breakfast |
| 7:30 am - 8:30 am | Urban Forestry Joe Moeglin |
| 8:30 am - 9:00 am | Soil Science Andrew Freeman |
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Water Management Andrew Freeman |
| 9:30 am - 10:30 am | Plant Health Care Andrew Freeman |
| 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Pruning Phil Olsen |
| 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Trees & Construction Brian Goodall |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Tree Nutrition and Fertilization Andrew Freeman |
| 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Tree Worker Safety & First Aide Brian Goodall |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Climbing and Working in Trees Brian Goodall |
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Buckeye Bash |
Thursday, February 5
| 8:00 am – 9:00 am | Annual Breakfast Meeting & Education |
| 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | ISA Written Exams / Registration begins at 8:30 am |
