Education

    The Pennsylvania State University 2004, BS Forest Science opt. Urban Forestry    

Professional Certifications

     ISA Board Certified-Master Arborist and Municipal Specialist #1536-BM

     ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #475

     North Carolina Landscape Contractor License #0437

     NC  Certified Pesticide Applicator License, Ornamental and Turf

     SC Certified Pesticide Applicator License, Ornamental and Turf

     ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified 

     TCIA Certified PHC Technician

     ASCA Tree & Plant Appraisal Qualified

Experience

2021- Present: Director of Research & Arborologists, Rainbow Ecoscience, Shelby, NC

• Responsible for managing and coaching regional arborologists and field research scientists.  Collaborate with university researchers and green industry professionals to set up field trials with the goal of developing and refining product recommendations and IPM protocols.

2014-2020:  Arborologist, Rainbow Tree Care Scientific Advancements, Charlotte, NC

• Responsible for training and technical support of Rainbow Territory Arborists and clients on plant health care products and protocols.  Collaborate with university researchers and green industry professionals to set up field trials with the goal of developing and refining product recommendations and IPM protocols.

 2011-2014:  Plant Health Care Manager, Heartwood Tree Service LLC, Charlotte, NC

• Administers all operations of $400,000+ grossing Plant Health Care Department; scheduling  ordering, equipment maintenance, training, applying, sales, and sales support.  Manages commercial clients with needs focused towards plant health care operations.  Performs consulting services including tree risk assessment, construction mitigation, and appraisal   Edits and is primary contributor of company newsletter with 5,000+ distribution.  Spearheads company marketing effort.

    2006-2011:  Senior Inventory Consulting Arborist at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Charlotte, NC

• This position involved using GPS/GIS for tree inventories, analyzing tree data collected in the field, and preparing reports/ management plans based on the field collected data.  There was also emphasis on researching new technologies in data collection, and education on tree inventories.

    2003-2006: Arborist Sales Representative, Integrated Pest Management Technician, Crew Leader,

     Bartlett Tree Experts, Exton, PA

• These positions involved customer service and arboricultural consulting, tree pest/disease identification and management, tree soils management, identification of cultural problems affecting tree health and the use of modern techniques for proper tree pruning and removal.

Non-Profit Work

American Society of Consulting Arborists

• Immediate Past President 2024

• President 2023

• President Elect 2022

• Secretary Treasurer 2021

• Board of Directors 2018-Present

ASC A300   

• Associate  Voting Member 2017- 2022

• Member of Revision Subcommittee for the ANSI 300 Part 2 Soil Management 2016 - Present

TreesCharlotte

• TreeAmbassador 2017- 2020

• TreeMaster 2.0 Technical Information Instructor 2016-2020

• TreeMaster 2013-Present

    The Queen's Crown Charlotte, To Preserve and Celebrate Charlotte's Historic Trees

•     Creative Director/Docent 2012-2020

    Charlotte Arborists Association

•     Co-Chair Tree Climbing Competition 2011

•     Vice President 2008 - 2010

•     Executive Board Member 2007-2008

Speaking Engagements

• 2023 PGMS Carolina Branch Quarterly Meeting 'My Tree is Bumpy: Scale Insects in the Landscape'

• 2023 TCI EXPO ANSI A300 Workshop 'Updates to IPM Standards'

• 2023 TreesSC Annual Conference 'Hows, Whats, & Whys of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2023 Clemson Extension Tree Day in North Augusta 'BMPs for Tree Injection'

• 2023 TCIA Webinar Series 'How to grow your Plant Health Care Program'

• 2023 NC Urban Forestry Council Summer ISA Certified Arborist Training 'Pruning, PHC, Pests & Diseases' 

• 2023 ISA Southern Chapter Annual Conference 'Mobile Applications for Arborists'

• 2023 TreesSC Spring Arborist Workshop 'Pests on the Doorstep of SC'

• 2022 Georgia Arborist Association Monthly Meeting 'Micro Tree Injection BMPs'

• 2022 NE Arborist Association Great Plains Conference 'Building a Plant Health Care Safety Culture'

• 2021 NCUFC Certified Arborist Prep Course 'Chapters 10 & 11'

• 2021 Georgia Arborists Association Trees Unit Us 'Common Pests and Diseases of GA' & 'Tree Injection BMPs'

• 2021 PGMS Fall School of Grounds Management Preconference 'Tree Health Diagnostic Walk'

• 2021 Catawba County Field Day 'Hows, Whats, and Whys of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2021 TNLA Annual Conference 'Common Pests and Diseases of Texas'

• 2021 PGMS NC Branch Monthly Meeting 'Common Landscape Diseases in NC"

• 2021 TNLA Pest and Water Workshop 'PHC Safety Culture,' 'Scale Insect Toolbox,' 'Virtual Tour of TX Landscape Pests'

• 2021 NCUFC Certified Arborist Prep Course 'Chapters 10 & 11'

• 2020 NCUFC Certified Arborist Prep Course 'Chapters 10 & 11'

• 2020 TCIA Summer Webinar Series 'Plant Health Care Safety and Culture'

