Davey Tree Flipbooks

18 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | November/December 2024 ONTARIO Conor Foley, crew leader, Toronto Northeast offi ce; Carter Kolarek, crew leader, Niagara offi ce; and Brittany Peters (pictured), climber, Toronto East offi ce; competed in ISA's Ontario Tree Climbing Championship at RK McMillan Park in Mississauga, Ontario. "Even though it's a competition, people are still super supportive and want you to do well," Peters said. "I felt like my competitors wanted to encourage and support me, so it made for a really fun and welcoming environment." MICHIGAN Matthew Regoni, arborist skills trainer, health and safety department, competed in all fi ve preliminary events at ISA's Michigan Tree Climbing Championship held at Prospect Park in Holland, Michigan. "I achieved all the personal goals I set this year, so that was really exciting," Regoni said. "At the end of the day, the spirit of the event is that everybody wants you to come back to compete and do better. Everyone engages with each other and helps where they can because we're there to have fun." Davey employees participated in several International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Climbing Championships over the past several months, including the Indiana, Michigan, and Ontario competitions, along with the International Tree Climbing Competition. We are highlighting 16 climbers from Davey! ISA TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIPS LEADERSHIP INDIANA Pictured from left are Dana Brelowski, trimmer, Naperville offi ce; event-supporter Alex Julius, arborist skills trainer, health and safety department; event-supporter Lily Soderlund, arborist skills trainer, health and safety department; event-supporter Libby Bower, tree care coordinator, Barrington offi ce; and event-supporter Gabriel Mendez, NIPSCO account, Eastern Utility services. Other competitors included Ryan Sams, trimmer, Chicago offi ce; and Alex Peraud, foreman, St. Louis offi ce. The Indiana Arborist Association Tree Climbing Championship was held at Soldiers Memorial Park in La Porte, Indiana, where Brelowski placed third in the women's overall ranking. "I've walked away with so much knowledge after each of the competitions I've been to," Brelowski said. "It's about having fun, learning something new, and supporting each other." Pictured from left are competitors Jose Martinez Ortiz, foreman, East Bay offi ce; Luis Pineda Flores, trimmer, East Bay offi ce; along with event-supporter David Vega, arborist skills trainer, health and safety department; and competitors Timothy Hendrix, tree care coordinator, Sacramento offi ce; and Kevin "Danny" Mejia, tree care coordinator, San Francisco offi ce, at the Western Chapter ISA's Cypress Fest Tree Climbing Competition at the Cypress Lawn Arboretum and Memorial Park in Colma, California. The three-day, immersive experience is an introductory competitive climbing training event. Martinez placed second in the Belayed Speed Climb. "It was partially a competition, and partially an educational experience," Martinez said. "There was a lot of new information, and people who were willing to share their knowledge. It was nice to compete in something I love doing." CYPRESS FEST TREE CLIMBING COMPETITION

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