INDUSTRY PRESENCE REPUTATION

Industry Presentations TREES AND UTILITIES

At the 2022 Trees and Utilities Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Regional Manager Adam Larsen partnered with James Downie of EDM International, Inc. to give a presentation on sustainable sourcing for the utility vegetation management industry and how utilities and contractors harness the power of collaboration. The presentation focused on how utilities and contractors can work together to solve challenges like tree worker retention, supply chain problems and more.

Employee Owner Top 100 List

The National Center for Employee Ownership updates an Employee Ownership 100 list each year – recognizing the nation’s largest companies that are at least 50% owned by an ESOP or other broad-based employee ownership plan. WSC is the 26th largest employee-owned company in the United States.

Industry Leadership

In 2022, WTS attended 35 conferences across 19 states. These are some examples:

SAFETY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING (SET) TEAM

Kristian Michael Schultz, Technical Trainer on the SET Team presented at Arborcon, an annual winter conference held by ISA Michigan. Kristian presented on knots, rope and communication.

Evan Beck, Senior Safety Lead on the SET Team spoke at TCI Expo, ISA Michigan Chapter, Firehouse Expo, and Illinois Utility Summit in 2022. At TCI Expo, Evan’s topic was Motivation in Arboriculture: Inspiration. At the Firehouse Expo and ISA Michigan Chapter, Evan presented on Aerial Rescue from the perspective of both Fire Departments/First Responders and Arborists. Illinois Utility Summit’s topic was modern climbing techniques and “Lines Under Tension,” which covered techniques for dislodging trees from downed power lines.

- UAA Regional Conferences

- Trees & Utilities Conference

- ISA Conferences

- UAA Safety Summits

- Tree Climbing Competitions

- Golf Outings

Company & Professional Memberships

- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

- Utility Arborist Association (UAA)

Honorable Tribute

UTILITY ARBORIST ASSOCIATION’S WILL NUTTER SILVER SHIELD AWARD

This award is given to a person who is on the front line of safety and may have official or unofficial roles within an organization. They influence and promote a safety culture at every turn. In 2016, the Utility Arborist

Association (UAA) Silver Shield was created out of ideas that were brought to the UAA Board by then Safety Committee Chair, Will Nutter. Will stood out as an advocate for safety and was a key player in the development of the UAA Safety Summits that focus attention on bringing together a group of utility vegetation high performers and developing best practices, educating workers, as well as proactively addressing safety which transcends competitive boundaries. This is the very space in which the Silver Shield was created from. On September 16, 2021 we lost Will due to injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident. Though we cannot ever replace Will’s unique or one of a kind nature and personality, we can forever commemorate all he stood for. On September 27, 2021, the UAA Board of Directors voted unanimously to change the name of this award to the Will Nutter Silver Shield Award.

Awards

Pine Award

The UAA is the leading North American organization for the enhancement of quality utility arboriculture and right-of-way management. Their success relies on the support received from members, sponsors and volunteers. Companies that go above and beyond to support their mission are recognized annually. UAA membership, sponsorship, advertising, active committee volunteerism, and many other means have been quantified and assigned a value, all adding up to equal a PinE Score. This is reviewed by a committee of industry peers based on all of the listed items for the previous fiscal year and is scored and awarded at the UAA Annual Meeting.

WTS received Bronze recognition in the 2022 PinE Awards.