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.

RICK CATENACCI - Plant Health Care Coordinator
We At Graf Tree Care have our share of hard working individuals. “Ricky pretty much tops that list”, says Phil. “Dedication and loyalty are burnt into his soul. He is the type of guy that would take the shirt off of his back for you.”

When you need your trees cared for through root feeding and sprays, Rick is the man on the job. He is an ISA certified arborist, licensed commercial pesticide operator and applicator.

He has been in the tree care industry for more than ten years, six with Graf Tree Care. Rick started with Graf Tree as a ground man on tree pruning and removal crews. He took great interest in the way trees work and what makes trees healthy or unhealthy. He still enjoys the winter months with a pruning saw or chipping brush. Rick is also a very skilled machine operator who can operate anything from a skid loader to a tub-grinder.

PAUL DECKMAN - Lawn Care Specialist
Beginning his third year at Graf Tree Care, Paul was instrumental in developing our “tree friendly” lawn care program. With 20 years in the lawn care industry, he began our lawn care division in 2009.

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.

DARIO ARELLANO - Plant Health Care, Groundman
Dario is in his 4th year here at Graf Tree Care. He is a licensed PHC operator and spends the busy season working on Plant Health Care and Lawn Care. During the winter months, he works as a ground man on the tree crew.  “ I am very proud of Dario and everything he has learned about trees and tree care, “ says Phil.  This good natured and very funny guy hails from West Chicago. He is a graduate of Bartlett High School. He enjoys spending time with his family, working on his car and long walks on the beach.

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.

STEPHEN KRUSE - Groundman
Steve is in his first year here at Graf Tree Care. He has started out as a groundman on our tree crew, and is now is the beginning stages of learning the skill of tree climbing. He is 20 years old and from Batavia. He comes from a family of 8 with 2 brothers and 3 sisters. His hobbies include exploring forests with his dog Spartacus, and making music. Steve studied Music Theory at Wabaunsee for 2 years, and is currently building a greenhouse to grow vegetables through winter. In the future, he hopes to design and build innovative new greenhouses, and is excited to be learning from some of the best climbers around.

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!

ANNA CATENACCI - Chief Financial Officer 
Aside from running daily operations in the office, Anna manages the company’s finances. She has been managing offices and business of various kinds for many years. She has been in the tree care industry for more than ten years, six with Graf Tree Care.

In 2007, Anna, a softball enthusiast, headed up the first ever Graf Tree Care softball team. Although we were probably not one of her greatest accomplishments (ha-ha we were 3-7), she was equally as great managing the team, as she is the office.

Anna is a life-long West Chicago resident and die-hard White Sox fan. She has been married to husband Rick Sr. for 32 years. They have two children, Rick and Dana.

PHIL GRAF - President, CEO, salesperson, tree climber, ground man, office help, the guy that makes coffee at the shop.

Born in 1973, the second of eight children to Larry and Barbara Graf of Lake in the Hills, Illinois. Growing up in what was then a small rural town, Phil began a lifetime of being outdoors. Fishing and playing baseball were how he passed his time. He sums it up: “While most young boys can’t be cooped up inside, everyone at one point or another overcomes that in order to assume adult responsibilities - like work. I just never outgrew that.” Phil Prides himself on being outside 7 days a week year round, rain or shine - climbing trees, working on a tree inventory, or maybe ice fishing.

After High School at Jacobs High School in Algonquin, Phil attended College of St. Francis for four years where he majored in Mathematics. His love of nature and the outdoors led him to a career in arboriculture, which began in 1994. He became a certified arborist in 1999 and started Graf Tree Care in 2000. It is here that he has become committed to excellence and customer service satisfaction. This, along with developing a great team spirit, is his primary focus.

Phil has been married to wife Jennipher since 1996 and they live happily with five children - Meredith 13, Sophia 11, Frances 9, Roy 5, and Gloria 2. They enjoy family activities such as boating, tent camping, and playing (not watching) sports. Phil coaches softball for his three girls at West Chicago Park District.