Adaptable Apprenticeships to Elevate Colorado
7117745054 • April 16, 2025
David Merriman Speaks for Elevate Colorado
Colorado Apprenticeship Hub hosted a workforce development event on Thursday, April 10th, 2025, at the Aurora Centrepoint Plaza, where ArborScape’s owner, David Merriman, was invited to speak about his experience and expertise as a certified arborist running an apprenticeship program.
Elevate Colorado: Workforce Solutions for Tomorrow is not limited to the forestry industry, despite that being David Merriman’s field. This event was designed to showcase opportunities for employers to utilize for their businesses, such as leadership development and growing their talent pool. And that’s where David’s expertise really shines through.
Certified by ISA and ASCA, David has been supporting Denver’s tree care industry for over thirty years! However, he has much more hands-on experience than that. Working beside his father since the age of eight, he’s become an expert in the art and science of horticulture and tree care.
While David would much rather spend his days climbing around in trees, he also understands the necessity of filling important roles in the forestry industry. This, combined with his advocacy for education, had him starting the arborist apprenticeship program in 2008, which is certified by Colorado’s Department of Labor.
David knows that in order to maintain top-notch tree care, the industry needs to be able to find the right people and give them the right tools- and no, that doesn’t just mean a chainsaw and hard hat.
While apprenticeship programs usually include some type of PPE (personal protective equipment) training, they’re also meant to provide future employees with transferable skills through a combination of hands-on training in the field as well as classroom instruction.
Providing this type of knowledge and training can prove essential in helping an employee understand why something needs to be done and teaches them how to figure out a solution under proper guidance.
Through these programs, employers are also able to gain support from industry intermediaries for matters in leadership training, burnout guidance, and even general funding.
Apprenticeships are designed to help expand industries by creating a bigger pool of talent full of people who are eager to continue learning and are willing to work. This in turn aids employers by reducing training time, cutting turnover rates, and helping to keep the industry flourishing with a well-rounded workforce.
You can learn more about David Merriman here, or check out his nonprofit
for forestry collaboration.
Studies are showing that Colorado trees are being ravaged by insects , but ArborScape’s tree spraying services are here to keep your trees healthy throughout the seasons. It’s been noted that the fluctuating weather seems to be the main cause as to why our trees have become so susceptible to a variety of pests that can cause insurmountable disease and other damage to our trees here. Each tree we see here in Colorado has different needs, whether it’s a native or non-native species. But what every tree needs is stability, even with season changes. Without that stable weather a tree has grown accustomed to, it can respond in a similar way that we get sick; with various symptoms that open our immune system to other attacks. However, there are actions to take that help prevent these attacks or at least help mitigate the symptoms until we’re healed. And we can do the same with trees. Most of the time, tree spraying is used once insects have already attacked your trees. This is typically because you don’t notice symptoms until the infestation has begun. But tree spraying can also be used as a preventative treatment to give your trees the extra boost they need to protect themselves from an array of issues. While there are some tips and tricks to do on your own to protect your trees, such as properly watering and mulching to maintain health. But sometimes it’s best to call in the professionals. Here at ArborScape, our arborists have the expertise, and knowledge of the terrain, to both treat and prevent the stress that pests can bring about. Learn more about our pest control treatments below.
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With warmer weather, we’re finally starting to see the buds on the trees starting to burst through! However, with this new growth, it’s easy to see where there isn’t growth. But don’t panic over dying tree limbs or a diseased trunk! This is where ArborScape’s tree trimming and removal services come in handy. While it’s easy to dismiss wiley branches in the winter, spring can make it pretty obvious where the dead or diseased branches are, as the limbs will appear sparse and sometimes discolored. We offer quite a few services that can be important for the overall health of your trees, and our certified arborists are happy to provide free estimates with a variety of options for optimal tree health- whether that be tree trimming, a full removal, or even insect control and root fertilizations.
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