8:00 a.m. - 8:20 a.m.
Welcome, Layout of Virtual Format, and President's Remarks
Dorie Berry, President NCVMA Board
8:20 a.m - 8:50 a.m.
The Who, The What, and The How of Native Bees
Hannah Levenson, Graduate Research Associate, Tarpy Laboratory, Dept of Entomology
During this session, attendees will learn about the diversity of native bees found in North Carolina and how these species can differ in their habitats and behaviors. Mrs. Levenson will also assist attendees with understanding what can be done to support these important organisms, as well as what is already being done, through examples of ongoing research throughout NC and beyond.
Hannah Levenson is a PhD candidate at NC State in the Entomology program with a co-major in Biology. She has a diverse research background ranging from working on reef degradation in The Bahamas to the impacts of pesticide application on honey bee hives in South Dakota. However, for the past 5 years her research has been focused on native bees. Currently, she is conducting a state-wide survey of native bee populations across North Carolina, evaluating the effectiveness of planted habitat as a conservation method on bee populations over time, bee health, and the surrounding cropping systems. Hannah also loves to travel and is working with Peace Corps volunteers on an independent project to measure viruses in honey bees and native bees in rural Peru.
Hannah Published a book with Elsa Youngsteadt, an assistant professor in Applied Ecology, through NCSU extension called North Carolina: An Identification Guide.
The link to access the free pdf is here:
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-bees-of-north-carolina-identification-guide
The link to purchase a hard copy is here:
https://uncpress.org/book/9781469659022/the-bees-of-north-carolina
There is a 25% discount with any orders of 5+ copies using the code 01NCSU25
8:50 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.
North Carolina Department of Ag and Consumer Services Resources
Dwight Seal, North Carolina Department of Agriculture
During this discussion, conference attendees will learn how to navigate the NCDA&CS website to check on important updates involving pesticide regulation, license requirements and status, as well as recertification credits and guidelines. Also included will be a demonstration by Mr. Seal on how to renew your license online as well as time for questions and answers to ensure requirements are clear given the uncertain times of this year.
Dwight Seal currently serves as the Western District Manager with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. His duties are supervising field inspectors, case development and enforcement of the NC Pesticide Law of 1971 and attending regulations. Dwight has worked for NCDA&CS in pesticide regulation for 33 years. He has experience in structural pest and agricultural pesticide regulation. Dwight serves in SFIREG POM Committee (State, FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group, Pesticide Operations Management). Dwight holds B.S. and M.A. Biology degrees from Appalachian State University.
9:20 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Highlighted Sponsor
9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. Highlighted Sponsor
9:40 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.
Adjuvants vs. Surfactants
Chris Williams, Helena Chemical Company
With over 25 years of experience in the herbicide industry, presenter Chris Williams will share his knowledge and experience in discussing the importance of adjuvants with regard to a successful vegetation management program and various types of adjuvants. Also discussed will be factors of adjuvants such as label requirements, recommendations, restrictions, and voidance, as well as, the difference between adjuvants and surfactants and options of various types of surfactants.
Chris has been in his current role of Product Manager for Helena’s south east specialty markets for 8 years. Prior to this role he ran a location servicing eastern North Carolina and Coastal South Carolina. In his role he provides education and support for Helena Products Group to customers and sales force. Chris brings 24 years of application and support experience.
10:10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
Digital Cooridor Management: "Turning Technology Solutions to Programmatic Execution"
Rafael Estevez, ECI Consulting, Southeast Region Manager
Many electric and gas utilities struggle with adopting, implementing and maintaining technology solutions to drive business excellence. Seeing the need, ECI launched a new turnkey technology service for utility partners called Digital Corridor Management (DCM). DCM is a combination of remote sensing, data analysis and virtual inspection that allows our expert field staff to identify and locate work required for vegetation and asset management programs more safely and efficiently.
Mr. Estevez is an experienced utility and technology professional with over 10 years of experience. He served as the distribution system forester and eastern region forester for Duke Energy. In addition, Rafael held other leadership roles, such as the director of data operations at Growers, COO of WarpSpec and is a business advisor for an AI company. Mr. Estevez started his utility career in distribution with ECI and was later hired by Progress Energy. Rafael is well-versed in Duke Energy’s distribution arboriculture and safety practices. While at Duke Energy, he led a rapid improvement event associated with the customer experience initiative; updated distribution vegetation management standards for maintenance, reactive, and hazard tree programs; evaluated possible emerging technologies; created the QA/QC score sheet; and was a subject matter expert for the enable team. After leaving Duke Energy in 2016, Rafael joined Growers as the data operations manager. Growers is now one of the largest precision ag firms in the country. He built his team from the ground up and was promoted to director. Rafael received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in forest management and an MBA from North Carolina State University. He is an ISA certified arborist and utility specialist.
10:40 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.
Forestry Ethics
Gueth Braddock, Bayer, Customer Marketing Manager
The understanding and review of ethics in the forestry profession will be discussed as it pertains to consulting forestry, industrial forestry, and forest management prescriptions. The need for professional foresters to apply ethics in their daily activities is for the good of the landowner and the forestry profession. Common codes of ethics and real-life scenarios will be reviewed allowing the participants to leave with a belief in the credibility of their license and a belief in the importance of providing sound forest management recommendations.
Gueth Braddock has a degree in Forest Management from Mississippi State University, 1991. He has held registered forester licenses in both Mississippi (1991-2017) and Alabama (2013-2017) and is currently the U.S. Customer Marketing Manager, Vegetation Management, Bayer Environmental Science, based in Cary, North Carolina.
11:10 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Highlighted Sponsor
11:20 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Highlighted Sponsor
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Keeping Safe from Ticks and Tick Diseases and Conditions
Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, PA, DrPH, Scientific Adviser, Tick-borne Infections Council of North Carolina, Inc.
Attendees will learn about the increase of ticks and tick species and the emergence of tick-borne disease in NC. They will understand the basic issues regarding tick identification and disease diagnosis, testing, and treatment. Most importantly, attendees will learn how to keep themselves safer when engaging in vegetation management and what to do when they do get a tick bite.
Marcia E. Herman-Giddens, PA, DrPH, is a consultant on ticks and tick-borne infections (TBI) and an adjunct professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health at UNC. She became interested in TBIs many years ago while practicing pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center where she specialized in child abuse and neglect.
Mr. Estevez is an experienced utility and technology professional with over 10 years of experience. He served as the distribution system forester and eastern region forester for Duke Energy. In addition, Rafael held other leadership roles, such as the director of data operations at Growers, COO of WarpSpec and is a business advisor for an AI company. Mr. Estevez started his utility career in distribution with ECI and was later hired by Progress Energy. Rafael is well-versed in Duke Energy’s distribution arboriculture and safety practices. While at Duke Energy, he led a rapid improvement event associated with the customer experience initiative; updated distribution vegetation management standards for maintenance, reactive, and hazard tree programs; evaluated possible emerging technologies; created the QA/QC score sheet; and was a subject matter expert for the enable team. After leaving Duke Energy in 2016, Rafael joined Growers as the data operations manager. Growers is now one of the largest precision ag firms in the country. He built his team from the ground up and was promoted to director. Rafael received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in forest management and an MBA from North Carolina State University. He is an ISA certified arborist and utility specialist.
12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Wrap Up and Attendance Roll Call
Dorie Berry, President NCVMA Board
