September 24-26, 2025

Tree Disease/Insect TDA Academy

Receive 5 ISA Ceus and all 5 pesticide applicator Ceus required to maintain your pesticide license while looking at TREE related issues. Join Dr. Stephanie Adams - Tree Health in Texas, Dr. Awinash Bhatkar - Regulatory compliance for the import and export of plant products, Mr. James Campos - Post Oak Grafting/Post Oak Production and Ms. Hannah Ayala - Annual Diagnostic Report from TPDDL. They will be joined by Laura Miller Tarrant County Horticulturist with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension presenting "Who Wants to Be a Licensed Pesticide Applicator?".

American Forests - Tree Equity Tools Workshop

Using American Forests' free Tree Equity tools and resources, this session will introduce arborists to practical strategies for identifying communities in need, engaging stakeholders, fostering partnerships, working with city leadership and ultimately building community support for closing the tree canopy gap between neighborhoods. This session provides practical strategies for prioritizing environmental and social resilience for enhancing urban forest management to achieve Tree Equity. Participants will:

1) Learn to use American Forests' Tree Equity tools to identify communities most in need of urban forestry efforts.
2) Improve their strategies for effective stakeholder engagement and community involvement.
3) Identify methods for and developing and refining Tree Equity-focused urban forestry programs.

TRAQ Renewal

The TRAQ Renewal Course presented by Skip Kincaid is a one-day refresher, with five hours of instruction, and three hours to take the exam. Current TRAQ holders can complete the course as early as three and one-half (3 1/2) years into their Qualification (18 months before your expiration date). If your Tree Risk Assessment Qualification expires between September 25, 2025 and March 25, 2027, you can register for this renewal. Beginning in October, ISA will no longer offer renewals. TRAQ will be for 7 years.

Once you have successfully passed the renewal requirements, you will be given 5 years from the date of your previous expiration allowing you to take full advantage of the 5 year period granted with the credential.

Requires a separate $260.00 registration: https://isat.regfox.com/2025-traq-renewal-waco

Process Driven Growth

Join industry experts Kristoffer Rasmussen (Arborist Strong), Drew Smith (HUB Arbor Group), and Andrew Wimmel (Sam Hill Tree Care) for a high-impact session designed to help you build a resilient, scalable tree care company.
This interactive presentation will explore how intentional systems, strategic use of industry resources, and a clear understanding of insurance and safety practices can drive long-term success.
We'll tackle critical questions:
• Do you fully understand your insurance coverages and exclusions?
• How does your MOD rate impact your workers’ comp premiums?
• What are the most statistically safe companies doing differently?
• How can documented training protect your business—and attract top talent?
Whether you’re an owner, manager, or aspiring leader, you’ll walk away with actionable insights to strengthen operations, improve safety, and grow with confidence.

Tree Conference (Thursday 8am to 5pm and Friday 8am to 12pm)

Thursday Awards Banquet (Catering head count)

English Language

The English Language Tree School is 6 hours long and is intended to teach how to perform top quality tree care in an efficient manner. It is presented by Certified Arborist Jimmy Pritchard of Integrity Tree Care in Fort Worth with the assistance of Paul Johnson of Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The indoor sessions cover job site safety, tree industry fatality causes and statistics, tree risk assessment, decay fungi recognition, tree biology, CODIT and how they relate to proper pruning techniques. The outdoor portion demonstrates safe climbing techniques. Both moving rope system (MRS) and stationary rope system (SRS) will be demonstrated/discussed.

Spanish Language: Tree Workers’ Workshop (Taller para Trabajadores de Arboles)

The Spanish Language Tree School is 6 hours long and includes outdoor tree climbing demonstrations and indoor presentations: *Climbing Procedures; *Pruning Techniques; *Safe Tree Work; *Oak Wilt; *Urban Trees.
La Escuela de Árboles tiene una duración de 6 horas e incluye demostraciones de la trepa de árboles y presentaciones educativas: *Procedimientos de La Trepa + Trabajo Seguro + Primeros Auxilios + Rescate Aéreo; *Técnicas de Poda; *Marchitez del Roble; *Cableado + Refuerzos + Protección Contra Rayos; *Árboles Urbanos.

The instructors are:

Los instructores son:

Erick Palacios is an International Arborist Safety Master Instructor providing training for Utility and Residential companies. He is also a lead trainers for the Arborist Apprenticeship Program at Butte College, California. Erick is a voting member of the ANSI Z133 Accredited Standards Committee and vice chair of the Education and Training section.

Erick Palacios es un Instructor Maestro Internacional de Seguridad Arborista e imparte capacitación para empresas de servicios públicos y residenciales. También es instructor principal del Programa de Aprendizaje de Arboristas de Butte College, California. Es miembro con derecho a voto del Comité de Normas Acreditadas ANSI Z133 y vicepresidente de la sección de Educación y Capacitación.

Mark Duff: retired after 26 years with Texas A&M Forest Service working on Oak Wilt management plus 13 years of international forestry work & currently runs his own consulting company.

Mark Duff: se jubiló después de 26 años en el Servicio Forestal de Texas A&M, trabajó en el manejo del marchitamiento del encino. Además, trabajó como forestal internacional por 13 años. Actualmente dirige su propia empresa de consultoría.

Bill Green, 27 years as an agroforesty extensionist & soil conservationist in South America plus 9 years as a regional forester with Texas A&M Forest Service.

Bill Green, 27 años como extensionista agroforestal y conservacionista de suelos en América del Sur, más 9 años como forestal regional en el Servicio Forestal de Texas A&M.