Staff
US Army 1989-1992
ISA Certified Arborist, MA-0657AT
VNLA Certified Horticulturist #: 2325
B.S. Forestry and Wildlife, Virginia Tech 1996
I love everything about Richmond including my high school sweetheart and my 3 children who all attended the same high school I attended. After high school I joined the US Army where I served as an Infantry soldier. I fortunately spent my duty close to home, stationed in Arlington, VA with the ceremonial unit, The Old Guard. Directly after the military, I pursued and completed my degree in Forestry and Wildlife Science, realizing my true passion was in trees. My first stop as an Arborist was with a company here in Richmond where I learned most of my tree climbing skills and was a salesman for that company. After Hurricane Isabel in 2003 and climbing a lot of trees, I was hired as one of the City of Richmond Arborists and was quickly promoted to Urban Forester. Shortly thereafter, when I met Truetimber through recreational tree climbing events in the City, I realized I could combine my enthusiasm for the natural world and my passion for trees and call Truetimber my home. Having ridden my bike all over the city as a youth along with my past experience raft guiding the James, I continue to find new and unexplored gems in RVA. In addition to my passion for trees, if you want to have a long conversation with me, get me talking about cycling, mountain biking, alternative medicine and real food.
US Navy 1989-1994
Master of Physics, VCU 1999
ISA Certified Arborist MA-4460AT
CVNLA Certified Horticulturalist
I am a lifelong Richmonder and love the simple life I live with my wife and two daughters in a lush urban forest near the banks of the ancient James River.
After travelling the world for five years as an enlisted member of the United States Navy, I earned a Master’s Degree in Physics before deciding that trees and nature had become my passion. I started Truetimber in 1998, and started an outdoor outfitting business called Riverside Outfitters in 2005 to share my love of our river, our trees, and the tree climbing experience.
In 2014 I was named a “River Hero” by the Friends of the James River Park for my stewardship of the great Richmond Outdoors.
When I am not working(rare) I am running Richmond’s streets and trails, hanging out with family, or reading and writing.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist MN 0307BM
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
Bachelor’s degree Biology University of Northern Iowa 1990
My path to Truetimber began in the Midwest. After graduating college in Iowa, My wife and I headed to Northern Minnesota where I worked at an environmental learning center teaching kids in the forests and lake country of the North Woods. In 1997, I moved to St. Paul and it was there that I learned arboriculture and tree climbing while working for a small tree company. In 2003, we moved to Richmond where I joined a local tree company and experienced my first hurricane, Isabel. In 2006, I was hired as a Richmond city arborist where I worked for 10 years managing city trees. In 2016, I joined the Truetimber team. When I find time to slip away from work and family, I can frequently be found on or near the James, running trails or paddling the river.
ISA Certified Arborist MA-5475AT
TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional #01446
ISA Certified Treeworker
My passion for climbing trees began at a young age. A native of Fredericksburg, I grew up with a love of the outdoors and began to climb trees recreationally at the age of 14. Seven years later, I made the decision to turn my hobby into my trade, working as a climber in the tree industry in both Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia. In 2012, I joined the Truetimber team, commuting daily from Fredericksburg. Finding a good fit, I eventually relocated my family to Richmond, where I have continued to enjoy the opportunity of doing exactly what I love to do as an occupation in this beautiful city.
My passion for the outdoors runs deep. My mothers side of the family is rooted in the mountains of West Virginia and it is there where this passion was cultivated. My grandfather taught me about trees and how wood reacts in different ways in his woodshop. Later in life, I found rock climbing in the hills of West Virginia and have been hopelessly addicted to a life at height for the last 17 years.
After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011 with a degree in Natural Resources Conservation, I met my beautiful wife, Kelsey, and we began a life in the trees. Tree climbing has taken me halfway around the world and back. This life has been one I never anticipated and am reminded on a daily basis that I have been truly blessed to be in this community and industry. I say it often, tree people are the best kind of people.
Our son was born in August of 2018. I am thankful for the ability to be a husband and a father to these beautiful people. It’s truly the greatest thing I’ve done in my life.
I was born and raised in Powhatan County, the place I call home. I graduated high school in 2008 and immediately enrolled at John Tyler community college. After just two semesters, I realized that I did not have a strong passion for a specific profession, and decided to seek out a career instead. I joined the Truetimber family in 2009, just one year after graduation, and immediately felt at home. As a Pisces, I have always loved nature and the outdoors, so it seemed a natural fit. I am proud every day to help build our mission to become the best workplace in the arboricultural world. When not at work, you will likely find me outside with my boyfriend and our dog Millie, exploring a new state park, fishing, or floating the mighty James River.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist MN 0307BM
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
Bachelor’s degree Biology University of Northern Iowa 1990
My path to Truetimber began in the Midwest. After graduating college in Iowa, My wife and I headed to Northern Minnesota where I worked at an environmental learning center teaching kids in the forests and lake country of the North Woods. In 1997, I moved to St. Paul and it was there that I learned arboriculture and tree climbing while working for a small tree company. In 2003, we moved to Richmond where I joined a local tree company and experienced my first hurricane, Isabel. In 2006, I was hired as a Richmond city arborist where I worked for 10 years managing city trees. In 2016, I joined the Truetimber team. When I find time to slip away from work and family, I can frequently be found on or near the James, running trails or paddling the river.
