Meet Our People
Get to know our amazing people by reading below. We look forward to meeting you!
A company is only as good as its people.
Lucky for us, we have an outstanding team here at Leaf & Limb.
Andrea
Andrea is a Raleigh native who cares deeply about the natural world, trees in particular. She especially loves the beautiful bark of the white oak. Andrea’s delight in the natural world runs deep and even led to a heated argument with a friend over a relatively minor act of littering. Leaf & Limb stands out among other tree companies for Andrea because of its dedication to being environmentally minded, a quality she sought out when seeking employment.
Andrea
Andrea is an extremely talented manager. Her mind is a steel trap of information – she knows all and forgets nothing. She has several forms of synesthesia, which could explain her keen abilities. She loves working at Leaf & Limb because she can't wait to make sure you have a fantastic experience. Rest assured, you will enjoy interacting with Andrea – everybody always does. As a native Minnesotan, she is a self-described hockey addict. She also loves pizza, 80’s rock, and Stephen King. Oh and reading. Andrea never leaves home without her Kindle - she is always reading at least two books (usually more) and listening to at least one audiobook at all times. Oh and cats. She currently has 6, of which all are rescues. Meow.
Andrew
Andrew has a little east coast and a little west coast in him. A native Virginian, he has also spent time in California, which left him with a lasting love of redwood trees. Andrew loves working with trees. In fact, one of his favorite hobbies is bonsai, an activity similar to the work he does at Leaf & Limb, but on a different scale. Beyond working with trees, Andrew enjoys woodworking, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with dogs.
Miguel
Miguel is always up for an adventure. The first time he flew in an airplane, he jumped out of it at 15,000 feet. But most days he is a bit closer to the ground, hiking, enjoying a good book in a hammock, or rock climbing. After he saw a hiring flier at a rock climbing gym, he decided to join the team at Leaf & Limb because it combines his love of climbing, learning, and being outdoors. Miguel is also bilingual and switches between languages so frequently that he sometimes can’t tell which language he is speaking. We think that’s a pretty special skill.
Anna
Born and raised in Cary, Anna’s passion for sustainability led her to attend a B Corp clinic at NC State University, where she fell in love with the philosophy of B Corporations like Leaf & Limb. After researching the organization, she realized that Leaf & Limb’s excitement for education, composting, and the great outdoors aligned with her own. Eager to work outside and expand her knowledge about tree care, Anna decided to put in an application to join the team at Leaf & Limb.The rest is history! When Anna’s not spending quality time with her dog, she’s seeking adventure on a mountain or scuba trail, kayaking, or planning her next outdoor trip.
Basil
Basil loves trees. And soil, wildflowers, insects, bats, fungi - basically everything to do with terrestrial ecosystems. He is fully committed to caring for this beautiful planet. He is a Treecologist, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Duke graduate, and Wizard of Things at Leaf & Limb. Though trees are his passion and profession, he also loves tending to the native flowers in his garden, growing Piedmont Prairies, and propagating plants from seed. Some of Basil's favorite pastimes are hanging out with his wife and sons, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, powerlifting, hiking, and sprinting. His next favorite things in life are reading, garlic, traveling adventures, blazing hot peppers, pickles, and anything from Lucettegrace in downtown Raleigh, in approximately that order.
Brandi
Brandi has a degree in Forest Management, and, before joining Leaf & Limb, she worked for the National Park Service. Her love for trees makes it difficult to pick out a single favorite, but she beautifully describes American Sycamores as having bark that looks like living driftwood and calls to mind beaches and marshes. Outside of work, she combines her love of music and travel by visiting unique and historic music venues. So far, she’s seen concerts at Ryman Auditorium and Red Rocks Amphitheater. Gorge Amphitheater in Washington is next on her list.
Cedric
Cedric is gifted with athleticism and smarts to match – pretty much the perfect recipe for becoming a great climber. But becoming a great climber also requires hard work and dedication, something Cedric proved he possesses. After working for years as a crew leader, he now oversees our training program, working hard to share his knowledge with other aspiring climbers. Cedric is a self-taught musician who creates his own tracks. He is also a self-taught basketball extraordinaire, demonstrating on courts all across Raleigh that white boys CAN jump.
