Biography’s

Russell Hodge Biography:

Russell Hodge has been involved in the tree care industry for 31 years, and is from a family that has been in the industry for over 65 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
• Served on the Board of Directors for Lake County Tree Releaf
• Serves on the City of Crown Point Tree Board
• 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
• Serves as Urban Forestry Consultant for the City of Hobart

PAST PUBLIC SPEAKING VENUES INCLUDE:

• Statewide Indiana Master Gardeners Convention
• “Marketing Your Credential” Workshop conducted for multiple ISA Chapters across US
• National Arbor Day Foundation’s “Wood Waste Utilization Conference”
• Course Instructor for the Indiana “Tree Steward Program”
• Course Instructor for Indiana’s “Local Technical Assistance Program” (LTAP)
• 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
• 3-Part Series in Arborist News Magazine
• City Trees Magazine
• The monthly newsletter for the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns
• The quarterly newsletter of TalTree Arboretum

Russell Hodge is an ISA Certified Arborist #IN-1486A.  He is also a 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.

Gary Erwin’s Biography:

Gary Erwin was born into the tree service business.  He and his nine siblings grew up in the business owned by his late father, Dave Erwin, it was here he learned to go the extra mile as a boy.  Erwin would often drag brush, rake yards and climb trees to help his father.  After high school graduation, Erwin left Northwest Indiana for a four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, where he served on nuclear submarines.  Afterward, Erwin spent several years in Washington D.C. as a defense contractor.  Nearly 20 years after he left Northwest Indiana, Erwin returned to help his father with the family farm.  It was then that Erwin got involved in the tree care business, this time as an owner -  after purchasing J & F Tree Service.  He later named the business Erwin Tree Care.  Erwin’s military background taught him how to get along with people and the importance of teamwork and following proper procedures to ensure safety on the job.  Those principles have translated to the business becoming accredited by the Tree Care International Association during a voluntary, yearlong process.  Gary’s crews are trained to follow proper pruning techniques for tree-care professionals and know how to treat customers with courtesy and respect.