The Trees & Utilities Conference served as the backdrop for two significant initiatives that reinforce the UVM industry’s commitment to education, workforce development, and long-term professional growth.
Building Next-Gen UVM Leaders
First, an ambitious partnership between the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), the Utility Vegetation Management Association (UVMA), and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources will establish the first university-level endowed professorships and degree emphasis dedicated to Utility Arboriculture and Vegetation Management.
Through a $5,000,000 endowment campaign, the initiative will fund:
- Two endowed professorships
- Support industry-focused research
- Create specialized undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Develop a sustainable pipeline of highly trained professionals prepared to meet the growing demands of the industry
“This announcement will also create the first undergraduate degree track focused specifically on utility vegetation management and the unique ecological needs of utility corridors, while providing students access to scholarships, internships, research opportunities, and direct pathways into high-demand careers,” says Dr. Robert Vanderhoof, Adjunct Professor, UW-Stevens Point, Researching & Consulting SME.
Five key benefits include:
- The first undergraduate degree emphasis focused specifically on utility vegetation management
- Scholarships, internships, and research opportunities for students
- Direct pathways into high-demand industry careers
- Industry-led curriculum development and research collaboration
- A stronger workforce pipeline to support public safety, energy reliability, and environmental stewardship
“This is more than an educational investment,” adds Dennis Fallon, UAA Executive Director. “It is an opportunity to create a lasting legacy that strengthens our profession, advances innovation, and ensures the next generation of utility vegetation management leaders is prepared to serve our communities for decades to come.”
If you are an industry stakeholder, corporate partner, or philanthropic leader interested in learning more, reach out to us for a one-on-one conversation to talk about proposal or partnership opportunities.
Contact Dr. Brian Sloss: cnr@uwsp.edu, or Sam Wilson, UAA Partnership Coordinator: swilson@gotouaa.org
A Strong Future Starts with Student Investment
The second major announcement focused on the Utility Arborist Nelsen Money Scholarship. The UAA and TREE Fund unveiled a new partnership that transitions administration of the scholarship to the TREE Fund. This will help strengthen the program long-term.
Named in honor of Nelsen Money’s contributions to the utility arboriculture profession, the scholarship supports students preparing for careers in utility line clearance, utility vegetation management, arboriculture, forestry, and related disciplines. Through TREE Fund’s established infrastructure, the partnership will enhance the scholarship’s reach while continuing to support the next generation of industry professionals.
“We are proud to be able to work with UAA to host the Utility Arborist Nelsen Money Scholarship Fund,” said Paul Putman, President & CEO of TREE Fund. “Our profession advances because leaders invest in people and in knowledge. The UAA’s partnership with TREE Fund reflects a shared commitment to education, research, and the future of arboriculture.”
“This complements the UAA’s continued investment in educational opportunities that support students, practitioners and industry leaders across the field,” adds Fallon. “With recent $500,000 endowments in perpetuity from both Asplundh and Lucas Tree Experts, the industry now has two UVM-focused endowment funds and a scholarship fund dedicated to advancing research, education, and workforce development.”
Applications for the Utility Arborist Nelsen Money Scholarship will open in January 2027 through TREE Fund’s Winter Grant and Scholarship Application Cycle. Students interested in learning more should visit the TREE Fund website.
Craig works for Pacific Gas and Electric as a Principal Program Manager in Land Management. His career spans 30 years in the utility industry serving numerous roles. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, and hold his TRAQ and is a TCIA Certified TreeCare Safety Professional. Craig has been engaged and involved in the UAA for many years, starting back in 2008. He then wanted more so he ran for UAA President and was elected in 2014. Today, Craig looks back over his 30-year career and wouldn’t change a thing, he’s made life-long friends and considers many as mentors. He also claims he would not be where is in his career if it weren’t for these people, and pledges to pay it forward to support others in their success.
Sam joins the UAA crew with over a decade of non-profit experience behind her. As our Partnership Coordinator, her focused efforts on building relationships with diverse funders include crafting proposals, cultivating connections, and cohesively earning dedicated sponsors to support the sustainability of UAA substantially and empowering our programs. Well equipped with professional skills which include program development, public speaking, proposal writing, donor relations, working with diverse stakeholders, coalition building, and public-facing service. Sam’s educational background includes a BS in Animal Ecology with a minor in Animal Science, and a MA in Philanthropy and Non-profit Development.
Jodie Braskich is an experienced professional in the utility industry with a strong background in supply chain and vegetation management. With over 18 years of industry expertise, Jodie continues to contribute her time and knowledge to the continuous improvement of the professional field of UVM. She has been a member of the UAA since 2007.
Josh Beaver is currently senior vice president of Eocene Environmental Group, a utility vegetation management (UVM) consulting and operations firm. Josh has more than two decades of experience within the UVM industry. He is currently responsible for relationship management and oversight of long-term UVM contracts throughout the United States and Canada. He considers customer and community communication to be vital aspects of his role, and he has a proven record of success working with utilities.
