Your feedback will help us ensure that our Board of Directors comprises the most dedicated and qualified individuals committed to driving positive change within the tree care community.
Deadline for feedback: August 31, 2023
Please see the candidates below. Click on each candidate for more information and to provide your feedback:
Amy Burkett, President/CEO – Burkett Arbor Care, LLC
Amy is the majority owner of Burkett Arbor Care. It is a woman-owned, full-service tree care company that is well-versed in federal, municipal, commercial, and residential tree services. Having a background in Corporate America and then transitioning to tree care has added value towards increasing professionalism and delivering high quality services/products. She is motivated, results-oriented, passionate about the industry, and loves to win no matter the game. After already serving three years on the TCIA Board of Directors she is even more reinvigorated to advocate and continue working to help elevate our tree care industry and businesses.
Carlos Haddad, VP/GM, Professional Business Unit, North America – Husqvarna Group
Husqvarna’s internal mission statement for tree care matches that of TCIAs: Advance the industry. Our team’s passion for advancing the tree care industry is centered around our extensive history of innovation and always putting the customer at the center of everything we do. I have been active and personally involved in multiple associations and organizations and am interested, willing, and able to contribute to the betterment of TCIA’s membership pool. I am passionate about getting things done and leveraging communication and networking skills to tackle operational and strategic topics through collaboration and teamwork. I believe I have the ability to contribute immediately to help expand the role, presence, and influence of TCIA in the arboriculture community. I would be honored to be a part of the TCIA board of directors, continuing to collaborate to develop new tools, services, and innovations to promote the professional practice of arboriculture.
Joel Hardy, Regional Sales Manager – North America TreeCare Specialist – Fuchs A Terex Brand
I have been interested in the natural world my whole life. So much so that I have an advanced degree (MS) in Wildlife Management and Botany and I previously worked with the Corps of Engineers in their Section 404 Regulatory Program and as an environmental consultant traveling the east coast of North America helping clients to design their capital projects in an environmentally friendly and responsible manner to achieve their financial goals and to comply with the environmental regulations (federal, state and local) that had a bearing on their project.
Lifes circumstances took me from this pursuit and today I have been involved in the customer service/satisfaction industry since 1988 either in the private consulting industry or in the heavy equipment industry. I possess 20+ years of experience in Heavy Equipment Dealership operations, most recently as General Manager, overseeing a New Holland agricultural dealership in Rogersville, MO with gross receipts in excess of $38 million per year. I have managed two separate John Deere dealership locations with approximately 50 total employees in parts, service, and complete goods sales, and I have 18+ years of Ditch Witch and Volvo construction dealership operations and sales management experience.
I am well versed in all areas of multi-location management, process improvement, recruitment, development and employee retention, and experienced in business to business capital goods sales and total customer relationship management.
I was recently chosen by Fuchs recently to head up their line of tree care equipment in North America, and am excited to get back to a natural resource focused industry while combining my heavy equipment experience to advance the technology available to the tree care industry to help the members do a cleaner more efficient job in the urban forestry and right-of-way business, and increase human safety while carrying out their daily business.
I believe that my years of experience in the tangential industries of environmental and forest management and in the heavy equipment industry would be of value to the TCIA Board of Directors and TCIA membership by bringing a new set of eyes and ideas to the board and the organization as a whole.
Randolph Hoover, CEO and Board Member – Xylem Tree Experts & Kendall Vegetation Services
As the CEO of Xylem Tree Experts and Kendall Vegetation Services, I, Randolph Hoover, am presenting myself as a strong candidate for nomination to the Board of Directors of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). I have spent the last 27 years of my career dedicated to the tree care industry. From humble beginnings as the founder of Xylem Tree Experts, I have worked tirelessly to grow the company into one of the nation’s leading brands, now employing over 3,000 people, and operating across the residential, commercial, and utility sectors of the industry. For decades, I have been a staunch supporter of the TCIA, contributing significantly to its growth and standing. I have advocated in Washington D.C. on crucial advancements for the industry, including expansion of the H2B visa program and new OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations. My in-depth understanding of the tree care industry and the vast experience I have gained from the ground level to the executive suite equip me with the knowledge, leadership, and foresight needed to navigate the challenges that confront our industry. I am excited at the prospect of serving on the TCIA Board of Directors, where I believe I can use my experience and expertise to make a substantial contribution to our shared goal: improving and safeguarding the future of the tree care industry.
