Keith May, MLGW's Arborist

Keith May, General Supervisor, Line Clearance, has been with MLGW for 25 years. He worked as a Forester for five years before becoming General Supervisor. What many may not realize is that he is also an arborist. Keith says, “You can become an arborist by getting a college degree in Arborculture or you can get certified by the International Society of Arborculture (ISA), which is what I did.” The certification involves taking courses and passing tests in about 8 to 10 different domains (i.e. tree biology, tree identification, soils, cabling and bracing, safety, insects and diseases, etc.).

Having an arborist on staff is a plus for the utility. Keith says, “A utility arborist specializes in the maintenance and removal of trees or other vegetation to ensure the proper functioning of the electric power lines and/or equipment without interference.”