Most people have heard of an ISA Certified Arborist. Fewer know that there's a separate, more specialized credential beyond it: ISA Tree Risk Assessor.
A Tree Risk Assessor is trained specifically in the systematic evaluation of trees for the likelihood of failure and the potential consequences if one does. It's not just a general arborist opinion — it's a structured process with documented methodology, used by municipalities, utilities, insurance companies, and property owners who need more than a rough guess about a tree's stability.
Zack Poteet, the founder of Franklin Tree Service, holds both credentials. It's one of the reasons we're regularly called in for situations where the stakes are higher than a routine trim — large trees over structures, high-traffic areas, or properties where a tree assessment needs to hold up to scrutiny.
Most tree companies in Middle Tennessee do not have a Tree Risk Assessor on staff. It's a distinction worth understanding if you have a tree on your property that's giving you pause.
Has a tree on your property ever made you a little uneasy, or is that something you've been putting off getting a second opinion on? #FranklinTN #TreeCare #Arborist
A photo of an arborist doing a ground-level inspection of a large tree, ideally near a structure. Or a close-up of tree bark or canopy structure that illustrates what an assessor is evaluating. Authentic job photos are preferred over any generic imagery. A photo of the team on a complex job works well for this culture/credential format.
Canva text suggestion: "ISA Tree Risk Assessor on Staff" or "More Than an Estimate — A Qualified Assessment"