Where the best in the tree industry come together

DECEMBER 2020

The VISTA award is the most important honor the association can bestow upon one of its members . It was conceived to recognize truly outstanding tree care professionals whose acts and deeds serve as a guide and challenge for all members of the industry . The award ’ s title is an acronym for Vision , Integrity , Service , Talent , and Action — the leadership qualities inherent in all award recipients .

Plans to present Andy Felix , MCA with the 2020 VISTA Award at our April dinner meeting may have been thwarted by the pandemic , but that didn ’ t stop us from making sure he received this well-deserved recognition . We caught up with Andy to learn more about his storied career in tree care and to get his take on what the future may hold for our industry .

How did you get started in the tree care business ? I remember when I was about 10 years old , my father and Frank Harder put me up in a brand new 45 ’ Skyworker “ straight stick ” and walked away saying , “ Have a nice day .” I didn ’ t mind . My first boss was a well-known arborist in New York , Jon Hickey . I worked as a hose dragger on a spray rig for the second round of Gypsy moth sprays and “ cover ” sprays to kill every insect in sight . Soon after , I started climbing on all my college breaks — “ big wood ” on Long Island ’ s North Shore , 90-foot oaks with huge spread on beautiful properties . It was a great place to learn .

Can you tell us more about your career path ? I grew up around the industry . My father , Bob Felix , helped run Harder Tree Service , one of the largest tree companies on Long island . At that time , he was president of both the Long Island Arborist Association and the National Arborist Association ( NAA ). In 1972 , he was hired to run NAA full time . The NAA office was literally run out of our family home throughout my school years . This

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Andy Felix , mca President Tree Tech Inc . • Foxboro , MA B . S . Arboriculture / Urban Forestry , UMass 1983

Volunteer SerVice :

● President , UMass Arboriculture Club ( 1982-83 )

● President , MAA ( 1995-96 )

● President , New England Grows ( 1995 )

● Director , Tree Fund ( 1998-2000 )

● MAA / UMass Endowment Committee ( 1999-2000 )

● TCIA Accreditation Council ( 2010 )

● Chairman , Tree Care Industry Association ( 2018 )

● Director , Mass . Tree Wardens & Foresters Association ( 2003-2006 )

● Volunteer Tree Warden , Town of Foxboro ( 2002-2012 )

● Chairman , Foxboro Tree Committee

● Co-Founder , Foxboro Lacrosse Association

● TCIA Foundation , Board of Trustees ( 2019-Present )