We are a small business made up of 11 full time employees - 4 of which are ISA Certified Arborists. We have 3 skilled tree climbers, 3 PHC operators, grounds people and machine operators, fleet mechanic, marketing coordinator and an office manager.

We all enjoy arboriculture as a career, are friendly to deal with, and strive to perform the highest quality tree care available today. Our goals are to increase the long term sustainability of all trees in the landscape and keep our client's trees beautiful and healthy

CHRIS SCOTT - Director of Operations for Tree Work

This 21 year veteran can perform any task necessary that involves a tree. He is known for his tremendous work ethic. Not only does he maintain the highest level of skill as a tree climber, Chris is also an ISA certified arborist, and is a licensed commercial pesticide operator. His main order of business is tree pruning and removal, where he is a master of rigging and strategic and technical removal.

"I am lucky to have learned from Chris when I was first learning how to climb," says Phil, "but what is amazing is how well after years of hard work, he can still do what he does day in and day out. It is inspiring." Chris began competitive climbing in 2006, when he placed 10th out of 30 of the best tree climbers in Illinois. He competed again in June 2008.

You may see Chris riding his bicycle all around his hometown of St Charles. He is involved in his church and is a very faith filled and devoted family man. He has been married to wife Jami since 1998. They have 1 son, Henri, and 2 daughters, Maizie and Olive.

ZAC KING - Tree Inventory Technician

Zac is an ISA Certified Arborist and licensed PHC operator with ten years of experience in the tree care industry. He has worked on tree crews and in plant health care. Zac comes to us this year to work in our growing Natural Resource Management Division as a tree inventory technician. He will be out in the field, both park sites and street tree inventories collecting data on trees in which we will use to create Urban Forestry Management Plans and GIS Maps.

Zac has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Northern Illinois University. On a personal note, Zac resides in Geneva , is married with a 2 year old son, and enjoys brewing his own beer.

STEVE LANE - GIS Coordinator, Tree Inventory Expert

After graduating from the University of Oregon in 2004 with a double Major in environmental science and geography, Steve got into arboriculture back in the Chicagoland area. Over the last 6 years, Steve has performed municipal GPS tree inventories for Evanston, North Aurora, Northbrook, and Batavia in Illinois, as well as as massive GIS tree inventory for the city of Seattle Washington. Steve’s work and educational experience also include extensive work in botany and native areas restoration, which he brings to Graf as an additional service. His extensive experience with trees and native plants provide a holistic approach to residential land management. 

When he’s not out walking in the woods being a plant geek, he can be found at venues around the Chicagoland area, playing bass for one of several blues bands he plays with in his spare time.

JOSE ROBLES - Tree Climber

Jose is a hard worker who picked up the skill of climbing trees rather quickly from Chris and Phil. He has over five years of experience in the tree business, the last four with Graf Tree Care. Most of the season while we are out doing PHC applications, Jose is the lead climber on the Moonscape crew, installing down lights high in the canopy of trees.

Last year at an Arbor Day celebration at Lincoln Park in St. Charles, Jose won the foot-lock competition, a race where tree climbers are challenged to ascend a tree quickly and safely.  He has worked in the state of Texas on Live Oak and Mesquite trees. He is married to wife Elena and has two young boys, Alan and Brian---ages 4 and 6.

DIANA JEFFERY - Marketing Coordinator/ Office Manager 

Diana is a life long West Chicago resident and has been married to her husband Daniel for 28 years. They have four grown children, Josh, Robert, Tori and Renee. When not working, she enjoys gardening, bicycling and baking. She is also a dog lover and spends a lot of time with her Pug.

Diana joined us in 2009 with background knowledge of horticulture. She has taken classes at College of Dupage. She is very excited to be a part of our team so that she can continue her education on the wonders of trees and plants. Diana attends Harvest Bible Chapel where she is involved in the Care Team Ministry - serving people in need. Diana loves children and is looking forward to becoming a grandma soon!

PHIL GRAF - Business Owner, Urban Forester

Phil began his career in the tree care industry in 1993. From 1993-1999 Phil worked in both the private and municipal sectors of the industry. In 1999 after becoming an ISA Certified Arborist, he founded Graf Tree Care, Inc.
Starting out as a two man tree trimming operation, Phil grew the company throughout the next decade, providing quality tree care in DuPage and Kane Counties in areas such as Plant Health Care and Urban Forestry Management.

Phil is now an ISA Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist and spends most of his time working with Municipalities and Park Districts in order to make their Urban Forests better. EAB Management, Reforestation Planning, GIS based tree inventory, and professional arborist training are his specialty.

Phil is an active member of the Midwest Institute of Parks Executives (MIPE), and was named the Associate Member of the Year in 2012.
Phil has been married to wife Jennipher since 1996 and they live happily with six children - They enjoy family activities such as fishing, boating, and sports. Phil coaches softball and baseball at the West Chicago Park District.