Qualified Instructors-Producers
Qualified Instructors who have an * in front of their name are open to travel as needed.
*Rob Calley
President
Backridge Tree Service, Inc.
Rob Calley
Rob serves as the small production company representative on the PPQ Committee. Rob is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) and Certified Arborist (CA), He is also a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP) and has the ISA TRAQ Assessment (TRAQ) and Florida Chapter ISA PPQ. He was president of the Florida Chapter ISA in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Florida Chapter Marketing Committee. He is the recipient of “The True Professional of Arboriculture Award” in 2019.
*Edward F. Gilman, PhD
Principal, Wood Architecture Inc.
professor emeritus
University of Florida
Edward F. Gilman, PhD
Dr. Gilman was on the faculty 1986-2016 as professor at the University of Florida. He received honorary membership in ASLA in 2016. Ed wrote “Illustrated Guide to Pruning” which is in its third edition. He received the Authors Citation Award in 1999, Educators Award in 2003, Research Award in 2007, and the Award of Merit (ISAs highest award) in 2016 from the International Society of Arboriculture. He has published more than 120 scientific peer reviewed journal articles on roots, planting, and pruning trees during 44 years in academia and industry. Ed has conducted more than 800 presentations to professional groups throughout his career world-wide. He now conducts training, prepares specifications, and consults for companies on arboriculture related issues.
Norm Easey
President
Urban Forestry Consulting
Norm Easey
Norm has been active in urban forest management and arboriculture in Florida since receiving his bachelor’s degree in forestry resource management in 1980, from the University of Wisconsin. He recently retired from the Florida Chapter ISA, CEO position in September. Prior to that, he was the Forestry Manager for Sarasota County, Florida for 18 years, as well as having been a County Forester with the Florida Forest Service.
*Dr. Ryan Klein, PhD
Assistant Professor
University of Florida IFAS
Dr. Ryan Klein PhD
Ryan Klein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida. His research focuses on the risk associated with urban trees and their survival following hurricanes and other intense storms. Ryan’s interests center around exploring the impacts that urban forests have on the health and safety of urban populations. He views the relationship between people and their natural surroundings as being especially significant since most of the world’s population live in urban areas and urban sprawl continues to consume our remaining natural spaces. Ryan is currently the Education Representative on the Florida Chapter ISA Board of Directors and is a member of the Education Committe
*Lindsey Purcell, MS
Consulting Arborist
Lp Consulting Group
Lindsey Pursell, MS
Lindsey is an authoritative expert on woody plants providing comprehensive expertise to clients on the safety, health, and preservation of trees and the urban forest. Client base includes property owners, municipalities, contractors, attorneys, insurance professionals, landscape architects, developers, engineers, and other industry professionals. Customized training and educational publications and programs are prepared to meet the needs of the client and create a safer, more efficient professional arborist and urban forester. Web-based training provided using Zoom, Teams, and YouTube platforms to increase engagement and reach a broader audience of learners. Lindsey is Executive Director, Indiana chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Administration and management of the Indiana Arborist Association which includes over 400 members, 15-member board of directors, over 40 volunteers and a financial assistant. Education coordinator focused on planning, implementation and delivery of numerous educational events including Certified Arborist Preparation Courses, Tree Pruning, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Tree Appraisal, and others.
Qualified Instructors - Producer
Qualified Instructors who have an * in front of their name are open to travel as needed.
*Carson Smith
O'Neil's Tree Service
Carson Smith
Carson is a partner and Operations Officer at O’Neil’s Tree Service in Palm Harbor, Florida. As Operations Officer, his duties include training, advancing safety, and managing crews to provide the highest standard of tree care. Carson is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist, Florida ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification (PPQ), and a NCCER Certified crane operator. He currently serves as the Vice President of the Florida Chapter ISA.
*Jonathan S. Frank
PPQ Committee Representative
Consulting Arborist
Jonathon S. Frank
Jonathan discovered his passion for plants while in high school after taking a job at the local area garden center. He started in landscape design/build but ultimately chose to focus on trees and arboriculture. As an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, Jonathan has spent most of his career in South Florida. Jonathan holds the following credentials: ISA Certified Tree Worker/Climber Specialist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and Prescription Pruning Qualification. Jonathan is a Past President of the Florida Chapter ISA. He is also a recipient of the 2017 Florida ISA Chapter’s Loren Westenberger award, for high professional principles of arboriculture to better the environment for future generations.
*Nick Markley
Independent Contractor
Nick Markley
Nick Markley has climbed trees in over 20 states and five countries. Nick’s home base is in Ohio where he has won the tree climbing championship four-times. His success does not stop there, he was also designated as the champion in two Hawaii competitions, as well as competed at the international level at the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) four times. His best overall finish was 7th place in 2018. Nick spends the majority of his time as a contract climber and conducts training regarding climbing and chainsaw safety, as well as job efficiency. Nick is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and has the Florida Chapter ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification.
*Lindsey Purcell, MS
Lp Consulting Group
Consulting Arborist
Lindsey Purcell, MS
Lindsey is an authoritative expert on woody plants providing comprehensive expertise to clients on the safety, health, and preservation of trees and the urban forest. Client base includes property owners, municipalities, contractors, attorneys, insurance professionals, landscape architects, developers, engineers, and other industry professionals. Customized training and educational publications and programs are prepared to meet the needs of the client and create a safer, more efficient professional arborist and urban forester. Web-based training provided using Zoom, Teams, and YouTube platforms to increase engagement and reach a broader audience of learners. Lindsey is Executive Director, Indiana chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Administration and management of the Indiana Arborist Association which includes over 400 members, 15-member board of directors, over 40 volunteers and a financial assistant. Education coordinator focused on planning, implementation and delivery of numerous educational events including Certified Arborist Preparation Courses, Tree Pruning, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Tree Appraisal, and others.
*Kris Stultz
Tri-State Tree Services
Kris Stultz
Kris is the Arborist Instructor implementing Prescription Pruning Qualification processes throughout the company and is engaged in the company’s safety program. Kris began his career as a grounds man, tree climber, manager, instructor, business owner and consultant. Kris is an expert in tree structural and developmental pruning strategies, tree structural mechanics, and the body language of tree self-optimization. Kris is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ), a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) and holds the Florida Chapter ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification (PPQ). He has served as the Chair of the Florida Tree Climbing Championship and has held several chairs as a Florida Chapter ISA Board member. Kris was awarded the Florida Chapter ISA Loren Westenberger Award in 2018 and the Award of Distinction in 2022.
*Rob Calley
Backridge Tree Service, Inc.
President
Rob Calley
Rob serves as the small production company representative on the PPQ Committee. Rob is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) and Certified Arborist (CA), He is also a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP) and has the ISA TRAQ Assessment (TRAQ) and Florida Chapter ISA PPQ. He was president of the Florida Chapter ISA in 2020 and currently serves as the Chair of the Florida Chapter Marketing Committee. He is the recipient of “The True Professional of Arboriculture Award” in 2019.