The company has a focus on design and has a deep understanding of the forestry and arboriculture markets, and the needs of operators in those markets. With a focus on reliability, practicality, and innovation, Vertical Forestry is dedicated to transforming the way that operators work.
Our Values
Partnership
Vertical Forestry believes in the value of partnership – the idea that by sharing and leveraging each partner’s strengths we can create a stronger company and deliver superior results for every shareholder. We want our partners to share in our successes. Knowing the tree industry as we do, this means our partners expect to work with us side-by-side through the challenges inherent in the business.
Talent
We remain committed to the employees as the most critical shareholder group within our industry, recognizing the role that safety and team cohesion play in motivating and leveraging employees’ goodwill and enthusiasm. Rather than “acquiring talent” through acquisition, we are firmly aware that the talent is on loan. We intend to pay it back with interest. In fact, rather than measuring success by the retention of talented employees after a new partnership, we measure it by growth of talent.
People
We think that it is through continued investment in people that we can best serve our clients, vendors, and other strategic partners. Ultimately, it is our belief in people that sets us apart. We invite you to read more about what this means for us. This site explains in detail the actual elements we used and our approach to people – and how we develop and build a word-class team of professionals. Let these details inform you about the values that drive us.
One last thing – we like to show you these things in person when possible. Let’s meet – in Atlanta or elsewhere – and shake hands. When building trust, there’s a lot to be said for the old-fashioned way.
Our Team
Tierson Boutte – Tierson enjoys working with tree climbers and other tree people and believes great tree businesses find a way for tree climbers to feel at home. A Georgia Tech grad, he can help find technical solutions for the tree industry – or failing that, can employ technical jargon to sound nerdy. Whatever it takes! Tierson enjoys working on legislative efforts that relate to the tree industry or urban forestry. Tierson has a passion to make tree businesses safe places that attract the best workers and retain the brightest talent!
Art Morris – Art believes that arborists and skilled tree workers don’t get the credit we deserve for our contribution to the well-being of our communities. He is passionate about serving the tree care industry by helping professionalize businesses, improve employee development programs and incorporate plant health care and technical services for our partner companies.
Our Partners
We are always looking for great tree services to join us in our mission to improve outcomes for employees and clients. We are especially looking for the following attributes in a tree service:
- Engaged Ownership willing to partner with us to develop new leaders
- Strong focus on residential and commercial tree care services.
- Strong management team, with potential future leadership qualities
- Safety & training-focused
Boutte Tree, Inc. is an Atlanta-based company founded in 2002 with a commitment to safety, great arboricultural practices, and customer service. Boutte Tree has a reputation for treating people right and tackling the hardest projects.
Approach
Vertical Forestry is dedicated to transforming the tree service industry through strategic partnerships that leverage the strengths of individual companies to create a more robust and sustainable future. Our goal is to foster a culture of safety, efficiency, and sustainable growth. While we are innovative, we also learn from the past. This section explores the dynamics of the tree service business, the impact of leadership and culture, and the benefits that companies can reap by partnering with Vertical Forestry.
The Growth & Decline of Tree Services
Tree service businesses, encompassing the arboriculture industry, operate on a fee-for-service basis and engage with trees near infrastructure, making the sector inherently risky. Despite these risks, the demand for tree services remains stable, even during economic downturns, due to the essential nature of these services. However, weather seasonality, and the low barriers to entry do create volatility in demand. This creates highly variable pricing pressure, which acts in concert with a highly mobile workforce can result in rapid growth or sudden decline. This section delves into how employees influence business trajectories, the unique industry factors that lead to resource dissipation, and strategies for maintaining a tree service company within safe operational parameters.
Organic Growth in the Tree Service Industry
The tree care industry's fundamental unit is the crew, typically consisting of 2 to 5 workers led by a proficient climber. The low barrier to entry fosters a vibrant startup environment. However, growth trajectories are often limited by recruitment, training, sales expertise, marketing, or management deficiencies. Vertical Forestry is able to supplement an owner’s strength to leverage great success in continuing organic growth.
Training in the Tree Service Industry
Initial growth in tree services often stems from strong foundational skills in climbing and sales. However, as companies expand, training gaps, particularly in safety, become apparent. Tree work involves complex skills influenced by various factors, necessitating nuanced understanding gained through experience. Effective training is crucial but challenging due to the environment. Creative approaches, such as experienced trainers climbing with trainees, are essential.
Leadership & Culture of Safety
A genuine culture of safety requires active leadership and continuous nurturing. Effective leaders articulate clear safety values, integrate them into strategic objectives, and ensure team engagement. Building a sustainable safety culture involves focusing on leading indicators over lagging metrics, integrating safety into daily management, and establishing accountability and measurement systems. Vertical Forestry’s team can help build the leadership of tomorrow– but we’ll need the support and encouragement of an involved owner/founder to do it.
Vertical Forestry's approach to partnering with tree service companies is built on understanding the industry's dynamics and fostering a culture of safety, investing in training, and developing strong leadership. By addressing training deficiencies, developing managers, and maintaining operational and cultural continuity, we create a stable, thriving environment for tree service companies. Our strategies are designed to ensure successful partnerships that benefit company owners, employees, and clients alike. For more details on the guiding principles that Vertical Forestry uses to help tree companies succeed, consider reading this document, which is part of our EHS manual.
