Career Overview: What I Do As a Forester
Like any living creature, trees need care and maintenance, especially when they are in an urban environment, where falling branches create problems. So who will you send to climb hundreds of feet with a chainsaw? An arborist like Mark Chisholm.
Mark worked most of his life as an arborist, taking up the family business. The job requires extensive knowledge of horticulture as well as the physical fitness of an athlete. In fact, Mark has won quite a few tree climbing championships. (Yes, there is climbing competition; the profession seems to be rife with a friendly, competitive spirit.) We spoke to Mark to find out a little about his work as a tree caretaker as an arborist, as well as his efforts to teach others trees and climb safely.
First of all, tell us a little about your current job as an arborist and how long you have been doing it.
I started working and climbing at the age of 12. It was a very different landscape as security, technology and science had a powerful and for the better impact on the industry. Today I work faster, put more emphasis on safety and feel less strenuous than in my 20s.
What prompted you to choose your career path? How did you get a job?
I’m a little unusual here. I am a third generation arborist and started working because I wanted to join my family’s team and experience everything they talked about after work. The talk of physical battles, the laughter they shared, the pride they expressed with their war stories were all seductive. They eventually agreed to let me join and I got an error. Almost everyone at that time studied in the workplace, and I was no different. Many applicants today start with a degree in urban forestry or another similar discipline. At the time I started, all we had to do was show up and be ready to work as hard as physically possible.
What are you doing besides what most people see? What do you actually spend most of your time on?
Most of the time I work for our family business, Aspen Tree Expert Co Inc. I also spend a lot of time traveling to trade shows, conferences, tree climbing competitions and some media events on behalf of STIHL Inc. started a partnership about 15 years ago to share advice with my fellow foresters on the value of trees and the need to take proper care of them. This relationship, along with the partnerships I have with rope and harness manufacturer Teufelberger and Kask , have provided me with an incredible opportunity to do more to achieve these goals than I ever dreamed of.
I have participated in over two dozen events last year, flown over 50,000 miles, traveling as far away as Italy and New Zealand, and landing on TV shows like ABC’s 20/20 and even in amusic video for The Band. Perry. … I also struck an item off my climbing list, spending time high up in the majestic Redwood trees with some of the best climbers in the world. Being able to share these tips and concepts with so many people is extremely rewarding.
What misconceptions do people often have about your job?
Many people consider tree workers to be unskilled workers, and this is far from the truth for most people working in this area. With the knowledge required to correctly identify the tree and its needs, the safety requirements we must adhere to, and the amount of training required in disciplines such as physics, chainsaw safety, geometry, and proper crane handling, being unqualified is not an option. This is why continuing education is so important to our industry.
I also think that most people believe that arborists only cut down trees when we save them very often and in doing so help the environment. Most woodworkers are passionate supporters of healthy trees.
What’s your average uptime? Typical 9-5 thing or not?
The industry is notorious for long working hours, and they get longer during storms. However, I am very fortunate to work for a company that values time off from work as a necessity for the health of its employees. We have been working for 40 years next month, so a lot of experience and difficult years have helped us create the best environment in this regard.
What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier?
I am constantly learning and finding new ways to solve my daily challenges. One piece of advice I often give is to regularly check out the latest and greatest tools and equipment. Without this approach, you will be stuck and miss out on things like new climbing techniques or equipment, like more efficient chainsaws with the ergonomics benefits of STIHL. I’m famous for saying, “Work harder AND smarter!” Here’s how you do it.
What are you doing differently from your colleagues or colleagues in the same profession?
I primarily focus on being a professional, which means that I always try to improve. I learned a long time ago that momentum is created by consistency. Once you have momentum moving in the direction you want to move, things will get easier and better. It requires striving to be the best in the long run. It is not easy, but it is a sure way to achieve your highest goals.
What’s the worst part of a job and how do you deal with it?
It’s a difficult question. Sometimes severe weather conditions. In other cases, it goes beyond new physical limits. There is always a “less desirable” buyer. What I do is dig deep and carry on, knowing that this is just part of the test and it will soon be over.
What is the most enjoyable part of the job?
I like the variety in my work the most. I love scaling the grand 400-year-old oak tree to help keep it alive on Monday, challenging myself physically and mentally at removing tech hazard trees with a skilled team of professionals armed with incredible tools on Tuesday and then flying away on Wednesday. share some information with tree mates in distant places. Plus, the types of people I work and communicate with are incredible. It is great to give homeowners advice on how to care for the trees they have and how to help their new trees grow. What’s not to love?
How much money can you expect at your job?
The starting salary at the first tier is not fantastic, maybe $ 15 an hour plus benefits. But once you treat yourself like a professional and approach work like a profession, money quickly gets better and better. Good climbers can expect to earn $ 25 to $ 40 an hour, and other parts of the industry pay even more. I know many people who have become very active in safety and education, and now they are paid six figures and are doing very well. Successful business owners can do well, too. It is a tough business with rewards for those willing to invest in their own development and growth. Plus it’s an honest lifestyle.
Is there a way to “advance” in your field? (An unintentional pun on the tree.)
Being active in the industry is a sure-fire way to accelerate your career. I cannot stress this too much. Get involved and stay updated!
What do people underestimate / overestimate in what you do?
They underestimate the need for proper tree care and their importance to the environment as a whole, down to the minimum community level. They overestimate the risks. The general public sometimes looks at my actions as causing death or high risks, which I consider unfair. I see that unskilled people without proper training make mistakes that reflect badly on the industry as a whole. Yes, we work high above the ground and use sharp tools, but well-trained people can count on long and healthy careers if approached with the right mindset.
What advice would you give to those who want to become your profession?
Do it! Perhaps this is the best profession. I almost never complain about work. I recommend joining a security focused company and getting good training before starting this job. I am active in major industry associations, the International Forestry Society and the Tree Care Producers Association.
And of course, always stay in touch with current trends, staying a student for life.