7:30 a.m. –
Doors Open; Registration, Breakfast & Networking
8:15 a.m. –
Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:30 a.m. –
Accident Investigation In Tree Care
Presenters: Addison Hill & Nels Spence, Bartlett Tree Experts
This session will cover principles and processes for investigating workplace accidents.
9:30 a.m. –
Introduction of Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board’s New Director of Forestry
Presenter: Chris McMaster, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
9:45 a.m. –
Networking & Exhibitor Break
10:15 a.m. –
Designing for Longevity: Tree Health and the Landscape Architecture Process
Presenters: Brit Erenler, PLA, ASLA, Damon Farber Landscape Architects; Jodi Refsland, ISA Certified Arborist, SITES AP, PLA, Damon Farber Landscape Architects
Landscape architects play a crucial role in shaping the environments where trees are expected to thrive. Their decisions around grading, soil design, tree placement, and construction detailing have long-term impacts on tree health. This presentation provides a behind-the-scenes look at how tree-related considerations
We’ll discuss how site planning and early coordination with
This session offers arborists insight into the challenges, priorities, and opportunities
11:15 a.m. –
Utility Panel – Part 1: Introductions and Context
Panelists: Christopher D. Loiselle, Xcel Energy; Brandon Lunde, Dakota Electric Association; Nicholas Perry
Moderator: Sam Wallace
This session will introduce the panel members for our afternoon discussion, and provide context for their goals, obligations, and frustrations when managing the conflict between vegetation and utilities.
12:00 p.m. –
MSA Awards Luncheon & Annual Updates
1:00 p.m. –
Utility Panel – Part 2: A Deeper Dive
Panelists: Christopher D. Loiselle, Xcel Energy; Brandon Lunde, Dakota Electric Assocation; Nicholas Perry
Moderator: Sam Wallace
This session will build on the morning discussion about constraints on utilities and vegetation management contractors, with a focus on improving communication between all stakeholders involved when a tree is near a conductor.
2:30 p.m. –
Networking & Exhibitor Break
3:00 p.m. –
Landscape Architecture Panel
Panelists: Jason Condit, Metro Blooms Design + Build; Brit Erenler, Damon Farber Landscape Architects; Anna Springer, Bolton & Menk
Moderator: Wes Nichols
Understand more about landscape architecture. This panel of landscape architect professionals will share more about what they do, their education and training, the landscape architecture process, and how tree-related considerations and best practices are incorporated along the way.
4:30 p.m. –
Closing Remarks
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. –
Plymouth Community Center Site Walk
Presenters: Brit Erenler, PLA, ASLA, Damon Farber Landscape Architects; Jodi Refsland, ISA Certified Arborist, SITES AP, PLA, Damon Farber Landscape Architects
Following the conference, attendees are invited to join the landscape architects for a guided tour of the Plymouth Community Center site. This tour offers a unique opportunity to see how the design principles and strategies discussed in the session were implemented on the ground, and how they’ve performed over time.
Participants will explore how the site integrates new and existing trees within a complex public landscape, balancing programmatic needs, grading challenges, hydrology, and sustainability goals. Now several years post-construction, the site provides a living case study of tree establishment, soil performance, species selection, and the impact of long-term maintenance.
This interactive walk-through will foster discussion around design intentions vs. outcomes, and opportunities for stronger collaboration between arborists and landscape architects in future projects.
4:30 – 6:00 p.m. –
MSA Social
Join us following the conference for great food, drinks, connection, and fun!