Larry Martony, Owner – The Arbor Group
It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my interest to serve on the TCIA Board of Directors. As a dedicated member of the tree care industry, I believe I have the experience, knowledge, and leadership qualities necessary to contribute to the success of this esteemed organization.
Through my experience working at a large company, I acquired the invaluable skill of knowing how to effectively interact with larger corporations and their leaders. Currently, as an owner/operator and leader of a rapidly-growing company, I am in a unique position to share my expertise and help small business owners achieve success. I take pride in generating innovative ideas, activating the younger generation in the field of arboriculture, and facilitating increased collaboration among West Coast companies. It brings me great satisfaction to help businesses flourish and reach their full potential.
Thank you for considering my candidacy. I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the membership and contribute to the success of the TCIA.
Brent Oberlink, CEO – Lanracorp
Simply put – I’m a doer and a big picture thinker. I believe my knowledge in this industry combined with my desire to impact and make change would be greatly beneficial on the board of directors at the TCIA. I am always trying to make anything I am involved with function and work better. I am not a sit on the sidelines type of person that just goes with the flow. If you want fresh ideas, someone to see weaknesses and opportunities, and will work with other well to accomplish – I’m your guy.
Eric Petersen, President – ArboRisk Insurance
For the past 20 years, I have made it my personal mission to to help tree care companies become extraordinary through proper risk management and would greatly appreciate the opportunity to continue that as a member of the TCIA Board of Directors. I believe my past volunteer efforts within the Wisconsin Arborist Association and Z133 Task Groups have given me the perspective necessary to help TCIA advance its mission.
Mike Tilford, Director of Tree Care – SavATree
TCIA has a critical role in the progress of arboriculture- safety, training, business development and ensuring the advancement of professionalism in the industry. My goal with the Board of Directors would be to facilitate communication and training opportunities with a focus on industry safety. I believe accreditation is a process that helps develop companies business acumen and employee culture and I will support those who want to achieve accredited status.
Megan Townsend, Co-Founder & COO – Altitude Arborist
Service to community is a personal core value and was part of my upbringing. I have served on multiple boards over the years and am fueled by collaboration to solve problems and improve an industry. I currently serve as chair of the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership and recently joined the board of Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals. I have served on the TCIA Dues Task Force and am ready to elevate my service to the industry by serving on TCIA’s board of directors.
I am passionate about member engagement, safety, education, advocacy and solving workforce challenges. When I engage with the industry and community, I strive to elevate our industry and serving on the board would be an extension of that. I personally align with the board’s core values of being committed, a team player, strategic, open-minded and a steward of the industry.
TCIA’s ten-year target is to have 6,000 tree care company members meet a defined measure of success by 2032. The more people we have engaged with TCIA, the further we can advance our industry. This along with TCIA’s entire Vision and Focus will help elevate our industry’s public perception and make our industry more attractive as a career. I would be humbled to have the opportunity to help guide TCIA in this journey.
Pat Turley, President – Arbor Masters
I am highly excited for the opportunity to serve on the TCIA board. Having worked in multiple industries I have experience with many different professional associations, but I have never come across an organization that is so passionate and effective in executing its mission to advance its members. The opportunity to help guide our collective industry strategy is an exhilarating challenge that I am enthusiastic to take on.
While I currently lack some of the industry-specific experience of many of my peers, I will be able to contribute as a “fresh set of eyes” on many of the efforts in which TCIA is currently engaged. Specifically, I have driven successful initiatives in the creation and implementation of safety programs, leadership development, training, mentoring, and recruiting (including recruitment of traditionally underrepresented groups). I am also well-versed in communicating and negotiating with regulatory agencies to enact meaningful changes. Many of these past business experiences directly correlate with objectives in the TCIA 3-Year Picture. I am confident that I can help progress those goals as a board member.
TCIA has quickly become an organization that I hold in very high regard, and I am eager to put my knowledge and experience to work toward meeting its mission. I will be speaking at the Executive Arborist Workshop in San Diego in August and I will continue to volunteer for industry events where I feel I can contribute. A seat on the Board that allows me to continuously make a positive impact for TCIA members would truly be a blessing. Thank you for your time and consideration.