William Porter, Director of Research, Development and Industry Intelligence at CN Utility Consulting (CNUC), is the principal project manager for benchmarking and research. Porter graduated from the University of Illinois and is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist. With more than 23 years of experience in the utility vegetation management (UVM) industry, Porter has direct knowledge of all aspects of UVM work. Since joining CNUC in 2008, he has directed many program and compliance reviews and special projects and has performed analysis on a wide range of UVM metrics. Porter was the principal author of the 2010 CN Utility Consulting Utility Vegetation Management Benchmark and Industry Intelligence, as well as the subsequent versions in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Porter has been published in the Utility Arborist Newsline, Transmission & Distribution World and the Environmental Concerns of Rights-of-Way -10th International Symposium Publication. He presents often on UVM benchmarking, LIDAR projects and other industry topics in the U.S. and abroad. Most recently, he has presented on ways to transform UVM through his idea of “Treetilization.” Porter has also completed, published and presented on a research project for the Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI) on Data Analytics and Modeling Tools Applied to UVM Programs. Porter continuously monitors and evaluates legal and regulatory changes, as well as issues and trends related to UVM around the world. He also provides support to legal cases for CNUC, tracks legal cases involving UVM in the US, and has participated in several legal cases as a witness. Porter has a unique understanding of UVM programs, best practices, regulatory issues and research intersections.