Chris
Chris was born in Ohio to a family of hard core OSU Buckeye football fans. He earned an engineering degree from NC State’s College of Engineering, as well as a minor in German. He is still conversational. Then he took to the high seas where he spent 6 years on the open ocean as a Merchant Marine and earned his Captain's license. He loves his pet squirrel, drawing (he is an accomplished artist), reading the classics, camping, and grilling out with friends and family. He was drawn to Leaf & Limb because he enjoys working outdoors. For Chris a positive attitude and outlook on life are very important.
Chris
Originally from Long Island, NY, Chris comes to tree care from an unusual academic background: physics, in which he earned a degree from Williams College in Massachusetts. In addition to golf, tennis, and playing guitar, Chris enjoys gardening, a hobby that nudged him towards tree care, with which he is fascinated. Among many things he loves about North Carolina, the beautiful flowering of the crape myrtles may be his favorite. Chris is also an ISA Certified Arborist.
Chris
Affectionately known as “Young Grease”, Chris is a crowd favorite. With his quick wit and positive attitude, it’s impossible not to enjoy his company. He is left handed, proud of his Italian heritage, loves football, and is a talented public speaker. He embodies all of Leaf & Limb’s values, especially the bit about “show that you care.”
Colin
Where to begin? Colin originally founded this company in 1997, starting with nothing but an old truck. Many years later, Colin is now among the top in the industry when it comes to knowledge of all things tree-related. He is a regular arboriculture encyclopedia – people are always amazed by his expertise. He is CTSP accredited, an ISA Certified Arborist, has his Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, and is obsessed with perfection. He was born and raised in South Africa, speaks many languages including Dutch and Afrikaans, has mastered soccer, used to compete nationally in judo, and loves samosas.
EB
Born in Australia, EB still misses those Aussie waves. He was 10 when he moved to Raleigh. In Raleigh, he had a close group of friends who lived in the same neighborhood. There’s a video about them called The Creek Boys, which sometimes gets presented at urban planning conferences. A natural fit at Leaf & Limb, EB has enjoyed growing tree saplings for years. The Hemlock is EB’s current obsession, a tree that grows well in shade and eventually takes its place in the canopy. He loves playing basketball and really any sport. Although he was raised in Raleigh he is happy to now call Durham his home.
Ernie
Ever since he was a wee hatchling, Ernie Worm knew he was meant for greener (and more nutrient-rich) pastures. As the youngest of eight siblings, Ernie spent most of his life dreaming of a new soil home while sharing a cramped acre with more than a million other earthworms. One day, after a spring rainstorm, Ernie finally gathered the courage to explore the vast world around him. That day, he wandered into the richest and healthiest soil he ever burrowed: the composting operations at Leaf & Limb! Since then, he’s become an integral part of the team — by turning rotting stuff into rich compost. When he’s not working, Ernie spends his time participating in eating contests (he can eat his weight in food every day!) and exploring the dark corners of his mound.
Hayden
Hayden comes to Raleigh by way of Asheville. He has a degree in Ecology, loves ID'ing trees and living the philosophy of helping the environment as a whole. Hayden loves the Carolina Hemlock. Why you ask? It has a “fluffy” look and tends to be the picturesque lone tree on rocky outcrops. When he’s not out hiking, you can find him playing hockey and the drums, but not at the same time. He loves messing around with computers, playing video games and finding the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in town. Briefly in college, Hayden majored in ceramic arts and specialized in throwing and glaze chemistry.
John
John’s favorite food is a clear indication that he grew up on the coast of North Carolina. What is it? Calabash shrimp? Nope! Soft-shell crab? Not even close. It’s an Oreo milkshake from Cookout. The hot NC weather also prepared him for one of his favorite adventures, biking from Chapel Hill to St. Augustine, Florida, in the middle of the summer. The heat didn’t stop the trip, but it definitely made it memorable. John's background in IT got him interested in ham radio and satellite communications. He’s made contact with people all over the world, from South Africa to New Zealand, and, notably, the International Space Station.
