May 1, 2023

Taking care of trees across our communities is no easy task and Arbor Day, April 28, is the perfect time to recognize this feat – while highlighting our corporate value of stewardship in action.

From our large scale vegetation management work to community-based events and longstanding involvement in industry groups, employees are stepping in to support tree growth and health across our service territories.

On Our Way to 20,000

Trees not only improve environmental air quality but also create vibrant wildlife habitats, make dwellings more visually appealing and provide much needed shade, shelter and food for both human and animal populations. That’s why FirstEnergy employees, spearheaded by our Green Teams, are committed to achieving ambitious tree planting goals each year throughout our service territories.

This spring alone, employee involvement in over 50 planned events will result in 15,000 new trees planted – which is well on our way to meeting this year’s goal to plant 20,000 trees in total.

To get involved in these important efforts, visit the Green Teams SharePoint site for more information and a list of company contacts in your area. In certain instances, employees can event use their Volunteer Time Off (VTO) hours toward event participation.

Tree Line Legacy Continues

For the 27th year, FirstEnergy’s utility tree care programs have been honored with the Tree Line USA designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters.

The Tree Line USA program recognizes investor-owned and public utility companies that strive to promote the dual goals of dependable utility service and abundant, healthy trees along America’s streets and highways. Participating companies must meet these five program standards:

• Follow industry criteria for quality tree care
• Provide annual training for employees in best tree-care practices
• Sponsor tree-planting and public education programs on appropriate plantings
• Maintain a tree-based energy conservation program
• Participate in Arbor Day events

Our Distribution Forestry specialists ensure we hit all of these critical requirements annually, even adding to FirstEnergy’s total tree count by holding separate tree planting events across our footprint.

Bowman Receives Arboriculture Award FirstEnergy’s Virginia Bowman, manager, Forestry Services, was recently recognized with the President’s Award by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Ohio chapter for her work helping enhance the organization as a dedicated board member. The Ohio ISA is dedicated to promoting the benefits of trees and advancing responsible tree care practices through research, technology and education. Specifically, the organization’s Ohio chapter invests in the future of professional arboriculture through education, research, safety and communication while maintaining professional integrity and credibility. Virginia served a five-year term on the Ohio ISA’s board of directors in several leadership roles, including vice president, president and president emeritus, and is still an active member in the organization today. As president emeritus, she was integral to the board’s subcommittee for exhibitors and sponsorships, orchestrating an annual conference that secured a record number of trade show participants and event sponsorships. The Ohio ISA is not only a passion of Virginia’s, but also integral to helping industry professionals at FirstEnergy and across the state maintain their credentials and continuing education. “As distribution foresters, we work in our customer’s backyards,” said Virginia. “Our teams walk a delicate balance of preserving both service reliability and tree health. We want to increase tree canopy in Ohio while keeping it properly maintained. The ISA provides us with invaluable education in this area and insight on best practices for combatting invasive species, pests and diseases that hurt tree populations.” FirstEnergy Forestry’s Virginia Bowman (third from left) accepted the President’s Award from the Ohio ISA Board of Directors earlier this year for her leadership and dedication to the organization’s growth. She was honored along with fellow award recipients and industry professionals (l.-r.) Sue Mottl, City of Stow, and Lola Lewis, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, by incoming Ohio ISA president Steve Schneider, The Ohio State University.