2022 Wright Tree Service Corporate Social Responsibility Report

2022 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REPORT

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT

Wright Tree Service (WTS) has built our business over the last 90 years on protecting our environment and the people who occupy it. We understand the responsibility we have as a company and as individuals to work with and educate members of our industry and communities to conserve and protect natural resources while maintaining economic viability, sustainable growth, and social harmony. A sustainable business is good business for our employees, our clients and the public.

We want to be able to share our story on our own terms and there’s no better time than now. WTS is an industry leader, with safety at the forefront of everything we do. We are a 100% employee-owned company, and our employees are at the heart of the decisions we make. It truly is our employees who are behind the success of our company.

As a company, we provide vegetation management services, including line clearance, storm restoration and work planning. We combine training, equipment, technology, and culture to provide top vegetation management services to the utility industry.

WTS has an environmental policy that informs our employees to have awareness and report any environmental issues that may apply to their current contract. Because of our vast geographical footprint, each region identifies its own environmental and cultural resources that may appear in their area, as well as appropriate actions to remediate potential problems.

This report will highlight the progress we have made, and will continue to make, regarding:

‒ Safety

‒ Employee Well-being

‒ Environmental Sustainability

‒ Community Engagement

I’d like to invite you to read through this report and learn about how WTS leads our industry by living out our values every day – safety, family, stewardship, excellence and integrity.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

The following pages highlight how we incorporate environmental sustainability into our project services and business operations using innovative processes, initiatives and technology.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Family founded and employee owned, WTS established in Iowa in 1933 by John L. Wright, where he and the company overcame challenges that brought opportunities for tremendous growth. Guided by strong leadership and strategic vision, WTS has grown into one of the largest vegetation management contractors in North America. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, we have more than 5,500 employees across 18 continental geographic divisions.

5,500 U.S. EMPLOYEES ACROSS 18 GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS

As a company, we are committed to upholding our values in pursuit of our mission. Safety is our highest value, family is our foundation, and teamwork is how we operate. We continue to be recognized by utilities as providers of the highest levels of quality, service, responsiveness, reliability and value. Our employee owners are at the heart of the decisions we make at WTS.

With safety at the forefront, a breadth of resources at our fingertips, and a workforce more committed than any, WTS is “Always the Wright choice.”

We provide the entire package of integrated vegetation management services, including utility line clearance, right-of-way mowing, land clearing, herbicide application, substation grounds maintenance, railroad track clearing, storm restoration, work planning services and erosion control to utility companies and their communities across North America.

No matter the size or location of the job, our crews are well-trained, supervised and supported. WTS takes pride in our reputation for efficient, high-quality response to our customers’ needs, no matter if the work is in urban or rural

environments or related to routine maintenance or emergency response.

Our corporate office staff sets us apart from our competition, offering unbeatable support services.

Today’s competitive and ever-evolving marketplace demands that we work as a team to meet our customers’ vegetation management needs and keep our eye on innovation. Competitive pricing is essential, but the integrity, stability, and experience of the workforce – and how they are supported –are just as important.

As employee owners, we are committed to making customers’ vegetation management programs successful.

In 1961, Wright Service Corp. (WSC) was founded as a parent company to prepare WTS for further expansion. WSC is a unique family of companies specializing in environmental services, with a number of sustainability initiatives taking place across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

With our strong values, continued growth and an unbeatable service line in cooperation with our sister companies, we think John L. Wright would be proud of the company he started nearly 90 years ago as a one-man crew with a few tools in the back of his secondhand car.

OUR SERVICES

Vegetation Management

WTS applies vegetation management on every job site. We use the most appropriate manual, mechanical or chemical solution in order to meet our customer’s objectives, comply with regulations and encourage natural habitat and other ecological improvements. In other words, we use the right technique

in the right place at the right time. Our objective is to promote safe and reliable delivery of utility and railroad services while minimizing the impact on trees and the environment.

Line Clearance

Our primary service line continues to be manual and mechanical line clearance. We follow the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 standards for tree care practices in accordance with best management practices from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Utility Arborist Association (UAA). We provide manual and aerial lift (bucket truck) crews, and our employees are trained to use specialized equipment including all-terrain tree trimmers, brush-cutter tractors and various others for high-impact mechanical line clearance.

Mowing and Land Clearing

As part of a comprehensive approach to right-of-way vegetation management, we offer right-of-way mowing and land clearing. We have large, specialized mowers and other equipment to reclaim and maintain the right-of-way, along with machinery to remove large trees and mulch the debris.

Herbicide Applications and Substation Maintenance and Restoration

WTS uses herbicide applications to manage vegetation in an effective and environmentally responsible manner. We are continually investigating new and innovative application methods and always work in compliance with the environmental concerns and policies our customers adhere to.

We have qualified, state-licensed applicators and state-of-the-art equipment to provide unmatched reliability for our customers. We continuously meet and often exceed state and federal standards for herbicide application.

We know that substation maintenance and restoration are vital to a utility’s ability to provide reliable, low-cost power to customers. When that equipment fails, we

SERVICES

know quick restoration is crucial. Our substation maintenance and restoration services allow our customers to continue to serve their own.

Storm Restoration

We are always prepared to respond to natural disasters such as ice storms, tornados and hurricanes. Our safety-focused culture and breadth of technology and resources allow us to mobilize a qualified storm response team at any time. Our communication and logistics skills are proven, and customers can be assured that our crews are trained, certified and experienced to handle the hazardous situations created by natural disasters. We are here to assist you in restoring power to your customers.

Work Planning

In addition to manual and mechanical line clearance crews, WTS employs qualified work planners for a streamlined vegetation management process. Our work planners are a great intermediate solution if you lack in-house staff but don’t have quite enough work to demand a third-party inspector. Our work planners are trained and certified professionals with industry knowledge and outstanding customer service skills. We also have access to the latest geo-spatial data collection software, FieldNote®, through our sister company, Terra Spectrum Technologies (TST).

Railroad Track Clearing and Crossing Maintenance

Our dedicated railroad operations division provides manual and aerial lift (bucket truck) crews along with specialized equipment with hi-rail gear for track clearance. We also provide annual crossing maintenance to eliminate tall growing weeds/brush and promote low growing, desirable vegetation.

Erosion Control

Erosion issues can be an environmental problem and a threat to project compliance. Through our erosion control division, we are committed to assisting the construction and agriculture industries, plus utilities and municipalities, in delivering high-performance erosion control and stormwater compliance products and solutions, using Filtrexx® Sustainable Technologies.

As a certified Filtrexx manufacturer in Kansas, Iowa and Texas, we can manufacture and distribute the entire line of Filtrexx products to help producers achieve carbon footprint reduction, leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) certification and more.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Wright Tree Service board of directors is made up of a group of individuals that reside at the Wright Service Corp. (WSC) level. It is made up of three internal directors and five external directors as follows:

Scott Packard, Chairman and CEO of Wright Service Corp.

Austin Kennedy, President and COO of Wright Service Corp.

Jonathan Hicks, SVP and CFO of Wright Service Corp.

Terry McGonegle, Retired CFO of Wright Service Corp., outside director

Nancy Wright, outside director

John Bruntz, outside director

Dick Rue, outside director

George Milligan, outside director

Scott Packard

Scott Packard joined Wright Service Corp. in July 1998.

Three years later, John R. Wright appointed Scott to President and COO. In October 2002, Scott took on the position of Chairman and CEO of Wright Service Corp.

Scott began his career after graduating from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. Since then, he has held a number of executive positions prior to joining the executive leadership team at Wright Service Corp. He served on the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Board of Directors from 2003-2009 and as Chair in 2009. In September 2016, Scott became the first recipient of the Management Action Programs (MAP) Disciplined Leader Award. This award was conceived to recognize select leaders who have consistently exhibited the qualities of a disciplined leader. Scott is also a past chairman of Area 4 Iowa Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and presently serves as Vice-Chair. He was recently named to the board of directors of Trees Forever.

