Tennessee Urban Forestry Council
2020 Annual Conference Postponed

The 2020 TUFC Annual Conference has been postponed until 2021.This difficult decision was made because of concerns for personal health, travel restrictions, and large group event requirements. The Tennessee Urban Forestry Annual Conference is always a highlight of our year. It is the one event where people get to interact, learn from each other, and build relationships. The Board will be looking at alternatives, such as online webinars. Keep posted for the latest updates.

Past: 2018 Conference

2017

Leading Green: Urban Forestry in a Changing Environment, UT Conference Center, Knoxville

2016

Hands-On Urban Forestry, Rutherford County Extension Office, Murfreesboro

2015

Walking in Memphis: The Future of Urban Forestry, Memphis Botanic Garden

2014

Planting a Sustainable Future, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville

Past Conferences 1992 - 2013

2013 Urban Forestry: A Southern Story, University of Memphis Lambuth, Jackson
2012 Urban Forestry for Healthy Living, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville
2011 Urban Forestry from the Roots Up, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville
2010 Sustainable Sites and Natural Resources: The Urban Forestry Approach, Chattanooga Choo-Choo
2009 Greening Your Community: The Urban Forestry Approach, Lipscomb University, Nashville
2008 Nature of Design: Educating for the Future (with American Society of Landscape Architects), Hilton Hotel, Knoxville
2007 Building Great Communities (with American Planning Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Urban Land Institute, Memphis Chapter, and U.S. Green Building Council/LEED, Memphis Chapter), Hilton Hotel, Memphis
2006 We're All Connected, (with American Planning Association and American Society of Landscape Architects), DoubleTree Hotel, Nashville
2005 Grassroots to Tree Roots: Creating Community Partnerships, Germantown Center, Germantown
2004 Planning Livable Communities: Trees and Urban Growth, Williamson Co. Ag Expo Park, Franklin
2003 Storm Water Problems: Urban Forestry Solutions, Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, Chattanooga
2002 Quality in the Urban Forest, Cheekwood Botanic Garden, Nashville
2001 Sustaining our Urban Forest, UT Conference Center, Knoxville
2000 Urban Forestry: 2000 and Beyond, Cheekwood Botanic Garden, Nashville
1999 Wind, Fire & Ice: Planning and Preparing for Natural Disasters, Maxwell House, Nashville
1997 The Landscape Underground, Ellington Ag Center, Nashville
1996 Greenscapes for Communities, Ellington Ag Center, Nashville
1995 Making Tracks for Greener Cities (with Society of Municipal Arborists), Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, Chattanooga
1994 3rd Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville
1993 2nd Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville
1992 1st Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville

Agenda Available to Download Here:

Sunday, October 14, Morning Session

8am – Registration

9-11am — Tree Board Breakfast

Scott Woods, Bruce Webster, Brian Rucker

Tree board representatives are invited to share their successes and challenges in promoting and protecting their city’s urban forests. This open forum will be moderated to encourage networking and idea generation for both current tree boards and those interested in forming a tree board.

11:30-12:00 – Panel: Engaging Your Tree Board Members

Kathrine Killebrew, Ralph Graham

Tullahoma and Clarksville representatives will share their experiences with creating a strong urban forest. They will discuss natural disasters, establishing city ordinances to plant and protect trees and their mission to connect more of their citizens with trees.

12:00-12:30 – Soil Fracturing Demonstration

Terry Raby

Terry with Airtech Tools LLC will demonstrate how to air fracture the soil within the root system of a tree to break up soil compaction and improve the soil condition. He will show the the tools, discuss the benefits, and recommended supplemental fertilizers.

Sunday, October 14, Afternoon Session

Tours (See Tour tab for more information)

1-3pm – Box Lunch and Tour of Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

1-4pm – Box Lunch and Tour of Opryland Hotel

5-8pm – President’s Reception

TUFC president Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe
Dinner
Award Ceremony: Historic Trees, Awards of Excellence and Private Arboreta

8-9pm — Meet and Greet, Happy Hour

Live Music

Monday, October 15, Overview

7-8:30am — Registration/Breakfast

8:30am — Welcome and Special Presentation

TUFC vice president Scott Woods

8:45-9:45am — KEYNOTE: “Increasing Urban Tree Survivability”

Mark Mann

Mark Mann will reveal how the soil is the problem and the solution in regards to the many issues that urban trees struggle with. The inter-relationship between trees and the soil and soil microbiology will be a major focal point in his discussion. In addition, basic details about activated biochar and how to increase soil health will be shared.

9:45-10am — Break: Visit Vendors and Silent Auction

10am-3:45pm – 3 Concurring Sessions (West, Middle and East TN)

15 minute Scheduled Breaks (Vendors and Silent Auction):

10:45, 11:45, 1:45, 2:45

12-1pm – Lunch and Panel Discussion

Wes Hopper, Josiah Lockard, Jim Cortese

This open forum is for questions of all types. A representative from West, Middle and East TN will be available to share their wealth of experiences with tree health, tree care, tree protection, tree selection, etc. Enjoy lunch while hearing from the experts.

3:45-4:30pm – Evaluations

4:30-5pm – Closing Announcements and Adjournment

Monday, October 15, Mid-Morning/Afternoon Session

West Tennessee

10-10:45am – Next-Gen & Filling Today’s Needs in Arboriculture

Dr. De’Etra Young

De’Etra will critically exam the challenges that employers face in developing and sustaining a skilled workforce in arboriculture.

11-11:45am – The Role & Value Trees Provide the Golf Industry and Managing the Co-Existence

Jason Bradley

Jason will discuss how trees are utilized and cared for in the golf course industry. He will also present strategies that Golf Course Superintendents use to manage the battle between turf and trees.

1-1:45pm – Trees, Characteristics & Logistics

Michael McClain

Michael will touch on the types of trees used in both residential and commercial applications. He will also explore the benefits of choosing the appropriate tree for any given location and explain the reasoning for the choice as well as why not to choose certain trees.

2-2:45 – CMBS: Crapemyrtle Bark Scale Update

Mark Follis

Crape myrtle bark scale has been present in Shelby County since at least 2013 and widespread since 2015. In the ensuing 5 years several chemical treatments and horticultural practices have been employed to fight the infestation. Some have been effective and others not. This presentation will recap that experience and make recommendations for other parts of the state who will be confronted with the insect.

3-3:45pm – Trees from a Botanic Point of View

Rick Pudwell

Rick will present on the various trees that grow at the Memphis Botanic Garden. He will discuss the most successful trees from amongst their many collections of trees, including Conifers, Holly, Japanese Maples, Azaleas, Camellias, etc. He will also discuss pruning to showcase the natural form of trees allowing low branches to remain on the trees. He will mainly focus on natives but will mention non-native trees that are not invasive pests.

Middle Tennessee

10-10:45am – Tree Roots and Branches: Practical Points for Practitioners

Dr. David Mercker

David will be discussing both the characteristics and functions of roots and and branches for the life of the tree.

11-11:45am – Guidelines for Developing Effective Integrated Pest Management Programs

Josiah Lockard

Increasing concerns regarding the over use of pesticides, declining pollinator populations, and rising management costs has created the need to re-examine how we approach controlling pests in both the landscape and urban forest. This session will focus on the key components of Integrated Pest Management, and illustrate a step by step process to developing a site specific program. When implemented properly, IPM practitioners will be able to improve the ecological health of the urban forest, increase biodiversity, and reduce management costs over time.

1-1:45pm – Urban Tree Development Plans

Jennifer Smith

With the growth and development pressures Nashville is experiencing overall, this program will highlight the important strategies, tools, partners and community outreach being implemented to sustain a healthy tree canopy. The activities in Nashville will provide models for other cities looking to grow their urban forestry program.

2-2:45 – Threats to the Urban Forest and Landscapes

Dr. Frank Hale

Invasive insects, mites, weeds and pathogens have taken a heavy toll on the native ecology in North America and around the world. Forests and landscapes have been hit particularly hard in the past and the onslaught continues. Dr. Hale will discuss current invasive pests in Tennessee and some potential pests that could threaten our state in the future such as the spotted lanternfly. Invasive pest surveys are conducted each year through a cooperative agreement between USDA APHIS PPQ and the University of Tennessee Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology called Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey. The impact of this and other nationwide programs will be discussed.

