Women and underrepresented groups remain a small percentage of the tree care workforce. Targeted outreach and inclusive training are key to closing this gap.
beyond the noise and rhetoric sur- rounding the acronym, stating “it’s just a buzzword.” To the WTCW co-founders, diversity supports a wide range of thoughts, in- vites people to share their perspectives, and encourages intentional hiring. “[It’s saying], ‘We don’t care what you look like. We want people who fit our culture’,” Ingersoll said. They acknowledged the current climate of fear around DEI topics, but LeVangie emphasized that embracing diversity leads to better outcomes. “If you can go to work at a place you feel good at, you’re just naturally going to get that back,” Ingersoll said.
perspective on what diversity really means. “When people feel seen and heard, it’s a safer workplace,” LeVangie explained. When employees feel unheard or afraid to speak up, it can create fear, division, and unsafe work environments. How- ever, when arborist companies em- brace diverse perspectives, they foster a culture of openness where ideas are shared, concerns are voiced, and safety can thrive. MORE THAN A BUZZWORD The acronym “DEI” (diversity, equity, and inclusion) has elicited a range of reactions in the political and work spheres over the past few years. However, LeVangie and Ingersoll en- couraged tree care companies to look
thing that matters,” she explained.
LeVangie added that companies with homogenous crews should take a hard look at their internal practices and con- sider generational shifts in job expec- tations. Adapting job descriptions can make a significant difference, too, especially when targeting younger generations. LeVangie encouraged arboriculture companies to emphasize the opportu- nity to learn about trees and service ecosystems, as this is more likely to at- tract those seeking a more meaningful career path. BEYOND THE HIRE Through their work training women and working in arboriculture, LeVang- ie and Ingersoll have gained a unique
“Courage is contagious,” LeVangie added.
12 | Spring 2025 ArborTIMES ™
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