Counsel in April 2013. Prior to joining Wright Service Corp., Austin was an attorney in private practice for seven years in Des Moines, Iowa, practicing in many areas involving employment law, immigration law and litigation. In 2019, Austin was promoted to General Counsel, Chief Human Resources Officer and Senior Vice President. As of January 1, 2022, Austin has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of Wright Service Corp. Austin graduated from Macalester College in 2000, where he received the Livingston-Patnode Award for his special contributions to the English Department. He then earned his law degree from Drake Law School in 2005. In 2015, Austin earned his Credential of Readiness from Harvard Business School’s HBX CORe program, which establishes competencies in business analytics, economics and accounting.

Jonathan Hicks

Austin Kennedy

Austin Kennedy joined Wright Service Corp. as General

Jon Hicks joined Wright Service Corp. in 2008 as the Controller for Wright Outdoor Solutions. In 2010, he was promoted to Controller of Wright Tree Service (WTS) and in 2020 he was promoted again to Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Wright Service Corp. Jon graduated from Iowa State as a Certified Public Accountant with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Accounting degree in 2002. After graduating, Jon worked in various auditing and financial reporting roles within both public accounting and the private sector. Jon is a member of the Iowa Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. Jon is also a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society and is on the Wright Service Corp. Board of Directors. Jon is a large advocate of Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structured companies. He enjoys the culture created with it that allows employees the freedom to implement change and to leave their personal mark on the company. Jon enjoys problem-solving and having the opportunity to help guide the company at a strategic level.

Terry McGonegle

Terry McGonegle joined WTS as the Controller in June 1994. When the ESOP was formed in 2002, Terry was promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Wright Service Corp. where he helped transition the company from a familyowned to an employee-owned and served as CFO until December of 2019 upon retirement. Terry started his career in public accounting and worked in the agricultural and construction industries before joining WTS. He has served on the audit committee for the Tree Care Industry Association, finance committees for both the Utility Arborist Association and Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund. Terry is also a past president of The IowaNebraska Chapter of The ESOP Association.

Nancy Wright

Nancy Wright is a cum laude graduate of Drake University majoring in Business Communications. Following graduation, she had a long career in the Group Life and Health business, starting with Principal Financial as an underwriter and later selling group life and health insurance to Iowa school districts through Holmes Murphy & Associates. Other positions include Marketing Director for a major group medical carrier and Account Manager for a national insurance brokerage. She was also active in the Iowa Health Underwriters as a board member for six years and president for two years. This involved working with state and national legislators regarding healthcare legislation. Nancy is currently retired.

Dick Rue

Dick is retired and served for 23 years as Senior Vice President & CFO and board member at ITA Group, Inc., a West Des Moines incentive marketing company. Dick has been a CPA since 1978 and was employed during his first five years after college in public accounting. He

BOARD OF DIRECTORS continued

is a past member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Iowa Society of CPAs, Financial Executives International, where he was a past Iowa Chapter President and Board Member, and the ESOP Association. Dick’s experience includes serving on the UNI College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, the President’s Advisory Board of Grand View University, the Board of Directors of Precision Pulley & Idler, six years as State Chairman of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for Iowa and two years as Chairman of the National ESGR Executive Advisory Subcommittee. Additionally, Dick is a former volunteer with the Iowa Gold Star Museum, United Way of Central Iowa and the Iowa Small Business Development Center.

Currently retired, John Bruntz was the Chairman and CEO of The Boulder Company, an industrial product distributor with operations in four states and serving an eight-state market region. He held the position from 2014 to 2019. Prior, he was the CEO of The Wittern Group, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of automatic merchandising equipment and controlled access technology. He became the CEO in 1990 and began work for the company in 1985. He continues to serve on the company board of directors. John also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cementech, Inc., an ESOP company headquartered in Indianola, Iowa. Cementech is the market leader in the production of volumetric cement mixers. He is lead director of The Stelter Company, the country’s leading advisory firm for planned giving for colleges and universities, national non-profit organizations and major medical institutions. He is a licensed attorney who graduated from the University of Iowa, College of Law and has published articles in law journals in the areas of labor and employment law. He has been involved in numerous civic organizations including ChildServe, the YMCA of Greater Des Moines and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

George Milligan

George Milligan is a 1978 graduate of Iowa State University, earning a B.S. in Economics with a minor in Industrial Administration (Business). From 1978 to 1985 he worked for Continental Grain Co. in various trading and management positions in four different locations. From 1985 to the present, he has worked at The Graham Group, Inc., and as its President since 1988. The Graham Group, Inc. is a diversified real estate development company and general contractor. He has been involved in many central Iowa charities and boards. He currently serves on the board of two public companies, United Fire Group, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and West Bancorporation, Inc., of West Des Moines, Iowa. Both are Nasdaq traded companies.

MEET THE EXECUTIVES

The WTS executive team consists of the following team members:

Wade Myers

Wade joined WTS in 1987, where he started as a groundworker and advanced through the ranks to general foreperson, division manager, vice president, senior vice president of operations, and was announced as president of the company in 2021. Through exemplary performance and commitment, Wade has a record of strong leadership, deep industry knowledge, and institutional tenure. Active in the utility vegetation management industry, he is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) and is an ISA Certified Arborist. Wade’s primary focus is on the company’s mission of safety and operational excellence, where he brings a wealth of leadership experience and passion for the industry.

Nick Fox

Nick serves as vice president of operations for WTS where he oversees divisions on the eastern side of the U.S. working on the contractor side and the utility side of the business throughout his utility vegetation management career, as well as in various areas of the country. Nick has a wide range of experience that has allowed him to be successful at understanding the unique challenges that utilities face every day. Nick is an ISA Certified Utility Specialist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) and holds membership in the ISA, UAA and National Arbor Day Foundation.

Rick Bonifas

Rick joined WTS in 2005, working his way from project manager to division manager to regional manager to vice president of operations and in 2022, Rick was promoted to his current role of senior vice president of operations. With his current role he oversees WTS of Canada. He has also been an integral part of the WTS west coast operations throughout his tenure. Rick is an ISA Certified Arborist and a member of UAA.

Jerry Black

Jerry has been working in the utility vegetation management industry since 1998 when he began his career with WTS. He started as a trimmer before being promoted to general foreperson, project manager, division manager, regional manager, and now his current position as vice president of operations. In this role, Jerry oversees operations in the Midwest and southern regions of the U.S. Jerry shares the company values and mission with his passion for safety, training, and the education of employees. Over his career, he has been exposed to a diverse customer base, allowing him to develop a wealth of knowledge that he brings to his customers to meet their needs.

MISSION AND VISION CORE VALUES

As a company in 2022, WTS decided to align its core values with Wright Service Corp. (WSC) to ensure we all work toward a common purpose.

Mission

‒ To provide reliable service to our customers by ensuring that transmission & distribution lines, and railroads are clear of vegetation.

‒ To provide attractive value appreciation to our employee owners.

‒ To provide team members with an environment that enables them to achieve their personal and professional goals.

‒ To make a positive difference in the communities we serve.

Vision

WTS will continue to be recognized by utilities as providers of the highest levels of quality, service, responsiveness, reliability and value.

SAFETY

It is everyone’s responsibility –we each own it.

FAMILY

Our foundation is based on teamwork and inclusion.

STEWARDSHIP

We are dedicated to environmental sustainability.

EXCELLENCE

We exceed client expectations through resourcefulness and innovation.

INTEGRITY

We abide by the highest ethical standards.

ABOUT THIS REPORT

Our CSR Mission Statement

Wright Tree Service (WTS) is an industry leader in vegetation management, demonstrating that safety is top of mind for our employees and our communities by supporting the sustainability of the areas we serve.

