ArborAWARDS™: Setting a New Standard
ArborAWARDS™ Honors Excellence in the Tree Care Industry
The inaugural ArborAWARDS™ ceremony brought well-earned recognition to the forefront of the tree care industry, shining a spotlight on companies and individuals who are setting new standards in safety, quality, innovation, and community service. Held in conjunction with ArborEXPO™ ‘25, the event marked a significant milestone: the launch of a dedicated program that celebrates the professionals raising the bar for arboriculture.
“This event was years in the making, and to see it come together with such strong support from the industry was incredibly rewarding,” said Sachin Mohan, founder of ArborEXPO™. “The ArborAWARDS™ are about more than just recognition — they are about setting a higher standard, encouraging innovation, and showing what is possible when safety, service, and leadership are prioritized. We are proud to have created a space where those efforts are acknowledged.”
Recognizing Sponsors and Supporters
Backed by the generous sponsorship of Altec, ArborAWARDS™ honored more than a dozen recipients across company and individual categories. Altec’s sponsorship made the entire recognition program possible, including branded items and meals for more than 350 student attendees at ArborEXPO™. Representatives Anita Fisher, Andy West, and Scott Hughes were on hand to support the awards presentations.
Of course, a special thanks was owed to Robert Bartlett, Jr., whose name now graces the program’s highest honor — the Robert Bartlett Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award — and to the founding awards board, including Julian Emerich, Dane Buell, Kieren Yaple, and Kevin Cleveland.
Award Winners Who Lead by Example
The Service Tree Award, which honors community engagement, was presented to three standout companies:
- Bartlett Tree Experts, for distributing over 100,000 trees through its Bartlett Legacy Tree Program in 2024 alone — totaling 775,000 trees to date and more than 13,000 hours and $2.3 million in community investment.
- Aspen Tree Expert Co., recognized for supporting Saluting Branches, improving local church safety, and contributing to historic landscape restoration.
- Wonderland Tree Care, honored for its $50,000+ annual investment in service and more than 300 volunteer hours, including significant support for Arbor Day climbing programs.
The Safety Tree Award went to:
- •Treeworks, for their Precision Gap Angle Gauge, an innovation enhancing steel bracing installation accuracy.
- •Tracked Lifts, recognized for developing the first fully insulated spider lifts over 70 feet, revolutionizing electrical hazard mitigation in line clearance operations.
The Complex or Challenging Project Award showcased high-level expertise in action:
- Treeworks (second award of the night), for their precision grafting and restoration of a cordon apple hedge severely damaged by wildlife in a formal garden setting.
- Heli-Ax, for safely removing 26 eucalyptus trees in restricted airspace, coordinating temporary relocations for 61 homes, and finishing two days ahead of schedule.
“We put a lot of effort into this project,” said Billy Burley, owner and founder of Heli-Ax. “This one in particular was based on threats to a neighborhood in need, and it was easy for us to get involved and do.”
Burley mentioned that Heli-Ax has several upcoming projects not too dissimilar from its award-winning contribution, including helicopter work in the same neighborhood.
Spotlight on Individual Innovation
The Equipment Innovation Award highlighted individuals making critical tools and systems:
- Hank Ortiz of Arbornote, for a bilingual Job Safety Analysis form bridging communication gaps on job sites.
- Bill DeVos of Treeworks, for developing a long-range, precision drill guide for cabling.
- Mike Hrycak, for his role in the development of insulated spider lifts offering unparalleled protection for high-voltage work.
- Mike Zuba of Stanley Tree Service, for engineering two safety systems — the Elevator Warning Lights System and Cage Guard System — that enhance crew awareness and operator safety during aerial operations.
Honoring a Lifetime of Contribution
The ceremony concluded with the Robert Bartlett Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to Dr. John Ball, Professor of Forestry at South Dakota State University and a respected voice in arboriculture safety and education. With over four decades of service, including work with ANSI, TCIA, and countless training programs, Dr. Ball’s influence has shaped a generation of safer, more informed tree care professionals.
A Vision for the Future
As the ArborAWARDS™ program looks ahead, it aims to encourage broader participation across the industry, continuing to spotlight those who lead by example. By celebrating achievement in safety, service, and innovation, the awards foster a culture of continuous improvement — and elevate the professionalism of the industry as a whole.
For more on the ArborAWARDS™ program, including nomination opportunities for 2026, visit arborawards.org.
