In this National Association of Landscape Professionals article, Jay Judd from Davey's East Denver office discusses his arboriculture career journey and how his job helps protect our environment.
ISA Certified Arborist Jay Judd always had a love for working outdoors, but it wasn’t until he was introduced to the mountain pine beetle that he became aware of the field of arboriculture. 
Twenty-four years ago, Judd started in the green industry working for Conservation Corps through AmeriCorps in Flagstaff, Arizona. He would build trails and thin forests for wildfire mitigation throughout northern Arizona. It was in this role that he first learned to use a chainsaw.
While working on a project on Mt. Humphreys, north of Flagstaff, he learned about the effects of mountain pine beetles on trees.
“During mid-winter, we took chair lifts up the Arizona Snowbowl resort and sledded down the mountain, attaching pheromone packs to the evergreens,” Judd says. “These packs attracted the mountain pine beetle to specific trees. The following fall, we returned to cut down those trees, delimbed them, and bucked them into 8-foot sections. We then used a specialized tool to scrape the bark off the trees, killing the larvae beneath.”
It was thanks to this project that he learned what an arborist was.
To read more about Jay's arboriculture career journey, click here.
For more information, contact the East Denver Davey office.
The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental and utility infrastructure consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. Established in 1880 and headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Davey has over 12,000 employees who create and deliver sustainable solutions. Davey continues to grow through expertise with the SEED Campus, its newest commitment to training, research and safety. Become part of the Davey legacy by applying today and join one of the top ten largest employee-owned companies in the U.S.