When I am not taking care of Richmond’s urban forest, I enjoy gardening, cycling, drumming, and recreational tree climbing with my fiancee.
ISA Certified Arborist MA-4464A
Former Owner, Horizon Tree Care
Native to Richmond with the exception of a brief period of time in the Bay Area, I’m still fascinated by the number of old growth trees located in and around the city. Since about the time I could drive I’ve been working in and around Richmond’s urban forest. Between classes at VCU, I would always get drawn back to the trees and eventually made a decision that I would make it my career.
When I’m not talking about trees I can be found hanging out with my son or somewhere in the woods on a dirt bike or perhaps somewhere pretending to be a musician.
ISA Certified Arborist MA-6155AT
Truetimber Academy Graduate 2019
BS/Healthcare Administration -USD 2000
MBA – USD 2002
After spending roughly a third of my life in Minneapolis/St. Paul, a third of my life in southeastern South Dakota, and now a little over a third of my life in Richmond,I feel like I can finally call myself a Richmonder – I absolutely love the sense of community and the abundance of outdoor activities available at our doorsteps!
I love working aloft with my Truetimber family – so much so that instead of spending a summer climbing, I decided to change my career path entirely so that I could do what I love, with the people I love, everyday!
And I’ve been blessed with growing up with a family that I consider my best friends and now a family of my own – My wife, Mary Ann – Our daughter, Madison Grace – & of course, Our boxer, Sprout! Quality time with my loved ones is my favorite way to spend time outside of work!
I enjoy and value TrueTimber’s philosophy of building mutually beneficial & honest, long-lasting relationships and that is my favorite part of my job – meeting the wonderful people of Richmond and developing great relationships!
ISA Certified Tree Climber
TTA Climber 1
Hi! My name is Carl Courter and I am the black team leader. I love the family aspect of True Timber and how everyone has a special place within the company. In my free time I enjoy mountain biking, snow boarding, and recently rock climbing. My dog, Ivy, is usually right by my side whether it be on the trail or the street. I am definitely not a person that would enjoy being confined to a small office so I am very thankful to work outside every day!
TTA Groundwork Specialist
TCIA Groundworker
Deese! Your wood removal guy: I pick up what they’re putting down! I started tree work a little over 3 years ago, needing part time work while I fixed bicycles and guided the James River with Riverside Outfitters, but quickly went full time with True Timber. I didn’t know anything about tree work except it looked exciting and the folks were inspiring and fun to work alongside. Also, I wanted to prove to myself that I could hack it. While, I’m a decent climber at best, I feel most confident in my ground and equipment operations. Roping is absolutely my favorite aspect of tree work besides running equipment. Knuckle booms! Though I may not be the one taking down big trees; I’ve got no problem throwing a log over my shoulder. Since my time at TT, I have not only worked with some of the best people, I’ve learned a lot about the natural life in our beautiful city.
ISA Certified Arborist MA-6005AT
ISA Certified Tree Climber
TTA Climber 1
My favorite thing about tree work is finding creative and safe ways to remove the massive amounts of material we need to remove and finding my way through tree canopies to the perfect work positions. The problems are new and interesting every day.
At Truetimber I feel like I’m not just in a great work place but I’m also in a great family. Everyone is always trying to help one another achieve goals in work and in life.
Outside of work I love doing just about anything with my friends and family, and sports.
HTTR!
ISA Certified Arborist MA-5600
TTA Groundworker
VNLA Certified Horticulturalist 2610
Born and raised in Virginia, and I have lived in the RVA for over twenty five years. I’ve been with the company since September 2014 & am fiercely proud to work for the greatest tree care company on the planet. I am a five year member of the safety committee, certified arborist, certified horticulturalist, & Heartwood team member. I enjoy the challenge and camaraderie of the field, teaching new hires, & storm damage. —
B.A. in Music Performance from VCU
Co-Owner of Spacebomb Records
I was born in Winchester, Va and came to Richmond in 2001 to attend VCU. It’s a joy to be working outdoors everyday and learning a new trade. I enjoy the fresh challenges and valuable knowledge I gain working at True Timber. Outside of the day to day I really enjoy trail runs, science fiction , poetry and of course playing drums and bass guitar.
I’ve always dreamed of working in National and State Parks in my pursuit of finding a job where I could just be in nature all day, working hard, learning constantly, and leaving the world a little better than I found it every day. It was hard to decide what I exactly wanted to do as a vocation, since I am not a ‘leave my work at work’ kind of person. I really love wholly investing my time and energy in to something that I love. When I found Truetimber I was so excited to have found a career/profession that seemed to suit my dreams.
Growing up as one of five siblings provided me with the tools to get along with anyone and a habit of putting the interests of others above my own. Spending six and a half years in the Army enhanced an already warped sense of humor and provided me with the ability to create very well thought out plans that I deviate from almost immediately. I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, Lydia, and our two amazing pups, Mojo and Lola.
