Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Arborist Growth Partners Podcast
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Titre
Date
Durée
Building a Tree Business You Don't Need To Escape From. An Interview With Korey Lofy
16 Dec 2025
00:52:12
What does success really look like in the tree industry?
In this episode, Graeme Knight sits down with Korey Lofy of ArborJet and the Discovering Forestry Podcast for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about business, career paths, plant health care, sales, burnout, and defining success on your own terms.
This isn’t a hype podcast or a “get rich quick” discussion. It’s more like two industry veterans talking around a campfire, covering what actually matters after you’ve been in trees long enough to gain perspective.
In this episode, we cover: - Why success in tree care isn’t just revenue. - The shift from removals to recurring revenue & plant health care. - Common sales mistakes tree service companies make (and how to fix them). - How to sell ethically by solving problems, not pushing quotes. - Career pivots, mistakes, and lessons learned the hard way. - Why freedom, family, and longevity matter more than hustle culture. - The future of the tree industry and opportunities for the next generation.
Whether you’re a tree service owner, climber, sales arborist, or someone thinking long-term about your career in arboriculture, this episode will give you a lot to think about.
How to Find Korey: - Discovering Forestry Podcast, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms. - LinkedIn & Facebook: Search Korey Lofy (K-O-R-E-Y L-O-F-Y) - Email: klofy@arborjet.com
Building a Company That Feels Like Family, And Still Gets It Done. An Interview With Greg McCafferty
01 Dec 2025
00:49:44
In this episode, I talk with Greg McCafferty, owner of JWD Tree Service in Smiths Falls, Ontario, about how he built a tree service company that truly feels like family, while still operating at a high, professional level.
Greg shares how he went from evenings-and-weekends tree work with a $1,500 chipper to running a full operation with multiple crews, municipal contracts, winter snow divisions, and a loyal team that stays year after year.
We cover: • How to keep great employees and avoid high turnover. • Paying people what they’re worth (and why it works). • Growing from small jobs to full-scale operations. • Running tree work + snow removal to keep crews employed. • Delegation, structure, and the systems that took JWD to the next level. • Why customer service and cleanup matter more than most realize.
If you’re growing a tree service company this conversation is packed with practical lessons and real-world experience.
Modern Tree Service Marketing. An Interview With Aaron DeVos
18 Nov 2025
00:39:42
Growing a tree service business requires more than chainsaws, ropes, and grit. It demands communication, transparency, modern systems, and a brand homeowners trust.
In this episode, I sit down with Aaron DeVos of DeVos Tree Care, one of the most forward-thinking arborists in Ontario, to unpack the real playbook behind a thriving tree service company. We dive into the lessons Aaron learned while growing from a pickup truck and a trailer into one of the most reputable tree services in his region.
If you’re a tree service owner, estimator, or climber thinking about starting or scaling your business, this conversation is packed with insights that could change everything.
How VistaTree Built a Thriving Tree Service in Toronto with Michael Kenins of Vista Tree
07 Oct 2025
00:44:15
In this episode of the Arborist Growth Partners Podcast, Graeme Knight sits down with Michael Kenins, co-founder of VistaTree in Toronto, Ontario.
Michael shares how he went from the nonprofit world to running one of the most values-driven tree companies in Canada, and the lessons every tree service owner can learn from his journey.
We cover practical and hard-earned insights, including:
🌳 Treating your business like a living system. 📈 Creating real career paths for arborists. 💰 Why chasing money kills growth. 🧾 The importance of documenting systems early. 🚛 Building redundancy and business continuity. 🧠 Using CRMs like Jobber the right way.
Whether you’re just starting your tree service or looking to scale ethically and sustainably, this conversation is packed with advice you can act on right now.
How Tree Service Companies Can Scale Smarter with Steve Samuels (SingleOps, LMN, Greenius)
22 Sep 2025
00:50:10
What separates successful tree service companies from those always struggling?
In this episode, I sit down with Steve Samuels, Senior Account Executive at SingleOps, LMN, and Greenius, to dive deep into what it takes to grow a thriving tree care business.