KPI Overview

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for WTS will be used to track the progress in key target areas and will be used by each company in coming years to gauge progress. These will help shape goals to drive continuous improvement.

As an employee-owned company, WTS and its family of companies knows that our greatest strengths come from our employees. With a people-focused culture, we are committed to being an equal opportunity employer, creating an inclusive work environment where our employees are heard, respected and valued, and empowering our employees to achieve their personal and professional goals. The result will be sustainable success and satisfaction for our employees and customers.

OVERVIEW OF COMPANY INITIATIVES PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Safety

Safety is our number one value. Our employees are trained on a consistent basis to ensure best safe practices are in place and mitigate any potential risks or hazards. Internal protocols are routinely reviewed and updated by our risk and safety departments to ensure the latest trainings and protocols are followed to ensure our employees can get home safely each and every night.

Employee Well-being

Our employees create a rich work environment. Our family culture is what makes us unique and attractive to the next generation of the workforce. This includes a safe, enjoyable, diverse environment that offers opportunity for professional growth within. As competition for talent grows, WTS is committed to offering an attractive workplace to retain and foster talent through our family of companies at all levels. We are proud to be employee owned since 2002, and 100% employee-owned since 2006. Continued training, education and development, and our employees’ well-being are top of mind.

Environmental Sustainability

As part of the family of companies who are in the environmental services industry under Wright Service Corp. (WSC), we strive to protect and preserve all ecosystems. We continue to reduce our footprints and promote carbon positive practices at our offices and in the communities we serve.

Community Engagement

WTS supports activities that benefit our employees and add value to the communities where we live and work. Through monetary and in-kind donations such as labor or education, we’re able to support various causes and organizations that align with our values. We take pride in building and developing relationships with our employees, customers and communities.

2022 Highlights

- In conjunction with PG&E, WTS hosted a five-week Arborist Pre-Apprentice Training Program at the Shasta College in the fall with hopes of hiring new team members who passed the course.

- In October of 2022, WTS celebrated its first full year in Puerto Rico. The new division was established in 2021 through partnership with LUMA Energy.

- We expanded our railroad services to Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota while still working on current projects in Kansas. Our WATCO SKOL in Southeast Kansas cleared around 60 railroad grade crossings with specialized on-rail equipment.

- In 2022, WTS started developing an internal CDL license program. As a registered training provider with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, WTS is able to provide Entry Level Driver’s Training in-house for employees pursuing a commercial driver’s license.

- WTS expanded our territory and service lines in Northeastern states in 2022, gaining more work in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire along with storm restoration in New York.

SAFETY

Safety is our number one value. Our employees are trained on a consistent basis to ensure best safe practices are in place and mitigate any potential risks or hazards. Internal protocols are routinely reviewed and updated by our risk and safety departments to ensure the latest trainings and protocols are followed to ensure our employees can get home safely each and every night. Our employees follow the Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper motto, striving to achieve zero OSHA recordable incidents.

Safety Employee Well-being Environmental Sustainability Community Engagement

1.82

ANNUAL INCIDENT RATE

WORKER SAFETY & ANNUAL RATES

All Wright Tree Service (WTS) divisions track and report accidents. Accidents are tracked with goals established for reduction. These accidents are used in training materials to identify preventative actions to continue to enforce a strong emphasis on safety. A Days Away, Restricted, or Transferred (DART) rate represents OSHA injuries or illness that results in days away from work, restricted duty, or transfer of duties. This is because only the more severe OSHA recordable injuries and illnesses are included in the DART rate.

Incidents are often broken down into the following categories:

- Property Damage

- Auto Liability

- General Liability

- First Aid

- Lost Time

- Restricted Duty

- Medical

- Outage

2022 Rates

1.82

Annual Incident Rate

0.14

Claims per Employee

.89

Days Away, Restricted or Transferred

TRAINING PROGRAM

Over the years, WTS has established many procedures and programs to help our employees work safe. As we often say, “Safety is everyone’s responsibility – we each own it.” We have dedicated staff to help support our safety program which includes safety supervisors for each division, safety managers and a risk management department that includes various administrators as well as the director of risk management.

The backbone of our training program resides in our Safety Manual. Our Safety Manual contains all the necessary components for the field personnel to use in the performance of their daily tasks. Although the manual is very comprehensive, if there is any question regarding the training process, our specialized support staff is available to assist. It is our belief that it is not just the employee that is responsible for their safety, but that all employees of WTS are involved in the safety of our employees.

Each field crew member is required to obtain or provide evidence that they have completed a certified program in First Aid and CPR within 90 days of hire. All field personnel are trained in the proper completion of our Pre-Job Hazard Survey. This comprehensive document is to be completed at the beginning of each new job or when substantial changes in the job occur. The survey identifies hazards specific to the job site and what type of equipment should be used to ensure the safe completion of the task at hand.

WTS is committed to the “Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper” philosophy and provides training and recognition for completion of the program. It is important that our employees are watching out for each other and if a hazard is observed, it is brought to the attention of other coworkers.

General Foreperson (GF) School

GF School is a four-and-a-half-day program where WTS employees participate in a variety of trainings and hands-on exercises to build a solid

foundation to be more effective at their position. The goal of GF School is to educate and train our GFs to build a strong and productive workforce.

In 2022, seven classes were held and 126 employees attended. This included 117 GFs from WTS representing 17 divisions. This year, 451 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Credits (CEU) and 342 Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) CTSP CEU’s were earned.

Project Manager (PM) School

Held annually, PM School is a four-day program, where project managers and supervisors from WTS participate in leadership training including communication and ‘good’ habit forming skills. PM School also has time focused on Incident Investigation along with presentations, evaluations and

discussions. PMs work together throughout the week on various ideas and projects with the goal being a collective effort to pursue one project that will benefit WTS and be in alignment with divisional and company goals.

In June of 2022, 12 WTS employees gathered at the corporate office in West Des Moines, Iowa to further their learning and leadership.

Safety Awards: Lowest Incident Rate and Most Improved Incident Rate

WTS central region and north region were awarded the most prestigious safety awards from efforts in 2022. Central region, covering the Iowa and Nebraska areas, received the most improved incident rate award. North region, covering Illinois and part of Missouri, received the lowest incident rate award. These awards are given out by the WTS safety and risk departments and show each area’s dedication and commitment to safety.

TRAINING PROGRAM continued

Tailgate Safety Quizzes

Tailgate safety quizzes are weekly quizzes that cover a wide variety of topics. Some topics are informative, and others are designed to challenge the crew members to identify specific approved work methods which support safe working processes. All our crews are required to perform monthly aerial rescue training. Tailgates are supplemented with “Safety Stand-Downs” as the need arises to address issues of importance in a timely manner. We constantly have our safety supervisors in the field performing audits and training our field and management personnel if any errors or inconsistencies are identified upon their inspections.

Providing relevant training content is key to our program, and to ensure our employees are engaged we offer the following training programs:

- Electrical Hazard Awareness Training

- Stretch & Flex Program

- Hazard Communication & Pesticide Application

- Job Briefing Procedure

- Heat Illness Prevention

- Fire Prevention Fall Protection

72,866 HOURS OF TRAINING COMPLETED

online learning platform used to document, track, report and deliver customized training that will help our employees learn skills and provide training essential to their roles. LinkedIn Learning is one of our primary training content providers that is integrated with WSCU. LinkedIn Learning provides online courses from industry experts with topics that range from business, creative and technology. Training opportunities include:

- Remote Work Foundations

- Time Management: Working from Home

- Office 365 Teams

- Word Quick Tips

- Productivity Tips: Finding your productive mindset

- Managing Stress for Positive Change

- Managing Your Time

Skills Assessments completed in WSCU on Approved Work Methods (AWM):

7,790

Skills Assessment Tests Completed by WTS Employees

6,524

Skills Assessment Checklists Completed by WTS Employees

Wright

Service Corp. University

Wright Service Corp. University (WSCU) is an

Industry Certifications

In 2022, WTS had 187 International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certifications. In support of our employees ISA certification journeys, WTS offers various CEU through weekly tailgate safety trainings.

