NES Employees Earn Certified Arborist Designation

NASHVILLE, TN — Three Nashville Electric Service (NES) employees have demonstrated professional competency in vegetation management by earning the certified arborist designation. Mike Foriest, Mark King, and Steve Warf of the NES Vegetation Management Section earned this specialized certification administered through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Mark King and Steve Warf also successfully completed the Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist examination in early February. They become two of only approximately 500 arborists in the U.S. to have earned this specialized certification. This exam is especially rigorous and requires that individuals earn continuing education units to retain the certification.

“We are extremely proud of these employees who have devoted their personal time to improve their skills in this important area,” said Don Kohanski, NES President & CEO. “Our Vegetation Management Program is essential if we are to provide the reliable service that our customers demand, while protecting the aesthetics of the trees in our urban environment as much as possible.”

The ISA is a scientific and educational organization devoted to the dissemination of information in the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees. The purpose of the organization’s certification program is to improve the level of knowledge and standard of practice within the tree care profession. It is designed to assist the public in identifying those professionals in arboriculture who have demonstrated, through a professionally developed examination and education program, a thorough knowledge of tree care practices.