We cover: • Why SOPs and job costing are game-changers. • How to build a great workplace that attracts and keeps talent. • The shift from spreadsheets to software, and why it matters. • How to look more professional and charge premium prices. • The importance of educating customers, not just giving quotes. • What the future of technology and AI means for arborists.
Whether you’re just starting out or already running crews, this episode is packed with insights on how to streamline your operations, boost profitability, and future-proof your tree service company.
📌 Find Steve here: https://singleops.com 📧 Contact Steve: Steve.Samuels@singleops.com
Join me for an inspiring conversation with John Snow, Board Certified Master Arborist and founder of Tree Checkup. John shares his journey from dragging brush in Illinois to leading a successful consulting firm, mentoring arborists, and shaping the future of the industry.
👉 In this episode, you’ll learn:
The three keys to building a thriving tree care company: team, network, and value.
How John transitioned from sales arborist to consulting and launched Tree Checkup.
Why giving back through mentoring and community leadership fuels industry growth.
His vision for the Smart Tree Care Community and arborist education.
Practical lessons on finding clients, building networks, and staying inspired.
How to grow your Plant Health Care business, with Kathy Glassey from Inspire Green
19 Aug 2025
00:43:04
What separates tree service companies that thrive from those that just survive? In this episode, Graeme Knight sits down with Kathy Glassey of Inspire Green, an arborist, consultant, and industry veteran with over 35 years of experience.
Kathy shares her journey from turf grass management to becoming an ISA Certified Arborist and soil microscopy technician, and why she believes the foundation of tree care is always the soil. She explains how tree service companies can build recurring revenue with plant health care programs, avoid costly mistakes, and better educate homeowners about caring for their trees.
🔑 Highlights include: • Why knowing your numbers separates thriving businesses from struggling ones. • The importance of soil health in long-term tree care. • How to start a plant health care division in your tree service company. • Communicating value to homeowners in simple, relatable terms. • Kathy’s personal story of building Inspire Green as a family business.
📌 Whether you’re a homeowner wanting healthier trees or a tree service professional looking to grow your business, this interview is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
An interview with Dave Sheridan from Ascension Tree Care
05 Aug 2025
00:39:44
In this episode, I sit down with Dave Sheridan from Ascension Tree Care to talk about the journey of building and growing a successful tree service business. Dave shares real-world insights from the field, including how he got started, the challenges he faced, and the strategies that have helped his company stand out in a competitive market.
Whether you’re just starting your own tree service company or looking for ideas to take your business to the next level, you’ll find practical advice and inspiration in this conversation.
In this quick intro, host Graeme Knight shares why the Arborist Growth Partners Podcast was created, who it’s for, and what you can expect in the months ahead.
If you’re a tree service business owner looking for real-world strategies, expert interviews, and honest advice to grow your business, you’re in the right place.
Know Your Goals, Know Your Numbers. An Interview With John Wight
12 Jan 2026
00:37:03
What does it really take to run a successful tree service business, especially through harsh winters?
In this episode, Graeme Knight sits down with John Wight of Wight Tree Service, a second-generation arborist who grew up in the industry and now runs a professional, year-round tree care company serving areas from Lake Simcoe to Toronto.
John shares what he’s learned from taking over a family business, managing crews, planning months ahead, and building a reputation where clients are willing to wait for quality work. This isn’t theory, it’s a practical, honest conversation about how real tree companies operate when the snow hits and the phone slows down.
🌲 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: • Why business owner goals determine whether a tree company thrives or just survives. • How John plans 90 days ahead to stay busy through winter. • What tree services still sell well in January–March. • Why stopping marketing in winter is a mistake. • How premium tree companies avoid competing on price. • The role of CRM systems and follow-ups in repeat business. • Hiring lessons every owner learns the hard way. • How to stay top-of-mind without annoying past clients. • The book that helped John think differently about cash flow (Profit First).
If you’re a tree service owner dealing with seasonal slowdowns, staffing challenges, or growth decisions, this episode offers real-world insight you can actually apply.