WTS employees are also Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Accredited. The TCIA Accreditation is a third-party consumer confidence verification program administered by the TCIA. This accreditation helps consumers identify qualified tree care companies who conduct business in a safe, legal and ethical manner.

Wildfire Trainings

ANNUAL MANAGEMENT LEVEL WILDFIRE TRAININGS

A series of online trainings are given annually to management, general foreperson and up, in each division by a third-party contractor, Anchor Point. The content of the training is developed by the WSC Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Frank Archuleta and Anchor Point CEO, Rod Moraga.

The training covers the following topics:

- When do wildfires start

- How do wildfires start / wildfire prevention

- Wildfire behavior

- Wildfire set up (fire briefing and fire tools)

- Wildfire suppression

MONTHLY WILDFIRE POTENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS

The monthly forecast covers predicted conditions in the U.S. and Canada. The forecast for the U.S. comes from the National Interagency Fire Center, Predictive Services. They issue a monthly report that shows Significant Wildland Fire Potential for the next four months. The forecast for Canada comes from the Natural Resources Canada website, on their page that forecasts monthly

TRAINING PROGRAM continued

and seasonal weather. These monthly risk reports are shared with WTS staff in North America, as well as some clients upon request.

trainings and extinguishers purchased in 2022.

Divisions Trained: 14

Management Level Online Trainings: 12

Number of Field Trainings: 52

Employees Trained: 339

Fire Extinguishers Purchased: 120

Geotab & Lytx

The WTS team employs Geotab, a fleet tracking/ GPS platform that delivers tailored fleet management solutions to meet our customer’s requirements for safety, productivity and efficiency. Geotab evaluates driver safety regarding seatbelts, speeding, idle time, harsh braking, and cornering, as well as backing up. Most trucks are also equipped with cameras for coaching. Division managers receive safety notifications and follow up with coaching as needed through driver scorecard ratings.

Lytx is a dash camera solution WTS uses that grants managers an extra set of eyes within the cab of a vehicle. A set of two lens capture internal and external (forward facing) footage. Video footage can be reviewed and coached to improve driver safety and identify opportunities within the fleet to correct and improve unsafe behavior, as well as recognize drivers when exemplary behavior is exhibited.

CYBER SECURITY

Our information technology (IT) Department is dedicated to cyber security and business continuity. In 2019, an Information Security team was created to improve our security posture and execute yearly strategic security roadmaps, updated annually; by doing so, this maintains and strengthens our company’s ability to protect company and client data. The team conducts an annual comprehensive security assessment in tandem with monthly vulnerability scans and remediates identified issues. Our SIEM platform, AlienVault, monitored 24/7/365 by ProCircular, is utilized to help improve our detection and prevention of attacks on our company’s equipment year-round.

A security awareness program was launched in May of 2020. Employees undergo training to spot ‘phishing’ scams and other malicious emails or attacks. These fraudulent requests are sophisticated and can use known company contacts to lure others into sending funds to illegitimate recipients or compromise confidential data and information. On a monthly basis, employees are tested internally and if the employee fails, they are required to go through additional training and, in some cases, meet with human resources (HR) and IT for performance improvement. As scams are ever-changing, training and tips are provided to arm our employees with the knowledge to be a digital Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper and ensure we protect our family of companies and their employees.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Conducted a Tabletop Exercise to Prepare for Any Security Emergency

- Rolled Out BitWarden Password Manager

- Weekly Trivia During Cyber Security Awareness Month in October

- Deployed the KnowBe4 Learner App to All Company Mobile Devices

- Made Improvements to Our Security Posture with Our vCISO Project and Extended Through 2025

During the 2022 Annual Foundational and New Hire Cybersecurity Awareness Training, a total of 332 hours was spent on training, averaging 21 minutes per person, and a completion rate of 82%.

Cyber Security Training

870.5

Total Hours Executed on All Monthly Trainings

71%

Completion Across all Trainings

332 73.8%

Hours for Annual Required Training

Increase in Hours of Annual Trainings Completed

Here is a breakdown of the equipment fire

SAFETY GOALS

Incident Rate: Reduce incidents and near misses to reduce annual incident rate.

Security: In 2022, ensure company participation and improvement in security awareness training.

Safety: Utilize Geotab to establish and track safe driver metrics with an award program.

Incident Rate: Continue to reduce incidents and near misses across new and existing divisions to reduce annual incident rate.

Security: Ensure company participation and improvement by 5% or 200 hours of additional security awareness training.

Safety: Provide company-wide wildfire and equipment fire education and training.

Safety: Improve tracking of certified arborists and climbers.

EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING

Our employees create a rich work environment. Our family culture is what makes Wright Tree Service (WTS) unique and attractive to the next generation of the workforce. This includes a safe, enjoyable, diverse environment that offers opportunities for professional growth within the company. As competition for talent grows, WTS is committed to offering an attractive workplace to retain and foster talent.

We take pride in having a family-oriented culture, with a comprehensive package of benefits, retirement account, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), and competitive salaries; all factors that contribute directly to productivity, engagement and retention. It takes careful attention to cultivate an engaged workforce, and our dedicated human resources (HR) department puts special consideration on creating a healthy work environment with advancement opportunities, multiple trainings, bonuses and a referral program. Our company’s management group is continuously focusing on our employees’ needs and expectations to maximize the chances of retaining valuable employees. We believe that maintaining a positive employee experience is a highly effective retention strategy.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

WTS takes pride in its employees and their diverse backgrounds. 2022 was a year of improvement in WTS employee management through upgrades to workplace processes and improved digital infrastructure. As a member of the WSC family of companies, WTS is supported by a shared services team at the corporate campus that includes accounting, finance, fleet, human resources, legal, marketing and payroll. Together with our team, we work in partnership to provide exceptional service to our clients.

WTS had a total of 5,761 employees in fiscal year 2022, spanning 44 states and Puerto Rico.

GENDER GENDER - WTS/WTSW

ETHICAL STANDARDS

The WTS employee handbook outlines several employment policies, procedures and practices. This contains equal opportunity employment policies, a code of conduct policy, business ethics statement, a harassment policy and a protection against retaliation policy. Management and human resources staff have an open-door policy to report incidents and provide suggestions to improve the workplace.

In 2022, the WTS Safety Manual updated the following position titles:

- Groundman is now Groundworker.

- Foreman is now Crew Leader.

- General Foreman is now General Foreperson.

WTS made these position title updates to be more inclusive with our language, in alignment with our company Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.

NEW HIRE GENDER - WTS/WTSW

TRAINING & EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Learning Management System

Wright Service Corp. University (WSCU) is a learning platform that documents and tracks your online training. WSCU creates the ability to reach every employee in the company (who has a company email) for training and continued learning. Topics include management, leadership, customer service, productivity, tips and tools, and more. The training and development department has increased course offerings significantly in the learning management system (LMS) since 2019. More than 8,000 LinkedIn Learning courses are also available to employees.

In addition, new employees will be assigned training on WSCU to review topics such as:

- Harassment and discrimination

- ESOP

- Customer service

- Timesheet tracking

Lunch and Learns

1,750

Hours in LinkedIn Learning

35,510

Videos Completed in LinkedIn Learning (Most viewed Content Areas: Microsoft Teams, Customer Service and Meeting and Email Etiquette)

- Retirement savings, and enrolling in a 401(k) or Roth

- Accessing the company clothing and apparel store

7,790

Skills Assessment Completed – Increasing by 146% over 2021.

