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.

Find Chris at:

Joshua Tree: https://myjoshuatree.com/
Tree Nerd Academy: https://www.treenerdacademy.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-comer-2b9a561b5/

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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.

🔗 Find Gabe at Fielding Tree Care:

Website: https://fieldingtreecare.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fieldingtreecare/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FieldingTrees/

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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.

✓ Why technical knowledge (especially fungi identification) creates competitive advantage.

✓ 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.

🌲 Connect with Eric:

Website: brooklintreecare.ca

Instagram: @brooklintree

Personal Instagram: @ericbatty

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.