John Wight is the owner of Wight Tree Service in Ontario, Canada. As a second-generation arborist, he brings decades of hands-on experience in tree removal, pruning, winter operations, and building a professional service business.
The Real Path To Tree Care Industry Success. An Interview With Eric Batty.
26 Jan 2026
00:43:44
Eric Batty is a former world-class mountain bike racer who built a successful arboriculture business from the ground up. Starting with zero tree experience, he called 45 companies looking for work before landing his first position. Today he runs Brooklin Tree Care.
In this conversation, Eric discusses:
✓ Getting started in the industry with a rock climbing background.
✓ The importance of proper education and mentorship.
✓ How teaching at Humber College's Arboriculture Program elevated his expertise.
✓ Building a business on hard work and continuous learning.
✓ The value of surrounding yourself with people smarter than you.
Eric's approach is practical: deep technical knowledge wins more work than marketing alone. When you can identify fungi from 30 feet away that competitors miss on-site, you sell jobs at a different level.
Whether you're considering starting a tree service or looking to differentiate your existing business, Eric provides straightforward insights on building expertise and reputation.
ISA Exam Prep Done Right. An Interview With Chris Comer
24 Feb 2026
00:34:28
Studying for your ISA Certified Arborist exam doesn't have to be boring. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Comer, founder of Tree Nerd, a visual, engaging ISA exam prep platform built by an arborist, for arborists.
Forget dry PowerPoint lectures. Tree Nerd pairs real video footage of arboricultural work with the science behind it, making complex material far easier to understand and retain.
Chris walks us through how to use the platform alongside the official ISA study guide, and introduces the community and study group features that make exam prep a collaborative experience.
Whether you're a tree service owner looking to get your crew certified, or an arborist ready to level up your career, this one's for you.
He Failed at Rock & Roll, Then Found His Calling in Trees. An Interview With Gabe Fielding
10 Feb 2026
00:57:35
From Mediterranean Navy cruises to fronting a band called the Loaded Bananas to climbing trees in Colorado, Gabe Fielding's path to building Fielding Tree Care is anything but ordinary.
In this episode, Gabe sits down with me to share the raw, unfiltered truth about 16+ years of running a tree service company in Denver.
He opens up about going $1.5M into equipment debt, the gut-wrenching pain of laying off employees in winter, and why internalizing rejection nearly broke him.
But this isn't a sob story! It's a masterclass! Gabe breaks down:
- Why knowing your numbers is the single biggest difference between companies that thrive and those that barely survive. - How he built his entire crew culture through Craigslist and word of mouth. - The "Noah's Ark" equipment strategy that saved his business. - Why he's already planning for winter 2027, in February 2026. - How the Old Man and the Sea is secretly one of the best business books ever written.
Whether you're a tree service owner, thinking about starting one, or just love hearing real entrepreneurial stories with zero fluff, this one's worth your time.
Tree Work Is People Work. An Interview With Stella Dee
03 Aug 2026
00:50:31
What really separates tree companies that thrive from those that merely survive?
Arborist and PhD candidate Stella Dee joins Graeme Knight to discuss the human side of tree care. From earning clients’ trust and building flexible workplaces to running a lean tree business and knowing when to say no.
They also explore climbing during pregnancy, balancing arboriculture with parenthood, pricing side work, tree-risk uncertainty, and Stella’s research into pruning, cabling, and tree biomechanics.
A thoughtful conversation about trees, people, and building a career that fits the life you want.
Email: sde@umass.edu LinkedIn: Search for Stella Dee
Build a Business, Not a Job: An Interview with Saby Sattler
22 Jun 2026
00:54:58
In this episode of the Arborist Growth Podcast, Graeme Knight sits down with Saby Sattler, an arborist of 18+ years across Europe, New Zealand, and Canada, and now Director of Sales at ArboStar.
Saby shares hard-won lessons on what separates thriving tree companies from those just scraping by: knowing your real numbers, building systems instead of dependencies, and competing on reputation rather than price. We dig into his journey from firefighter to climber to tech, why "busy" doesn't mean "profitable," and how the right systems can give owners their life back.
