EVENT POSTPONED to March 14th, 2026 DUE TO WINTER WEATHER

stay tuned for updated date.

Winter Management Workshop and Award Ceremony

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

March 14th, 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 - Successful 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!"

Erin McAfee

 Erin McAfee is the Sales Manager for Top Tier Trees, a tree care company in the Atlanta metro area, where she specializes in translating arboricultural knowledge into clear, practical solutions for homeowners. She focuses on ethical, education-based sales and building long-term client relationships rooted in trust and transparency. Erin is excited to share her experience with the Georgia Arborist Association for the 2026 Winter Workshop Sales Panel.

Matthew Mosher

Matthew was the Founder, Owner, and President of Wise Oak, Inc., a premier tree care, landscape, caretaking, and snow and ice management company based in South Londonderry, Vermont. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a Bachelor of Science in Arboriculture and a minor in business, and an Associate of Science in Forest Technology from Penn State University, Matthew began his career in arboriculture in the late 1980s, building a strong foundation in tree health care, sales, and operations with organizations including SavATree and Bartlett Tree Experts. He advanced into senior leadership roles as Vice President of Northwood Tree Care and later as Branch Manager for SavATree/SaveALawn in Larchmont, New York, where he successfully grew a district from under $1 million to $5 million in annual revenue while leading large teams and managing full profit-and-loss responsibility. In 2005, Matthew founded Wise Oak, initially offering select tree care services, and over the next two decades expanded the company into a full-service property management and landscape operation serving high-end residential, commercial, and homeowner association clients throughout Southern Vermont. Under his leadership, Wise Oak grew to employ a staff of more than 24 employees, manage large-scale landscape design and construction projects, oversee major home renovation projects ranging from $10,000 to $6 million, and become one of the region’s largest providers of snow and ice management services, with annual revenues exceeding $1.7 million. Matthew is an ISA Certified Arborist, and Vermont Certified Horticulturist, and has held numerous leadership roles within the International Society of Arboriculture, including Past President of the New York State Arborists chapter and service on the ISA Board of Directors. Deeply committed to his community, Matthew is a retired Vermont Police Officer from the Town of Winhall and servee as Assistant Chief of Champion Fire in South Londonderry. Matthew now resides in Atlanta after merging with Davey Tree Experts, to take over the District Manager Position for Arborguard, a Davey Company.

Attendee Registration includes dinner & drinks for in person attendees

All Industry Professionals Welcome!

Bring your team & invite your friends!

Dress: Business Casual

To book your stay at Hotel Indigo, in Downtown Athens, call IHG Hotel Reservations directly at 1-866-808-1483 and reference the Georgia Arborists Association (block code: GAR) or use this link: Georgia Arborists Association  . Be sure to book your hotel room by 01/14/2026 in order to receive your discount.

For special accommodations or extended dates, reach out to the Hotel Indigo Sales Dept. directly by calling 706.546.0430 ext. 2.