Josh
Josh lives a vegan and minimalist lifestyle with his wife, Terrier Schnauzer mix, and tail-less Manx. After playing music across America, working as a manufacturing engineer, and dreaming of an outdoor career, Josh moved to the City of Oaks in 2016 to pursue his passions. He is now an avid tree enthusiast, Treecologist, and ISA Certified Arborist who is mastering many different skills at Leaf & Limb. In his spare time, Josh enjoys skateboarding, playing music, camping, cooking Italian food, and exploring the Triangle.
JP
JP is originally from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he grew up alongside some of his favorite trees: Oaks, Dogwoods, Tulip Poplars, and Eastern Redbuds, known for their heart-shaped leaves and fuschia Valentine’s Day blooms. In his free time, he likes to garden and enjoy the company of his wife, dog, and two cats. JP is finishing his master’s in Forestry, and his research included conducting a forest inventory on a small military base in North Alabama. Fair warning, with that wealth of knowledge about trees, a 15-minute hike with JP might turn into an hours-long adventure as he stops to admire the beauty of the forest. But if you pay attention, you will definitely learn something new!
Juan
There is little doubt that Juan is one of the best tree climbers in the industry. Juan will tackle any project head on, and do so in an efficient and safe manner. Watch Juan in action when he is working on your property, and you will be amazed – we regularly hear “oohs” and “ahhs” from clients when Juan is in action. He has countless years of experience and is a long-time Leaf & Limb veteran, tied for longest career at our company. Little known fact about Juan: he is also an accomplished mechanic and expert tinkerer.
Kelly
Kelly grew up in Baltimore, so naturally he loves crab cakes, the Ravens, and the O’s. He has been happily married to his lovely wife for over two decades. When he is not spending time with her, he tinkers with his Chevy Blazer and will fish for anything that swims. He began his career as a tree climber in the late 80’s and since that time has mastered all aspects of tree care, biology, biotic/abiotic issues, soil, and so much more. He is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. He has been involved in high profile tree care projects within the National Parks of Washington DC, Manasssas Battlefield, Antietam Battlefield and the C.O. Canal. Last but not least, he loves his two toy poodles.
Larry
Insects be warned – the Tree Whisperer is here! Larry Eacret is an ISA Certified Arborist with a degree in Forest Technology. More importantly, he is a premier expert when it comes to insects, diseases, fungi, and other tree afflictions. As manager of our plant health care training he has worked diligently to build our tree care operations by increasing service offerings, training new technicians, and tutoring sales representatives. When he is not busy vanquishing the baddest of bugs, you can find him surf fishing, reading, sipping on a good bourbon, or smoking a cigar.
Leo
Leo hails from Wilson, NC, just down the road from the Triangle. There, Leo developed an early love of exploring nature through climbing magnolia trees (still his favorite) and kayaking down the streams of eastern North Carolina. After a harrowing experience in high school with an autoimmune disease that filled his lungs with blood and sent him to the hospital for over a week, Leo re-emerged a more healthy and positive person. He loves that Leaf & Limb is a tree company focused on planting, tending to trees, and pruning. He also appreciates the volunteer opportunities available through the company.
Lila
Lila was born and raised in Raleigh. She enjoys reading, meandering through woods, laying in fields, basking in moonlight, board games, card games, video games, playing piano, ukulele and her brothers’ djembes. Phew say all that five times fast! Lila loves Oaks because they’re majestic, but her favorite Oak is the one at her grandma’s that was home to her favorite swing. Fun fact: Lila has worked on and off at Leaf & Limb since 2010 and is excited to be back working on a brand new project: installing Piedmont Prairies.
Luke
Luke was born and raised in Durham, NC. He first crossed paths with Leaf & Limb when he ran his own mobile repair company; they were one of his clients. What attracted Luke to join the team was the company environment where you work around people you enjoy every day. When he’s not working, Luke can be found on his property in south central Virginia with his wife and three kids. He enjoys pork BBQ, eastern style vinegar-based sauce of course, and is a sucker for dogs, Labradors of course. In 20 years, he hopes his kids will repeat and continue to live his mantra of “make everything better than it was when you got there.”
Lydia
Lydia definitely prefers short North Carolina winters to the long-lasting biting cold of Michigan, her home state. The smell of Northern White Cedars reminds her of her family vacation spot in Ontario, where these trees are the main attraction. She was drawn to Leaf & Limb because of the organization's commitment to sustainability, earth stewardship, and spending the workday outside. In Lydia's spare time, she loves trail running with her dog, paddle boarding, and spending time with her family.
