Our Humble Beginning

 

Charly Pottorff and Ron Yankowski, the original founders of Wildcat Tree dating all the way back to 1969. This is how it all started.

 

 

 

Charly Pottorff

 

Growing up in Hagerstown, Maryland, Charly’s love of trees began at an early age. He spent an enormous amount of time in the woods behind his family home. Charly climbed a lot of trees at an early age. For kicks, Charly would climb a tree, have another guy cut down the tree, and Charly would ride it down. To get stronger in the off season, Charly would rip dead trees out of the ground. Charly believed this type of strength would assist him when he played football for North Hagerstown High School.

 

Years later Charly started his business, Wildcat Tree Service, based in Manhattan, Kansas, in 1969 with his friend, Ron Yankowski. Ron later played football for the St. Louis Cardinals for ten years, and Charly developed his expertise in large tree removal. Years later, Charly started Charly's International, which provides gear for arborists and woodsmen.

 

Charly enjoys photography, and he teamed up with Jerry Beranek on two occasions to photograph the Giant Redwoods. For several years, Charly has been the Master of Ceremonies at the Midwest Chapter of ISA Jamboree. He has provided clinics from Alaska to Central America promoting physical training and rigging. Charly invites all to join him in keeping in good shape to enhance the work experience and provide for a healthier and happier lifestyle.