6,524

Field Tests Completed – Increasing by 50% over 2021.

the True Colors training, completing a total of 271 hours. The sessions vary from 90 minutes to three hours.

Executive Leadership Development Program

WSC provides the Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) to higher-level managers or recently appointed executives within our family of companies via nomination by an executive. Participants are ambassadors for our family of companies, demonstrate leadership in their daily interactions, and are deeply committed to personal growth and development. During this three-year program, participants complete a detailed 360 assessment, then receive results and interpretation from a leadership coach with support from their appointed executive sponsor. They use the opportunities from their 360 to create an individual development plan that includes coursework from a variety of providers, mentoring, coaching and job shadowing.

Lunch and learns were reintroduced in May, hosted by the Training and Development Department once a month. They focus on content in the areas of business knowledge within our family of companies (finance, strategic planning) and interpersonal skills that improve operational performance.

Individual Development

The training and development department offers WTS individual development options based on needs and desires. Additional leadership and professional development training programs and mentorship opportunities are available for employees.

True Colors

The True Colors Personal Awareness & Success training guides participants through concepts of self-awareness and effective communication. This fun, interactive workshop helps individuals better understand themselves and others. It creates a common language, providing a foundation for genuine relationship building and honest dialogue.

In 2022, 117 employees across WSC’s family of companies participated in

In 2022, there were eight ELDP graduates with two from WTS. These individuals represented five companies within our family of companies. Participants culminated the program by providing a detailed capstone presentation to the Wright Board of Directors and Executive Team, demonstrating the impact of their applied development on the organization in the areas of process improvements, efficiency gains, advanced effectiveness, human resource enhancements, and revenue saved or earned.

LEAD Program

The Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program is the preeminent leadership development program offered by WSC. The program currently takes place over the course of 18 months and consists of:

- Facilitated, in-person sessions at WSC headquarters in West Des Moines, IA

- Job shadow opportunity

- Participation in mentor program

- Capstone project and presentation

Participants are nominated by leaders within the WSC family of companies. Nominators advocate for their nominee by illustrating that person’s leadership capabilities through real life examples. Nominations are carefully reviewed and selected by committee. Whether selected or not, getting nominated indicates that your leader believes in your leadership abilities.

In the last cohort, 16 WTS employees (including WTSW) were selected.

Women of Wright

WSC held the first Women of Wright Workshop in 2022. The goal was to connect, educate, and empower women in our family of companies by providing a community that can inspire and strengthen the voice of women in the industry.

Seven WTS employees participated in the 2022 workshop. Of those ladies, six divisions were represented across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Translation Program Committee

As we strive for continual improvement, we realized a need for consistent, high-quality professional translations for our workforce, customers and clients. Through a process of evaluating multiple vendors, our Translation Program Committee of eight employees, found a translation service company who met all of our needs, now and into the future.

They provide Spanish and French-Canadian translations, and many more. Employees are able to request translations through our shared services department liaison for items such as and not limited to:

- Internal communications –brochures, postcards, newsletters

- Recruitment advertisements

- Procedures/training materials –operations, compliance, software

- HR materials – policies, forms/ applications, benefits

- Public-facing or external use documents

- E-learning content

- Video and closed captioning/ subtitles

- Websites

The liaisons handle the process of submitting requests to our vendor and provide estimates before submission. A full policy and a company glossary were provided to the translation service company to ensure branding and consistent translations – both can be found on our company intranet.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Benefits

WTS provides both full-time and part-time positions with a benefits package that far exceeds the industry standard. Employees receive comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, wellness incentive programs, life insurance, disability, vacation and sick time, bereavement, identity theft protection,

traditional pre-tax and Roth 401(k) retirement plan options, and employees are part of profit sharing through an ESOP.

Health Insurance

WTS offers medical with prescription coverage, dental, and vision insurance to all eligible non-union employees. Plans are offered either as individual or family. Family plans are not limited to number of dependents. The company pays a portion of these insurance fees to provide competitive premium rates for employee’s insurance packages. 1,949 employees in the U.S. and Puerto Rico were enrolled in health insurance with the company, with 56% enrolled individually and 44% with a family plan.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a professional and confidential, short-term counseling service available to the employee and their immediate family. This is a company paid benefit and offered to the employee at no cost. Immediate telephone access to a counselor is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Resources include up to three sessions for inperson appointments per separate issue per year, legal services, financial consultation, and eldercare resources.

Those in need can visit a doctor on their smartphone, tablet or computer from virtually anywhere and offered at no cost. Doctor on Demand offers no cost, virtual doctor visits with board-certified doctors who can treat most common medical conditions and prescribe medication.

Total Rewards Survey

The Benefits Team conducted a total rewards survey in May 2022. All fulltime, non-union employees across all U.S. companies were encouraged to participate. Email communications were sent to 2,400 unique email addresses. 600 people participated in the survey and submitted responses.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS continued

HIGHLIGHTS

The benefit change or new idea with the most appeal was “additional paid time off benefits” (i.e., vacation, holidays, floating holidays)

The top 5 most important total rewards were:

- Paid Time Off

- Health Insurance

- 401(k) Retirement

LONGEVITY

We have many employees who have been with the company for 10+ years, including those who have since retired.

ESOP & DSU

WTS has been a proud employee-owned company since 2002 and 100% employee-owned since 2006. Through shared ownership, WSC’s ESOP helps promote a positive, unique organizational culture and supports company success. The ESOP is also designed to assist our employees with their retirement and provide them with a financial stake in the company. For our customers and partners, we are empowered to provide exceptional service and innovative solutions.

The ESOP enables employees to directly affect profitability and value and see the results. The ESOP has also allowed the company to protect jobs and support the communities we work in.

Only non-union employees who are at least 18 years of age, worked for the company for one year totaling at least 1,000 hours are eligible to enter the plan. Employees are automatically enrolled in the ESOP after meeting the qualifications on April 1 or October 1, following their 1-year anniversary date with the company.

ESOP Stats

DSU Stats

A Deferred Shared Unit (DSU) plan was established for Wright Canada Holdings Ltd. (WCH) and its subsidiaries to provide similar benefits to our Canadian employees.

Employee Ownership Committee

With new employees constantly joining the company, many new to an ESOP company, and others entering the plan, the Employee Ownership Committee provides ESOP educational training. They encourage divisions to host annual training conducted by committee members. WSC and committee members continue to support the ESOP community through donations to the Employee Ownership Foundation and with the development of a Central Iowa networking group. Committee members continue to participate in the Iowa/ Nebraska Chapter of The ESOP Association events and conferences, and national conferences. WSC remains on the list as one of the largest employee-owned companies in the U.S., according to the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) coming in at 26.

October was Employee Ownership Month, and the Employee Ownership Committee celebrated all month long. New in 2022, digital and printed bingo cards were distributed to engage and educate employees on all things employee ownership. The committee hosted a Golden Ticket Broadcast where more than 200 employee owners joined to learn more about the ESOP and Deferred Share Unit (DSU) plan. A DSU plan was established for Wright Canada Holdings, Ltd. (WCH) and its subsidiaries to provide similar benefits to our Canadian employees.

Retirement

Six WTS Employees with over 20 years of service retired in 2022.

WTS offers a comprehensive 401(k) retirement savings plan with the same eligibility requirements and entry dates as the ESOP.

WTS has a Safe Harbor Match Program to the 401(k) offering, matching 100% of the first 3%, plus an additional 50% of the next 2% employees

would contribute to their retirement savings. The matching funds are placed in the ESOP account. Meaning, employees should contribute at least 5% annually to receive the full company match. These company-matched contributions are 100% vested.

The Automatic Enrollment Program is an automatic 3% pre-tax 401(k) enrollment process for all eligible employees which increases contributions from salary pay by 1% each year until 10% is reached with an opt-out available. This was enacted to ensure employees were taking steps for their financial security in the future.

EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING GOALS

Diversity & Inclusion: Increased reporting capabilities on workforce demographics in 2022 with Workday.

Education & Development: Increase opportunities for professional growth in leadership.

Employee Well-being: Conduct a survey for total reward offerings and preferences to employees.

Education & Development: Gather data that will inform a sustainable leadership development strategy that supports the growth of our family of companies.

Education & Development: Increase engagement in online learning by continuing to offer courses chosen through survey feedback, employee recommendations and leader input. Continue to package courses into manageable sizes through programming like “Learn in Less” and “Five-Minute Fridays”.

Education and Development: Roll-out Project One Source Program via the Workday Platform for efficient integration of company data storage and processing, employee records management and improvement of employee procedures which will include the reduction of paper.

Diversity & Inclusion: Analyze employee gender and race/ethnicity information to establish benchmarks and goals for annual diversity growth.

Employee Well-being: Continue to provide our employees with more benef its education through regular newsletters, plan enrollment resources and new hire summaries.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The effectiveness of our services is directly linked to our employees and their commitment to the job. No matter the size or location, our crews are well trained, supervised and supported. We use the appropriate manual, mechanical or chemical solutions in order to meet our objectives, comply with regulations and encourage natural habitat and other ecological improvements. Our goal is to promote safe and reliable delivery of utility services while minimizing the impact on trees and the environment.

IMPACT AREA NATURAL RESOURCES

A utility employee or third-party contract or a third-party contractor will complete an environmental/ wildlife evaluation prior to work conducted by Wright Tree Service (WTS). Local, state and federal entities ensure that environmental compliance is upheld in work performed. WTS supports tree replacement programs organized by utility clients. We assist in these efforts through in-kind contributions of labor hours to deliver trees, place door-hanger vouchers for tree replacements, and provide early establishment care to new trees.

Restoration

In addition to vegetation management, work planning and storm restoration, WTS added excavation services in 2020 that expanded offerings in right-ofway management, laydown yards, erosion control and seeding, and general exaction in both utility and commercial spaces.

- Right-of-Way restoration

- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) implementation:

> Erosion Control

> Temporary and permanent seeding through drilling or hydroseeding application

> Soil decompaction

> SWPPP inspection/maintenance until project reaches 90% coverage

- Utility Construction:

> Commercial and residential storm water drainage

- Agricultural Conservation:

> Provides services to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

> Installation and repair of crop field terraces and waterways

> Construction and maintenance of watershed ponds

> Environmental hazard cleanup and remediation

Resource Use

The WTS team is efficient in their resource use. Almost all employees do not report to a physical office building. We do have nine office buildings in seven states and the WSC corporate office available as needed in West Des Moines, Iowa. Employees have a fleet of company vehicles and ATVs to complete their work across the country and in Canada.

Fleet & Equipment

Wright Service Corp. (WSC) has had the opportunity to be front and center to several exciting things with Geotab. With the support and guidance of our Geotab reseller, Gridline, WSC was the first company in the world to see and experience, pilot and deploy a Geotab/Lytx integration that allows the Lytx user interface to be visible interactive within Geotab.

WSC was recommended and was selected as a participant in the Geotab Global Advisory Group. This group meets quarterly to “take a peek under the hood” of Geotab roadmap ideas and strategies, with an opportunity to weigh in on/collaborate their product and service decisions, business needs and pose questions to Geotab leadership and other Geotab clients around the world.

The Business Systems Administrator (BSA) team has been driving this relationship. As a team they collaborate with users to conceptualize capabilities, gather report requests, and complete troubleshooting. They quarterback conversations with subject matter experts related to system enhancements, product and service recommendations, along with ensuring daily tasks and usual business within those systems can be completed unimpeded.

NATURAL RESOURCES continued

We are often the primary or direct link to WSC for our vendor partners and provide feedback and guidance on how our companies utilize their products and services and collaborate to provide considerations for them on any potential development needs that may exist or present themselves.”

WTS deploys crews with bucket trucks, chip trucks and chippers as well as specialized equipment including all-terrain tree trimmers, brush-cutter tractors and more for high-impact mechanical line clearance.

Fuel Usage

Geotab together with WEX (a fuel card that helps companies save costs with automatic fuel expense tracking, employee spending controls, purchase alerts, and exclusive discounts) allows for the tracking of fuel efficiency. Some fuel is provided via bulk fueling or client fueled which is not included in annual reporting at this time. Bulk fuel, when available, is an efficient way to prepare the fleet without spending excess labor time and resources to travel to the nearest fueling station.

Of the 5,980 vehicles equipped with Geotab technology utilized by WTS, the fleet traveled 543,757,284 miles in 2022. Unproductive idle time is currently being tracked along with miles per gallon efficiency.

Electric Transition

WTS and WSC companies are exploring and making the transition to battery operated chainsaws where appropriate in the fleet. This transition would decrease the amount of fuel, oil and labor for the chainsaw fleet upkeep.

Waste

WTS generates vegetative waste through maintenance and new infrastructure development efforts in support of our clients. Whenever appropriate, this organic waste product is often left onsite in order to naturally break down and provide benefits such as nutrients and habitat to the local ecosystem. The waste may be chipped and added to the local landscape. In urban settings, wood may be left onsite at the request of the homeowner or removed and stored at a WTS property. We may further process wood waste into mulch and provide free of charge to local communities. A significant effort is made to provide a second life to vegetative waste products to eliminate it being disposed of in a landfill setting.

As WTS provides services across North America, each job site and geography provides a variety of alternative uses of wood waste generated. An evaluation effort is underway to estimate the amount of vegetation coproduct generated by division and the end-use category respectively.

WTS looks for opportunities to donate woodchips and firewood where possible to maximize diversion from landfills.

STORY OF SOXX ™

The environmental impacts of sedimentation and stormwater runoff can lead to polluted runoff into local streams, lakes and wetlands compromising water quality and causing flooding, erosion and habitat destruction. At WTS, we know how important it is for perimeter control to stop sediment from leaving job sites as well as to be in compliance with local, state and federal regulations.

When a tree is trimmed, the trimmings can go one of three routes:

- Mulch

- Compost

- Landfill

At WTS, we take the mulched wood chips and fill them into sediment control Filtrexx® SiltSoxx™. Filtrexx SiltSoxx is a three-dimensional tubular device made of FilterMedia™ encased in Filtrexx Mesh™. It is specifically designed to support stormwater management, sediment control and pollutant removal for sustainable best management practices. It is most often used in areas where diverting, cleaning and filtering stormwater runoff is critical. SiltSoxx is designed to prevent erosion, and each one installed at a job site gives trees a second life, keeps our water clean and protects the environment.

12,052

which is the same as

cubic yards of wood chips diverted from a landfill

which is the same as

2,636 559 278

tons of CO2e avoided

cars off the road for a year homes’ average yearly energy use

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Resource Use: We will begin a GHG inventory (following the GHG Protocol and Corporate Standard), with 2022 serving as the base year.

Energy: Continue exploring the opportunity to utilize battery operated small tools into the fleet.

Waste: Establish a tracking program for wood waste streams.

Fuel Use: Evaluate Geotab and Gridline reporting to improve efficiency through reduction of unproductive idle time.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Wright Tree Service (WTS) supports activities that benefit our employees and add value to the communities where we live and work. Through monetary and in-kind donations such as labor or education, we’re able to support various causes and organizations that align with our values. We take pride in building and developing relationships with our employees, clients and communities.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Arbor Day

WTS annually supports Arbor Day with volunteer hours across the country planting trees and educating for the caring and importance of sustainably protecting our planet’s natural resources.

