Virginia Arborist Honored as ISA “True Professional”

Robert Springer, an ISA Certified Arborist, tree climber, and safety and training coordinator at Bartlett Tree Experts in Charlottesville, Va., has been named a “True Professional of Arboriculture” by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

The True Professional recognition programme honors arborists and tree care professionals for their positive impact on the industry and around their community. ISA President Colin Bashford paid tribute to Springer at a ceremony in Portland, Ore., as part of the ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show, held August 11—15, 2012.

“When Virginia adopted a tree trimming standard to curb the number of fatalities and accidents among tree workers, Rob willingly stepped forward as an expert arborist to explain the equipment and safety requirements in our industry,” said Bashford. “His support of such a strong standard paves the way for a safer workplace.”

Springer is recognized as a leading safety expert in arboriculture in Virginia and beyond its borders, speaking and conducting workshops on safety. He’s been instrumental in the preservation and removal of heritage trees, including species at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate and George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon. Springer is the first arborist to assist the U.S. Forest Service in the removal of a U.S. Capitol Holiday Tree.

“Safety happens one day at a time and one hour at a time,” said Springer. “There’s a lot of risk to what we do, so we have to manage that. As arborists, we do something that a lot of people cannot do and are not willing to do. That’s part of what makes this job challenging and interesting, but no matter what we have to make it happen safely.”

Springer is one of five members in the 2012 Class of True Professionals. ISA launched the recognition programme in 2009 to increase public understanding of arboriculture and the professional skills of today’s arborists. Nominees selected for recognition represent various backgrounds as ISA Certified Arborists, urban foresters, authors, and business owners—all advancing the cause of the industry.

This year’s ISA “True Professionals” judges included John Ball (professor of forestry at South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.), SK Ganesan (deputy director of landscaping and arboriculture, National Parks Board, Singapore), Alan Jones (vice president and division manager, Bartlett Tree Experts, Afton, Va.), Lauren Lanphear (president, Forest City Tree Protection, South Euclid, Ohio and 2011 ISA “Award of Distinction” winner), Randy Lidkea (retired arborist, ISA committee member, St. Thomas, Ontario), Paul Revell (urban and community forestry manager, Virginia Department of Forestry, Charlottesville, Va.), Rip Tompkins (arborist and principal at ArborMaster, Willington, Conn.), and Philip van Wassenaer (president, Urban Forest Innovations, Inc., Mississauga, Ontario and 2009 ISA “True Professional of Arboriculture”).
 
Profiles and case studies of the “True Professionals” will be featured on the ISA website at www.isa-arbor.com and highlighted in future ISA publications such as Arborist News.

About ISA
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill., U.S., is a nonprofit organisation supporting tree care research and education around the world. To promote the importance of arboriculture, ISA manages the consumer education web site, www.treesaregood.org, which fulfills the association’s mission to help educate the public about the importance and value of proper tree care. Also, as part of ISA’s dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally-recognized certification programme in the industry. For more information on ISA and Certified Arborists, visit www.isa-arbor.com

About Bartlett Tree Experts
The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company was founded in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett and is the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company. The organisation’s current chairman, Robert A. Bartlett Jr., represents the third generation of Bartlett family management. Bartlett has locations in 26 U.S. states, Canada, Ireland and Great Britain. Services include pruning, pest and disease management, fertilisation and soil management, cabling and bracing, tree lightning protection systems and tree/stump removal. Its corporate offices are located in Stamford, Connecticut.





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Julie Gaier
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