Arborist

Randy Short thinks of himself as a friend of trees.

He notices things that most people would miss on their typical stroll through the forest: tree branches, a tree’s age, and a tree’s level of determination in the roughest of ecosystems.

Short is a TVA program manager and arborist.

He works in many different areas and has documented these trees for the past 13 years!

"I nearly have the trees named," he said, smiling.

“Trees are a lot like people. They all have different characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, all with a different role. But, when they form a forest, amazing things happen.”

A Day in the Life

Arborists, foresters and conservation scientists work to manage the quality of public lands and other areas.

Short specializes in tree assessments to ensure trees on TVA property are not hazards to the public or TVA’s property, like TVA campgrounds. He looks for insect infestations, dead limbs or tree damage after storms.

“We don’t want the tree to get to a weakened state. If it’s been damaged by beavers or insects, we go ahead and take those out to keep the public safe. But sometimes acts of nature take out healthy trees,” Short said.

Short spends a lot of time outdoors, keeping a close eye on the trees. He walks the public lands that welcome visitors to hike or camp.

In other areas, arborists maintain the area below TVA’s tall transmission towers. Trees or vegetation in these areas can cause problems with moving electricity along the grid.

Becoming an Arborist

Arborists and foresters need skills like:

• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Biology
• Communication with others
• Observation

An arborist, forester or conservation scientist works to manage forest lands and forest resources. Many foresters have a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resources, agriculture or biology. Jobs as tree trimmers, pruners or forest workers often require a high school diploma and on-the-job training.

These jobs typically require working outdoors. Arborists may need a license or industry certification.

TVA arborists earn a starting salary of around $80,000 and may earn up to $123,155 a year.