Illinois Arborist Receives ISA’s Highest Honor

John Kahon, arboricultural services manager for Autumn Tree Care Experts in Glenview, Ill., recently earned the highest honor bestowed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) upon a certified arborist: the designation of Board-Certified Master Arborist.

To earn this laurel, Kahon had to meet specific prerequisites in the areas of measurable experience, formal education, related credentials, and professional experience. He also had to successfully complete a 150 question scenario-based exam. The exam - developed from a job analysis survey of American and Canadian arborists and created by a panel of industry experts - evaluated Kahon’s knowledge of arboricultural science, practice, and management.

Kahon is one of 12 Board-Certified Master Arborists in Illinois.  Of these 12 Board-Certified Master Arborists, four arborists - Paul Blome, John Kahon, Jim Matkovich, and Mike Provost - are currently employed by Autumn Tree Care Experts, Inc. There are a total of 162 Board-Certified Master Arborists internationally.

The International Society of Arboriculture - founded in 1924 - is a worldwide professional organization dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation for trees and to promoting research, technology, and the professional practice of arboriculture.  Currently, over 16,000 individuals count themselves as members of the ISA. 

About ISA Certification
The ISA offers the only internationally-recognized certification program in the tree care industry. Certification is a voluntary program that provides recognition of an arborist’s professional knowledge by his or her peers. For over a decade, the ISA has certified arborists in order to encourage continuing education, to develop and implement standardized tree care practices, and to uphold an arboricultural code of ethics.

There are five types of ISA certification: ISA certified arborist, ISA certified arborist/utility specialist, ISA certified arborist/municipal specialist, ISA certified tree worker/climber specialist, and ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist.