The ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (ISA TRAQ) is a voluntary qualification program designed to train and assess candidates in a specialized arboriculture—tree risk assessment field. The training portion of the program is delivered through credential holders who have gone above and beyond the requirements to earn and maintain this credential and have extensive experience in the practice of tree risk assessment and facilitation of professional training. In the following issues of ISA Today, we'll be featuring and introducing ISA-approved instructors and instructor mentors (instructors who are eligible to train other instructors).

Instructors are featured in alphabetical order by last name.

Steve Lane

Steve Lane is an ISA Certified Arborist® with more than 20 years of professional experience in urban forestry, where he performs tree risk management planning, tree inventory, permit and plan review, expert witness testimony, and urban forestry management plans for public and private clients. He is also a member of ASCA and serves on the editorial committee. Steve is the past president of the Illinois Chapter of ISA, where he chairs the Advanced Training program. Steve was born in New York, lived in Chicago for many years, and graduated from the University of Oregon, double majoring in Environmental Science and Geography. Steve brings his real-world experiences from around the country into the classroom to enable students to understand complex concepts from a practical framework while maintaining an enjoyable, inclusive, and memorable experience for learners.

Jonathan Rizzo

Jonathan has worked professionally in the residential, municipal, and utility tree industries with 13 years of collective experience. He managed multimillion-dollar utility vegetation management programs for two Fortune 500 organizations. Jonathan also owns and operates a consulting business providing services like tree preservation, risk assessment consultation, and expert witness testimony. He is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist®, ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist®, ISA Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist®, and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist® with a bachelor's in Forest Resource Management and a master's in Business Administration. Jonathan leverages previous experiences as a forester, arborist, teacher, public speaker, and military veteran to provide quality instruction to his students, enriching course concepts with practical experiences.

Drew Zwart

Drew Zwart is a plant pathologist and physiologist at the R.A. Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and has conducted research, training, and technical support for Bartlett Tree Experts and the industry for more than 17 years. Based in San Rafael, California, Drew conducts his research and training primarily in California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta. Drew has published research in various peer-reviewed journals and regularly presents at ISA Chapter and international events, and American Society of Consulting Arborists conferences. Drew earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, M.S. at Clemson University, and B.S. at Cornell University. He is also an ISA Certified Arborist® and ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist.