CENTS welcomes dynamic speakers

Watch for these speakers at CENTS, Jan. 23-25 in Columbus, Ohio.

David Nowak is a project leader for the United States Forest Service’s Northern Research Station in Syracuse, New York. Nowak specializes in studying the effects of urban trees on environmental quality and human health. Understanding that optimal vegetation designs and management practices are essential to sustain human and environmental well-being for current and future generations, Nowak and his team are working to provide forest and community managers accurate information on the urban forest resource, how it is changing, and the ecosystem services it provides. Decision-making tools are also being developed to guide management and policies related to improving ecosystem services provided by trees.
Nowak’s short course sessions include The Urban Understory: The Value of Urban Trees and The Color of Carbon is Green.

James Urban specializes in the design of trees and soils in urban spaces. He has written and lectured extensively on the subject of urban tree planting and has been responsible for the introduction of many innovations including most of the current standards relating to urban tree plantings. His 2008 book “Up By Roots: Healthy Trees and Soils in the Built
Environment”, is becoming one of the principle tree and soil references. James Urban was instrumental in the development of structural cells and structural planting soils for use under sidewalk pavements, and is credited with helping to re-awaken the profession of landscape architecture to the skills required to successfully plant trees
in difficult urban soils. In 2007, he was awarded the ASLA Medal of Excellence for this contribution to the profession of Landscape Architecture.
Urban’s short course sessions include The Origin of Soils: The Urban Story and Street Tree
Design for Survival: Using Structured Soil in Urban Environment.

Charles Vander Kooi has been impacting audiences for 25 years by coupling his true-life experiences as a professional estimator and contractor with stand-up comedy and a little fire and brimstone. Vander Kooi has been involved in the construction industry for over 4 decades as an estimator and consultant. He has bid over a billion dollars in work over his career. As a private consultant, he has helped over 1,500 companies in their estimating/bidding systems and has
lectured to over 200,000 people nationally and internationally.

Vander Kooi’s short course sessions will include Estimating and Expense Tracking in the Landscape and High Maintenance Project Bidding. As well as Chasing Away the Overhead Storm Cloud.