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.

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.

Find John at: https://wtreecare.ca/

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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.

Find JWD Tree Service at their website: https://jwdtree.ca

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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.

Find Aaron: https://devostree.ca/

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.

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.

🔗 Guest: Michael Kenins – https://VistaTree.ca

Visit ArboristGrowthPartners.com to connect or learn more.