Kevin Hamm’s passion for trees began in high school and grew into a lifelong career. After years of tree work on a college campus and at a federal prison, often while working two jobs, he launched Hamm’s Arbor Care following a major 1998 storm. Kevin weathered the 2008 downturn without filing for bankruptcy and rebuilt over the next decade. Today, his company runs on a strong employee-first culture, family involvement, and education, while his Game of Trees YouTube channel and work in Guatemala highlight his commitment to the arborist community.

Zach Czirr of HAIX Boots shares his journey from beer marketing to building premium footwear brands for first responders in the U.S. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Zach has always been a marketing guy with a passion for elevating strong brands. After a life-altering cliff-jumping accident at 29 that shattered his heel, quality footwear became deeply personal. Now based at HAIX’s North American headquarters, Zach helps grow a European-established brand in the U.S., highlighting why HAIX boots, built with bull leather and top-tier craftsmanship are made to last.

Jalen Rocha joins Innovation Talk to discuss Husqvarna’s latest battery-powered top handle chainsaws and the shift toward electrification in the arborist industry. Covering the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Northern Nevada, Jalen shares his journey from ArborWorks to becoming a passionate advocate for innovation in tree care. The episode highlights the new T542i XP, featuring a true clutch (a key industry differentiator), quieter operation than gas, easier startup, a digital oil sensor, optional heated handle, and smart battery technology with ActiveCool. Built to stay in the cut without overloading the motor, the saw, and the precision-focused 540 model, is ready for California’s battery-powered future.

In this episode, we dive deep into OSHA, safety culture, and what it really takes to build a safer tree care company. Chris Phelps, owner of Paramount Tree Services in Williamsburg, Virginia, and Bob Lehman of Academy Trained break down Paramount’s “Year of Safety,” the role of TCIA, and why cutting corners isn’t worth the risk. From OSHA 10 & 30 training to job site analyses, tailgate meetings, aerial rescue, and fire mitigation planning, this conversation covers how certifications, JHAs, and documented safety programs create accountability and protect both crews and companies. A must-listen for anyone serious about arboriculture, compliance, and long-term success in the outdoor industry.

Kevin Hamm’s passion for trees began in high school and grew into a lifelong career. After years of tree work on a college campus and at a federal prison, often while working two jobs, he launched Hamm’s Arbor Care following a major 1998 storm. Kevin weathered the 2008 downturn without filing for bankruptcy and rebuilt over the next decade. Today, his company runs on a strong employee-first culture, family involvement, and education, while his Game of Trees YouTube channel and work in Guatemala highlight his commitment to the arborist community.

Jason Numemacher talks about his path from a hardworking upbringing with a single mom and three brothers to leadership in the tree care industry. After burning out in debt collection, he moved into tree service management, where his skills in systems, communication, and sales helped grow companies and advance him to general manager. Now a partner at Elite Tree Service, Jason focuses on coaching, sales, and helping tree businesses grow through better leadership and strategy.

Kyle Ellis and Boel Hammarstrand share their arborist journeys and dive into Solidur’s evolution from a post-WWII French footwear company to a modern, eco-responsible PPE manufacturer. The episode highlights Solidur’s newest tree climbing boot, designed specifically for SRT, featuring an innovative rope-through-the-sole system, EU-made materials, waterproof construction, and customizable fit—built and tested by working arborists for real-world climbing.

Elizabeth Rodewald, Manager of Corporate Engagement at TCIA, shares her journey from growing up in a Southern California forestry family to discovering her purpose in the tree care industry. After studying horticulture in New York and a brief stint in the fashion world, a bad experience pushed her to seek work that truly matters. Now at TCIA, she’s driven to make the industry safer, elevate education, and support the people who keep tree care moving forward.

We sit down with the founder of TSO – Tree Service Owners, a free community of more than 11,000 companies growing 5% every month. Built by a 26-year industry veteran, TSO is a vendor-free, owner-only space designed for real questions, constructive conversations, and shared learning. With hundreds of posts and thousands of comments each month, plus webinars on growth, hiring, and operations, TSO has become a trusted place for tree service companies to help each other succeed, competitive, but united in wanting everyone to get better.

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.