Achieving a Career Long Goal
By Russell Holman , MCA , BCMA , RCA
In February I had the opportunity to attend the ASCA ( American Society of Consulting Arborists ) Consulting Academy in Palm Springs , California . Attending the Consulting Academy allowed me to begin the process of becoming a Registered Consulting Arborist ( RCA ). Aside from achieving my MCA this was one of the most significant goals I had set for myself in my professional career , and something I had wanted to do for years .
What did it take to become a Registered Consulting Arborist ? ASCA defines a consulting arborist as “ authoritative experts on trees and brings an objective , comprehensive viewpoint to their clients — ensuring the safety , health , and preservation of trees .” It took a lot of education and certifications just to qualify to join ASCA . After making sure I had enough credits to qualify and finally joining two years ago , I attended the three-day long consulting academy , which required not just my pre-qualifications to attend but also a draft of a sample report . At the conference I met arborists from all over the country , and many experts and teachers that made for great learning . It was really great to hear experiences from all over the industry , to see where we were experiencing similar issues , or where geography made for a totally different day-to-day as an arborist . We learned about ethics , law , evidence gathering , photography , utilizing and creating maps , and writing effective reports , all for the goal of passing a final exam at the end of the week .
At the end of the academy , I left Palm Springs inspired by what I learned , and also a bit nervous as I waited to find out if I passed the test . While I waited , I started working on the post-academy reports required for the certification . I wrote multiple drafts of both scenario-based case study report , and also a real-life case I had worked on ( with real life evidence , pictures , maps , and plant tissue ), both of which were anonymously graded with lots of feedback . Both required lots of background research to cite and support my opinions — the hardest part ? Remembering how to write and format a bibliography .
After passing my exam and post-academy reports , I finally became a Registered Consulting Arborist on June 26 , 2023 . While it is not required to be a RCA to provide an objective and knowledgeable opinion , just like being a MCA , I feel better knowing I am as qualified as I could be in my dealings with clients and complicated situations .
Member News
Kristina Bezanson , MCA , BCMA was recognized the ISA New England Chapter ’ s Dr . H . Dennis P . Ryan III Award for outstanding service in advancing the principles , ideals , and practices of arboriculture . Kristina is the program coordinator for the Associate Degree program in Arboriculture and Community Forestry at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass . Congratulations Kristina !
Bartlett Tree Experts recently announced the promotions of David Chalker and Jack Ingram , MCA to Division Managers . Combined , Ingram and Chalker now oversee Bartlett offices in Waltham , Ashland , Auburn , Hanover , Beverly Farms , Billerica , Seekonk , Osterville , and Nantucket .
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