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.
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.
Bridget
Bridget is originally from Holly Springs, NC, but was actually born in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Sandwiches are her ultimate comfort food, especially when they’re filled with eggplant parmesan, a nod to her grandfather’s favorite dish. During her time working at a nature park, she fell in love with the feathery branchlets and knobby lil’ knees of the Bald Cypress. Whether she’s working outdoors, or filling her spare time with sewing, sculpting, or collage, Bridget loves to use her hands to create. Although she was named after a dog (true story), she’s basically a human magpie, with collections of coins, records, stamps, and vintage nature guides. She’s working on speaking Italian molto bene and is a bit of a luddite since she would much rather put pen to paper than send you an email.
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 hardcore 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 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.
David
David’s roots are in Durham, but most of his childhood was spent on the coast in Wilmington, NC. So it’s no surprise that his favorite meal is the classic southern combo of field peas and Carolina gold rice—aka Hoppin’ John. If you’ve never tried it, just ask David to whip some up for you. He’ll happily use the skills he learned from the best culinary school in the world and the education he got from 16 years in the restaurant industry to make you his favorite meal or some fun snacks to try. On any given day you’ll find David spending time with his wife and son, and connecting with nature in his garden, but don’t ask him to pick his favorite tree. The Joshua Tree and Ponderosa Pine, both take top billing both in his heart and on his sleeve (or wherever his tattoos are) since he made his tree love official by permanently inking these natural wonders onto his skin. The Joshua Tree symbolizes his love for the desert and of course, the iconic rock band U2, while the Ponderosa Pine reminds him of Colorado. Fun fact: Ponderosa Pine sap smells like butterscotch! Mmm…
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.
Fiona
Fiona hails from Washington, D.C., but has called North Carolina home since she was 18. Her favorite comfort foods are fried chicken and literally any form of potato. No spud’s a dud in Fiona’s book! When she’s not working, you might find her playing D&D or creating her own combination map/game about the Appalachian Trail. A true East Coaster, Fiona’s partial to another regional native: the Rising Sun Eastern Redbud. She loves its wild foliage – it reminds her of a tree straight out of a video game (seriously, go look up a picture of one!). She’s grateful to work at Leaf & Limb because the kindness, enthusiasm, and passion of the people.
Gus
Meet Gus, a Nashville native who recently found out the importance of specifying Nashville, Tennessee, not Nashville, North Carolina—who knew? During college in Florida, Gus developed a love for community and creativity, especially under the shade of a particularly massive Indian Banyan tree on campus. His love for the tree helped it grow into a vibrant community hub, complete with hammocks, wind chimes, and student art. These days, you might find Gus playing the guitar (shoutout to his folk band, Chicken Machine!) or practicing the delicate art of bonsai. In the past, rock climbing was a regular pursuit until a move to Florida curtailed it due to a lack of rocks so Gus looks forward to exploring North Carolina’s ecosystems and discovering new activities around his new home in Raleigh.
Hayden
Hayden comes to Raleigh by way of Asheville. He has a degree in Ecology, is an ISA Certified Arborist, 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.
Joe
Meet Joe. He’s from Alexandria, VA (do YOU Remember the Titans?) and he’s a sucker for his dad’s lasagna. Joe’s favorite trees can’t be contained to just one. He’s got a whole roster for each season. In Spring, the blossoms of Mountain Laurel and Catawba Rhododendron light up shady hillsides. All things Oak bring him joy in the summer. Autumn exposes Joe’s admiration for the riotous fall foliage of Oakleaf Hydrangea and the delightful Spicebush. And Winter showcases the ethereal dignity of American Beech. When he is not admiring trees, Matt loves growing mushrooms, board games, battling invasive plants with a medieval flair, befriending cats, and dismantling things (sometimes he even reassembles them).
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 hails from the charming town of Juniper Level just south of Raleigh. He’s a connoisseur of his wife’s mouthwatering white sauce mushroom lasagna, a birthday tradition layered with love. The Post Oak has his heart because of its striking branch structure that looks like it’s spreading its limbs to embrace sunlight. He loves riding BMX and blacksmithing (but not at the same time—yet), and exploring trails. You can see his adventures on his YouTube vlog, @Thenorthcarolinanomad. And while he doesn’t often run into bears on his hikes, a close encounter at a childhood petting zoo left him with a bite on the hand, but no hard feelings toward the cub. In fact, he says he’d still pet a bear if he saw one today (let’s hope for his sake he doesn’t ever get that chance). Fun fact: his kiddos are named after two beautiful trees—Rowan and Cedar.
Josh
Coming from the northern parts of Atlanta, Josh moved to the city of Oaks with his wife in 2015. Josh is a jack of all trades at L&L. He has held multiple positions throughout his years with us. From a crew member, to top level climber, to currently being a member of our sales and consulting team. He enjoys skateboarding, writing and recording music, and talking to people about trees and shrubs. Passionate about tree health, he has been a great addition to our teams over the past 8 years. He also enjoys continuing his knowledge, including tree risk assessment and State Arborist certifications.
