Seattle Tree Care is a family owned and operated company specializing in the thoughtful care of the Pacific Northwest’s largest living things. Since 2007 we have been committed to providing exceptional customer service and high quality tree care in the Seattle region. You can trust us to help you make the best decisions about your trees and property, and to safely and efficiently perform all your tree service needs.

Founding Arborist, President, and Crane Operator

ISA Certified Arborist PN-6127A , Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

Peter’s love for trees runs deep and started young. Growing up in a small Western Washington rural community, Peter started learning about trees at an early age alongside his father, a U.S Forest Service Forester and ISA Certified Arborist. Peter’s initial exposure to Forestry was on long hikes with his father cruising old growth timber stands and collecting data about spotted owl habitat. Climbing to the highest vantage point has always been second nature to Peter, and he spent many days of his youth rock climbing in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska and California. Peter studied Environmental Science at the University of Redlands, and then combined his love of climbing with his love of trees, and became a proficient and skilled tree climber working for several different companies in the Seattle area.

Knowing that there was an extra level of depth, sustainable practices and customer service he could provide, Peter founded Seattle Tree Care in 2006. A husband and father of three, Peter will always put your safety and the enjoyment of your property first. Peter is committed to creating the maximum benefit that trees and people share and is grateful to work with your amazing Seattle trees while practicing the art and science of responsible tree care.

Favorite Tree: Alpine Larch (Larix lyallii)

Operations Manager

Originally from California, Flavia moved to Seattle in 2017 and joined Seattle Tree Care in spring of 2022. She’s worked in Operations in the tourism, hospitality, and food & beverage industries, but her roots are in tree care. Flavia’s PNW-based family are tree care professionals, and she grew up visiting them on jobsites. She’s an avid backpacker with a passion for our region’s unparalleled beauty, and loves planning long-distance hikes. She also loves baking, cooking, and reading dystopian sci-fi novels.

Favorite trees: Alpine larch (Larix lyallii) & flowering plum (Prunus triloba)

Production Manager

After working in financial planning & analysis for three years, Joe decided a career in finance wasn’t for him. Instead he chose to pursue tree climbing professionally, an beloved pastime of his since he was six years old. He spent a year and a half learning the ropes – literally – before joining the Seattle Tree Care team in 2018. Joe has worked his way up from Crew Member to Crew Lead and finally, after taking a paternity break to have his first child, to Production Manager. As Production Manager, Joe helps us efficiently match each project to the right crew and equipment. He puts to use his years of experience working with our specific strengths and abilities all while keeping a watchful eye on the safety of every member of our Arborist team. In his free time, Joe enjoys reading, hiking, and adventuring with his wife and daughter.

Favorite tree: Dawn redwood (Metasequoia)

Yard Manager

George has been working with trees since he was 14 years old. Experienced in all aspects of tree care, he is Seattle Tree Care’s #1 jack of all trades.  The right tool for the job is what George is all about and he makes sure every tool that is used on your property is working properly and is sharp! A great mentor, George helps new crew members realize the Seattle Tree Care mission: Respect for property, trees, and a job well done.

Favorite Tree: New Jersey White Oak (Quercus alba)

Fleet Coordinator & Mechanic

A transplant from Crowthorne, England, James Merlidge moved to Sammamish in 2015. He spent his childhood in the garden with his mother and grandfather. Somewhere between all the weeding and hole digging, James pruned his first tree. Fast forward to today: James felt compelled to channel his love and skill for mechanics into work with Seattle Tree Care. In his free time, you can find James working on his 1977 F150, driving around in his Subaru, camping, and playing with his dog, Reggie.

Favorite Tree: Weeping willow (Salix babylonica)

Production Coordinator & Mechanic 

ISA Certified Arborist PN-8856A, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

The Seattle area has been Marcus’ home for the past 22 years. Before joining Seattle Tree Care in 2022, Marcus spent almost a decade working for a local tree care service company as a crew member and leader. He has strong experience with tree climbing, tree service equipment and repairs, and industry safety regulations. In his free time, Marcus enjoys snowboarding, surfing, camping, and fly fishing. 