• 2020 American Hort Cultivate 20 'Hows, Whats, and Whys of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2020 American Hort Cultivate 20 'Diagnosing and Prescribing PHC as a Consultant'

• 2020 TreesSC Spring Arborist Workshop 'Overlooked, Upcoming, & Emerging Pests in SC Landscapes'

• 2020 NCNLA Green & Growin' Show 'Mature Tree Management'

• 2020 AMTOPP Annual Conference 'I Have Bumps on My Trees: Scale Insect Science and Management & The Bacteria Awakens in Your Trees'

• 2019 NCUFC Winter Certified Arborist Prep Course 'Diagnosis and Plant Disorders & Plant Health Care'

• 2019 TreesSC Annual Conference 'Nature's Clock: Using Phenology and Growing Degree Days for your Plant Health Care Programs'

• 2019 PGMS Fall School of Grounds Management 'Majestic Tree Management'

• 2019 TVMA Annual Conference 'Science of Trees and Utilities'

• 2019 NC State Landscape Field Day 'Hows, Whys, & Whats of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2019 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management' 

• 2019 ISA Southern Chapter Annual Conference 'Creating a Plant Health Care Safety Culture'

• 2019 iLandscape 'Hows, Whys, & Whats of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2018 TreesSC Annual Conference 'Update on ANSI A300 Pruning Standard'

• 2018 Watuga County Extenstion Landscape Seminar 'Common Landscape Diseases and Using PGRs to Help Trees and Shrubs be More Resistant'

• 2018 ISA International Conference 'ANSI A300: A to Z'

• 2018 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management' 

• 2018 ISA Florida Chapter IPM Work Shop 'Common Pests of FL'

• 2017 TreesSC Arborist Workshop 'Common Pests of the Carolinas'

• 2017 TreesSC Arborist Workshop 'Emerald Ash Borer in South Carolina'

• 2017 Rocky Mt. Chapter ISA 'PHC Safety and Culture'

• 2017 Georgia Arborists Association 'The Science of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2017 Indian Arborists Association 'ISA Best Management Practices on Tree Injection'

• 2017 Indiana Arborists Association 'The Art and Science of Tree Injection Preconference Workshop'

• 2017 Gulf States Horticultural Expo 'Use of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2017 Real Green Solutions 'Use of Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2016 ASCA Annual Conference 'Case Capsule: The Lunds Oak' 

• 2016 TreesSC Annual Conference 'Mobile Apps for Arboriculture'

• 2016 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management' 

• 2016 North Carolina Urban Forestery Council Annual Conference 'Protocols for Plant Growth Regulators'

• 2016 St. Louis Arborist Association 'Gall Insect Protocols'

• 2016 TreesSC Spring Arborist Conference 'The Pathogens Awaken: In Your Trees'

• 2016 Maryland Arborist Association Winter Re-certification Seminar 'Alternative Neonic Systemic Insecticides'

• 2015 North Carolina Vegetation Management Association Annual Conference 'Tree Growth Management Tools'

• 2015 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management'

• 2015 TreesSC Annual Conference 'Use of Plant Growth Managers'

• 2015 New England Chapter ISA Annual Conference 'Scale Insect Management' & 'Air-Tool Protocol Field Day'

• 2015 TreesSC Spring Arborist Conference 'Reducing Pesticide Resistance in the Landscape' & 'Soil Management'

• 2015 Rainbow Tree Care Scientific Advancements Southeast PHC Field Seminars 'Practical Plant Health Care Techniques & Treatments for Common Landscape Pests'

• 2014 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management' 

• 2013 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management' 

• 2012 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Plant Health Care and Integrated Pest Management'     

• 2011 Central Piedmont Community College guest lecturer on 'Tree Risk Assessment' 

• 2009 NC Green and Growing Show on 'Preparing Trees for Storms'

• 2007 Bartlett Student Day at Tree Care Industry Expo on 'Conducting Tree Inventories'

• 2006 Philadelphia Flower Show on 'Proper Pruning'

Published Articles

'Progression of Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) Dieback and Mortality in the Southeastern United States,' Emilee M Poole, Michael D Ulyshen, Scott Horn, Patrick Anderson, Chip Bates, Chris Barnes, Journal of Forestry, 16 March 2021

'Bringing Safety Culture to PHC Operations'  Tree Care Industry Magazine, Volume XXXI, Number 12, December 2020

'An Introduction to Scale Insects in the Landscape:  What They are, How They Live, and Suggestions for Management' ASCA Consultant, Volume 51, Issue 3, 2018

'Science and Use of Tree Growth Regulators' ASCA Consultant, Volume 51, Issue 2, 2018     

 'Ambrosia Beetles in the Urban Forest'  TreesCharlotte The Leaflet Spring 2016

       'Hidden Dangers, Invasive Species Show the Importance of Tree Diversity' TreesCharlotte The Leaflet

        Winter 2016

       'How important is my Soil to my Tree'  Angie's List Web Articles May 2014

       'How to avoid a cankerworm infestation in your trees'  Angie's List Web Articles April 2014