Our Staff

Meet our Owners

Kenneth A. Ottman, Chief Executive Officer

Kenneth A. Ottman, Chief Executive Officer


Ken is a respected industry leader with over 50 years experience in the tree care profession. He holds a B.S. in forestry from UW-Stevens Point and a M.S. from Michigan State University. Ken is past president of both the 700+ member Wisconsin Arborist Association and the 35,000+ member International Society of Arboriculture. He has received the ISA President's Award, WAA Distinguished Service Award, WAA Honorary Lifetime Member Award, and the ISA's higest Award of Merit. He is also an Honorary Life Member of ISA. Ken served for 10 years on the Governor's Forestry Council.  He also was the chairman of the Wisconsin Urban Forestry Council, and for 15 years was Vice-Chairman of theTree Research & Education Endowment fund (TREEfund).  In his honor, the TREEFund established the "Ken Ottman Volunteer of the Year Award"  He has spent most of his career mentoring urban forestry/arboriculture professionals by promoting membership and active participation in industry organizations, and investment into continuing arboricultural research.

Mark J. Pinkalla, Certified Arborist/President, #WI-0216A at First Choice Tree Care

Mark J. Pinkalla, Certified Arborist #WI-0216A


Mark has been a co-owner of First Choice Tree Care since 2000, and an ISA Certified Arborist since 1993. His experience includes a quarter-century in commercial arboriculture and nine years in municipal forestry. Mark completed his bachelor's degree in urban forestry at UW-Stevens Point in 1991. He holds the International Society of Arboriculture's TRAQ (tree risk assessment qualification) credential and is an inspector for the Wisconsin Champion Tree program.

Meet our Experts

 Jeffrey Boeder, Manager Mequon Office at First Choice Tree Care

Jeffrey Boeder, Manager Mequon Office


Jeff has been active in the tree care industry since 1980. He holds a B.S. in Forestry from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, and has extensive experience in all facets of urban tree care. He was employed by the City of Milwaukee for over 31 years, where he performed at every level of the organization from field crew operations to upper management. He is a member of both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Wisconsin Arborist Association. Jeff has chaired numerous committees for both organizations, served on the WAA Board of Directors, and has received the WAA Distinguished Service award. In his spare time Jeff coaches pole vault for the boys track team at Brookfield East High School.

 Nolan Gilbertson, Certified Arborist at First Choice Tree Care

Nolan Gilbertson, Certified Arborist, #WI-0632A


Nolan graduated from Winona State University in 2003 with a B.S. in Biology. Since then, he has worked in the tree care industry in the Milwaukee area as well as in Central Wisconsin. Nolan is an ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Pesticide Applicator. He is currently the Production Coordinator in our Mequon office.