Favorite tree: Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)

Production Assistant

Dani joined the Seattle Tree Care team in 2022 fresh from the Coast Guard, where she spent three years on the on the buoy-tending Cutter Fir and Elm and then two and half years in Port Angeles as a Boatsman Mate doing Search & Rescue. Originally from Virgina, Dani moved to the PNW after high school to rejoin family and enjoy our temperate summers. In her free time, Dani loves looking at and petting all the dogs she can, going on adventures with her loved ones, and enjoying the outdoors both on land and in the water.

Favorite tree: Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana)

Arborist Crew Lead

Incidental Line Clearance Arborist

Chase has been with Seattle Tree Care since 2016, prior to which he worked for the City of Everett Parks and Rec on a tree crew. He loves the opportunity for learning new skills that comes from working for a private company. Chase has a passion for working outdoors and always has a smile on his face. In his free time he enjoys hiking, juggling and shooting.

Favorite Tree: Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

Arborist Crew Lead

ISA Certified Arborist PN-8796A, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

Adam loves being able to work outside everyday. He enjoys spending his free time drawing comics, surfing, skateboarding, bike touring and playing chess.

Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

Arborist Crew Lead

ISA Certified Arborist PN-9604A, Incidental Line Clearance Arborist

From a small town in northwest Spain, Moises joins Seattle Tree Care with a wealth of experience about trees and tree maintenance garnered from his father, who was a lifetime sawyer. Moises is passionate about trees and everything outdoors as he spends his time playing soccer, swimming, hiking, and bonding with friends and family.  

Favorite Tree: European oak  (Quercus robur)

Arborist Crew Lead

ISA Certified Arborist PN-9308A, Tree Risk Assessment Qualified

Born in South Padre Island, Texas, Sarah George got her start in tree care in Montana. She spent two years working line clearance for a power company before returning to Seattle. Inspired to learn more about the art and science of tree care, Sarah joined the STC team in 2021 as our first female climber. When Sarah isn’t at the top of a tree, she enjoys running, backcountry skiing, and biking around Seattle with multiple stops for coffee, ice cream, and tacos. Or, you can find her at home with her tree-climbing husband and their two cats, Tulip and Búho.

Favorite tree: Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)

Arborist Crew Lead

Russell hails from our sister state, Colorado, where he lived until 2021. With family in the Seattle area, Russell used to visit often and always enjoyed the weather and the views. Now, he gets to experience them daily as a Seattle Tree Care Crew Leader and Climber. Even though Russell is new to the Pacific Northwest, he’s no stranger to tree care. He’s been in the industry since 2009 and sees the value in tree work for having both flowers and thorns, just like his favorite tree. In his free time you can find Russell skiing, hiking, swimming, or searching for a relaxing place to grab some good food and live music. 

Favorite Tree: Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Arborist Crew Lead

Jeremy M Jones was born in Columbus, Ohio and joined the Seattle Tree Care team shortly after his brother, Donta’, in 2020. Jeremy is excited to continue his work in tree care after moving to Seattle. While not working, Jeremy enjoys playing basketball, fishing, and relaxing.

Favorite tree: Angel Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Horticultural Crew Lead

Sean Gaddis, who signed onto the Seattle Tree Care team in 2020, is a plant lover hailing from Columbus, Ohio. He runs a small gardening business on the side, and also works as a King County Master Gardener, the Washington State University’s volunteer force of research-based and environmentally-friendly horticulture experts. Through that program and his own company, Sean educates his community about science-based gardening practices that often include tree management. When asked what his favorite tree was, he couldn’t pick just one! When Sean isn’t working or contributing to his community, he enjoys gardening (of course!) and knitting.

Favorite tree: Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)

Arborist Apprentice Climber

Ryleigh has been working in tree care since 2014. He chipped a branch and immediately knew: This was the industry for him. Ryleigh enjoys the comradery of his STC teammates and the variety of projects he gets to see in the field. A Seattleite through and through, Ryleigh makes music in his spare time, explores the hidden hideaways in our fair city, and tries to support his community however he can.

