Russell Hodge has been involved in the tree care industry for 28 years, and is from a family that has been in the industry for over 60 years.  He is a member of the following organizations:

• International Society of Arboriculture - (ISA)
• Indiana Arborist Association - (IAA)
• Indiana Urban Forestry Council - (IUFC)
• Society of Municipal Arborists - (SMA)
• Society of Commercial Arboriculture - (SCA)
• Northwestern Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association
• Serves on the Board of Directors for Lake County Tree Releaf
• Serves on the Industry & Public Relations Committee for ISA
• Serves on the Public Relations Committee for IAA
• Serves on the Indiana Emerald Ash Borer Task Force

PAST PUBLIC SPEAKING VENUES INCLUDE:

• Statewide Indiana Master Gardeners Convention
• National Arbor Day Foundation’s “Wood Waste Utilization Conference”
• Course Instructor for the Indiana “Tree Steward Program”
• Speaker for Master Gardener chapters throughout the state of Indiana
• “Urban Tree Care Workshops” across the state of Indiana
• Local garden clubs

PAST ARTICLES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN:

• The Northwest Indiana Times
• NWITimes.com
• 1-800-Arborcare.com
• The Michigan City News-Dispatch
• City Trees Magazine
• The monthly newsletter for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns
  

Russell Hodge is an ISA Certified Arborist #IN-1486A.  He is also an accredited tree appraiser, a state certified pesticide applicator for trees and shrubs (3a), and was a corporate tree crew safety trainer for 7 years.  In 2004, he started the formation of an “Urban Tree Care Workshop” in cooperation with the Purdue Extension Service.  These workshops have been conducted throughout the state of Indiana.

Personal data: 

    Address: 6 Phillips Meadow Way, Travelers Rest, S.C. 29690
    Phone contact:  (864) 517-7158
    E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Education:

•     1968-1972, Benjamen Logan High School in Zanesfield, Ohio.
•     Various seminars, trade shows, and training sessions between 1976, and present.

Work experience:  

•     June 1973-September 1975: employed in Blue Jacket Tree Service, position: climber.    
•     September 1975-Jan. 1976:  employed in Speakman Tree Service, position:  climber.
•     1976-1985:  Employed in Kuemmerling Assoc., position: climber, foreman, I.P.M. Technician, Sales.    
•     April 1985-April 1986:  Employed in Kenyon College, position:  grounds maintenance.    
•     1985-1996:  Started and owned Colonial Tree Care in Mount Vernon, Ohio.    
•     1997-2003:  Owned and operated Woodberry Inn, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, in Virginia.
•     October 2003- present:  Employed in Schneider Tree Care, position:  Sales, Safety, Training.

Interests:    

    Scuba Diving, Wood Working, Photography, Construction, Guitar, Computers.

Additional Skills:  

    Office skills include:  payroll, sales tax, accts. Payable, and receivable, profit statements, etc.  Throughout my career, I have Been involved extensively in utility line clearing, and am a Certified Utility Arborist.  In the past 3 years, in my spare time, I have designed and personally built the house that I now live in.

Trade Organizations:

    Ohio Chapter I.S.A. 1980-present; Chair Arbor Day Committee, 1986-1992; Board of Directors, 1984-1986; Utility Arborist Association; Ohio Chapter Jamboree Committee;  National Arborist Association, 1987-1996.

Certifications:

I.S.A. Certified Arborist (SC-5101AU) ; I.S.A Certified Utility Arborist;  Ohio pesticide applicator in Shade and Ornamental, Turf, and Industrial Vegetation Control; Red Cross Multi-media first aid and C.P.R. instructor; American Heart Association “Basic Life Support” instructor; Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (C.T.S.P.)

Awards:

    Ohio Chapter I.S.A. Tree Climbing Champion; 1982, 1983,
    1985, 1986, and 1988.  International Jamboree, 2nd place, 1985;
    2nd place 1986;  4th place 1988.

SUMMARY

Work experiences since 1978 also include organizing and conducting weekly safety meetings; Instruction in Red Cross;  Instruction in American Heart Association Basic Life Support;  I have  headed a team to make Schneider Tree Care a T.C.I.A. accredited company.

My duties at present include selling, organizing, and executing contracts with the city of Charlotte;  keeping Accreditation up to date;  Safety and training in class and on the job; Conducting performance reviews; back up sales staff;  D.O.T. compliance; New employee orientations; and heck, I even get to climb a tree now and then.

While the answer to that question varries, it's not unusual to cut the process to a third of it's normal time.  In a sense, it's like asking, "How far is it to Rome?"  Answer:  where are you when you ask the question?  That said, there is generally an upward boundary of 4 to 6 months.  Some, however, take as little as 3 months to attain.

No the initial onsite consultation will evaluate your company, introduce the accreditation process and assign task periods to begin the process. If your company is already in the accreditation process, we will verify  the status of your progress and proceed from that point.

Customized Consulting was founded by seasoned professionals seeking to further the credibility and visibility of the tree care industry.  Although the tree care industry is comprised of equipment vendors, regulatory agencies, forestry organizations, governmental organizations and tree care companies, Customized Consulting has extensive and specialized experience best geared towards tree care companies.  Tree care companies make up the backbone of the tree care industry.

Customized Consulting seeks to improve every aspect of your tree care company from field work to office work, from safety to best practices.  If it impacts your success, then it's our concern!  The effectiveness of our programs and experience has been proven over and over, and you could be the next success story.  Why don't you give us a call and see how we can add to the success that you've started? 

Value Propositions:

• We seek to provide visible value to you, our client
• We seek to build trust in our expertise and soundness of our advise through results
  
• We seek to leave companies more professionally oriented than when we arrived
  
• We seek to raise the profile of your company both in your market and in the industry as a whole
  
• We seek to give rising stars in the tree care industry a place to turn when facing growing pains
• We seek to elevate the industry by spreading the TCIA Accreditation to deserving, professional organizations
• We seek to promote an environment of safety and best practices

Services Provided by Customized Consulting:

• TCIA Accreditation Acceleration and Management
• Safety Program Development
• OSHA Compliance Services
  
• Website Development
  
• Business Consulting
• Growth Strategies
• Invoicing and Billing Analysis
  
• Workflow Analysis and Streamlining
• Service Diversification Proposals
  
• Accounts Receivables Streamlining and Acceleration
  
• Business Forms Design and Development
  
• Company and Brand Marketing Analysis
  
• Aid in Developing Relationships with General Contractors and Government Agencies
• Hiring and Employee Management Analysis
  
• Industry Specific Management Software Recommendations
  
• Maintenance and Maintenance Records Management Structuring
  
• Leveraging Vendor Relationships
  
• Scheduling Analysis
• Bill-Rate Analysis
  
• Book Keeping Analysis
• Industry Best-Practices Adherance Training
  
• Company Branding Services