2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show
2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show
October 4-6, 2026
Crown Plaza Hotel | Warwick, RI
Register TOday!
HOTEL INFORMATION
Hotel Rooms are available at the Crown Plaza Hotel for the low group rate of just $159/night call 401-732-6000 to make a reservation using the “ISA” conference group name or book online. Early bird rates will be available until September 2nd.
Agenda:
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Preconference Events & Conference Kick-Off
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | TREK des TREES – Self-Guided Adventure (Pick up materials at Registration) |
| 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Urban Forest Professional, and Certified Tree Worker Written Exams |
| 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | CPR, First Aid & AED Training – Daniel Perenick, Heart Start CPR & First Aid Training (Meeting Room 1) |
| 12:15 PM – 5:00 PM | Tree Tour at Blithewold Mansion & Gardens (Transportation Included) |
| 12:15 PM – 5:00 PM | WTCW Pruning Techniques Workshop at Blithewold (Transportation Included) |
| 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | President’s Reception with Exhibitors - Silent Auction Open |
Monday, October 5, 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | TREK des TREES – Self-Guided Adventure |
| All Day | Silent Auction Open |
| 6:45 AM – 7:15 AM | Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM | NEC-ISA Business Meeting & Annual Report to Members |
| 7:45 AM – 8:00 AM | Conference Welcome |
| 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Keynote Presentation: Modern Tree Safety Assessment and Evaluation – Frank Rinn |
| 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Rigging to Compression and Why It Matters – Wes Tregilgas |
| 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM | Break with Exhibitors |
| 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Soft Skills in Arboriculture: Raising the Bar on Professionalism – Steven Lane |
| 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM | Awards Luncheon |
| 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM | TREE Fund Update - Paul Putman |
| 1:45 PM – 2:15 PM | ISA Update – Steven Lane |
| 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM | Hydrangea 360 - Jen Kettell |
| 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM | Break with Exhibitors |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Drought Stress & Pest Update – Dr. Kendra Wagner |
| 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | Reception with Exhibitors & Heads or Tails Raffle - Silent Auction Open |
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| All Day | TREK des TREES – Self-Guided Adventure | Silent Auction Open |
| 7:00 AM – 7:45 AM | Continental Breakfast with Exhibitors |
| 7:45 AM – 8:45 AM | Smart Tree Management: Using AI and Better Data to Shorten the Feedback Loop - Josh Behounek |
| 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM | Workforce Development and Apprenticeship in Arboriculture – Steven Lane |
| 9:45 AM – 10:30 AM | Break with Exhibitors |
| 10:15 AM | Silent Auction Closes – Final Bids Due |
| 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Lessons Learned from Managing Box Tree Moth in Europe – Dr. Kevin Chase |
| 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Our Tree Stories 2026 – Doug Still |
| 12:30 PM | Closing Remarks – Rich Cartier & Sean Redding |
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