W. Jim Cortese is an arborist, forestry consultant, and lifelong student of trees based in Knoxville, Tennessee. A graduate of the University of Tennessee in Forest Resource Management, Cortese spent more than forty years working in arboriculture, serving as president of Tree Injection Products Company and Cortese Tree Specialists while consulting on thousands of tree preservation and hundreds of appraisal cases across the Southeast. Throughout his career he has lectured widely on plant health care, historic trees, and urban forestry, and has been recognized for his contributions to environmental stewardship and tree preservation. Cortese is also a co-founder of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum and has played a key role in identifying and documenting historic and heritage trees in Tennessee. He was one of the founding members of the Tennessee Urban Forest Council and its third president. In addition he was on the first Knoxville Tree Board and its president for over ten years. His book John Muir Climbs a Tree and Other Tree Tales is believed to be the first anthology devoted entirely to stories about trees, celebrating the history, folklore, and human experiences connected to the natural world.
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.
About the Author
W. Jim Cortese is an arborist, forestry consultant, and lifelong student of trees based in Knoxville, Tennessee. A graduate of the University of Tennessee in Forest Resource Management, Cortese spent more than forty years working in arboriculture, serving as president of Tree Injection Products Company and Cortese Tree Specialists while consulting on thousands of tree preservation and hundreds of appraisal cases across the Southeast. Throughout his career he has lectured widely on plant health care, historic trees, and urban forestry, and has been recognized for his contributions to environmental stewardship and tree preservation. Cortese is also a co-founder of the Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum and has played a key role in identifying and documenting historic and heritage trees in Tennessee. He was one of the founding members of the Tennessee Urban Forest Council and its third president. In addition he was on the first Knoxville Tree Board and its president for over ten years. His book John Muir Climbs a Tree and Other Tree Tales is believed to be the first anthology devoted entirely to stories about trees, celebrating the history, folklore, and human experiences connected to the natural world.
W. Jim Cortese CV
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:
Professional Society Memberships:
Licensing, Certifications, and Awards:
– Board Certified Master Arborist #SO-0241 B – retired. 2005- 2024
– “Outstanding Achievement by a Business” 2005
Certified Arborist #SO-0241 A – retired 1994-2024
Pest Control; Ornamental and Turf; Demonstration, Research and
Regulatory. 1977 – 2024
Selected Lectures and Speaking Engagements:
TCIA Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, – October 2015
1) “Environmental Effects of Pesticides”
2) “Survey, Analysis, and Conclusions of 3 Knoxville Utility Board
Circuits”
3) “My Favorite Consulting Cases”
1) “Compartmentalization”
2) “Tree Injection”
3) “Pruning and Topping”
1) “Tree Biology: Root Systems, Growth, Topping,
General Pruning, and Utility line pruning”
2) “Tree Construction relationships”
3) “Insect and Disease control”
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”
The Future with Forty Years Behind Me – 2-18-2021
Selected Publications:
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)
ISA’s Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. 44(5):224–228 2018
Magazine July 2018
Southern Chapter – International Society of Arboriculture Newsletter Winter 2009
Southern Chapter – International Society of Arboriculture Newsletter Fall 2008
Southern Chapter – International Society of Arboriculture Newsletter Winter 1999
Through the Green, a publication of the Georgia Golf Course Association 1995
Consultation Services Provided to:
Tree Care Industry Association – Mentoring program:
Hobbies:
Fishing, history, photography, reading, and searching for:
Tennessee State Champions: (34)
Georgia State champion Tree (1)
Alabama State Champion Trees (2)
National Champion Trees (2)
The Cortese Urban Forestry Scholarship