3-3:45pm – ProAPAH- Filling the Gaps of Real Estate Appraisal

Marty Shaw

On its surface, the specialty practice of Professional Amenity Plant Appraisal may seem simple and easy, but those who get involved professionally know that this subject matter is anything but simple and easy. This session gets into the nuanced nuts and bolts of the subject matter and provides clarity to those challenging subject areas that can make plant appraisal difficult to defend. This session explains the three basic approaches to value by clearly identifying all the appraisal problem elements, and how to analyze the relevant characteristic data credibly and reliably. Because the professional plant appraiser’s opinion is important to users, it may be scrutinized in the extreme. The reward of being tested, however difficult the challenge, will certainly result in establishing more relevance and credibility, having gained greater clarity in the effort. It is increasingly important for professional plant appraisers (and others) to perceive the practice of professional plant appraisal as a worthwhile and credible endeavor.

East Tennessee

10-10:45am – Urban Forestry Workforce Development

Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe

The demand for qualified individual filling positions in arboriculture, urban forestry and landscape management are growing every day. This talk will discuss successes and challenging to fill workforce demands. Specifically, developing external components of engagement such as internships, experiential opportunities and recruitment strategies. Lastly, this talk will review a recent research article public in the Journal of Forestry that analyzed job posting and interviews specific to urban forestry career ladder.

11-11:45am – Establishing Tree Ordinances

Jonathon Nessle

The program is a discussion of issues to consider when developing tree protection ordinances. Tree Board members, community activists, arborists – anyone who cares about the the urban forest will get information that will help you develop a tree protection ordinance effort in your town.

1-1:45pm – The Importance of Healthy Trees in our Environments

Tom Stebbins

Studies show trees play a huge role in our social, health and financial well-being. We discuss how to choose the best trees to achieve these objectives in our urban environment. Ideas will be presented on adding increased diversity, pest resistant choices, natives and great performing cultivars to our urban yards and neighborhoods.

2-2:45 – Timing and Effectiveness of Tree Systemics

Jim Cortese

Jim will be speaking specifically about bark spray applications of insecticides, fungicides and others. He will discuss how they work, and when are the best times to use them. I will also discuss their use in relation to sprays, soil treatments and injections.

3-3:45pm – Creative Choices for the Urban Forest

Gene Hyde

Gene will provide examples of how he was able to use imaginative thinking for solutions to problems he has encountered during his 28 years as the City Forester for Chattanooga. Time will be allotted at the end of the presentation for members of the audience to present their own creative solutions to unusual situations. The goal of this session is to encourage “out-of-the-box” thinking in order to solve difficult problems.

Tours

1-3pm – Box Lunch and Tour of Cheekwood Estate and Gardens

Cheekwood Botanical Garden

Tree Walk, Tree Talk: A tour through Nashville’s most diverse collection of trees.

This informative tour will give participants a firsthand look of Cheekwood’s rich history and diverse plant collections throughout the 55 acre estate. There will be discussion on Cheekwood’s integrated pest management strategy for issues such as Emerald Ash Borer and Boxwood Blight, and how Cheekwood is serving as a leading authority for public outreach and education as a TUFC Center of Excellence.

1-4pm – Box Lunch and Tour of Opryland Hotel

Gaylord Opryland

Trees and the Care they Require

While enjoying the many diverse ecosystems within and throughout the beautiful landscapes of the Opryland Hotel, we will gain firsthand knowledge and understanding of the many challenges and tasks required by the horticultural staff to keep its interior and exterior grounds looking pristine. Management considerations, from plant and tree identification to PHC, pruning, planting, design, and plant selection will be discussed. During the tour, observations of plant insect and disease activity along with cultural practices will be the focus of the Opryland staff.

Recommended Nearby Hotels.

We do NOT have a block reserved at these hotels

Holiday Inn Nashville/Vanderbilt

2613 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

(615) 327-4707

Website

Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Green Hills

3800 Bedford Ave, Nashville, TN 37215

(615) 298-7700

Website

Hampton Inn & Suites Nashville-Green Hills

2324 Crestmoor Rd, Nashville, TN 37215

(615) 777-0001

Website

Best Western Plus Belle Meade Inn & Suites

5600 Obrien Ave, Nashville, TN 37209

(615) 354-1711

Website

PAH Exhibitor Samara Farms Logo Tree Diaper Exhibitor Tipco Timberline Tree Lawn Care

Dear Valued Partner,

We are excited to once again extend our personal invitation to you as both an attendee and exhibitor for the TUFC’s 27th annual conference!

