Kay Sicheneder, ISA Certified Arborist
Territory and Services:
Kay operates out of SavATree’s Troy branch and provides tree care services to Southeast Michigan and beyond. Some popular services that she offers to her clients in the Troy Area include tree removal, tree pruning, tree fertilization and disease management, organic tree and shrub services, pest control including tick and mosquito treatments, and lawn fertilization. If you are in need of any services to keep your property beautiful and healthy, contact Kay. She will come out to your property and set up a custom tree, shrub, and lawn care program for your property.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (248) 561-0180
Qualifications:
- Certified Pesticide Applicator 1984
- ISA Certified Arborist MI0073A 1993
- Tree Risk Qualified Arborist 2013
- Michigan Oak Wilt Qualified, ISA MI 2017
- ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #668 2018
- Municipal Forestry Institute Graduate 2020
Kay has a comprehensive technical and educational background coupled with years of field experience. She is knowledgeable and well-experienced in landscape ecology and how to manipulate plants and their environment to best obtain client’s desired results. Toward this objective, Kay keeps current on the latest and greatest products and techniques in tree care.
Kay understands timely and clear communication, and collaboration, with all relevant parties is critical to understanding the task, and to achieving the best possible results.
Industry Involvement/Awards/Certifications:
Currently:
- Instructor for Certified Arborist Exam course ISA MI and also for MSU Ag Tech Program
- Board of Director for American Society of Consulting Arborists
- ISA MI Education Committee, 30 years
- Member of SMA, SCA, ISA, ASCA, ISA MI
Formerly:
- Tree Fund Grants Committee 2001-2010
- Tour des Trees rider
- ISA MI board and President 2001
Education:
Kay earned a Bachelor’s in Science in Zoology/Evolutionary Ecology at Michigan State University. She followed up with a Master’s in Natural Resources at her alma mater’s arch-rival, the University of Michigan. Here is where she learned trees are more than things for animals to use as food and habitat. For her Masters practicum, Kay cowrote a guide for the management of gypsy moth. This varied set of studies proved unexpectedly useful in her career as an arborist. Kay uses a holistic approach to diagnosis and management of tree and shrub disorders, focusing on prevention of problems as well as their treatment.
Personal:
Kay has true love of the outdoors, and little interest in sitting still. She enjoys all seasons with hiking, biking, boating, skating and water, downhill and cross-country skiing. She loves to travel and spend time with her husband, and their three sons and daughter in law.
Why Did You Become an Arborist?
“As can be seen by my college degrees, I rather fell into arboriculture. In fact, it was my last term at grad school that a professor briefly mentioned caring for urban and landscape trees. I attended the Michigan Chapter conference where I was intrigued by a talk on integrated pest management in the landscape. The speaker became my boss a few weeks later. I had intended to go to vet school. It occurs to me, I am very much like a vet, but for the leafy, immobile ones.”
Your Customer Service Philosophy:
“My job is to best serve the client. This means being at the top of my game, with the knowledge and resources to provide accurate diagnosis and analysis, and effective services. This may not look like what the client expects. It is equally my job to communicate clearly with the client about tree issues and how they can be resolved. My job is to ensure the client is supplied with appropriate information to make the right decision regarding their tree.”
Notable Work:
From Belmont Park Racetrack to Michigan back yards, Kay has been involved with monitoring and treatment of thousands of trees and shrubs as a plant health care manager and tree risk assessor. Perhaps her favorite tree health and structure assessment was “Reta red maple”, the tree used for a treehouse constructed for ventilator-dependent children’s camp. Kay was honored to donate her expertise to collaborate with engineers and construction workers to create a one-of-a-kind structure for these special campers.
Kay enjoys the challenges of retaining exceptionally old and large, and beloved, trees in urban areas. She responded to the highly concerned staff at Flint’s Applewood with a comprehensive plan to retain a splitting, massive sugar maple on the Mott family estate grounds. Thousands of visitors marvel at the size of this example of living history. Tree risk assessment is not all about tree condemnation.
As an expert witness, Kay provides information to aid in cases involving trees. Cases often are difficult for the people involved. Kay knows her role is to provide fact-based, unbiased opinion that speaks to the case. She often provides tree valuation to help determine monetary loss due to tree injury or death. Kay has worked in this capacity for a variety of clients including attorneys, property owners, insurance adjusters, utilities, universities, county parks, and municipalities.
As the Forestry Supervisor for the City of Ann Arbor, Kay has first-hand experience in greater municipal operations, budgeting, contracting, managing city crews and community/urban forestry.
Community Involvement & Other Notable Information:
Kay has given dozens of presentations to industry and community groups on a wide variety of subjects including tree pruning; tree ID; tree risk assessment; tree decay; plant disorders, diagnosis and treatment; urban forestry; financing the Ann Arbor forestry department; tree valuation
Have spoken for Society of Municipal Arborists, ISA Women in Arboriculture Program, ISAMI, National Arbor Day Foundation, ISA Western Chapter, ReLeaf Michigan
Awards:
From ISA MI
President’s Award 2006,
Professional Service Award 2008
Governmental Award of Excellence in Urban Forestry 2010
Honor’s Award 2017
Fun Fact:
Kay plays league ice hockey.
