In 2017, as a natural outflow of our company’s commitment to be Driven in personal and professional development, we established our three year trade school. Arboriculture remains as one of the best occupations in the world to fully challenge mind and body. We have created an intensive training program in place for entry level ground persons to experienced climbers. A new hire is considered a paid student who can graduate from our academy as an accomplished tree climber and ISA Certified Arborist. We continue to push ourselves to be an industry leader in jobsite safety as well as our ability to perform arboriculture tasks. Whether teaching how to lower sections of trees to setting up a crane’s rigging on a storm damaged tree, we provide hands on and classroom training that allows our employees to feel comfortable pushing their skills to the next level. Truetimber pays for all testing and certification fees, and study and training materials are provided. In addition to our instructors, Truetimber’s Tree Care Advisors participate in delivering arboriculture training in our monthly night class. Here are some of the steps along the way:

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
Truetimber Academy – Ground Operations Specialist
Truetimber Academy – Feller 1 & 2
ISA – Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist
TCIA – EHAP
ISA – Certified Arborist
Truetimber Academy – Climber 1,2, & 3

All the students have to do is work for it!

Drew Dunavant

Drew Dunavant is the Director and Founder of Truetimber Academy and serves Truetimber as our Operations Manager. Drew’s passion for climbing trees began at a young age. A native of Fredericksburg, VA, he grew up with a love of the outdoors. Drew has over 10 years of experience and is very passionate about climbing, learning, training and educating Arborists. He is a 3 time MAC-ISA champion, ISA Certified Tree Worker, ISA Certified Arborist, TCIA Certified Tree Safety Professional, and a TCIA Tree Care Academy Instructor.

Jeff Inman

Jeff Inman is one of our Instructor's at the Truetimber Academy. He serves Truetimber as the Sequoia Production Specialist as well as the Safety Manager Jeff has been in the industry since 2011 and has gained a great deal of experience through his life as a climber, arborist, husband, and father. He has a heart and desire for teaching that has allowed him to travel the world, training arborists on how to safely carry out the tasks experienced daily in the field. He is a two time ISA Kentucky Tree Climbing Champion, has placed second and fifth at the 2018 and 2019 International Tree Climbing Competitions, and is an ISA Certified Arborist. He is also the brand ambassador for ISC Wales, Yale Cordage, WesSpur Arborist Supply, and @Height Splicing.

Truetimber Academy also does outside speaking engagements and training demos. With a broad range of skills and experience, we are able to teach on variety of subjects. We participate in teaching at TCIA, ISA chapter, Arborist Associations, and other local events. For more information about Truetimber Academy and where we might be next please contact us. We look forward to promoting safety together.