Winter Management Workshop and Award Ceremony

Nominations for awards now open!

Please nominate your peers, colleagues and friends for awards here.

Please join us for an afternoon of of education and an evening of networking & celebration with friends! Together we will welcome in the New Year as we celebrate our accomplishments & recognize those who have given their extra time & energy to help the GAA and the industry professionals we serve. 

Flinchum's Phoenix 

650 Phoenix Rd, Athens, GA 30605

January 24th 2026

1 pm - 9:30 pm

3.5 CEUS

 Agenda 

1:00 pm - Check In and Get Settled 
1:30 PM - How to Start a Successful Tree Care Company From Two Perspectives 
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM - The Art of Tree Care Marketing with Edward Morrow
4:15 PM - Success Sales Strategies Roundtable of Industry Experts
5:30 PM - Break and Get Ready for Dinner

6:00 PM - Open Reception and Networking
7:00 PM  - Dinner and Awards Ceremony 

About the Speakers -- more information to follow: 

Edward Morrow, an ISA Certified Arborist/author, created Tree S.T.A.R.S. to inspire the next generation of green industry professionals. He develops engaging tree programs to help audiences/neighborhoods ease their tree care fears. Professional collaborations include: The TCIA, ISA, State Botanical Garden of Georgia, Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation, and Georgia Master Gardeners Association.

Matt Carpenter started his career in arboriculture in 2010 while attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. He worked for two years on the BYU campus tree crew under the direction of the campus arborist. There he earned a B.S. in Landscape Management with a minor in Business Management in December 2012. Matt joined Bartlett Tree Experts in 2014 in the San Francisco Bay Area. There he held positions as Arborist Climber, Plant Healthcare Specialist and Arborist Representative. In 2017, Matt and his family relocated to Atlanta, GA where he worked as an Arborist Representative until 2020 when he became the Local Manager of the Tucker, GA office.

An ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Matt is also Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and holds  a GA Pesticide Applicator's License. He currently serves as a Board Member on the Georgia Tree  Council. Matt enjoys helping his clients get the most out of their landscapes by utilizing Bartlett's  industry-leading scientific research to build species-specific programs tailored fit to the client's  needs.

Matt and his wife, Milanne, have been married since 2010. They and their four children live in  Gwinnett County. Matt enjoys supporting his kids in their various activities which typically leads  to plenty of time at the soccer fields, karate dojo, and local theater. In his spare time, Matt enjoys playing basketball and traveling with his family.

Chris Melvin - Chris has been a business owner since 2019. He spent 3 years working across the nation as a subcontractor, mastering his trade. Now, he is focused on bringing that expertise back home to build a strong local business. His promise is simple: "Quality first, and always keep my word!"

More speaker information to come!

Attendee Registration includes dinner & drinks for in person attendees

All Industry Professionals Welcome!

Bring your team & invite your friends!

Dress: Business Casual

Hotel Block information available soon!