Whether you run a one-crew operation or 40 crews, there's something here for you.
⏱️ In this episode:
- The biggest pricing mistake owners make. - Why the cheapest company is first to disappear. - Building a business that runs without you. - Pen-and-paper vs. modern systems. - Why professionalism wins clients (not your rigging). - What's next for the industry and AI.
Serving People, Not Just Trees. An Interview With Matt Latham
01 Jun 2026
00:55:09
In this episode of the Arborist Growth Partners podcast, I sit down with Matt Latham of Arborist on Demand to dig into what really separates thriving tree care companies from those barely surviving.
Matt shares his journey from hauling limbs at $8/hour to becoming a board certified master arborist, surviving the 2008 collapse of his first business, and building an 80% closing ratio by treating tree care as a human care business.
We cover the future of the arborist industry (ground-penetrating radar, sonic tomography, and where tech is headed), why professionalism and proper pricing matter, the case for plant health care over constant pruning, and the role of soil and microbes in tree health.
Matt also drops his favorite book recommendations and explains why mentorship and ongoing education are non-negotiable.
Inside a $3M+ Tree Service: An Interview With Kacy Keeffe
28 Apr 2026
00:51:40
Kacy Keeffe joined his parents' tree service after a physics degree at USF and helped grow it from $300K to over $3M in Tampa.
He's now a Board Certified Master Arborist, and a lawn care company recently bought out his parents' stake, keeping him on to run Arbor Bay and eventually expand tree care into the broader Southeast.
Kacy walks through what's worked: defining an ICP for every season, getting every sales rep ISA certified, turning one-time removals into recurring plant healthcare revenue, and selling ethically in Florida's unregulated market.
Why Tree Companies Are Adding Plant Healthcare. And Interview With Joe Boffa
14 Apr 2026
00:52:48
Graeme sits down with Joe Boffa, Rocky Mountain Territory Manager at Rainbow EcoScience, to talk plant healthcare, what it is, how tree companies can get started, and why the margins might surprise you.
Joe covers everything from the low-barrier entry points for small operators, to licensing requirements, CRM options, and how to sell PHC services to your existing client list.
Topics covered:
- What plant healthcare actually is (it's more than just spraying). - How one PHC tech can match the revenue of a 3-person tree crew. - Where to start if you're a small operation. - Licensing, what you need and what you don't. - CRMs for managing plant healthcare programs. - How to find your first PHC customers.
She Built It, Sold It, Then Built Something Better. An Interview With Rebecca Seibel.
30 Mar 2026
00:55:25
Most people sell their business and retire. Rebecca Seibel sold hers and started over. This time, entirely on her own terms. She bought a horse, moved to an off-grid cabin in the Wisconsin woods, and built something she actually wanted to wake up for every day.
Now, as the founder of Tree Spirit Consulting, Rebecca travels North America training tree crews on everything from chainsaw safety to aerial rescue to leadership. Weaving decades of hard-won field experience into every course she teaches.
In this conversation, we get into:
- Why your "internal drive" determines whether your business survives. - What it's really like being a woman in field arboriculture. - The training most tree crews skip, and why that's dangerous. - Why the $200 bid is disrespectful to the entire industry. - What "build a company you want to work in forever" actually means in practice.
Stay Curious or Fall Behind. An Interview With George Trott
17 Mar 2026
00:47:27
In this episode, Graeme sits down with George Trott of G Trott Tree Consultancy in the UK - the first international guest on the podcast. George watched a tree crew swinging chainsaws at a holiday park when he was 18 and never looked back. He shares the full journey from climbing trees commercially to running his own arboricultural consultancy, and what finally pushed him to go out on his own two years ago.
They dig into what makes tree companies thrive versus just survive, the key differences between the UK and North American industries, and why staying curious might be the most important thing any business owner can do.
Topics covered:
- From tree surgery to consultancy - George's career path. - UK qualifications vs ISA certifications in North America. - Why three is the magic crew number in the UK. - How to find ideal clients on LinkedIn. - AI tools for lone workers and tree consultants. - Planning applications, tree safety, and a wild WWII bomb shelter story.