About the Author

About The Author

1833 River Shores Dr., Knoxville, TN 37914 | 865-363-8736 | Ji*********@*****ok.com

Education:

University of Tennessee; Knoxville, TN – B.S., Forest Resource Management 1973–1976

Arboricultural Consulting Academy – American Society of Consulting Arborists 2002

Extensive private study in forestry, entomology, and related areas 1977 – Present

Work Experience:

1979 – Present Expert Witness – 55 Depositions and/or Court Cases.

1979 – Present 411 Consulting Reports and Appraisals

1977 – 2023 Tree Injection Products Company, Inc. (TIPCO) – President, Knoxville TN

1977 – 2013 Cortese Tree Specialists, Inc. –President, Knoxville, TN

Summer 1976 U.S. Forest Service- Gallatin National Forest, Big Timber, MT

Summer 1975 University of Tennessee – Forestry Summer Camp

Summer 1974 U.S. Forest Service- Six Rivers National Forest, Gasquet, CA

Summer 1973 E.L. Bruce Hardwood Flooring Company, Memphis TN

Major Accomplishments:

Published first book, John Muir Climbs a Tree and Other Tree Tales – An Anthology of Tree Stories 2025
Cortese Urban Forestry Endowed Scholarship established Univ. of Tenn. 2017

Helped change Tennessee State law via appraisal of an alee of trees along a drive: Blair Wood vs. Tony Wolfenbarger. This case lost at the courthouse level but was over-turned on appeal at the Tennessee Appellate Court level. It changed Tenn. State law allowing the ISA – Trunk formula method to be allowed in lawsuits in Tennessee, in addition to Timber valuation of trees. 2012

Responsible for the Eastern Red Cedar being voted upon and adopted by the TN State Legislature as the Tennessee State Evergreen tree. 2012

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum – Co-founder 2000
Coordination and Leadership in State recognized Arboreta Establishment.
Knoxville Zoological Gardens – Class 1 (2015)
Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville – Class 1 (2014)
Marble Springs State Historic Site – Class 1 (2013)
Halls Outdoor Classroom – Class 1 (2012)
Knoxville Botanical Garden – Class 1 (2011)

Coordination and Leadership Role with TUFC to Identify Tennessee’s Historic and Heritage Trees
Dueling Oaks, Memphis, nominated by Jim Cortese/ accepted 2014.
Thomas “Bigfoot” Spencer Sycamore, Castalian Springs, Sumner County, nominated/accepted 2014.
Andrew Johnson Willows, Greeneville, nominated by Jim Cortese/ accepted 2012.
Daniel Boone 1776 scribed Beech – Medina, TN, nominated/ accepted 2004.

Professional Society Memberships:

International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.) since 1977, retired – 2024.
Southern Chapter I.S.A.- member since 1977, retired – 2024.
American Forestry Association (Lifetime Member since 1979).
Tree Care Industry Association – member since 1980 – Senior member since 2024.
East Tennessee Horticulture and Landscape Association (Past President – 1986).
University of Tennessee Arboretum Society (Lifetime Member since 1990).
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council – member since 1993 (past president, founding Board member).
Knoxville Tree Board 1991 – 2003 (Founding member, Chairman for 10 years).
American Society of Consulting Arborists – member since 2001, retired – 2024.
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum – Board of Directors – 2001 to 2010; Founding member.
Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum – Vice President 2001 – 2005.
Knoxville’s Historic Old Gray Cemetery – Board of Directors – 2008 – 2024.
Knoxville’s Historic Mabry-Hazen Home – Board of Directors – 2011 – 2017.

Licensing, Certifications, and Awards:

International Society of Arboriculture True Professional Award 2020
Dogwood Arts Festival’s House & Garden recognition as a 35-year supporter 2013
Tree Care Industry Association – Accredited Tree Company Business Award 2007
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s Green Industry Award 2007
International Society of Arboriculture

– Board Certified Master Arborist #SO-0241 B – retired. 2005- 2024

Knoxville News Sentinel Environmental Achievement Award

– “Outstanding Achievement by a Business” 2005

Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s Private Professional award 2000
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council’s Private Arborist of the year 1996
National Arborist Foundation-Certificate of Appreciation 1995
International Society of Arboriculture –

Certified Arborist #SO-0241 A – retired 1994-2024

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Enterpriser of the Month 1991
J.J. Mauget – Inject–a-cide B Certification 1977 – present
Tennessee Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator license for Forest

Pest Control; Ornamental and Turf; Demonstration, Research and

Regulatory. 1977 – 2024

Selected Lectures and Speaking Engagements:

TCIA Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, – October 2015

“Thoughts on Plant Health Care”
Alabama Urban Forestry Association, Orange Beach, AL – October 2014

1) “Environmental Effects of Pesticides”

2) “Survey, Analysis, and Conclusions of 3 Knoxville Utility Board

Circuits”

3) “My Favorite Consulting Cases”

Univ. of Tennessee Tree Workshop, Knoxville, TN – July 2014
- “The Business Side of Tree Topping”
Carolina Tree Care, Charlotte, NC – January 2014
- “Plant Health Care Issues and Treatments – Diseases”
Carolina Tree Care, Charlotte, NC – January 2014
- “Plant Health Care Issues and Treatments – Insects”
University of Tennessee Arboretum Society – 2014
- “Appraising the Value of the Harold Elmore Holly Collection”
Southern Chapter ISA, Memphis, TN – March 2013
- “Winning in Court with the Trunk Formula Method”
Tennessee Green Industry Expo, Nashville, TN – January 2013
- “Tree care Treatments: Past, Present, and Future”
GUFC College Canopy Conference, Lawrenceville, GA – Sept. 2012
- “Saving Auburn University’s Toomer Oaks”
Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association – 2012
- “Tree Care Treatments: Past, Present, & Future “
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, Chattanooga, TN
“Treestory of Tennessee” – October 2010
“The Science and Art of Tree Injections” – 1995
Charlotte Arborists Association, NC – Annual Meeting – 1998
Tennessee Nursery Association – 1997
- “How to Put an Arborist out of Business”
Univ. of Tenn. Landscape, Turf & Grounds Mgmt. Short Course – 1995
“Bicentennial Trees in Tennessee”
Arkansas Urban Forestry Council – Annual Meeting – 1994
1) “Creating a Successful Urban Forestry Council”
2) “The Perils of Tree Topping”

Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association – 1992
- “New Concepts of Tree Biology”
University of Tennessee Arboretum Society – 1992
- “Tree Biology and Tree Topping”
Alabama Nursery Association – 1991
- “Thoughts on Keeping Trees Healthy”
Tennessee Urban & Community Forestry Training Short Course – 1989

1) “Compartmentalization”

2) “Tree Injection”

3) “Pruning and Topping”

Southern Chap. – International Society of Arboriculture – Annual Meeting -1989
“A Case for the Professional Use of Micro-Injection”
Motlow State Community College Tree Seminar; Tullahoma, TN – 1988:

1) “Tree Biology: Root Systems, Growth, Topping,

General Pruning, and Utility line pruning”

2) “Tree Construction relationships”

3) “Insect and Disease control”

Tullahoma Urban forestry Meeting
“Tree Biology Basics” – 1988
Georgia Arborists Association – Annual Meeting – 1986
Tennessee Tech Tree & Shrub Workshop – 1985

1) “Landscape Trees That Merit Attention”

2) “Tree Fertilization: Systemic Injection, Soil Injection & Surface Broadcast)

3) “Basic Tree Pruning Techniques”

4) “Panel Discussion: Plant Pest Management”

Kentucky Arborists Association – Annual Meeting 3 lectures 1980’s/ early 90’s
KY Nursery and Landscape Ass. – Annual Meeting, Keynote speaker: Career – Into

The Future with Forty Years Behind Me – 2-18-2021

Many lectures at many Knoxville and East Tennessee area Garden and Civic Clubs
Primary lecturer at over 200 seminars on Plant Health Care – 1977-1997

Selected Publications:

“The Tree Stands Tall”’, Tree Care Industry Magazine April 2024
Jim Cortese’s 3-part TCI (Tree Care Industry) Magazine below Article, starting in October, December 2020, and January 2021 issues:

Part 1: Musings on Tree Work and Plant Health Care After 40 Years in the Industry – Tree Care Industry Magazine (tcia.org)

40 Years of Tree Work and PHC – Part 2: Programs, Treatments and Fertilizers – Tree Care Industry Magazine (tcia.org)

40 Years of Tree Work and PHC – Part 3: Recordkeeping, Sales and Marketing – Tree Care Industry Magazine (tcia.org)

Appraisal of the University of Tennessee Arboretum Holly Collection;

ISA’s Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 44(5):224–228 2018

Achieving, and Foretelling of, a Long Life and Prosperity; Tree Care Industry

Magazine July 2018

Spider-mites on Trees – What to do? There are options; LinkedIn Apr,4, 2017
An Assessment of the Trees of S. E. Cuba; Tree Care Industry Magazine March 2017
Tree Growth Regulators – They are not all the Same; LinkedIn Dec – 2016
In Memory of All the Trees That Have Died in Vain;

Southern Chapter – International Society of Arboriculture Newsletter Winter 2009