Grit, Gear, and Growth 

A Look Back at ArborEXPO™ ’25

The moment the ribbon was cut and the tradeshow was open, the chatter and buzz throughout ArborEXPO™ ’25 never ended. Through the aisles of more than 130 indoor vendors and 43 outdoor vendors, the sentiment was the same throughout: they came for the equipment and stayed for the connections.

This year’s ArborEXPO™ turned out to be the largest yet – not only regarding attendees, exhibitors, students, and speakers, but also in terms of space. ArborEXPO™ 2025 featured an expansive 156,400 square feet of indoor displays, demonstrations, and classrooms. Outside, the event spanned over 200,000 square feet, featuring a vast array of industry equipment, many offering hands-on operation experiences.

A Hub for Industry Knowledge and Insight

Preconference, alone, had a magnificent turnout, featuring exclusive educational sessions that jump-started the event with plenty of opportunities to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and get to know some of the other friendly faces that would be sharing the many aisles at The Big E.

Kicking off the educational sessions was Hans Tielmann of NJ Crane Expert and his workshop on grapple saw safety, Aaron Dickinson of Arborcology Consulting conducting a session on plant health care for tree care businesses, and Ed Carpenter of North American Training Solutions (NATS) leading an OSHA 10 General Industry class. All three sessions were testaments to the variety and pertinence of the topics at ArborEXPO™ ‘25 and were met with enthusiasm to continue expanding industry knowledge.

Once doors were open to all attendees, speakers from the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop (WTCW), Academy Trained, Heli-Ax, and even the esteemed winner of the ArborAWARDS™ Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. John Ball, held educational and demo sessions that emphasized safety, technique, preparation, communication, and quick, calm thinking in tricky situations.

“This was the first year Tree Trader attended but we are very happy with the show,” Kirby Cunningham, sales manager of Tree Trader, shared. “We were able to connect with several of our current customers, find new clients, and set up new tree service companies with subscriptions to the Tree Trader publication. We checked all the boxes we wanted to while attending. We will be back!”

“We received a great deal of interest in our Schaeffer Products…” Terry Tyler, president of Schaeffer Products stated. “We’re excited about the potential to welcome many new customers and are already looking forward to next year’s event.”

Never a Dull Moment at ArborEXPO™ ’25

Along with the educational sessions, ArborEXPO™ ’25 featured a packed schedule of exciting events and demonstrations that had attendees studying the event programs to be sure they didn’t miss a moment of the exhilaration.

Almost immediately after the tradeshow floor opened, founder of ArborEXPO™ Sachin Mohan held the first of four cash and gear giveaways at the center stage. Attendees all received a chance to win $500 cash or $1,200 worth of gear from Buckingham Manufacturing. There was a total of four giveaways throughout the entire expo, and each time, a hardworking member of the tree care community was awarded with these well-deserved prizes.

In between the giveaways, educational sessions, and demos, crowds gathered to watch the first ever ArborSPORTS™ competition, organized by the professionals at NATS, in which teams of two tree care workers raced against each other to complete a series of essential skills, such as chainsaw cutting and technical rigging, all while demonstrating top-notch safety practices.

Just the qualifying events drew masses of attendees to the borders of the competition arena, and the competitors did not disappoint with their quick thinking, clear communication, and risk awareness. The winners of the preliminaries went on to compete in the much grander, much more impressive finals where the stakes — and equipment —were much larger.

Turn to page 36 to find out the winners and hear from Ed Carpenter on the makings of the inaugural ArborSPORTS^™.

Honoring the Greatest in the Industry

The excitement didn’t end when the trade floor closed for the evening. Instead, the festivities continued at the Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Springfield, Ma. where exhibitors, speakers, and attendees alike mingled before the presentation ArborAWARDS™. Like ArborSPORTS™, this was the first year for the ceremony, and it was met with just as much enthusiasm and respect for the competition.

Prior to the expo, individuals and organizations applied for ArborAWARDS™ for a variety of projects and efforts that supported the need for safety, innovation, and dedication in the tree care industry.

The most distinguished award of the night, the Robert Bartlett Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Dr. John Ball, a leading authority in tree care and a Professor of Forestry at South Dakota State University (SDSU). His decades-long contributions to the industry have set a standard for safety, education, and expertise in arboriculture.

Winners of the innovation categories included Arbornote for its bi-lingual Job Safety Analysis and Stanley Tree Service for its Elevator Warning Lights System and Cage Guard System. Meanwhile, the safety categories recognized companies such as Tracked Lifts for its fully insulated spider lifts over 70 feet as well as Treeworks for its Precision Gap Angle Gauge.

For a full breakdown of the winners of the very first ArborAWARDS™, turn to page 52.

A Worthwhile Event for All Experience Levels

Along with established arborists, company leaders, and vendors, ArborEXPO™ also welcomed 350 students through its doors this year. Many of these budding professionals attended the event as a part of their shop week and were thrilled to learn more about the machines and professionals that make the industry.

One of the attending schools included Smith’s Vocational and Agricultural High School from Northampton, Ma. Four students were on their way to watch the next round of ArborSPORTS™ in between visiting booths and demonstrations.

“Everything here is great,” one student remarked. “We’ve been seeing a bunch of different people and companies, and we’re just really having a great time.”

Even younger attendees were spotted about the grounds with their hardworking parents, many of which were no strangers to the trade.   

Young Chase DiMaggio, in particular, was already on his way to building his resume while browsing the tradeshow with his dad, Tim, owner of Log Dogs Tree Service in Cheshire, Conn. Chase stated that he had already been aloft quite a few machines while working with his dad, including loaders, cranes, bucket trucks, dump trucks, and much more. While he was already a pro in the making, Chase stated that he had learned about different cuts and riggings.

Both father and son were anxious to see the live demos outside and maybe add another machine or two to Chase’s list.

Exhibitors Celebrate a Successful Show

Exhibitors and industry professionals alike praised the event for creating meaningful opportunities to build relationships and grow their businesses. Throughout the expo, conversations buzzed with new partnerships forming, contacts being exchanged, and long-time colleagues reconnecting. Many attendees emphasized how the face-to-face interactions and hands-on product demonstrations helped deepen trust and expand their professional networks.

This was the first year that the WTCW exhibited at a tradeshow, and founders Bear LeVangie and Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, could not have been happier with the event.

Beside their booth where they demonstrated climbing techniques, held knot workshops and even a yoga session, LeVangie shared how exhilarating it was to interact with new climbers that were eager to get their hands on the gear and sharpen their skills for the field.

LeVangie Ingersoll admired the “large-small” feel of the environment, remarking, “You don’t feel at all intimidated by coming up and actually having the space to talk to people versus having it so busy that you don’t have room to breathe.”

“It’s always about the people,” LeVangie concluded.

With another record-breaking year in the books, ArborEXPO™ continues to solidify itself as the premier event for tree care professionals. ArborEXPO™ 2026 has been confirmed for March 25-27, promising even more innovations are already underway, promising even more innovations, competitions, and opportunities for the industry to come together.

For more information on ArborEXPO™ and future events, visit arborexpo.org.

We look forward to seeing you at ArborEXPO™ 2026.