Embark Tree & Landscape Earns TCIA Accredidation

Embark Tree & Landscape Services, a subsidiary of Houston, Texas-based MetroNational, announced that it has been accredited in the Tree Care Industry Association Accreditation Program. The program was launched in July 2004 and represents the only business practices- and compliance-audit process in the tree care industry.

The process of becoming accredited is no easy task, according to Ed Schultheis, one of Embark's certified arborists. "The process is incredibly thorough and educational for our overall operation," states Schultheis. "We are pleased that Embark has been recognized as one of the best tree care companies around and the first to become accredited in Texas. This is a great accomplishment for all our employees. Everyone worked as a team to achieve this recognition."

Under the process, businesses undergo extensive review of professional practices aimed at safeguarding consumers. The review includes:

• Best business practices
• Ethical business conduct
• Formal training and certification of employees
• Compliance with industry standards
• Customer satisfaction including dispute resolution processes
• Adherence to safety standards
• Insurance coverage
• Employment of certified arborists
• Quality of service provided

TCIA Accreditation means that Embark adheres to all the accreditation standards and has undergone a rigorous application process. TCIA verified this by conducting an on-site and field operations audit of Embark and its practices. Bob Rouse, TCIA’s Director of Accreditation, says the organization offers companies enrolled in the accreditation process with a CD to walk them through the process. “For everything we enrolled companies to do, we also give them some help as well,” Rouse tells Lawn & Landscape. “For example, each company needs to have a number of basic policies in place and the CD provides guidelines for setting up an employee handbook that contains those policies. There’s even a model handbook they can use to get started.”

Rouse says the accreditation process can take from a month to a year to complete, depending on how many required policies and processes a company already has in place. Once accredited, TCIA conducts annual “check-ups” on each company and requires companies to be re-accredited every three years.

During the accreditation process, Rouse says there are three areas that tend to pose the biggest challenges for many enrolled companies: having Certified Arborists on staff, writing out a business plan and meeting ANSI safety standards. “TCIA Accrditation requires one Certified Arborist for every 10 production employees on staff,” Rouse explains. “This can be a challenge for a lot of companies who may not meet that ratio and need to increase the number Certified Arborists on staff. Having a written business plan is another challenge because sometimes that plan is just in the owner’s head. Our council felt very strongly that having a plan written down was one of the best ways to ensure the professionalism of the accredited companies. They also need to show they’re qualified based on ANSI safety standards.”

TCIA says the Accreditation program provides consumers a way to find tree care companies that are trustworthy in their business and tree care practices. “Our TCIA Accreditation program is the only one of its kind in America and will give consumers peace of mind,” says TCIA President Cynthia Mills.

Rouse adds that the program is meant to be a credential for whole companies in the same way “Certified Arborist” and similar credentials apply to individuals. “By credentialing the entire company, we can turn around with a good amount of assurance and tell the consumer that an accredited company will be good to work with,” he says. “They have insurance, they’re safe and the follow other industry standards. Having this credential will help further improve professionalism throughout the industry.