The Arborist Growth Partners Podcast

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 t...

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 tre...

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...

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: - Wha...

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 aer...

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...

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 reta...

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...

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 e...

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 busi...

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 vete...

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, a...

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 gr...

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: 🌳 Treati...

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 spr...

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...

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 t...

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. Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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 compa...