Paying It Forward

How the Tree Care Industry is Uplifting Communities for Today and Tomorrow

The tree care industry is often recognized for its technical expertise when it comes to pruning branches, removing hazardous trees, and preserving landscapes. Yet many of our companies are proving that their work extends far beyond the physical tasks at hand. Across the country, tree care companies are investing in their communities, prioritizing quality work to ensure excellence, embracing sustainability, and advancing safety and innovation to strengthen the industry for future generations.

By “paying it forward” in these ways, the tree care industry, as a whole, is building legacies not only in the landscapes we shape but in the lives we touch.

Community Connections

Tree care companies have long been woven into the fabric of local communities, offering resources that extend beyond standard services. For many of our industry’s businesses, community outreach is not simply an add-on, but a cornerstone of company culture.

At Stanley Tree Service based in Smithfield, R.I., employees regularly dedicate time and resources to local initiatives.

“We’re always actively looking for things that we can help out with in any kind of way,” explained Emma Senerchia, Stanley’s marketing specialist. “Especially if it’s a service that we can deliver because we have the manpower and the equipment and the ability to help.”

Stanley’s crews have helped with community projects ranging from memorials to school partnerships, donating both labor and materials to community causes. This past summer, the Kinney Azalea Garden in South Kingston had an ash borer issue on its 16 acres of land. The problem was destroying ash trees and creating hazards for those enjoying the landscape. Stanley Tree Service stepped in and removed eight trees in two days.

“That was something that made a big impact,” Senerchia said. “Even without the hazard being involved, it was something that changed the overall look of the entire garden.”

Wonderland Tree Care in Oyster Bay, N.Y., carries forward a similar tradition of community involvement. President David Golan noted that giving back to the community has been part of the company’s identity since its founding in the 1970s. At the 2025 Arbor AWARDS™, Wonderland received one of three Service Tree Awards for its continual investment in the community. The company spends more than $50,000 annually, and the Wonderland team contributes roughly 300 hours of service every year.

One of their hallmark events is an annual kids’ climbing event that takes place every April at a two-day Arbor Day festival. For this program alone, the company invests 175 overtime hours as well as $18,000 for climbing equipment and other materials.

“It’s our biggest company initiative, and it started somewhere around 2001. We teach kids how to climb with a rope and saddle, with a strong focus on doing it safely,” Golan said. “We’ll probably put anywhere from 200 to 400 kids up in the tree throughout the weekend, depending on the weather.”

He also explained that the company puts on similar events for environmental nonprofits at various summer camps and community days. Wonderland employees volunteer eagerly for these community events, knowing their time is an investment in both the community and the next generation of arborists.

For Tree Care Partners, John Haehnel, vice president of operations and safety, stated that benevolence isn’t always about name recognition. It’s about building a good rapport and relationship with the community.

“To the people that we see every day in and around our service area,” he said. “It shows that we’re not just here to generate money. We’re here for the community.”

Haehnel explained that Tree Care Partners’ community engagements sometimes take the form of small but meaningful contributions. Among their charitable efforts, the company participates in the local Arbor Day celebrations, assists with fire department calls and rescues, and contributes hours and resources to veterans’ associations, youth sports, and many other initiatives. He discussed one example of simply donating half a day’s work to local organizations or providing equipment to scout projects.

“The guys get paid, but the company absorbs that cost,” he explained. “And it just boosts the relationships that we have with our local organizations.”

Smaller Efforts Matter

Across these examples, many tree care companies demonstrate that benevolence doesn’t always require large budgets.

“Even if you’re able to take down a tree that a neighbor is unable to afford the service of,” Senerchia observed. “That in itself is a big thing, and it’s helping in your own way.”

For growing tree care companies who want to start implementing community outreach initiatives, Golan recommends connecting with companies or organizations among your ideal clientele. Partnering with nonprofits related to parks, environmentally-focused organizations, business groups, and networking groups can promote your company and help you to possibly see eventual dividends from your efforts.

However, he emphasized that outreach efforts don’t necessarily have to include large cash donations or costly initiatives at the start.

“A lot of these don’t take a big cash investment to make a big impact with these groups,” Golan explained. “A lot of them just need help with physical work, on a committee, or they need help getting some event off the ground, whether it be donating half a day of work or even just some consulting services.”

Quality as Legacy

While direct outreach initiatives strengthen community ties, everyday commitment to quality work may be one of the most enduring ways tree care companies can pay it forward. Our quality services preserve landscapes, protect property, and sustain long-term relationships with clients and the community.

According to Haehnel, Tree Care Partners often encourages preservation on job sites rather than unnecessary tree removals, since this benefits both clients and communities. When a company can offer the preservation route, it saves the client money, preserves their property’s character and value, and ensures that communities maintain valuable environmental assets.

Haehnel also shared that when you simply remove a large number of trees, you’re eliminating a customer. Preserving trees, when possible, gains your company long-term clients with future opportunities for pruning, fertilizing, etc.

“This is one thing that’s really bolstered our reputation over the years,” he added. “Our quality of work, word of mouth, and standing behind our work.”

At Wonderland, quality is reinforced by continuous training and a culture of excellence. Golan shared how their staff use both volunteer days and client projects as opportunities for safety training and employee development.

“Through our quality of work, we perform tree care and, more importantly, tree preservation at a very high level — and very detailed,” Golan said. “We can protect trees that some may have said needed to be removed, but we can manage that risk safely and keep those trees alive. Our clients can enjoy the shade and the wildlife benefits of those trees, but we also maintain the safety level for those enjoying it.”

Stanley Tree Service also ties quality directly to its core values and its impact on the community.

“Our motto is, ‘do the right thing when no one is watching,’” said Senerchia.

She stressed that weekly meetings and consistent safety check-ins ensure that standards remain high, reinforcing that quality work at Stanley is expected — not optional.

Sustainability in Action

Tree care is inherently tied to environmental stewardship, and many companies see sustainability as another long-term way to give back to the community. Recycling programs, responsible environmental practices, and innovative treatments all contribute to healthier communities for future generations.

Stanley Tree Service has developed a wood waste recycling program that processes material into biofuel for regional power plants.

“We actually bought our own Peterson chipper, process material on site, and we recycle that and send it to power plants,” explained Julian Emerich, Stanley’s director of marketing.

He shared that the initiative diverts waste from landfills while supporting renewable energy production.

Tree Care Partners also prioritizes recycling.

“If we do tree removal and pruning, we try to recycle the chips,” said Haehnel. “We’ll deliver them to people’s property for mulch…or companies will bring them to a power plant, so they get turned into energy.”

By turning byproducts into resources, Tree Care Partners closes the loop on sustainability while reducing environmental impact.

Meanwhile, Wonderland has leaned into new technologies to advance preservation with the adoption of growth regulators.

“We’ve become big adopters of growth regulation in trees…for size management of trees, but also for their added health benefits, which has helped us preserve some of these old legacy trees,” Golan stated.

Combined with advances in access equipment such as spider lifts, these tools expand the possibilities for saving mature trees that once may have been deemed unsafe.

From bee-friendly practices to selective pruning, companies are showing that small, thoughtful decisions today are investing in healthier ecosystems tomorrow.

Innovation at Work

Beyond local communities, tree care companies are also investing in the future of their profession. Whether through innovation, mentoring, or training, they are working to ensure that the industry itself continues to thrive.

Innovation has long been a hallmark of Stanley Tree Service. Emerich described how company leaders developed internal safety systems to reduce risks in the field.

“We give everybody the tools to do it correctly and safely every single day,” he said. “If we can’t do it safely or correctly, then we don’t do it.”

In fact, Mike Zuba, Stanley’s fleet manager, was awarded the Equipment Innovation Award at this year’s Arbor AWARDS™ for his development of two groundbreaking safety systems.

The Elevator Warning Lights System allows ground crews to be aware when the bucket is elevated, and the Cage Guard System keeps operators on truck cages safe with a visual and physical barrier. These safety innovations serve as examples of how creativity and necessity drive improvements across the industry, paying it forward to both current and future tree care professionals.

Haehnel noted that technological advances have transformed the profession over recent decades, from lighter chainsaws to advanced climbing gear.

“This industry is much, much easier on our bodies now than it was 30 years ago,” he said.

Embracing Mentorships

Haehnel also emphasized the role of training programs and certifications in preparing professionals for safer, more efficient work.

Similarly, Wonderland highlights mentorship as an important factor in strengthening the industry. This past summer, the company hosted the annual horticulture intern tour for the Long Island Nursery and Landscape Association. Members of the company’s leadership team shared insights on industry practices, innovations, and safety with the next generation of tree care workers.

“Mentoring is one of the most important things any company can do,” Golan said. “There are many, many other arborists throughout the country that helped me in my early career and continue to help me. So, networking with young folks in the industry is huge.”

Emerich also shared that Stanley Tree Service makes mentorship a critical element of paying it forward for future professionals in the tree care industry.

“You need to train somebody to take your job and not be afraid of somebody taking your job,” he said, stressing the importance of preparing the next generation.

When it comes to smaller tree care operations looking to grow their training and mentorship initiatives, Haehnel encouraged them to reach out to larger companies for guidance.

“Don’t feel like you can’t ask questions in this industry,” he said. “If you can learn from someone before you have a bad incident or accident, it will drastically help out.”

Both Emerich and Haehnel prove that the key to industry strength and future success is shared knowledge and collaboration.

Legacies That Last

Throughout the tree care industry, many companies are working hard to be examples of compassion, quality, sustainability, and innovation. The specific initiatives these companies champion illustrate an amazing broader truth:

Tree care companies are shaping not just landscapes but legacies.

These industry efforts are not simply side projects, but essential investments, and they ensure both trees and the people who care for them continue to flourish for decades to come. Our work fosters healthier communities, supports future generations, and strengthens the industry from within, so “paying it forward” is an industry culture that companies want to support for years to come.

“It’s easy to go to work and make a dollar. It’s hard to make a difference,” Emerich said. “We hope that other people in our industry recognize the value of that and want to do something different.”