In April, the industry observed the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day. Several WTS employees marked the occasion in their local communities.

General Forepersons Raymond Wolken and Jeffrey Ziebell, Project Manager Mitch Frye, Crew Leader Cody Laird, Trimmers Justin Stumpter and John Speight, and Groundworkers Tyler Athon and Frank Chapman took time to plant 12 Eastern Red Cedar trees together in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Arbor Day has always been a special day for our industry and our companies,” said Frye. “Planting trees on Arbor Day is a way to give back to the community and our planet.”

Also, to commemorate Arbor Day, Division Manager Afton Stanko, General Foreperson Randall Dejager, Safety Supervisors Chad Berlin and Kristian Michael Schutz, and Crew Leader Michael Shilling took the time to set up a climbing demonstration in Wildcat Park Joplin, Missouri to allow the public an opportunity to ascend a tree using professional climbing gear. The WTS team demonstration provided all attendees a fun, educational and

interactive experience!

“There were tons of smiles and laughter going around all day,” said Stanko. “We had several grateful and appreciative comments, with many sharing how exciting and educational the event was. It was definitely a blessed day.”

TREE Fund

WTS has been a committed partner to The Tree Research Education & Endowment (TREE) Fund for years. It is a cause that our late president and COO Will Nutter was passionate about. With more than four decades in the utility vegetation management industry, Will was a driving force and influential leader, displayed by his service as the chair of the TREE Fund Board of Trustees. In 2022, we donated $5,000 in support their mission.

$5,000

Tour des Trees

DONATED TO THE TREE FUND IN 2022

WTS has been a devoted partner to supporting Tour des Trees over the years. Tour des Trees is an annual long-distance cycling adventure which serves as the primary public outreach and community engagement event for TREE Fund. In 2022, WTS Vice President of Operations Jerry Black biked across Iowa in the annual bike ride. Jerry rode one, 80-mile day to support the TREE Fund and its efforts in public outreach and community engagement. During his ride, he raised $1,000.

Special to this year’s ride, the TREE Fund, in tandem with Wright Service Corp. (WSC), planted and dedicated a red oak tree in downtown Des Moines to honor Will Nutter, the late President of WTS.

$1,000

Saluting Branches

In September, more than 40 WTS employees from six divisions around the country took part in the annual Saluting Branches event. Saluting Branches is a nonprofit organization that provides the vital care to the landscapes dedicated to our U.S. Veterans. On this annual event, thousands of arborists volunteer their time, talents and equipment to maintain the trees at dozens of Veterans’ cemeteries across the country. The event helps fill the void of the significant need for tree care and landscape care at our Veteran cemeteries. Through this work, Saluting Branches has brought together the green industry and made an impact with community volunteering. The idea was developed by a group of arborists under the commitment of beautifying and improving our National Veterans Cemeteries to show appreciation for the sacrifices made by our troops. Few resources are available to care for the trees located at the 130 National Veteran Cemeteries and hundreds of state-operated Veteran cemeteries. These trees need to be inspected for safety, health and be properly pruned or removed if diseased. Without proper care, the cemeteries may be unsafe and will lack the beauty and peaceful environment that the Veterans, families and visitors deserve.

CONTRIBUTIONS continued

In addition to volunteering, WTS provided a $2,500 sponsorship to Saluting Branches to give back to our fallen heroes and help to show them the respect that they deserve.

Wreaths Across America

WTS is passionate about our service men and women, and we wanted to do what we could to remember our fallen U.S. Veterans and honor those who serve. On December 17, 2022, more than 40 employees from our crews in Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and Ohio volunteered their time to participate in Wreaths Across America Day. This is an annual event where wreaths are placed at each soldier’s grave at more than 2,500 cemetery locations nationwide in honor of their sacrifice.

In addition to volunteering, WTS provided a $2,500 sponsorship to Wreaths Across America as a special thank you to our Veterans. The sponsorship helped fund the purchase of wreaths across the U.S. for this special day.

American Heart Association Heart Walk

$25,000 for Hurricane Ian to help provide safe shelter, meals and comfort for those affected by the storm. WTS also had boots on the ground to aid both storms, sending crews from across the country to help restore power.

$50,000 DONATED FOR HURRICANE FIONA & HURRICANE IAN RELIEF

Residential Replacement Initiative

In some areas, WTS works alongside our utility clients to provide tree replacement vouchers to residential communities where ongoing maintenance and/or new infrastructure work is conducted.

CLIENT APPRECIATION DONATION

WTS often provides a donation to support tree planting efforts on our client’s behalf.

Donations to the St. Louis Zoo

WTS and Ameren Missouri have teamed up to donate branches and brush to the St. Louis Zoo since 2020. In 2022, WTS crews made 37 deliveries between mid-May and September. In total, 26,887 pounds of Elm, Mulberry, Hackberry, Ash and Willow trees were donated and enjoyed by the zoo’s giraffes, elephants, and rhinos.

For the past few years WTS has participated in and sponsored the American Heart Association (AHA) Heart Walk with Oncor in Dallas, Texas. In 2022, WTS donated $25,000 to the AHA to help advance its not-for-profit mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.

Donations to American Red Cross – Disaster Relief Fund

In 2022, two hurricanes made landfall in Puerto Rico and Florida. To help provide aid, WTS donated $25,000 for Hurricane Fiona and another

Economic Impact

WTS tracks and reports on diverse supplier spend annually.

24.9% Total Diverse Spend

Small Business Supplier Spend 7.9% Minority, Women, Veteran-owned Spend 17.1%

INDUSTRY PRESENCE REPUTATION

Industry Presentations TREES AND UTILITIES

At the 2022 Trees and Utilities Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Regional Manager Adam Larson partnered with James Downie of EDM International, Inc. to give a presentation on sustainable sourcing for the utility vegetation management industry and how utilities and contractors harness the power of collaboration. The presentation focused on how utilities and contractors can work together to solve challenges like tree worker retention, supply chain problems and more.

Employee Owner Top 100 List

The National Center for Employee Ownership updates an Employee Ownership 100 list each year – recognizing the nation’s largest companies that are at least 50% owned by an ESOP or other broad-based employee ownership plan. WSC is the 26th largest employee-owned company in the United States.

Industry Leadership

In 2022, WTS attended 35 conferences across 19 states. These are some examples:

SAFETY, EDUCATION AND TRAINING (SET) TEAM

Kristian Michael Schultz, Technical Trainer on the SET Team presented at Arborcon, an annual winter conference held by ISA Michigan. Kristian presented on knots, rope and communication.

Evan Beck, Senior Safety Lead on the SET Team spoke at TCI Expo, ISA Michigan Chapter, Firehouse Expo, and Illinois Utility Summit in 2022. At TCI Expo, Evan’s topic was Motivation in Arboriculture: Inspiration. At the Firehouse Expo and ISA Michigan Chapter, Evan presented on Aerial Rescue from the perspective of both Fire Departments/First Responders and Arborists. Illinois Utility Summit’s topic was modern climbing techniques and “Lines Under Tension,” which covered techniques for dislodging trees from downed power lines.

- UAA Regional Conferences

- Trees & Utilities Conference

- ISA Conferences

- UAA Safety Summits

- Tree Climbing Competitions

- Golf Outings

Company & Professional Memberships

- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

- Utility Arborist Association (UAA)

Honorable Tribute

UTILITY ARBORIST ASSOCIATION’S WILL NUTTER SILVER SHIELD AWARD

This award is given to a person who is on the front line of safety and may have official or unofficial roles within an organization. They influence and promote a safety culture at every turn. In 2016, the Utility Arborist

Association (UAA) Silver Shield was created out of ideas that were brought to the UAA Board by then Safety Committee Chair, Will Nutter. Will stood out as an advocate for safety and was a key player in the development of the UAA Safety Summits that focus attention on bringing together a group of utility vegetation high performers and developing best practices, educating workers, as well as proactively addressing safety which transcends competitive boundaries. This is the very space in which the Silver Shield was created from. On September 16, 2021 we lost Will due to injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident. Though we cannot ever replace Will’s unique or one of a kind nature and personality, we can forever commemorate all he stood for. On September 27, 2021, the UAA Board of Directors voted unanimously to change the name of this award to the Will Nutter Silver Shield Award.

