ABOUT

Traverso Tree Service, Inc is owned and operated by John Traverso, who founded Traverso Landscaping in 1980.

Prior to this time, John was a nurseryman for six years at Orchard Nursery in Lafayette. To supplement his winter income, John diversified and started doing tree work along with his landscaping. After becoming a certified arborist in 1986, John realized how much he enjoyed working with trees. It was not long before he phased out of the landscaping and focused entirely on caring for trees. Outside of Traverso Tree Service, John has worked on several committees with the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (WCISA), as well as served as vice president and president of the California Arborist Association in the continued effort to educate and promote quality arboriculture in our industry.

Education is very important to John and he has made it a top priority in his company. He wants all of his crew members, including our office personnel, to understand how trees grow so they can better serve our clients and their trees. Beyond all the certifications and countless seminars the crews have attended, John has taken the crew on several “Tree Climbing Vacations” where the crew can learn first-hand new techniques and promote crew bonding while climbing some of the largest and tallest trees in the world. Even our office assistant Danielle has been 250′ up in a large redwood!

Finally, John wanted to separate his company from the many other “Chainsaw for Hire” companies. Our company’s motto, “When it Has to Be Done Right,” means that when you want safe, professional, efficient, and knowledgeable tree care, call Traverso Tree Service. The company has 18 team members, of which one is a Board Certified Master Arborist, six are Certified Arborists, and thirteen are ISA Certified Tree Workers. These certifications guarantee our customers the highest quality of work.

Understanding Industry Terms

Here at Traverso Tree Service, education and proper tree care are very important. The International Society of Arborculture (ISA) is a worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology, and the professional practice of arboriculture. The ISA has created different levels of certification that you will hear about in the tree industry- but what do they really mean? Here is a quick run down of the terms that you most likely hear in conjunction with tree services:

Western Chapter ISA Certified Tree Workers are individuals who have a minimum of 18 months experience professionally climbing trees in a safe and efficient manner to perform tree care. They have knowledge in the major aspects involved in tree care including tree biology, cabling, planting, pruning and safety. Applicants are required to complete a written knowledge based exam and biennial (every other year) proof of training in aerial rescue, CPR, and first aid.

ISA Certified Arborist credential identifies professional arborists who have a minimum of three years of full-time experience working in the professional tree care industry and who have passed an extensive examination. The Certified Arborist examination has 200 questions on tree biology, tree identification and selection, tree-soil-water relations, tree nutrition and fertilization, tree planting and establishment, pruning concepts and techniques, cabling, bracing and lightning protection, problem diagnosis and management, tree preservation on construction sites, climbing and safe work practices, and tree risk assessment.

A Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA) is a higher level than Certified Arborist. BCMA credential holders must be an active ISA Certified Arborist with a minimum of seven years experience as an ISA Certified Arborist. To qualify to sit for the BCMA exam, the applicant must earn eight “points” from categories that include measurable experience, formal education, related credentials, and professional experience. The computer-based exam covers science, practice, and management.