GEORGIA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT
2025
Submitted by: Jessie McClellan Executive Director
INTRODUCTION
2025: A Year of Growth
The GAA’s mission is to promote safe and proper arboriculture practices throughout the state of Georgia through networking, training, and public education, while serving as a voice for the professional arborists who manage and care for Georgia’s trees. During 2025, the GAA hosted 53 training opportunities and workshops. Gross revenue for the year totaled $410,087.66, with net revenue of $43,192.31, resulting in an ending bank balance of $136,421.52.
In 2025, the GAA website became fully available in both English and Spanish, with 28,370 words translated. The website received 33,000 visitors, and GAA’s YouTube channel reached 60,000 views with over 6,000 subscribers. The Association also hosted its 27th Annual Tree Climbing Championship and co-hosted the Trees Unite Us Conference in partnership with the Georgia Tree Council.
The GAA received funding through 3 grant sources in 2025 and secured a fourth grant that will fund a Tree Removal Assistance Program beginning in 2026.
Educational
In 2025, the Georgia Arborist Association (GAA) registered 2,656 arborists and interested parties across 53 meetings and events. Programs were held at locations throughout Georgia, including Atlanta, Alpharetta, Athens, Augusta, Lithia Springs, Rome, Dawsonville, Macon, Griffin, Marietta, Decatur, and Sandy Springs, as well as virtually.
As a chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the GAA assisted with credentialing efforts that resulted in:
· 85 new ISA Certified Arborists
· 6 Board Certified Master Arborists
· 18 Utility Specialists
· 2 Certified Tree Climbers
· 6 Certified Urban Forest Professionals
· Over 65 new Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborists
In partnership with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), the GAA offered four English-language ISA Arborist Exam Prep Courses. Two virtual courses were held in March and September, with 49 total participants. Two in-person courses were held in Augusta in May and Sandy Springs in December, with 35 participants. Additionally, a Spanish-language ISA Arborist Exam Prep Course was offered in May in Sandy Springs, with 9 participants.
The GFC partnership also supported two Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification (WRRQ) trainings in 2025. The first was held in Rome in January, with 16 participants, and the second took place in Macon in July, with 29 participants.
The GAA conducted four Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) courses, including two offered under the new 3.0 format, with a combined total of 94 participants. These courses were led by Jimmy Walters. In addition, the Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification course was offered for the second time, led by Chris Hughes, with 14 participants.
Two new initiatives were launched in 2025. The first was PHC Day, held in February, which sold out with 60 attendees. Speakers included Patrick Anderson (Rainbow Ecoscience), Christopher Fields-Johnson (Davey), Dr. Elizabeth McCarty (University of Georgia), and Alex Ferguson (Arborki). The second initiative was Trees and Technology Day, held at Legacy Park in Decatur, which also attracted 60 registered attendees. Presenters included Adbian, Arbormetrics Plus, Rainbow Ecoscience, Integrity Tree Imaging, Davey, Workflow Process Solutions, and Vermeer Southeast.
In 2025, the GAA presented 18 webinars. These included:
· Five Lunch and Learn webinars with 497 participants
· Four evening webinars with 528 participants
The GAA also partnered with the University of Georgia and Auburn University to deliver a highly successful webinar series titled “Business of Arboriculture.” Topics included building a safety program, scalable fleet solutions, taxes and business setup, and brand development. A total of 673 participants registered for this series. Additionally, GAA partnered with UGA and Auburn to offer a Spanish-language webinar series, Creciendo Árboles, with one webinar held in June and 36 participants.
Through a partnership with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the GAA hosted Electrical Hazard Awareness Program (EHAP) and Aerial Rescue trainings at EMBARC Farms in DeKalb County, serving a total of 56 participants. Funding from an ASTI grant allowed the cost for each course to be reduced to $35 per participant.
GAA’s Spanish Program Coordinator, Maria Soto, continued to expand Spanish-language training opportunities. In addition to the Spanish ISA Arborist Exam Prep Course and the UGA/Auburn webinar partnerships, she launched a new Tree Climber Academy with 14 participants, delivered two chainsaw safety courses serving 20 participants, hosted an in-person tree ordinance panel with 52 participants, and coordinated EHAP, Aerial Rescue, and Pesticide Applicator trainings.
