61st Annual Shade Tree Symposium
March 16-17, 2026 Lebanon Valley Exposition Center & Fairgrounds 80 Rocherty Road Lebanon, PA 17042
Sunday, March 15, 2026 Certification Testing Lebanon County Penn State Extension Office 2120 Cornwall Rd. #1 Lebanon, PA 17042 1:00 pm Pest Walk Lebanon County Penn State Extension Office Sandy Feather Join Sandy Feather from Penn State Extension on her annual pest update and pest walk. A portion of the class will be outside, so please dress appropriately for the weather. * Pre-registration is required for this session (no additional fee) ISA CEUs: 3 Credits BCMA - 1.5 S, 1.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pest Credits: 5 Credits (PC,06,18,23) 4:30 pm Volunteer Meeting Center Hall 5:30 pm Volunteer Dinner Center Hall
Monday, March 16, 2026 GENERAL SESSIONS BRIGHTBILL ARENA 8:30 am Welcome and awards 8:45 am Outline for Leadership Todd Kramer Green industry staff are often promoted to leadership roles based on their ability to complete a task but may lack the qualities and skills required to be an effective leader. Learn how to develop leadership skills that will positively contribute to developing safe, productive, and quality-oriented crews. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M 9:45 am Comfort Level vs Respect Level Fred Fisher This presentation will focus on keeping your respect level and your comfort level balanced. This will not only help with employee development, but will also help to keep everyone safe in the work place. ISA CEUs: 1 Credt BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M 10:45 am Break with Exhibitors North Hall
MONDAY PLANT HEALTH CARE BREAKOUT SESSIONS BRIGHTBILL ARENA 11:00 am Pests and Diseases Coming Your Way Kevin Chase, PhD The focus of this talk will be on box tree moth and laurel wilt disease. Both are plant killers and are spreading rapidly. The biology, spread and management will be discussed of each pest and disease. Additionally, we will discuss a new canker and leaf spot affecting European hornbeam and management of tuliptree scale - one of the hardest insects to control recently. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.25 P, 0.25 M PA Pesticide: 2 Credits (PC,06,18,23) 12:00 pm LUNCH on the TRADESHOW FLOOR 1:00 pm Oak Wilt, Bacterial Leaf Scorch, or Something Else? Jennie Diehl Mazzone Many problems can cause oak leaves to scorch, wilt, and defoliate, making it difficult to tell whether the cause is oak wilt, bacterial leaf scorch, or an abiotic disorder such as drought. This presentation will focus on how to recognize key symptoms and patterns that help distinguish these look-alike problems in the field. Participants will learn practical field diagnostic techniques, how to collect and submit high-quality samples, and what to expect from laboratory testing at the Penn State Plant Disease Clinic. Build confidence in your diagnostic skills and discover the free tools and resources available to support accurate identification and effective management of oak health issues. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pest Credits: 2 Credits (PC,06,18,23) 2:00 pm BLD, BTM, & MLS BMPs with No BS Mark Ware For those who aren't yet up to speed on the multitude of three letter acronyms we arborists love to use, we will be talking about the best management practices for some of our bigger headaches here in PA and DE as of late. The focus will be on Bacterial Leaf Scorch, Boxtree Moth and an update/overview of Beech Leaf Disease ICYMI last year. Left unchecked, all three of these have the ability to kill their hosts in a relatively short amount of time, so timely management is key. The focus will be on the info you need to know to get predictable management results without giving you TMI. TBH, I think you'll really enjoy hearing about the biology, timing and different application methods and materials we can use to manage some of these pest and diseases. TTYL. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pest Credits: 2 Credits (PC,06,18,23)
MONDAY TREE WORKER BREAKOUT SESSIONS NORTH HALL 11:00 am Tree Care Aerial Device Safe Practices and Procedures John Bauer, Altec We will focus primarily on the safety of Tree Care Aerial Device, The importance and procedure to ensure proper set up and the hazards of operating on a slope. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0 S, 1 P, 0 M 12:00 pm LUNCH on the TRADESHOW FLOOR 1:00 pm Felling Techniques and Chainsaw Safety Rob Thigpen This topic will cover use of a felling plan to minimize exposures to hazards of felling trees and standing trunks. The focus will be on use of an open face notch, standard 45 and Humboldt notches for this process with its pros and cons. We will be cutting on props indoor so you can see in person what it looks like and be able to ask questions. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0 P, 0.5 M 2:00 pm Work Positioning Todd Kramer Todd will highlight 10 of the most commonly encountered invasive plants on right of ways, forestry sites, and old field succession areas. He will explain what herbicide mixes work best for each species of invasive plants. Timing, preferred application methods, and adjuvants will also be discussed. At the end of the presentation, we'll take time to allow the group to bring up and other invasives they are having issues with. Todd can then provide additional recommendations to control those other plants. ISA CEUS: 1 CA; 1 UT; 1 CS; 1 MA; 1 AL; BCMA - 0 S, 1 P, 0 M PA Pest Credits: 2 credits (Cat. PC, 05, 06, 18, 23)
