Two Tree Guys

#174: Gear Talk - Jason and Shayna Shadowen - My Office Help

Shayna Shadowen grew up a third-generation electrical worker, and Jason married into the trade. After years in new construction and eventually running a service company, they discovered a need for better office support in small rural trades businesses. That led to My Office Help—an outsourced back-office and CSR solution built around powerful systems, including multiple CRMs, custom mapping, scheduling, QuickBooks Online bookkeeping, and even AI-powered phone answering. They now help small to mid-sized companies (up to ~10 trucks) handle calls, permits, dispatching, and more so business owners can “do what you do best and let us do the rest.

#173: What’s Your Story? - Caelan Newton

Caelan Newton grew up in a small town in Maine, discovering early on that sports weren’t his passion but hard work was. From summer deckhand jobs at 15 to concrete work, manual labor, and running around his dad’s crane shop, he developed a deep love for gear, machines, and the trades. After joining Lucas Tree, earning his CDL and Maine Utility Arborist License, and taking on major crane projects including one of the largest maples in the state, Caelan dove into residential tree work and expanded his skills across equipment and climbing. With just under five years in tree care, side work picking up, and a clear passion for the craft, Caelan is all-in on the industry and excited for a future filled with cranes, climbing, and continual growth.

#172 - Elevated Story - Hank Ortiz - Arbornote Software

Born and raised in California, Hank Ortiz built his career in sales and marketing before spending five years in Europe, where he met his wife and deepened his love for food, farming, and the outdoors. Combining his background in tech with his passion for agriculture, Hank set out to create software that made a difference. After realizing the challenges of selling to farmers, he pivoted to the landscape and eventually the tree care industry, where mapping, sensors, and data could truly shine. Out of that journey came Arbornote, a powerful yet simple tool for managing trees, proposals, sales, and workflows. Hank shares how he built software around three core principles: helping businesses stick with their customers, keeping it super easy to use, and offering unmatched support.

#171: Innovation Talk - Andy Jones Rooted Arbor Care - Battery Tools and Power Management

Join the Two Tree Guys for an Innovation Talk with Andy Jones, co-founder of Rooted Arbor Care, as he shares his real-world journey leading a tree care company into the battery-powered era. Andy dives deep into testing top brands like Milwaukee, Husqvarna, Stihl, EGO, Makita, and Greenworks, revealing what worked, what didn’t, and how his team optimized power management, charging setups, and crew efficiency in daily operations. Learn how Rooted Arbor Care achieved its best financial year yet while cutting fuel costs, improving sustainability, and proving that battery power can outperform gas in professional arbor work. From mobile charging systems to smart tool selection and scaling strategies, Andy’s insights redefine what’s possible for the modern tree care industry. ⚡🌳

#170: Elevated Story - Phil Hoffman - Skylotec Climbing Technology

Phil shares how Skylotec, a family-owned German manufacturer and Europe’s largest carabiner maker, has grown from its mountaineering roots into industrial fall protection and tree climbing innovations. With brands like Climbing Technology, Skylotec develops ascenders, fall protection systems, and rope-friendly gear designed to make climbing more efficient and safer. Their Colorado presence continues bridging sport and industry, backed by a strong R&D team working with climbers in the field to solve real-world challenges.

#169: What’s Your Story? - Rob Totaro - Tree Craft LLC

Rob Totaro, second-generation arborist and CEO of Tree Craft, shares his powerful story of resilience—from early struggles and addiction to recovery and rebuilding his life through tree work. With roots in a family business and a passion for safety, Rob is dedicated to professionalizing the industry while giving others a chance to start fresh.

#168: What’s Your Story? - Ian Lewis

Ian Lewis shares his journey from an unexpected start in Durango with the Conservation Corps to becoming a skilled climbing arborist. With early lessons on white pines in New Hampshire, mentorship, and a drive to self-educate, Ian built a career in technical removals and rigging—while passing knowledge on to other crews.

#167: Innovation Talk - Jamie Mairs - Green-Tec

Jamie Mairs of Green-Tec shares how Terex entered the growing tree and vegetation management industry, focusing on mechanized arboriculture, safety, and efficiency. From tree handlers to spider lifts, Jamie highlights product innovation, dealer support, and the future of equipment shaping modern tree care.

#166: What’s Your Story? - Jason Pinegar - West Coast Arborists

Jason Pinegar shares his 30-year journey with West Coast Arborists, rising from a young snowboard bum in Big Bear to Vice President of one of the largest tree companies in the West. He reflects on his early break into the industry, lessons in safety and customer care, and a career dedicated to serving communities that value their trees.

#165: Innovation Talk - Grayson Keating, Chad Brey and Tim Womick - Tree Circus

An inside look at Tree Circus, the interactive traveling show inspiring kids and communities to connect with trees. From teaching everyday people how to climb, to planting the vision of big trees in parks across the world, the crew shares their journey as modern-day Johnny Appleseeds—bringing education, fun, and advocacy for trees to towns everywhere.