Bartlett Tree Experts Recognizes Its First Master Arborists

STAMFORD, Conn. - Bartlett Tree Experts today announced its first two employees to be named board certified master arborists by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Scott Diffenderfer, arborist representative in the company's Chambersburg, Pa. office, and Deborah Green, arborist representative in its Southampton, N.Y. office, earned the master arborist title, the highest professional certification in arboriculture, after successfully completing an intensive exam administered by the ISA this past August.

“We’re very excited to have not one, but two master arborists here at Bartlett,” said Robert Bartlett Jr., chairman of Bartlett Tree Experts. “It’s a very high honor for Scott and Deborah and it truly demonstrates Bartlett’s commitment to ongoing training and education for its arborists.”

The ISA has been certifying arborists for nearly a decade to improve the level of knowledge and standard of practice within the tree care industry. There are currently about 15,000 certified arborists and fewer than 25 have received the master arborist title.

The board certified master arborist program was developed under the guidance of Jim Ingram, Bartlett Tree Experts New England division manager and chair of the ISA certification board. Other employees from the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, N.C., involved in the program’s development were Bruce Fraedrich and Thomas Smiley, who was recently named Arborist of the Year by the ISA. Certification as a board certified master arborist represents the highest level of skill in the care of trees and requires significant experience, advanced education, ethical standards and in-depth knowledge of landscape plants nationwide.

Bartlett Tree Experts has certified arborists in each of its 80 offices across the United States. 

The author is managing editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine and can be reached at nwisniewski@gie.net.