Spring Awakening: Why Education Fuels the Next Season of IVM Growth

By Daryl Chesley
I have had the recent great fortune to join Grow With Trees and enter the complex and meaningful ecosystem associated with Vegetation Management. It has been as rewarding as it has been eye-opening. Using my own background in education and operations as a lens into the industry, I have observed through my recent conversations with industry leaders over the last few months a meaningful shift from a traditional mindset of spending on routine Vegetation Management cycles to a highly strategic approach of investing in data-informed insights, predictive risk assessments, and a commitment to education and training of crews. The industry is truly at an inflection point. What an exciting time!

We are also at an exciting time of the year—spring! Spring has a way of reminding us that growth doesn’t happen by accident, but rather by intention. The cold and snow (proud Maine resident here!) recede, the first green shoots appear, and suddenly everything feels possible again.

Education is the Real Spring Intention

As the season kicks off, we historically think about sharpening chainsaws, checking equipment, organizing teams, and setting schedules. Loosely using Stephen Covey’s analogy of sharpening your saw, I encourage each of us to consider the important role that education and training serve in the ultimate success of a Vegetation Management program.

When crews understand Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) principles at an ecological level, their work changes:

  • They identify compatible species earlier.
  • They make decisions rooted in long‑term system health.
  • They apply treatments with intention, not out of habit.
  • They recognize patterns before they become problems.
Through intentional and strategic education, teammates see the work of Vegetation Management transform from maintenance to stewardship, and Vegetation Management shifts from being a liability to an operational strategy.

What We’ve Seen at Grow With Trees

At Grow With Trees, we’ve been fortunate to partner with utilities that prioritize education for their contractors, crews, communities, and internal teams. The results are consistent:

  • higher efficiencies
  • smoother operations
  • fewer reactive interventions
  • noticeably stronger team satisfaction

Education and training aren’t seen as a cost center—they are seen as a catalyst. When teams understand the ecological “what, why, and how,” their decisions create healthier, more resilient rights-of-way.

A New Season, A New Opportunity

Heading into another busy season of Vegetation Management, now is the time to invest in the knowledge that will shape your work for years to come.

If your Vegetation Management program is ready for its own spring awakening, we’re here to support your efforts. Grow With Trees provides practical, boots‑on‑the‑ground education, training, and planning that empowers crews, contractors, and leaders to build smarter, more sustainable IVM programs.

When people grow, progress follows.

What are your intentions for your crews this year? What education and training programs will help you meet your goals?


Daryl Chesley is the Director of Operations and Client Service at Grow With Trees. He spearheads strategic planning, product innovation, and team optimization to ensure unparalleled client satisfaction, operational efficiency, and scalable business growth.

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