November 15, 2019 — Stow, OH — ACRT Services offers expert independent consulting solutions to utilities and associated organizations throughout the United States, including vegetation management consulting, arborist training, customized safety courses, technology solutions, utility metering services, and more. The two independent utility vegetation management companies under ACRT Services, ACRT, and ACRT Pacific, were presented with the Utility Arborist Association’s (UAA) Partners in Excellence (PinE) award, while Renee Bissett received the Educator Award during the 2019 annual meeting.
UAA Educator Award
The UAA Educator Award is given to industry professionals who are recognized for their role in educating and training others in the utility vegetation management industry. ACRT Services marketing communications manager Renee Bissett was presented with the award for 2019.
Bissett is the first woman to receive the award in its history and the second person from ACRT, with the first being the organization’s founder Richard Abbott in 2001. Bissett has been active in the UAA for 15 years, serving on numerous committees and providing support for marketing, conferences, and annual events.
“It’s been an honor to be part of the UAA for all these years,” Bissett said. “This is an amazing industry that truly makes an impact on people’s lives. Being able to guide the training and education of those who do this important work has been rewarding. I’m grateful to the UAA for honoring me in this way, and I look forward to continuing my involvement.”
Bissett was nominated by Nelsen Money, who she has worked alongside closely on the editorial committee for ten years. Money, retired from Pacific Gas and Electric, cited his main reasons for the nomination as what Bissett has done for the publication. What once was three or four issues grew to six or more under Bissett’s direction and organization. She was able to help create thoughtful and insightful pieces for each issue that would focus on a feature or topic such as safety or technology, and that was all thanks to her drive and commitment.
“Renee has been a great resource to us in so many ways as far as the publication itself. Everything from formatting to how to better promote the advertising part to our industry, to how to better organize the issue itself,” Money said. He continued, “Renee really is just an amazing asset, and that is why we produce such a quality educational publication.”
PinE Award
The Partners in Excellence (PinE) Award is given to organizations whose membership in the UAA and supporting activities — such as sponsorship, active committee volunteerism, and more — quantifiably demonstrate active involvement over the association’s previous fiscal year. Organizations are given a PinE score based on these activities and recognized at the UAA annual meeting.
“We’re honored and humbled to have been recognized with the PinE Award each year since its inception in 2016,” said Mike Weidner, ACRT Services Chief Executive Officer. “We believe in the UAA’s mission drive excellence, innovation and change through professional development, outreach, research, and the promotion of best practices within the utility vegetation management industry. That’s why we provide our employees with a free membership to the UAA annually. This award is a reflection of our commitment to the UAA’s mission, and I’m proud of our team for working so diligently to further it.”
To learn more about the Utility Arborist Association and its award programs, visit www.gotouaa.org.
About ACRT Services
ACRT Services offers expert independent consulting solutions to utilities and associated organizations throughout the United States, including vegetation management consulting, arborist training, customized safety courses, technology solutions, utility metering services, and more. ACRT Services supports three wholly-owned subsidiaries — ACRT, ACRT Pacific, and Bermex. To learn more about ACRT Services, visit careers.acrt.com.
