Arborists come from many different backgrounds. They also work in a variety
of job settings. Norman Hol is a consulting arborist with a background in
surveying.
"I relay to people what the requirements are for protecting and providing
for trees. I try to educate people in layman's terms."
Hol works with many people -- other design consultants, city administrators,
habitat protection agencies, urban planners, landscape architects and more.
"Often, I act as a liaison between an owner and other parties."
But arborists work in a variety of roles other than consulting. "Aptitude-wise,
the position is very flexible. There are many roles as an arborist, from research
to physical treatment to consultant."
Fellow arborist Max Rathburn also owns his own company. He fell into arboriculture
by way of a forestry background. "My dad and brother are both in the forestry
industry," he says.
"I take that knowledge and apply it to trees."
Rathburn gets satisfaction from many aspects of the profession, including
"taking an old tree and creating a work of art out of it."
There's also an element of danger to the profession. Some arborists do
high-risk tree climbing and work with chainsaws. "Working in this field is
not for a weak person, mentally or physically. You have to be strong or you
can make mistakes or kill yourself."
Rathburn has worked with chainsaws for 10 years and recently had a slip-up
which nearly cost him one of his toes! "If you're a climbing arborist, make
sure you stay on top of your training. Learn how to use ropes, tie knots and
use chainsaws safely. Don't be an adrenaline junkie or take risks."
High-level risks are one thing Gaynor Spielman tries to avoid. Her trek
to arboriculture began with a love of art and biology. "I wanted to work outside,
and I loved nature and animals."
Spielman has been a certified arborist for over three years. She's tried
the environmental field, toiled in a laboratory, helped control vegetation
under power lines, and worked for the Department of Food and Agriculture before
coming into her own as an arborist.
There's an element of sales in Spielman's job as well. But estimating a
tree job isn't always so easy. "When you sell a product, you feel responsible
for how the work comes out. That's why it's important to work for a quality
tree company. Also, it can be difficult not to overbid or underbid an estimate
of how much it'll cost to trim a tree."
Spielman says those looking to succeed as an arborist don't necessarily
have to have a college degree, but they should "like driving a lot, like dealing
with people and have confidence in what you're doing."
Spielman works eight to 10 hours a day. She often logs 50 to 80 miles of
driving during that time.
"Satisfyingly challenging," is how Jeff Yrineo, a certified arborist in
Denver, Colorado, characterizes his career. "It's a highly physical job. I
do large tree removal and pruning on trees that are 50 feet tall or higher."
Yrineo enjoys the challenge of maintaining and prolonging trees' lives.
"You can maintain and add value to a property by doing what's right for the
tree."
Like many arborists, Yrineo started from scratch. He was between jobs when
he stumbled into what would be a new-found career. Now Yrineo puts in up to
10 hours per day, usually beginning at 7 a.m.
When he comes in each morning, Yrineo grabs his clipboard full of assignments,
checks his equipment and is off for the first job of the day. Occasionally,
such as in the event of storm damage, one or two people from his company will
be on call 24 hours per day or on weekends.
For young people interested in pursuing a career in arboriculture, Yrineo
suggests the opportunities are endless. "It's exciting. You never stop learning!"
Jeff Scherer is a certified arborist and operations maintenance coordinator
for a power company. He began his road to becoming an arborist by landing
a job as a groundsperson.
Now, though he works in utility arboriculture, Scherer has to put his public
relations expertise to work as well. He tries to educate people on a number
of issues, including the relationship between hydroelectric lines and trees
and proper planting techniques.
"Sometimes people have a hard time understanding why a tree has to be pruned
or removed," Scherer says. This is where good people skills come into play,
as well as a base knowledge of arboriculture.
"It's a great profession to be in. I know people who never finished the
12th grade who are making over $75,000 per year." Although Scherer says a
college degree isn't a prerequisite, plant biology is a definite plus.
Rathburn agrees. "Get a horticulture-based education. You have to know
how trees affect the urban environment and vice versa. Get affiliated
with an arboricultural organization. Those people can point you in the right
direction."