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The 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship (NATCC) is coming to Kent, Ohio, May 15-17, as The Davey Tree Expert Co. hosts the free, three-day competition at its new SEED Campus with competition viewing, food trucks and family-friendly activities.
Skilled tree climbers will compete in five events throughout the weekend, including Aerial Rescue, Work Climb, Ascent, Belayed Speed Climb and Throwline, which highlight skill, technique and athleticism while reinforcing the critical importance of safety and proper tree care.
The event also includes an Arbor Fair featuring booths from tree care companies, industry sponsors and gear suppliers, along with a selection of food trucks from Moonstone Coffee Works, Brooks Homestyle BBQ, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck, Southern Comfort Kitchen and Roll Call Burgers and Fries. Free restrooms will be provided, and parking will be at Davey’s corporate office at 1500 N. Mantua St. in Kent, with free shuttles to the SEED Campus.
- Friday, May 15
- 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Qualifying Events
- 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Arbor Fair
- Saturday, May 16
- 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Qualifying Events
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Arbor Fair
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Kids’ Activities
- Sunday, May 17
- 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Masters’ Challenge
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Arbor Fair
- 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Kids’ Activities
- 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Awards Ceremony
This annual event is held across the continent, with Kent, Ohio, and The Davey Tree Expert Co. being selected to host the event this year. This is the first year the event will be held in Ohio.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is partnering with the Ohio Chapter ISA and The Davey Tree Expert Co. for the event. The Davey Tree SEED (Science, Employee Education and Development) Campus is nearly 200 acres dedicated to specialized training and research facilities.
“As proud ISA partners, Davey is thrilled to be hosting the 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship at our Kent, Ohio, campus,” said Pat Covey, chairman, president and CEO of Davey Tree. “Our new SEED Campus was built to revolutionize training and research in the industry, and we’re looking forward to welcoming ISA members and the public to experience it firsthand. ISA continues to be a driving force for growth and excellence in arboriculture, and we’re proud to support its mission.”
This year is also the 25th anniversary of female climbers competing in NATCC and includes the most female climbers in the event’s history.
First, second and third places will be awarded for both men and women in each event. The competitors’ total scores for all five events are then combined, and the male and female competitors with the highest combined score from the preliminary events move on to the Masters’ Challenge.
The Masters’ Challenge consists of one event with scores based on technique and skill. The competitors in this round with the highest score are named the male and female NATCC Champions. The winners of the 2026 NATCC will go on to compete in the 50th Annual International Tree Climbing Championship in St. Louis, Mo.
“Davey Tree has been a longstanding Gold Canopy Partner with ISA, and we are so excited to partner with them through one of our Tree Climbing Championships,” said Caitlyn Pollihan, ISA CEO and executive director. “We appreciate Davey’s generosity in opening up the SEED Campus for the 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship, and we look forward to promoting arboriculture through this competitive and educational platform.”
Vectorworks establishes new offices in Germany and Switzerland
Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks, part of the Nemetschek Group, has established two new corporate offices in Lörrach, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland, to further support its growing customer base and deepen its commitment to designers in the DACH region.
Through the acquisition of longtime distribution partners ComputerWorks GmbH and the CAD division of ComputerWorks AG, Vectorworks is establishing a stronger European hub that builds on ComputerWorks’ in-depth market expertise, dedicated technical support and robust sales infrastructure developed over decades of service to German-speaking designers. As part of this transformation, which is expected to be completed on May 4, ComputerWorks in Germany will be renamed to Vectorworks Germany GmbH. ComputerWorks AG will spin off its CAD division to establish Vectorworks Switzerland AG, while the remaining business will continue as ComputerWorks AG.
“For many years, ComputerWorks has represented Vectorworks to thousands of designers and planners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland,” said Vectorworks CEO Jason Pletcher. “By bringing ComputerWorks into the Vectorworks family, we are not only expanding our presence in these specific countries, but also combining the strength of a global product organization with the expertise of trusted local professionals. This will enable us to help our customers move faster, collaborate more effectively and deliver superior designs.”
For over three decades, ComputerWorks has served as the authorized distributor of Vectorworks software in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, tailoring the product line and complementary solutions to meet regional needs. In addition to software localization and development for the DACH region and other European markets, the company has provided training, consulting and technical support to professionals across architecture, interiors, landscape and entertainment design.
With this integration, customers in Germany, Switzerland and the broader DACH region will benefit from closer alignment between local expertise and global product development. This will help ensure that features, content and workflows better reflect regional standards while improving access to training, support and professional services. The acquisition also strengthens the feedback loop between customers and product teams, enabling more responsive innovation and a more consistent, high-quality user experience.
“Designers in the DACH region face complex projects, demanding clients and evolving regulations. They need partners who understand both the local context and global tools,” said Alexander Meier, CEO of Vectorworks Germany. “Becoming part of Vectorworks enables our team to bring our deep understanding of customer needs across all disciplines directly to the people building the software. Together, we can shape features, content and services that reflect how our customers work today and where they want to go tomorrow.”
“With more than 30 years of development experience, we know that true innovation begins with a deep understanding of local needs and workflows,” said Andreas Hängärtner, CEO of Vectorworks Switzerland. “When that local insight is amplified through international collaboration and presented on a global stage, it creates new opportunities for our users to design with greater confidence and impact.”
Mecalac relocates to the FAYAT Group campus in South Carolina
Mecalac North America began a strategic relocation from Massachusetts to the FAYAT Group campus in Ridgeway, S.C. This move signals a renewed commitment to growing Mecalac’s presence and capabilities in North America and positions the company for enhanced collaboration, training and customer support, according to the company.
“As we relocate to Ridgeway and join the FAYAT Group campus, we are accelerating our ability to serve customers with faster parts availability, stronger technical support and more integrated solutions across brands,” said Pierre Lahutte, president of Mecalac. “This step reinforces our confidence in North America’s growth potential and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering value to our customers and partners.”
This campus will host a brand-new parts distribution center that will benefit most FAYAT Group brands, with Mecalac in particular standing to gain from improved parts logistics and faster support.
“The investment demonstrates our collective commitment to delivering excellence to our customers and partners,” said Rob Mueckler, general manager, FAYAT North America. “This facility also stands as a tangible testament to the group’s engagement in the U.S. market. These steps reinforce our confidence in the region’s growth potential and our ability to better serve it. We are dedicated to growing Mecalac in North America, and this campus will be a cornerstone of enhanced collaboration, training and support.”
Key benefits of the move include:
- Centralized, state-of-the-art parts logistics through the new depot, improving availability and response times for Mecalac customers.
- Expanded training and technical support infrastructure to accelerate problem-solving and increase uptime.
- Greater collaboration across the FAYAT Group brands to deliver integrated solutions for customers in North America.
- A visible commitment to growth in the U.S. market, reinforced by strategic acquisitions and ongoing investments.
The grand opening of the Ridgeway campus is scheduled for May 12, with ongoing milestones to be announced as they become available.