MONDAY TREE WORKER BREAKOUT SESSIONS NORTH HALL 11:00 am Tree Care Aerial Device Safe Practices and Procedures John Bauer, Altec We will focus primarily on the safety of Tree Care Aerial Device, The importance and procedure to ensure proper set up and the hazards of operating on a slope. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit UA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.5 P, 0.5 M 12:00 pm LUNCH on the TRADE SHOW FLOOR 1:00 pm Felling Techniques and Chainsaw Safety Rob Thigpen This topic will cover use of a felling plan to minimize exposures to hazards of felling trees and standing trunks. The focus will be on use of an open face notch, standard 45 and Humboldt notches for this process with its pros and cons. We will be cutting on props indoor so you can see in person what it looks like and be able to ask questions. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 1.0 P, 0.0 M 2:00 pm Work Positioning Todd Kramer Work positioning is a very important part of working safely and efficiently while providing a quality product for our clients. We will discuss relevant ANSI Standards and the importance of them and why they are relevant. We will also demonstrate tips and tricks to solve work positioning challenges. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.75 P, 0.25 M
MONDAY BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL BREAKOUT SESSIONS WEST HALL 11:00 am Directional Pruning Practices for Utility Line Clearance Vinnie Cotrone Explore why directional pruning practices are utilized to provide reliable clearance, extend trim cycles, reduce water sprouting and decay, and are biologically sound when applied properly to urban trees growing under conductors. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit UA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.5 P, 0.5 M 12:00 pm LUNCH on the TRADE SHOW FLOOR 1:00 pm What's Working With Google for 2026 Julian Awad Julian Awad specializes in helping companies generate more quality clients through several means. In this session, he will discuss how to make Google work for your tree care business. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.0 P, 1.0 M 2:00 pm The Principles of Human Performance Concerning Safety Fred Fisher This presentation will focus on how the view of safety has changed over the past 50 years and how applying the 'Principles of Human Performance' could help develop a stronger safety culture. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.0 P, 1.0 M
3:00 pm Break with Exhibitors North Hall GENERAL SESSION BRIGHTBILL ARENA 3:15 pm Awards and Announcements 3:30 pm Recruiting and Engaging Through Core Values Vincent Rozette Identify core values in your organization is key to building and maintaining a strong culture. We will discuss how to utilize core values to hire, engage, and develop your team. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.0 P, 1.0 M 4:30 pm Beef & Beer Banquet North Hall 5:00 pm Annual Penn-Del ISA Business Meeting 7:00 pm Door prizes and raffles
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 GENERAL SESSIONS BRIGHTBILL ARENA 8:30 am Welcome and Announcements 8:35 am Tree Research and Endowment Fund Update Paul Putman, PhD TREE Fund President & CEO 8:45 am Managing Native Trees, Shrubs, and Forbs to Restore Biodiversity on Rights-of-Way Carolyn Mahan, Ph.D. Dr. Carolyn Mahan will provide an overview of how using integrated Vegetation Management can provide conservation benefits to pollinators, native plants, and breeding birds while saving money and permitting efficient delivery of energy to the public. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.25 P, 0.25 M PA Pest: 2 Credits (10,18,23) 9:45 am Break with Exhibitors North Hall
TUESDAY PLANT HEALTH CARE BREAKOUT SESSIONS BRIGHTBILL ARENA 10:00 am Pathogens of Ornamental Trees Tim Abbey This presentation will discuss the main pathogen groups of trees and use a few as specific examples. Will cover biology, tree symptoms, and management options. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pesticide: 2 Credits (PC,06,18.23) 11:00 am Tick Biology, Management, and Distribution in the Mid-Atlantic Kevin Chase, PhD In this talk, Dr. Chase will discuss the biology of the black legged deer tick, the lone star tick, the Asian longhorned tick and the American dog tick. He will also walk us through the human diseases associated with each tick. Integrated Pest Management plans ranging from cultural practices to the latest pesticides will be discussed. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pesticide: 2 Credits (16,18,23) TUESDAY TREE WORKER BREAKOUT SESSIONS NORTH HALL 10:00 am Chipper Safety Training Joe Deriscavage In this presentation, Joe will review proper chipper use on the jobsite. While chippers have improved over the years, there are still proper accidents occurring far too often. Joe will highlight important safety features and best practices. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.5 P, 0.5 M 11:00 am An Objective Look at the Pro's and Con's of SRS and MRS James Earhart Moving Rope Systems (MRS) and Stationary Rope Systems (SRS) both have their place in tree climbing. With his commitment to the industry and a passion for climbing, James will provide a detailed look at some of the techniques found in these two common climbing systems. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.0 S, 0.0 P, 1.0 M