Other Activities
International Engagement
In October 2025, the Georgia Arborist Association supported four board members—Board President Logan House, Treasurer Kay Evanovich, Ex-Officio and ISA Council of Representative member Christie Byrant, and Delegate Danae Jackson—along with the Executive Director, in attending the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and International Tree Climbing Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Board members attended conference sessions and participated in the annual ISA leadership workshop, which provides an opportunity to collaborate with other ISA Chapters and receive training on best practices. The workshop also serves as the annual meeting of the ISA Council of Representatives.
In addition, board member Danae Jackson served as a head judge during the climbing competition.
TREE Fund Participation
In 2025, the GAA strengthened its national engagement by appointing a TREE Fund Liaison. The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) is a nonprofit organization that supports scientific research, education, and scholarships to advance the practice of arboriculture and urban forestry. Its work benefits arborists, urban foresters, students, and communities by promoting healthy trees and sustainable urban canopies.
TREE Fund Liaisons serve as an important connection between TREE Fund and allied organizations, particularly local ISA chapters. They act as a communication bridge by sharing research updates, promoting TREE Fund initiatives, staffing TREE Fund booths at chapter events, encouraging chapter support, and connecting industry professionals to TREE Fund programs and opportunities. Danae Jackson agreed to serve as the GAA TREE Fund Liaison in 2025.
Georgia Tree Climbing Championship (TCC)
The 2025 Georgia Tree Climbing Championship was held in Lithia Springs, Georgia, marking the first time the event took place at this location. The competition featured 21 sponsors, 41 competitors, and more than 50 volunteers. The event budget grew to $27,000, fully covered through sponsorships and competitor entry fees. With additional on-site donations, the event generated a small surplus.
While the championship requires significant planning and effort, it remains a cornerstone of GAA programming. The TCC reflects the association’s identity, promotes safety and skill development, and fosters fellowship within the arborist community. Cobb County served as an outstanding host, and Christie Bryant provided exceptional leadership as event chair.
Workforce Development and Public Outreach
The Georgia Arborist Association (GAA) continues to pursue opportunities to support workforce development and public outreach. In 2025, GAA participated in community events such as the Atlanta Science Festival and Fernbank Forestry Day, helping to educate the public and raise awareness about arboriculture and careers in the tree care industry.
To further support homeowners, GAA launched a homeowner-focused blog covering important topics related to tree health, safety, and proper tree care. In addition, GAA developed practical resources for homeowners, including template letters to assist with communicating with insurance companies that request tree removal. These efforts aim to empower homeowners with reliable information and tools to make informed decisions about tree care.
Tree Removal Assistance Program (TRAP)
In 2025, a program was developed to provide tree removal assistance to homeowners across Georgia. Property owners with dead, dying, or diseased trees that pose a risk to their homes or personal property may apply for a one-time award to cover tree removal costs. A new committee has been established to review proposals and help facilitate the program. Funding was secured through the third round of TAG Grant Funding with the Georgia Forestry Commission, with $1.8 million allocated over the next three years to support both program funding and administration. A third full-time employee was hired at the end of 2025 to assist with this program.
GAA Website
In 2025, our most visited website page was the Upcoming Programs page, which received 5,313 page views. Overall, the website attracted 33,000 visitors throughout the year. Early in 2025, we added a Spanish translation widget to better serve our Spanish-speaking audience and also launched a dedicated Spanish page compiling all Spanish-language resources. Additionally, we continued to expand our YouTube channel. The ISA Certified Arborist prep course videos now require a membership to view, and by adding ads to our video content, we increased revenue by $1,200.
FINANCES
Gross revenue for the year totaled $410,087.66, with net revenue of $43,192.31, resulting in an ending bank balance of $136,421.52.
We exceeded our budget by $20,000.
Our 2025 Premier and Associate sponsors were: (Premier) Xylem, 72 Tree Seed and Land, Arborforce, Greenforce, Georgia Forestry Commission, Gunnison and Kendall, and (Associate) Bartlett, TreeInspection.com, Leo’s Landscape, Davey, Top Tier, Green America, J.H. Heath and Squirrel.