For more than 30 years, Arbor Age magazine has been covering new and innovative products, services, technology and research vital to tree care companies, municipal arborists and utility right-of-way maintenance companies
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/32089
INDUSTRY NEWS: SPECIAL REPORT State of the Industry 2011 ISA’s executive director shares his thoughts For an overview of the tree care industry, from an industry leadership perspective, Arbor Age recently asked Jim Skiera, execu- tive director of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), to comment about the state of the industry. AA: What key issues or challenges are —or will be — at the forefront for the tree care industry now and in the year to come? Skiera: Increasing energy costs will impact the cost of tree work and train- ing. It will also impact discretionary spending habits. The people able to articulate the benefits of trees and tree care as long-term investments will shine. AA: What advice would you give to tree care professionals regarding the industry during the coming year? Jim Skiera Skiera: People are beginning to understand the true value of the urban forest. The green infrastructure movement is becoming popular with policymakers for environmental and also economic reasons. Now is the time to develop relationships with policy- makers and take time to develop a plan for how you can align your services with meeting the needs of this growing trend. AA: What areas of advancement in the industry are you most pleased with? And what areas need to improve? Skiera: I am most pleased with the increase I have seen in public and policymaker awareness related to the benefits of trees and the urban forest. The utility industry is starting to see management budgets stabilized as the concept of best management practices is aligning with regulations. Now we need to improve awareness for the need for management of the resource the urban forest and the individual trees in our cities. Worker safety is still a major concern, and we cannot do enough, fast enough, to improve in this area of the industry. AA: What would you like industry professionals to know about ISA during the coming year? Skiera: The ISA will be bringing on a number of online courses to help people keep up with their arboriculture studies and maintain their professional credentials. We are also working with our chapters to develop and deliver advanced arboriculture training opportunities locally. AA: What is your boldest prediction for the industry regarding the remainder of 2011 and into 2012? 10 Arbor Age / May/June 2011 Q: What have been the biggest challenges for your business this year, and how have you approached those challenges? A: Forecasting sales, professionalism of staff, and weather. For sales we have focused on immediate response to RFQs and closing deals. Staff will need some training and possibly replacement. Rain gear! — Gillies www.arborage.com I think people are staying put and not buying new homes. This seems to have been a plus as people are doing a lot of work around their existing places to clean up their trees. —Jeff Hansen, owner/CEO, Hansen’s Tree Service, St. Louis, O’Fallon, Springfield, Branson, Mo. We had a very strong winter here in Mammoth [Calif.]; 600 inches of snow at 8,000 feet with a lot of wind most of the winter. There will be plenty of work this summer. We also have a fuels reduction mandate that is increasing the push to compliance. The competition for jobs is fierce. —Greg Cook, owner, G.C. Forest Products, Inc. INDUSTRY NEWS: SPECIAL REPORT Skiera: Managing the health of the urban forest will be identified as a primary resource and goal for stormwater management by the engineering community. Business owners/managers weigh in To get the pulse of those in the field, Arbor Age also surveyed its readers regarding the good, and the bad, of business in the tree care industry in 2011. Q: What have been the biggest positives for your business this year, and what are some of your goals moving forward? A: We were able to sustain sales at or above previous levels despite a slow economy. The opportunity to learn and utilize advanced rigging techniques gave us a competitive advantage. — Rob Gillies, Rob Gillies Tree Care We’re starting off very strong in the residential market this year —lots of quality work coming in. Also, I finally earned a piece of the commercial market through two major landscaping firms as their go-to arborist and tree care company. I am looking to further increase our profitability by adding low (overhead) cost, quick turnaround, and desirable services to our menu. Furthermore, I am looking to break into larger commercial work by winter. I am implementing a new safety program in the company with the help of TCIA, and looking to become an accredited company by fall. — Nathan Ridge, president, Louisiana Arborist Top Gun Tree & Land Services