12:00 pm Lunch with Exhibitors NORTH HALL GENERAL SESSIONS BRIGHTBILL ARENA 1:00 pm Invasive Plant ID & Management Tim Abbey Control of invasive plants starts with the proper identification. Different techniques and methods are necessary for proper management depending upon the plant. Tim will discuss common invasive plants and control methods to help manage them in the landscape. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 0.5 S, 0.5 P, 0.0 M PA Pesticide: 2 Credits (PC,06,18,23) 2:00 pm Pesticide Application Trivia Penn-Del ISA & Penn State Extension Designed as a trivia game, participants will answer questions about preparing for a pesticide application. Topics will include calibration, drift reduction, mixing and loading, pesticide labels, and how to be prepared for application accidents including a pesticide spill. ISA CEUs: 1 Credit BCMA - 1.0 S, 0.0 P, 0.0 M PA Pesticide: 2 Credits - Core 3:00 pm Closing Comments
Speakers List Todd Kramer - Performance and Training Manager with Kramer Tree Specialists Todd Kramer is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker, ISA Climber and Aerial Lift Specialist, TCIA Certified Tree Care Safety Professional, and a Certified Crane Operator through the Crane Institute of America. Todd enjoys a refreshing and practical approach to teaching and instructing various arboriculture skill sets. He has been involved in production tree climbing for more than 25 years and has been instructing seminars on rigging, crane assisted tree removals, aerial rescue, emergency response, and industry related leadership throughout the United States for more than 15 years. Todd has been involved on a variety of arboriculture projects in the commercial, municipal, and utility sectors. In addition, Todd is a 10-time Illinois Arborist Association competitive tree climbing champion. Todd is currently the Training and Performance Manager at the family owned and operated Kramer Tree Specialists in West Chicago, IL. James Earhart - Owner of Arbor Care James fell in love with tree climbing in 1999 at the age of 14. He attended his first tree climbing competition in 2001 and he then applied himself to learning his craft and was hired by a tree company at the age of 17. He competed in his first tree climbing competition in 2004 and has been an avid competitor ever since. James went on to work for several companies before starting his own business, Arbor Care LLC in 2009. He and his family live in Essex County Virginia near the town of Tappahannock.
Kevin Chase - Research Scientist - Bartlett Tree Experts Kevin conducts entomological research on a variety of tree and shrub insect pests across North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Kevin is currently based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he mainly serves the Mid-Atlantic states. In his role, he divides his time between conducting and disseminating research on current issues in landscape pest management, urban forestry and arboriculture as well as training and supporting Bartlett Arborist Representatives and Plant Health Care Specialists. Carolyn G. Mahan, PhD - Penn State University Carolyn G. Mahan is a professor of biology and environmental studies at Penn State University. She holds a PhD in Wildlife Science from Penn State and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Research interests include biodiversity in threatened ecosystems, effects of human-modified landscapes on wildlife, and behavioral ecology of mammals. Her work has been published in Conservation Biology, Journal of Mammalogy, and PLOS One among others. Dr. Mahan served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Wildlife Society, Pennsylvania Center for Private Forests, and is a past-president of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey. She currently serves on Governor Shapiro's Advisory Council for Conservation.
Tim Abbey - Penn State Extension Tim Abbey's main responsibility is to educate nursery and landscape care professionals on how to manage ornamental plant pests using integrated pest management (IPM) strategies in the counties surrounding Harrisburg, PA. He also coordinates educational programs that focus on pest management, tree care, and other horticultural topics. Tim also serves as a resource for other audiences such as: Master Gardener training; educational lectures on ornamental plant pests outside of this base area; and entomology lectures to civic organizations, garden clubs, and children's groups. John Bauer - Sentry Training Supervisor - Altec John Bauer is a Sentry Training Supervisor at Altec. As part of the Sentry team he instructs various operator safety courses, train the trainer programs, crane prep and certification events. Altec Sentry is continuously working with our customers and within team Altec to improve the safety training and products offered by Altec. John has been a safety training specialist with Altec for past 8 years after serving as Equipment Superintendent for nearly a decade with a large Construction contractor. Managing all types of projects, equipment, and operators throughout the United States.
