Sage Advice
Bob Mead on Finding Purpose and Reward in Tree Care
For more than three decades, Bob Mead has been a steady and respected voice in the tree care industry. As the founder of Mead Tree & Turf Care, Inc. and an esteemed arborist with nearly five decades of experience, he has built his career on a foundation of safety, integrity, and leadership.
His background as a firefighter and paramedic has given him a unique perspective on risk management, while his role as a business owner has taught him the value of accountability, culture, and continual learning. In this conversation, Bob shares his hard-earned wisdom — practical lessons and sage advice that speak to both seasoned professionals and the next generation of arborists.
Q: You have been in the industry for decades and have seen it evolve in many ways. Looking back, what first drew you into tree care, and what has kept you passionate about it all these years?
A: Well, I got a job with the local government and was learning the tree care trade. I thought, ‘Wow, what a great way to take care of the outside, be physical, and do something that you could be proud of.’ You have an end result that’s usually positive, and it was a very rewarding career.
Q: Your background as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic has clearly influenced how you approach safety. How has that experience shaped your perspective on training and risk management in tree care?
A: It’s allowed me to build a foundation where I could become a good trainer — a knowledgeable trainer — with field experience. I even relate stories from my days as a paramedic into my trainings in tree care to open people’s eyes.
It shows students that we don’t just talk about this — it really happens. I think it also lets the student see that the trainer isn’t just preaching something out of a book. They have real-life, hands-on experience. Anyone can read a book to you, but to put your own flair on it and share your life experiences, that’s what really hits home.
Q: When training new crew members, what are the top principles you insist upon, regardless of their prior experience?
A: The top principle that I insist on is safety first. We try to instill safety in the new employees. You’re going to make mistakes, and you’re going to have little failures and bumps on the road along the way, but let’s make it a teaching experience.
We teach using the method of tell, show, do. So, we first tell the employee about it, then we show them how to do it, then we get them to repeat to us and do it themselves. You can correct them along the way, but you don’t have to correct them in a manner that’s demeaning to them. Treat them like you want to be treated.
Q: What do you see as the most critical qualities of a strong leader in the tree care industry, especially when it comes to safety and accountability?
A: Safety and accountability would be first. When you get out of the truck to visit a job site, your personal protective equipment goes with you. You’re not immune because you have a different color shirt on, or you ride around in a different vehicle. You have to be prepared.
Q: You’ve led a successful business for many years. How did your early experiences on the crew shape your philosophy on leading others?
A: I actually learned leadership pretty early on in the tree care industry. I watched some of the old school tree crew leaders, and they basically taught me how not to do it. I think they forgot about what it was like to be on the other side. You have to put yourself in your employees’ or your subordinates’ shoes. And a lot of those guys just couldn’t.
Q: The industry has seen major shifts in safety culture over the years. What changes stand out to you, and where do you think there is still room for improvement?
A: The industry is continually evolving with equipment. Take a piece of equipment — for example, brush chippers. When I first got into the industry, we used what they used to call ‘the old chuck-and-duck.’ You, threw the brush in, whipped it, grabbed it, and pulled it directly into the cutter head. So, if you get entangled in the brush, or you have a rope go through and grab you, you’re going to go through the chipper. Nowadays, chippers feed much slower.
Also, when I came into the industry, there was little to no PPE ever worn. In fact, it was hard to get guys to wear it. I could even speak for the crew that I was on. Originally, we had hard hats, but nobody wore them. Nobody enforced it, including the crew leader. I’ve learned that it starts at the top — you have to have positive reinforcement for safety and leadership.
Q: For young professionals just entering the field, what is one piece of advice you would give them about building a long, successful career in arboriculture?
A: I would say probably the most important thing is to gather and learn as much information as you can and apply it as you need it. And be patient. You will move up, but experience comes first. There’s plenty of people looking for good quality employees. And we’re looking for people that are willing to learn.
Q: What moments or experiences on the job make you step back and think, “This is why I love what I do”?
A: This is probably the most rewarding career I’ve ever had, including being in the fire department. Like I say, I enjoyed my job there and I was good at it. But I just love this job. I love going to work. I’ve been doing this for almost 49 years, and it’s a rewarding career.
Every day I get up and I’m ready to go to work. I want to go to work. I look forward to going to work. I look forward to seeing my coworkers, clients, and vendors. It’s just a big conglomeration of things that make me appreciate what I have and can do.
I also like seeing the outcome of what we’re able to do. When a client comes outside and says, ‘That’s beautiful. How did you do that?’ There’s nothing more rewarding than that. When you take down a tree that’s technically challenging to remove, that’s rewarding, too. You get to say, ‘I did this without anybody getting hurt, without anything getting damaged.’
That’s probably the most rewarding part of the job — the end product.
