15th Annual Great NC Tree Conference

Sep 26, 2024 - Sep 27, 2024

September 26-27, 2024 ~ 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Digging Deeper: Exploring Tree Systems from the Inside Out

September 26-27, 2024

Hickory, North Carolina

The indoor session on September 26 will feature concurrent sessions, all occurring between the morning and afternoon general sessions. One tract will focus on arborists and the other tract will focus on urban planning. As always, the day will start with a Member's Breakfast, break at noon for a luncheon, and end with a silent auction.

The outdoor session on September 27 will include field day demonstrations with keynote speakers Les Werner and Brian Kane, including using a portable sawmill to examine a tree’s response to injury at the wound and whole-tree levels to gain a better understanding of what external signs of wounding are telling us about the internal structure of the tree.

Pending CEU credits

International Society of Arboriculture
Society of American Foresters
NC Board of Landscape Architects
NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board
NC Pesticide

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Les Werner

Dr. Brian Kane

Brian Kane

Dr. Les Werner is a Professor of Forestry and Director of the Wisconsin Forestry Center at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. Dr Werner has taught courses in functional tree biology, arboriculture, and forest soils. In 2019 he received the Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Education from the International Society of Arboriculture. His research has ranged from an evaluation of fertilizer recovery rates in juvenile and mature trees to changes in soil microbial communities along a land-use continuum. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Prior to his appointment at UWSP, Werner spent 21 years working as a municipal and commercial arborist and business owner.

Dr. Brian Kane is the Massachusetts Arborists Association Professor of Commercial Arboriculture at UMass Amherst. He is a leading figure in arboricultural biomechanics and tree worker safety, focusing his research on tree failure and gear failure. He received both his Master's and PhD degrees from Umass Amherst as well. Dr. Kane's professional acheivements include ISA President’s Award 2019, ISA Board of Directors 2013-2016, ISA Alex L. Shigo Award 2014, ISA Early Career Scientist Award 2011, Chair, ISA Science & Research Committee 2011-2013, and TCIA Safety Award 2009.

Registration Fees

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NCUFC Member Registration

Both days

Early Fee, $200
Late Fee, $225

Indoor only

Early Fee, $125
Late Fee, $140

Field tour only

Early Fee, $100
Late Fee, $115

Member Breakfast

FREE

Non-member Registration