We greatly appreciate you and your past involvement and we hope to continue assisting you achieve success! The sooner you complete and return the form along with your payment, the more exposure TUFC can provide you!!

This year’s event will be held on the beautiful grounds at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens in Nashville on October 14th-15th!

Space is both limited and valuable!

Please read carefully as we can provide you substantial savings if you act quickly! In addition, elect to provide a silent auction gift and save even more!!!

On behalf of TUFC, we look forward to your attendance and wish to thank you in advance for your support and presence as an exhibitor at our upcoming conference!

Sincerely,

Scott Woods, 2018 Conference Chair

Jill Smith, TUFC Executive Director

2018 Exhibitor Agreement

Cheekwood

2018 Sponsor Letter

Download Speaker Biographies Here:

Alphabetical Order:

Jason Bradley has been involved in Golf Course Agronomics for 21 years, 8 of which he has been a Golf Course Superintendent. Jason is currently in his 3rd year as The Golf Course Superintendent at Memphis Country Club where he just completed his 3rd golf course restoration project within 9 years.

Jim Cortese is a Consulting Arborist with TIPCO, Inc. TIPCO is a distributor of plant health care products since 1977. In addition he writes reports for attorneys and insurance companies. From 1977 – 2013 Cortese was also president of Cortese Tree Specialists, Inc., in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dr. Mark Follis has a PhD in agroforestry from the University of Florida and has worked in arboriculture for the past 25 years throughout the Eastern United States. I have owned and operated Follis Tree Preservation in Memphis since 2000 and am the current urban forester for City of Memphis.

Ralph Graham has been a long time member of the Tullahoma Tree Board.

Dr. Frank Hale is an Entomology Professor for the University of Tennessee Extension with statewide educational programs for the management of insect and mite pests of turfgrass (sports turf, sod, golf course, and landscape), ornamental plants (nursery, landscape, greenhouse, interiorscape), fruits (small fruit and tree fruit), vegetables (greenhouse and field grown)] and tobacco.

Gene Hyde became the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s first President in 1991. He has been the Urban Forester for the city of Chattanooga for over 30 years.

Wes Hopper is an ISA Certified Arborist and the owner of Urban Forestry in Memphis. Wes has been working in the industry for 34 years and has served the TUFC, neighboring communities and states to promote healthy urban forests.

Dr. Sharon Jean-Philippe is an Associate Professor of Urban Forestry in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries. She teaches courses in the field of urban forestry, tree law, urban soils and arboriculture.

Kathrine Killebrew is on her fifth year as Urban Forester employed by City of Clarksville. Her responsibilities include managing Clarksville’s urban forest, educating citizens and co-workers about trees and keeping Liberty Park wetlands in compliance with the State along with managing thirty scenic adopt a plots throughout the city.

Josiah Lockard is the owner of Josiah Lockard & Associates. Josiah is an award winning Landscape Designer, member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, Past-President of the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, and serves as both Consulting Arborist, and member of the Garden Development Committee at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens.

Mark Mann, owner of Plant Growth Management Systems and the American BioChar Company, has presented and consulted with green maintenance programs to over 400 companies and utilities. Mark has been involved in urban tree protocols, research, soil enhancements, and equipment innovation for over 30 years since graduating from Purdue University. During the last seven years, Mark has been working with soil amendments, specifically with carbon blending for remediation of agricultural and urban soils.

Michael E. McClain was born and raised in Memphis, TN. He has been married to Patti for 31 years and has two children. Following Naval service, he started Town and Country Nursery and Landscape in 1976 as a family business. For the last 25 years, Michael has been a landscape designer and manager for Turfmasters, inc in Memphis for 25 years.

Dr. David Mercker serves as Extension Forester with the University of Tennessee where through Extension programs he educates landowners, loggers, professional foresters, youth and society about sustainable forest management. Special interests include hardwood silviculture, forest certification, and timber markets. His background includes 13 years in private consulting forestry in Indiana followed by employment with the University since 1999. Degrees include BS and MS in Forest Resource Management (Southern Illinois University), and Ph.D. in Natural Resources (University of Tennessee). He has been married to Cheryl for 30 years and has a daughter, son, two grandchildren and two more on the way (all future foresters). He is a field forester at heart, but presently chooses to serve forestry and the greater community in an academic setting.