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.
Kassie
Kassie, a vibrant individual with a flair for the arts and a taste for adventure, originally hails from Concord, NC, where the not-distant-enough echoes of Nascar races served as a unique and annoying morning wake-up call. The willow tree holds a special place in Kassie’s heart, reminding her of idyllic moments spent lying beneath its branches by Chautauqua Lake during summer visits to family in NY. Kassie finds solace in the world of drawing and painting, and spends her time at parks or cemeteries with a sketchbook and coffee in hand. She loves a good paranormal book, crime documentaries, and is always down to go ghost-hunting if you’re not a wimp. And of course, there was that time that Kassie’s love of collecting strange stuff almost landed her on the no-fly list. 15-year-old Kassie stumbled upon a large piece of dead brain coral in Florida, so obviously, it was coming home to NC with her. Unfortunately, the TSA agent at the airport didn’t have a keen eye for coral and mistook it for a bomb. Things became even more awkward when Kassie politely tried to help him open her bag. Whoops. After shouting orders for her to stand back, Kassie was finally cleared to fly when the TSA agent realized his mistake. Good times indeed!
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.
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 comes to us from various parts of Georgia but considers Lagrange his hometown. His recent road trip from Tennessee to Oregon left him with a new sense of admiration for the beauty of the Douglas firs and other evergreens he saw driving through the picturesque landscapes of western Montana and northern Idaho. The beauty of the evergreen forests literally left him speechless. When he’s not gaping at awesome trees, Luke immerses himself in activities like making music, going to concerts, hiking, photography, and playing disc golf, ping pong, and board games. While he admittedly sucks at a lot of the stuff he tries at first, he gets a ton of satisfaction from navigating the initial challenges and then seeing steady improvement. Luke spent most of his 20s working as a mental health therapist (No, he’s not psychoanalyzing you. Probably.) but decided to embark on a new path, stepping away from the therapy world to try out a new adventure in a field that he says feels “more like me”.
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.
Martin
Making his way across the pond from Cheltenham, UK, Martin kicked off his journey at the tender age of 16 and has been living all over the map until making Raleigh his new home in 2023. He developed a sweet tooth for all things mango and will eat them dried, fresh, or frozen. These tropical delights transport him back to the days when there was a mango tree on his route home from work, and the whole neighborhood would stop for a snack. His love of trees goes beyond mangoes, though. The majestic Poplar reminds him of growing up near the River Severn and the rows of poplars lining its banks. Martin can really tear it up on the rugby field, and is the head coach of the Raleigh Women’s rugby team. And if that doesn’t convince you of his skills, he was also picked to play for the England Men’s Touch Rugby team! When he wasn’t playing rugby, his childhood consisted of acting out Ghostbusters movies (he’s a self-proclaimed mega fan), combined with his love for climbing once got him into a precarious situation during a reenactment of the final scene from GB2 (look it up; it’s a good one). Good news: his climbing safety skills have improved greatly since then. His adventurous spirit has led him to sail across the Atlantic three times, explore the Indian and Pacific oceans, and even go diving to depths of 160 ft underwater (where it’s apparently quite cold and dark).
Matt
Matt is a huge nerd for trees and nature. He is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, and a veteran in the industry for 10 years and counting. Coming from a rock climbing background, Matt discovered his passion and purpose in life when he started learning about trees and their ever expanding universe of information. The more we learn, the more we realize how little we know! Identification and biology are two of the subjects Matt likes most, but soil, tree ecology, and fungi will also spark a conversation that may last for hours - depending on how interested you are of course! In his spare time he loves rock climbing, hiking, camping, playing music, and eating extremely spicy 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.
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.
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.
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. Passionate about plant propagation, Project Pando was the tipping point for his decision to join the team. Thomas daydreams about a change in land management practices where Dense Mini-Forests and Piedmont Prairies become the norm, native plants are recognized and enjoyed by all, and care is given to preserve the elders of our tree communities. In his spare time, you can find Thomas experimenting with biochar, observing life in his water trough patio pond, reading about history and esoteric philosophy, or making music using computers, synthesizers, samplers, and drum machines.
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.
Toni
Antonio (or Toni, he’s cool with either) is a native Durhamite, born and raised. When it comes to favorite foods, he just can’t choose, but he’s currently on a sushi and pupusas kick. He also can’t pick a favorite tree, but two rank at the top of the list: the Magnolia and the Giant Sequoia. Climbing Magnolias at age five is what got him into rock climbing, which he continues to do today in his free time and as a kids coach at Triangle Rock Club. His ultimate tree-climbing goal? Scale a giant sequoia and soak in the awesomeness of nature while he’s up there. When Antonio is not caring for trees, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, or simply relaxing in a hammock with a good book. Oh, and thrilling his climbing students with his exceptional skill at balancing random objects on his hand, foot, and chin (thanks, El Chavo Del 8!).
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.
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