Awards

PINE AWARD

The UAA is the leading North American organization for the enhancement of quality utility arboriculture and right-of-way management. Their success relies on the support received from members, sponsors and volunteers. Companies that go above and beyond to support their mission are recognized annually. UAA membership, sponsorship, advertising, active committee volunteerism, and many other means have been quantified and assigned a value, all adding up to equal a PinE Score. This is reviewed by a committee of industry peers based on all of the listed items for the previous fiscal year and is scored and awarded at the UAA Annual Meeting.

WTS received Bronze recognition in the 2022 PinE Awards. Publications & Press Releases

WTS distributes press releases to local and national news entities as well as

REPUTATION continued

industry publications in an effort to share information with industry partners and the general public. Many press releases are focused on WTS promotions and appointments of leadership.

Members from all levels of the WTS team write articles that are submitted to various industry publications on a variety of topics that appeal to that publication’s readership. Publications include the Utility Arborist Association’s magazine Utility Arborist Newsline, T&D World Magazine, Arborist News, RE Magazine, and more – in both digital and print formats. Notable articles include topics on safety, diversity and inclusion, crisis management, continuing education and more.

Publications & Press Releases

WTS distributes press releases to local and national news entities as well as industry publications in an effort to share information with industry partners and the general public. Many press releases are focused on WTS promotions and appointments of leadership.

Members from all levels of the WTS team write articles that are submitted to various industry publications on a variety of topics that appeal to that publication’s readership. Publications include the UAA’s magazine Utility Arborist Newsline, T&D World Magazine, Arborist News, RE Magazine, and more – in both digital and print formats. Notable articles include topics on safety, diversity and inclusion, crisis management, continuing education and more.

Social Media

WTS recognizes that social platforms can be powerful digital communication tools for sharing ideas and exchanging information. We are committed to using social media to promote our brand and maintain communications with current and prospective employees, customers, business partners, vendors and suppliers,

and the general public. WTS is focused on ensuring that its use of social network platforms serve its need to maintain its brand identity, integrity, and reputation while minimizing risks to the company, its customers, and employees. Employees who post to social media should be mindful that their online activities do not violate our social media policy.

FY2022 Social Media

WTS uses LinkedIn and Facebook to share updates about our company to employees, clients and the community.

Vendor

Policies such as Supplier Code of Conduct and Supplier Diversity Policy that our suppliers or service providers are required to follow were finalized. We seek out those that share our vision and follow a similar mission to reach our goals. We strive to work with local providers in our community. We understand that those we choose to work with will uphold our reputation in the community and with our current and future clients.

Industry Wildfire Training

WTS provides presentations on aspects of wildfire safety at conferences and meetings. Representatives from utility clients have and can attend trainings given to WTS employees. If additional clients are interested in having a wildfire safety training given for their employees or desire additional training for WTS employees in their area, the WSC Wildfire Mitigation Manager coordinates.

Community Outreach SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM

WTS created a Second Chance Program through conversations with local probation offices, work release and halfway houses. The program aims to provide a structured work environment for folks that are looking for a second chance. The program hired on its first employee in fiscal year 2021 with plans to hire more employees in the coming years.

During 2022, the program continued to grow and thrive with several employees who started out from the Second Chance Program that have continued their employment with WTS and received promotions. At the end of 2022, WTS had hired five employees. These employees are climbers, equipment operators, a driver and one that is an absolute vital part of our chip crew. These employees were given the opportunity to travel to South Carolina, where they had the opportunity to have new experiences and create bonds that will last a lifetime.

REPUTATION continued

Watching these employees grow and change and find passion in our work has been an amazing blessing for me. It makes me want to do better every day so I can lead them in the right direction. I can’t wait to share all the success stories in the years ahead. I will forever appreciate that Wright Tree Service supported me in starting this program.”

Cassie Weston, General Foreperson, who was integral in starting the Second Chance Program at WTS

My name is Matthew. Coming from years in prison, running the streets when I was not incarcerated, a life of shame and no hope. I’ve been with Wright Tree Service for just over a year and a half. I owe Wright Tree Service everything. They gave me a chance to change, and they gave me a career.

I started out on house arrest and my house arrest officer is who told me about the job fair from a flyer Cassie had dropped off to them. I was hired on that night as a groundworker. My first day on the job, I saw hope for my life and what I needed to succeed and fix my life. I am now a crew leader and really close to being all the way out of the court system, which I have been in since I was 14 years old.

My future goal is to transfer to a traveling crew in about a year or so, get a few more years of experience and hopefully become a general foreperson and keep learning and moving up until I retire. Before I close, I would like to say that I hope Wright Tree Service implements the Second Chance Program in other areas because this program can completely transform lives, just like it has mine.” Matthew

Wright Tree Service is a place of growth. The Second Chance Program gives someone who is looking for a new start, a chance to have a meaningful career with benefits and training.” Charles

YOUTH INTERACTION

Area 31 Career Fair

WTS attended the Area 31 Career Fair in Indianapolis, Indiana. This career fair allowed high school students to learn more about what WTS does in the vegetation management industry. Students were able to ask questions about what it would be like to work for WTS.

Girl Scouts Camp Tree Planting

Former WTS Work Planner planted a tree for the Girl Scouts at Camp Sycamore Valley and talked with the girl scouts about tree identification and planting considerations.

4-H Academy

Former WTS Work Planner talked at the 4-H academy. The former Work Planner talked about WTS career opportunities, tree identification and taught them how to measure DBH. 4-H Academy is a program at Purdue University specifically designed to offer hands-on, exciting opportunities to learn about a diverse selection of subjects and careers.

Purdue Forestry & Natural Resource (FNR) Summer Practicum

WTS was represented at the Purdue FNR Summer Practicum urban forestry course. A WTS employee was able to chat with students about careers at WTS, along with helping students climb a tree for the first time. Purdue FNS is one of the nation’s leading natural resource programs with world-class expertise in forestry, wildlife, fisheries & aquatic sciences, natural resources social science, and interdisciplinary ecology is helping solve some of the most important natural resource problems around the globe.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOALS

Contribution: Increase opportunities for WTS and employees to partake in volunteer efforts to support the communities we live and work in.

Youth Interaction: Track and increase opportunities to discuss the vegetation management industry with the next generation of the workforce.

Contribution: Establish tracking of total in-kind contributions made by fiscal year for WTS.

Community Engagement: Continue to grow the Second Chance Program.

Youth Interaction: Expand outreach, recruitment and training for young people across division territories with a focus on reaching underrepresented demographics.

2022 Accomplished Goals

CLOSING

The Wright Service Corp. (WSC) family of companies and our employees strive to live out our values and will continue to improve our sustainable practices to ensure a safe and bright future for our employee owners. We’re committed to a better world for all, by investing in the communities we serve through innovation, integrity and teamwork. We want to ensure that the decisions we make today make a positive impact on our employees, clients community and the environment.

APPENDIX

An evaluation utilizing the EcoPractices® platform, a proprietary tool created and owned by Sustainable Environmental Consultants, a Wright Service Corp. (WSC) subsidiary, in partnership with WSC. This report is intended to showcase the sustainability journey of WTS, dedicated to recognizing their responsibility toward their mission, vision and values for their employee owners, partners, clients, and the public.

This preliminary Corporate Social Responsibility Report will be further expanded upon in the coming years to comply with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.