Jonathon Nessle is “The Ornamentor” in Chattanooga, TN. He is an ISA certified arborist, has a landscape design degree, has served on several boards and professional organizations, including the TUFC, and has over 30 years experience in plant health care.

Rick Pudwell is originally from Chicago, Illinois and has always been interested in living things of all sorts. As a child he began gardening at an early age. Rick pursued many green jobs before and after earning a degree in Commercial Floriculture and Greenhouse Management from Michigan State University. In 1995 Rick began employment at the Memphis Botanic Garden and his current job is Director of Horticulture and Outreach. Rick has been fortunate over his career to be recognized by, Who’s , Who in American Horticulture, The Garden Club of America, University of Tennessee Master Gardener Program, Memphis Horticulture Society and The Memphis Zoological Society.

Brian Rucker is the Urban Forest Management Program Specialist for the TN Department of Agriculture

Marty Shaw is a Registered Consulting Arborist, Board-Certified Master Arborist and the author of the recently published Professional Amenity Plant Appraisal Handbook.

Jennifer Smith is the horticulturist with the Metro Nashville Landscape Coordination program within Public Works, coordinating the Metro Tree Advisory Committee and working with both non-profits and Metro Departments on sustaining Nashville’s Urban Forest. Previously she was the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s state director and the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Educational Coordinator and then Director of Communications. A native Nashvillian, Jennifer studied horticulture and landscape design at the University of Tennessee.

Tom Stebbins is an UT Extension Agent for Hamilton County

Scott Woods is the owner and CEO of Timberline Tree & Lawn Care, Inc located in Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga. He became the first ISA certified arborist in the State of TN in 1987. Scott is the Vice President and the 2018 Conference Chair for the TUFC!

Bruce Webster is the former Senior Urban Forester for the TN Department of Agriculture. Bruce now volunteers on the TUFC board of directors in addition to enjoying retirement.

Dr. De’Etra Young is an assistant professor and extension specialist in the Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Department at Tennessee State University where she has been teaching since the Spring 2013 semester.

2017

Leading Green: Urban Forestry in a Changing Environment, UT Conference Center, Knoxville

2016

Hands-On Urban Forestry, Rutherford County Extension Office, Murfreesboro

2015

Walking in Memphis: The Future of Urban Forestry, Memphis Botanic Garden

2014

Planting a Sustainable Future, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville

Past Conferences 1992 – 2013

2013 Urban Forestry: A Southern Story, University of Memphis Lambuth, Jackson
2012 Urban Forestry for Healthy Living, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville
2011 Urban Forestry from the Roots Up, Ellington Agricultural Center, Nashville
2010 Sustainable Sites and Natural Resources: The Urban Forestry Approach, Chattanooga Choo-Choo
2009 Greening Your Community: The Urban Forestry Approach, Lipscomb University, Nashville
2008 Nature of Design: Educating for the Future (with American Society of Landscape Architects), Hilton Hotel, Knoxville
2007 Building Great Communities (with American Planning Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, Urban Land Institute, Memphis Chapter, and U.S. Green Building Council/LEED, Memphis Chapter), Hilton Hotel, Memphis
2006 We’re All Connected, (with American Planning Association and American Society of Landscape Architects), DoubleTree Hotel, Nashville
2005 Grassroots to Tree Roots: Creating Community Partnerships, Germantown Center, Germantown
2004 Planning Livable Communities: Trees and Urban Growth, Williamson Co. Ag Expo Park, Franklin
2003 Storm Water Problems: Urban Forestry Solutions, Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, Chattanooga
2002 Quality in the Urban Forest, Cheekwood Botanic Garden, Nashville
2001 Sustaining our Urban Forest, UT Conference Center, Knoxville
2000 Urban Forestry: 2000 and Beyond, Cheekwood Botanic Garden, Nashville
1999 Wind, Fire & Ice: Planning and Preparing for Natural Disasters, Maxwell House, Nashville
1997 The Landscape Underground, Ellington Ag Center, Nashville
1996 Greenscapes for Communities, Ellington Ag Center, Nashville
1995 Making Tracks for Greener Cities (with Society of Municipal Arborists), Choo-Choo Holiday Inn, Chattanooga
1994 3rd Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville
1993 2nd Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville
1992 1st Annual Conference, Marriott Hotel, Nashville