B.J.’s career in tree care began in 1998, although his climbing experience dates well before that. As a child, he was trained by his father and Master Arborist, Carl Absher. After leaving high school, he began to work with a local contractor that trimmed and removed trees in electrical rights-of-way. He loved the adrenaline. He loved the danger and he loved the feeling of accomplishment of a job well done. From there he took a job working for the City of Chattanooga under the direction of Gene Hyde, city forester. Moving forward he explored all aspects of tree care including utility work, municipal work, and residential arboriculture. Soon after, he returned home to Chattanooga to help his father run ABC Tree Service where he really shined as Crew Operations Leader. Another great moment in his career was working with Arborguard Tree Specialists in Atlanta, Georgia where he had the honor of working on accounts such as The Master’s Augusta National Golf Course, East Lake Golf Course, Emory University, The Atlanta Botanical Gardens and The Center for Disease Control. In 2003 he gained his ISA Certified Arborist recognition and always strives to maintain the highest possible services wherever he worked. But probably the his most proud moment in his career was volunteering and working with UC Berkeley on a project in Sequoia National Park. Here he climbed, researched and sampled some of the largest and oldest trees on the planet.
