ArborEXPONews

ArborEXPO ’23: One for the Books

arbortimes
The big equipment was on full display on the outside show floor, ready for demonstrations and testing.

Do you know? ArborTIMES is a sister brand to ArborEXPO, the industry’s fastest-growing trade show and conference produced by Edge Ahead Associates. We are a small and scrappy team working remotely across the United States to bring new and fresh ways for the tree care profession to learn, see, try and buy. 

Thank you to our partners, speakers, exhibitors and attendees for making  ArborEXPO ’23 a success! We welcomed more than 2,600 tree care industry professionals and interested students to the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in Springfield, MA, March 30-31, 2023 with pre-conference sessions on March 29. 

Attendees experienced live demonstrations and were able to get their questions answered by the knowledgable exhibitors. All photos by Joe Tacynec.

Things kicked off Wednesday with pre-conference sessions led by well-known industry experts. Hans Tielmann and Mark Moeske of NJ Crane Experts guided a full-day workshop on Crane Operation Safety with a morning classroom session and afternoon practical utilizing equipment on our outdoor show floor. That afternoon, registrants attended Innovation, Technology and the Future of Tree Care, a discussion presented by John Ball, Ph.D., BCMA, CTSP of South Dakota State University and Dennish Vidosh RE-TREE Companies & Green Acres Tree Farm, moderated by Deborah Howe, ASLA, of Lighthall Company, followed by a networking reception. 

Always a big draw, Dr. John Ball’s sessions were as popular as they were educational.

With nearly 150 exhibitors, live demonstrations and a North American Training Solutions (NATS) Skills Arena for good-natured competition in an educational setting, attendees had plenty to see and do. Our indoor trade show floor was busy, meanwhile, the outdoor show floor offered attendees the chance to get fresh air while seeing big equipment in action. Despite chilly temps and some wind, grapples were working, cranes were flying and chain saws were running. The outdoor show floor offered attendees the unique opportunity to observe equipment in action. 

Attendees crowded around, eager to learn new skills and techniques and acquire CEUs in the Demo Area.

Plus, ArborEXPO ’23 featured twice the amount of educational sessions than previous years, with sessions covering business, safety and arboriculture topics. CEUs could be earned for ISA, CTSP, MCA Safety, NE Pesticide Applicator and NJ LTE/LTCO. Special thanks goes to the Massachusetts Arborists Association for facilitating speaker and topic selection. 

Before live demonstrations at the heart of the show floor, Ed Carpenter with NATS on Thursday, and on Friday Jamie Chambrelli with ArborMaster® brought the hype for twice-daily giveaways. Six lucky attendees walked away with $500 in cold, hard cash or a Buckingham gear giveaway valued at $1,200, and all they had to do was drop their name in the gold bin and be present to win. 

Six lucky attendees walked away with $500 in cold, hard cash or a Buckingham gear giveaway valued at $1,200

Our welcome reception at the Basketball Hall of Fame was jam-packed. This special event was sponsored by Sennebogen, Bandit and Bobcat of Connecticut, and was the first stop on Bandit’s tour celebrating 40 years in business. All attendees and exhibitors were invited and treated to a variety of food stations, plus a cash bar, which they could sip and taste while they toured decades of basketball memorabilia. 

You could even get your photo on the cover of ArborTIMES Magazine, as these students were happy to do.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. When asked, attendees and exhibitors alike appreciated the turnout and variety that ArborEXPO ’23 offered. 

We’re busy planning next year’s trade show and conference. Head over to ArborEXPO.org to see what went down at the 2023 event and sign up to be the first to know about ArborEXPO ’24.