Crystal started her career in the Interior Design space but soon found herself 
Felicia brings over twenty years of leadership in management, finance, and governance, with a track record built alongside community partners, executives, and board members. The Nashville-based leader has real strengths in financial forecasting and reporting, clear communication, and the special-project work that helps executives make confident decisions. She’s a creative, collaborative problem solver who thrives in fast-paced settings where every dollar counts.
Jeff has enjoyed a 32-year career in Utility Vegetation Management. He began his career in 1993 with Holy Cross Energy as a temporary groundman. After receiving full time employment in 1994. He worked his way through the department from climber to foreman and eventually department manager in 2018. He brings a real-world approach to the industry.
Jason is a seasoned utility vegetation management professional with almost 20 years of experience leading data-driven, field-tested programs that prioritize safety, reliability, and operational efficiency. Jason is a forward-thinking leader who integrates emerging technologies to extract insights from complex data, streamline workflows, and drive smarter decision-making across the organization.
C. Troy Ross is the president of vegetation management at ACRT and ACRT Pacific. Shortly after graduating from Hocking College with a degree in Ranger Services and Fish and Wildlife, Ross began his career with ACRT at Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation as a contract utility forester in 1999. Since then, he has advanced through increasingly senior leadership roles, supporting vegetation management programs for a wide range of utility types and organizational structures.
A winner of the David H Nabi Award for dedication and service, Dr. Robert Vanderhoof earned his Ph.D. from the College of Forest Resources at Mississippi State University in 1995. A veteran natural resource manager, Robert spent 15 years as Florida’s Deer Management Section Chief during which time he coordinated range management activities across Florida’s seven-million-acre wildlife management area system.
Cindy is the Senior Director, Vegetation Management Services and she manages departments responsible for maintaining vegetation in REC’s rights-of-way with the goal of reducing exposure of the electric grid to tree caused outages while encouraging habitat and species diversity. Cindy also has a consulting business, EcoAcumen, LLC that focuses on residential, commercial and government clients.
Kimberly Laing has had an exciting career in the energy industry, gaining valuable experience in various areas for almost 20 years. During her career, she has worked with numerous customers worldwide in a diverse cross-disciplined technical environment. She has extensive experience working with utilities, asset owners, equipment manufacturers, and consultants to facilitate transmission and distribution projects. Kimberly is particularly passionate about Utility Vegetation Management and its vital role in delivering safe and reliable power.
Fallon is a Utility Arborist and Executive Director of the Utility Arborist Association. Prior to his current role he was responsible for leading vegetation management programs across several upper Midwest states on behalf of a large investor-owned utility. He’s also been an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he facilitated the 
Erin Creekmur has been in the UVM industry for over 20 years. After graduating with a Bachelors in Botany from Northern Arizona University she relocated to Northern California to start her professional career. Starting as a consulting utility pre-inspector with Western ECI she quickly moving up to the ranks to Supervisor under the tutelage of folks like Nelson Money. In 2004, Erin joined PG&E as a Quality Assurance Auditor for the VM program. Eventually becoming the Program Manager for the North Coast Division, helping stand up the beginnings of CEMA as the Emergency Drought Response Initiative Lead for the Enhanced Inspection & Mitigation Program, targeting off-cycle hazard trees across the system. In 2015, Erin moved back to her home state of Arizona and took the role of Division Supervisor with Arizona Public Service, managing both transmission and distribution UVM programs out of the Flagstaff area. As part of her role with APS Forestry Fire and Resource Management Department, Erin had responsibility for creating a Hazard Tree Mitigation program. maintaining APS’s ROW Stewardship Accreditation, FERC reporting, and the Transmission Lidar program. In 2021, Erin took a shift in her career and is now Supervising the Customer Construction and Design team for APS, expanding her overall understanding of the Utility industry. Erin continues to maintain her ISA Utility Specialist Certification and TRAQ. She has also completed certifications in both Six Sigma and Lean Sigma Green Belt through accredited universities. In addition to her current service on the UAA Board of Directors, Erin spent the last 6 years as an officer with the Arboretum at Flagstaff Board of Directors. In her free time, you can find Erin in the woods taking pictures of native plants and beautiful western landscapes.
Christopher King serves as Director of Operations at ArborMetrics Solutions (AMS), based in North Carolina. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing operational activities across multiple accounts throughout the Eastern United States. With more than a decade of experience in the utility vegetation management (UVM) industry, Mr. King has held a diverse range of roles, including Groundperson, Foreperson, Contract Forester, Vegetation Management Program Manager, Business Development Manager, and Director of Operations Support.
Matt Goff is a Transmission Vegetation Manager at Georgia Power Company. He lives in Brookhaven, GA with his wife, two daughters, and the family’s two dogs Sam, and Payton. For leisure, he enjoys sports with his family, bird hunting, and salt-water fishing.Matt holds a BSFR from the University of Georgia in Forest Resource Management and he graduated in 1997. He has worked in the vegetation management industry for 26 years. His work experience includes six years as a procurement forester for a forest products manufacturer, and 20 years in the utility vegetation management industry with Georgia Power.
Cody is the Membership Office Coordinator for the Utility Arborist Association, where she supports membership operations with a focus on organization and engagement. She blends her experience in organizing systems, interpreting data, and working closely with people to support both the day-to-day and big-picture needs of the UAA.