About Me

Charlene graduated from Olds College, in 2007, with a diploma in Ornamental Horticulture with a major in Arboriculture. With her formal education she went on to work for a mix of private tree care companies as well as municipal urban forestry departments. 

Through her work experience in the industry, she discovered her interest in introducing and educating individuals to the unique career of an arborist. This interest led her to become an instructional assistant at Olds College for the Arboriculture Technician Certificate Program where she worked for 10 years. The position allowed Charlene to focus on her passion of educating workers to increase safety in the arboriculture industry.

Charlene has taken many of the Arboriculture Canada courses over her years in the industry. In 2016 and again in 2022, she attended Chainsaw Train the Trainer to improve her abilities as an instructor. In the fall of 2022, Charlene began as an assistant instructor and has since become the Sales and Accounts Manager for Arboriculture Canada Training and Education.

She is a current ISA Certified Arborist with her TRAQ qualification. She is an active volunteer at the Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Competition where she is head judge of the Ascent Event. She is a previous competitor and has represented the Prairie Chapter in the women’s division internationally 4 times.  She is also co-certification liaison of the Prairie Chapter and an ISA Exam Proctor.

Most recently she has helped create the Prairie Chapter Women in the Trees Committee, of which she is the co-chair, that focuses on increasing women in the industry through networking events. One of the main events, a biennial women’s tree climbing workshop, has been highly successful.

Business & Previous Experience

Sales and Accounts Manager, Arboriculture Canada Training and Education Ltd. ( Present)

 

Instructional Assistant, Olds College (2013 - 2023)

 

Tree Climbing Competition Judge and Technician at local TCC (2017 - Present)

 

Graduate of Olds College Ornamental Horticulture Diploma with a major in Arboriculture (2007 )

 

Tree Climbing Competitor (4-time Prairie Chapter Tree Climbing Champion) (2009 - 2016)

 

Arboriculture Canada Training and Education courses completed (2011 - Present)

• Chainsaw Train the Trainer Intensive 

• Technical Tree Falling & Cutting

• Emergency Readiness & High Angle Rescue

• Chainsaw Safety and Cutting Techniques

• Tree Pruning

• Aerial Lift Emergency Evacuation and Extrication

• Hazard and Danger Tree Felling & Cutting

• Production Tree Removal and Rigging

• Electrical Awareness

• Comprehensive Tree Risk Management

 

Qualifications & Memberships

ISA TRAQ Qualification (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) (2015 - Present)

 

ISA Certified Arborist PR-4756A (2008 - Present)

 

Service & Research

ISA Certification Liaison and Exam Proctor (2018 - Present)

 

Co-chair of Prairie Chapter Women in the Trees Committee (2020 - Present)