Mark Ware - Arborologist - Rainbow Ecoscience Mark Ware is a Board-Certified Master Arborist on the Rainbow Ecoscience team, covering the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Mark brings over ten years of practical experience in arboriculture, plant health care and ornamental horticulture. Mark is responsible for providing PHC technical and application training to Rainbow’s clients and their crews. This includes providing technical support and training in Rainbow PHC protocols, research and development of new products and protocols and in-field training with applicators. Frederick Fisher - Regional Safety Manager - Bartlett Tree Experts Fred started in the Green Industry in 1991. He has risen to the level of Board Certified Master Arborist since 2017. Other certifications that Fred has earned are Safety Manager Specialist through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, Certified Tree Risk Assessor through the TCIA, Certified Instructor of First Aid/CPR through the American Red Cross, and Certified Tree Care Safety Professional through the TCIA, as well. In 2003, Fred started with Bartlett Tree Experts in the West Chester, PA office as a senior foreman responsible for general tree work crews. In 2007 he was awarded the position of Safety and Training Coordinator for the Midwest. His territory included offices from Ohio to Minnesota. In 2017, his territory expanded to include the Northeast, including New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While at Bartlett, Fred has helped with developing and implementing many safety related programs including ladder inspection and usage guidelines as well as the roof top snow removal procedures. Fred was an instructor for the BTE Business Leadership Training and Production Skills training. Fred Fisher has been the Chairman fo the Saddle and Harness subgroup of the safety committee and a member of the Bartlett Safety Committee since 2007. He has also spent 9 years as a member of the ANSI Z133 committee helping to create standards for the Tree Care Industry.
Vincent Rozette - Vice President - Bartlett Tree Experts Vinny Rozette is the Vice President of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky at the Bartlett Tree Experts. He started at Bartlett in 2013 as an Arborist Representative and moved up from there. Vinny graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in ornamental horticulture. He is a Board Certified Master Arborist through the ISA, a Certified Treecare Safety Professional with TCIA, and a Registered Consulting Arborist with the ASCA. Jennie Diehl Mazzone - Penn State Extension Jennie Diehl Mazzone is a Commercial Horticulture Educator with Penn State Extension in Franklin County, PA. She has held several positions at Penn State, including Forestry Instructor, Master Gardener Coordinator, Research Technologist, and Diagnostician. She also worked as a Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostician at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory in Charlotte, NC. Joe Deriscavage - Engineering and Training Consultant - Bandit Industries Joe is the Bandit Factory Outside Territory Manager covering the territory from Virginia to Maine. He is responsible for sales, operational, service and safety training of customers and dealers for Bandit Tree Care Equipment. Rob Thigpen - Lead Instructor with North American Training Solutions (NATS) Rob has 37-years experience in the tree care Industry. He is a sub-contract climber, s involved in with the Crane Safety School, and is a lead instructor with North American Training Solutions (NATS). Rob was a competitive climber for 25-years and won the Penn-Del ISA Chapter Championships twice where he represented the chapter in Australia and England at the International Tree Climbing Competitions. Rob continues to support the chapter climbing competitions by serving as Head Judge and co-chair.
Sandy Feather - Penn State Extension Sandy Feather is part of Penn State Extension’s Green Industry Team, covering southwestern Pennsylvania and based in Allegheny County. She develops and delivers educational programs to help landscape professionals obtain and maintain professional certifications such as Certified Arborist, Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist, and licensed pesticide applicator. She also helps professionals diagnose and manage problems on the properties they oversee. Julian Awad - Local Tree Service Marketing Julian Awad is the Founder and President of Local Tree Service Marketing and JSA Interactive. With more than 19 years of experience in SEO, digital marketing, and lead generation, he has helped hundreds of service-based companies expand their reach and improve profitability through performance marketing and ROI strategies. Vinnie Cotrone - Penn State Extension Vincent Cotrone has worked for Penn State University as a regional urban forester and natural resources extension educator covering 18 counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania since 1991. He has assisted many municipalities and organizations with the development of community forestry programs and provided technical assistance and educational opportunities to the green industry. More recently he has worked with municipalities and engineers on green infrastructure projects to manage urban stormwater. He's presented at national conferences for the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA Conference, the National Urban Forests Conference in Seattle, and the multiple Partners in Community Forestry Conference.s Mr. Cotrone has been a member of the International Society of Arboriculture since 1987 and is an ISA certified arborist He has been awarded with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Environmental Partnership Award, the Urban & Community Forestry Agency Achievement Award, the Pennsylvania Extension Director’s Team Award, and the John B. Ward Award for Outstanding Person in Arboriculture for service to the Penn-Del I SA Chapter.
The Penn-Del ISA Board of Directors and the 2026 Symposium Committee would like to thank all of our exhibitors and sponsors for supporting our chapter.