Matt
Matt loves trees and has an unquenchable passion for them. He originally joined the industry as a tree climber. Given his background as a rock climbing phenom and climber in the phone tower industry (he was once stuck 300 feet up in a tower in the middle of a thunder storm), it was a natural fit. But once he began working with trees, he developed an insatiable desire to learn more, This blossomed into a love for trees, soil, etc, which of course makes him right at home here at Leaf & Limb. He is a Treecologist, ISA Certified Arborist, and an ECU graduate with a passion for music. He has been a musician for many years, specializing in bass and guitar. His personal library has over 75 books about trees and he is constantly adding more! Oh, and PS, he loves spicy food and will put hot sauce on most of his food.
Matt
Matt grew up in Northern Pennsylvania and relocated to the Raleigh area in 2015. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and has an Associates Degree in Business Administration. Matt was tired of working indoors so he joined Leaf & Limb. In his spare time he loves spending time with his wife and daughter, especially at the beach. He also enjoys biking, rollerblading, running, kayaking and anything to keep him moving (he is a bit of an adrenaline junkie). He also loves to make people laugh.
Nora
Nora is a Canuckian. She considers herself from Calgary but also from Ottawa. They’re thousands of miles apart, but she gets around. Way back she attended a lecture for homeowners by Dr. Alex Shigo, and it forever changed how she thought about trees and eventually motivated her to leave office life. When Nora’s not working outdoors, she’s playing outdoors. In the past, her time outdoors has allowed her to fly gliders, travel the globe for scuba adventures, and even the chance to fly a helicopter up in the boreal forest. There's always a new adventure waiting. She writes about gardening from an urban ecology POV and is making her property into a kind of naturescape — planting for diversity to see what critters and plants show up.
Olivia
A native of Hillsborough, Olivia now lives in Durham, where she loves to kayak, hike, camp, and ride horseback. A self-proclaimed grandma at heart when she's not outdoors, Olivia can be found knitting, baking, or looking for a festive sweater at the nearest Goodwill. After pruning 2,000 blueberry bushes last winter primarily by herself, she realized that she wanted to be part of something bigger. For Olivia, Leaf & Limb was just that. She's pumped to sharpen her knowledge on sustainability and work outside taking care of the planet. One of the talents she'll be bringing to the team? The ability to make teeny tiny origami paper cranes.
Patrick
Originally from Chapel Hill, Patrick found his way to Leaf & Limb after volunteering for the Triangle Land Conservancy and meeting Basil. For him, working at Leaf & Limb makes sense. Patrick admires how energized the team is by caring for the planet. When he's not listening to an audiobook on cosmology or psychology, Patrick finds a lot of joy in completing a to-do list. Need proof of his adventurous spirit? At 10, Patrick got stuck in a baby swing. Need more proof? He likes ketchup on his popcorn.
Patrick
Patrick is a father of two awesome kids and happily married to his soul mate and best friend. He goes hiking as often as he can and has visited nearly half of North Carolina's state parks. He also loves kayaking, especially along the coast (he highly recommends the Bear Island kayak trail outside Atlantic Beach). He considers himself to be a good cook and makes a MEAN strawberry cheesecake. Patrick graduated from ECU and spent most of his professional career working in sales and business development. One day he decided it was time for a change, something outdoors, something that involved hands-on work. So he joined Leaf & Limb to pursue his passions. He is a Treecologist and ISA Certified Arborist who enjoys the tree industry because every day brings something new, different, and challenging.
Peter
Before moving to NC, Peter worked as a guide on the rivers in California. He would take folks rafting, kayaking, and backpacking. He lived in beautiful farm country on the Western Slopes of the Sierra Nevadas and was also active with various river conservation campaigns. It was this conservation work - and his love of our planet - that attracted Peter to join Leaf & Limb. And boy are we happy to have him! He is a joy to be around and has a true thirst for knowledge. When he is not working with trees, hiking, or having fun on a nearby river, he also enjoys basketball (he played collegiate ball), playing guitar, and watching sports. He is also a bit of a pizza aficionado - he has tried pizza in over 35 states. According to him, Connecticut has the best pizza. Whudathunkit?
