ASCA 2025 Annual Conference Wrap-Up
ASCA members, arboricultural professionals and industry partners gathered in beautiful San Antonio, Texas for the 2025 ASCA Annual Conference! Our program offered pre- and post-conference workshops, as well as networking with attendees, sponsors and exhibitors. Our main conference speakers educated attendees on a wide variety of topics and we had engaging Q&A sessions after each session.
We hope to see you later this year at the 2026 Annual Conference in Long Beach, CA!
"Love this conference!"
"Great lineup of speakers that are relevant to our work and the future of consulting"
"Provided reinvigoration for our industry and an excitement to look into some new processes and tools during the coming slow season/winter"
ASCA 2025 Annual Conference Awards Recap
2025 Honorary Life Member
Joe McNeil, RCA #299
Joe McNeil, RCA #299 has been a dedicated ASCA member since 1989, an impressive 36 years, and throughout that time he has consistently helped to elevate the standards, credibility, and professionalism of the field. As chair of the Standards of Professional Practice committee from 1995 to 2000, he played a pivotal role in advancing the industry’s ethical and professional framework, serving not only in that leadership position but also as the co-author of the Standards of Professional Practice, a cornerstone document that continues to guide consultants today. Joe’s service extended to the ASCA Board of Directors from 2003 to 2005, and his influence is further reflected in the many insightful articles he has contributed to The Arboricultural Consultant. Within the ASCA Exchange community, Joe can always be counted on to respond and share his experienced perspective. “Joe has taught us leadership by demonstrating respect with authority in every discussion. Joe’s catchphrase ‘it all depends’ is the hallmark of an experienced consultant who uses judgement, context, and flexibility to form a professional opinion.” These words reflect not only his expertise, but the thoughtful, principled way he has shaped the professional culture within ASCA.
2025 President's Award
Philip van Wassenaer, RCA #678
Each year, the ASCA President’s Award is presented, at the discretion of the current President, to a member who has meaningfully advanced the President’s agenda and supported the Society’s key initiatives. The award recognizes collaboration, leadership, and a commitment to strengthening ASCA’s mission. While many leaders have helped carry the organization forward in recent years, this year one individual’s contributions stood out clearly. Philip van Wassenaer, RCA #678 has served on the Board of Directors from 2020–2025 and played a key role in the Program Planning Committee and the establishment of the CTLA’s improved publication process. He has proactively reached out with ideas for conference speakers and programming and has also shared his expertise by presenting at ASCA conferences and pre-conferences. Philip’s pursuit of excellence sets a high standard that elevates the entire organization.