Richard
Richard, who comes to us from Portland, Oregon, says he loves anything “outdoorsy.” For Richard, that includes the usual suspects: hiking, biking, rock climbing, and camping, but also foraging. Richard loves food, especially when it’s cooked and shared with friends. It doesn’t hurt if the meal includes a fresh-baked croissant, probably his favorite food. Richard needs plenty of energy for the long hikes he takes, the most memorable of which was an impromptu stroll in his sandals that turned into an arduous ten mile loop that ascended two summits.
Stephen
Stephen grew up in Boston but escaped the cold weather as soon as he could by moving to North Carolina via Los Angeles. Along the way, he’s amassed a small collection of Bonsai trees that he has been snipping and shaping for the last few years. But he is also an admirer of the American Hornbeam because of the striking contrast between its muscular trunk and delicate leaves. When he’s not working outside, Stephen enjoys playing guitar, learning more about plant medicine, and studying Eastern philosophy. A fun fact about Stephen: Before he worked at Leaf & Limb, he was a professional ballerina and danced with the Carolina Ballet for 4 years.
Stuart
Stuart is a veteran arborist and master of his trade. After finishing school, he decided to pursue a career in the arboriculture industry. He is now an ISA Certified Arborist with the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. Though he excels in many areas, his strength is plant health care. If your trees have problems, Stuart has solutions. He is an accomplished soccer player, climbs rock and boulders like a pro, enjoys listening to underground music, and loves spending time with his daughter.
Tessa
Tessa graduated from NC State and has interests ranging from foxes to cheesecake, and from paintball to coke icees. Better yet, she had chickenpox twice, wrote her thesis on the Halo video game franchise, and sometimes stays up late doing astral photography. She is truly a unique individual, which makes her right at home at Leaf & Limb (we really like interesting people). She is our director of media and a truly talented videographer and photographer.
Thomas
Thomas grew up not far from the Leaf & Limb shop. Witnessing Raleigh’s continuous growth, he knows all too well the importance of tree preservation. Project Pando was the tipping point for him deciding to join the team. His favorite tree is the Oak, but he couldn’t tell you which variety yet. He’s looking forward to learning more about tree ID in the days, months, and years ahead. Thomas has been a musician for decades, creating sounds from computers, synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines. But recently his talents have extended into songwriting and singing - although he’s very grateful for auto-tune! A local history buff, Thomas will just as happily chat with you about native plants as he will about indigenous land management or the movement of peoples, plants, and technology through the Southeast and beyond.
Tom
Tom’s love of trees goes beyond just caring for them, he is also a skilled woodworker. His favorite tree is the Black Cherry because of its beautiful grain patterns and color that continues to patina over time. As a testament to his craftsmanship, he recently spent 7 months building a 17-foot cedar strip canoe. Tom recently moved from Michigan, and he chose NC for the warmer climate and variety of landscapes to explore. But he had an interesting detour on the way. During the summer of 2022, he and his fiancé did a Workaway trip in Senlis, France, where they built a cinder block chicken coop in trade for room and board.
Will
Will, from Beaufort, loves the water even though his first experience piloting a boat in the ocean took him through choppy seas that nearly sunk the boat. Will’s upbringing instilled in him a love of seafood. He also loves the formidable red oak and never ceases to be amazed how such a thing can spring from a small seed. It is important to Will that the company he works for cares about its people and the effects that arboriculture has on the environment. He is a Treecologist, ISA Certified Arborist, and member of the sales team at Leaf & Limb.
Zeb
Zeb grew up in Virginia and Kentucky, but considers himself an Appalachian boy. He’s a lifelong vegetarian, and is on a mission to make vegetables and mushrooms as delicious as possible—especially ones he has foraged himself. But watch out, if you bring him something really, really spicy, he’ll challenge you to eat it with him on the spot! Ask him what his favorite tree is, and you’ll most likely get a different answer next week. But at the moment, his favorite is the Parsley Hawthorn. When he’s not obsessing over small, strange trees, you can find him producing strange electronic music or rock climbing. Zeb considers himself a minimalist climber with an alpinist philosophy.
Join our Team!
Are these people you would be excited to work with? Want to join the team? We just might be the right fit...