Favorite tree: Madrona (Arbutus menziesii)

Arborist Climber

Donta’ Jones was born in New York, New York, but traded in the city that never sleeps to be sleepless with us here in Seattle. Donta’ finds great joy in seeing each tree project completed. A lover of fishing, hiking, and football, he is also an illustrator who draws cartoons and portraits.

Favorite tree: October Glory Maple (Acer rubrum)

Arborist Climber

Mark Morley comes to us from Sitka, Alaska, a city of less than 9,000 people. (Can you guess his favorite tree?) Mark has worked tree care in both Auburn and Tacoma before settling with the Seattle Tree Care family in 2020. When he’s not climbing high in the branches of a tree, Mark enjoys rock climbing, trail running, bonsai trees, surfing, rope swings, and long boarding.

Favorite Tree: Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Arborist Grounds Crew

WSDA Commercial Applicator #105751

Arborist Apprentice Climber

As a rock climber, Richard was already familiar with rigging and rope work, so it seemed like a natural choice to pursue a career in tree care. He joined the STC team in 2021 after a little encouragement from his friend, Mark, one of STC’s Climbers. Besides getting to work outdoors and revel in the PNW’s beauty, Richard enjoys the kindness and consideration his teammates show him on the daily. In his spare time, Richard enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and traveling.

Favorite tree: Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

Arborist Climber

Justin’s been chopping wood since he was six years old. He carries the tradition of tree work down from his father, who was a forest fire fighter in his 20s. After his father taught Justin tree climbing a few years ago, they worked alongside each other doing tree work on Vashon Island before Justin started his own enterprise caring for tree and selling firewood on the island. A bicycle enthusiast, Justin has movement in his veins. He’s lived in the Philippines, Spain, and Montana, and travels as much as possible with his wife. Justin has found community and support in the tree care industry and values the wealth of knowledge of each individual he works with.

Favorite tree: Madrone (Arbutus)

Arborist Grounds Crew

Caleb joined the Seattle Tree Care team in 2022. The thrill of climbing trees brought him to the industry, a way to transform a recreational passion into a career. Having worked as a commercial diver building docks underwater here in Seattle, Caleb earned experience working with chainsaws under pressure. He also started with prior knowledge on ropes and knot tying from his seven years as a commercial fisher in Alaska, where he lived before moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2018. He spends his free time getting as close to Alaskan life as possible by going hiking and climbing.

Favorite tree: Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

Arborist Apprentice Climber

Keaton moved to Seattle in 2018 from Missouri, where he was born, to pursue his love of photography, an art he has real talent for. He had two years of tree care experience before joining the Seattle Tree Care team in 2022. His favorite trees are the Deodar cedar, a tree he and his brothers planted in tribute to their father. He also loves the fall colors of the aspen, and the sound they make quaking in the wind. Tree care gives him the opportunity to learn something new every day, and the diversity of trees and problem solving keeps his motivation spurring. In his free time, Keaton is an avid outdoorsman, finding photogenic hikes on ambitious backpacking trips.

Favorite tree: Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara)

Arborist Grounds Crew

Emma returned home to the Puget Sound region and joined our team in 2022 after earning her Masters in environmental conservation from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she also earned her Bachelors. What brought her back to the great Pacific Northwest? A love of trees, specifically the Douglas Fir. After spending years in Massachusetts forests, Emma missed the density of the forests at home, where she could walk into the woods and feel embraced by the trees. Emma loves working on the Seattle Tree Care team because it gives her the opportunity to always be moving and learning something new. In her free time, Emma enjoys indoor (for now!) rock climbing, reading mystery novels, and crocheting.

Favorite tree: Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

Arborist Grounds Crew

Arne joined the Seattle Tree Care team in 2022 after spending a season as a sawyer while wildland firefighting. Currently studying for a degree in fire science, Arne grew up running a saw on his parents’ property in Ellensburg and was happy to return to tree work. In his free time, Arne enjoys everything outdoors: hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and snowboarding.

Favorite tree: Monkey puzzle (Araucaria araucana)

Arborist Grounds Crew

Ricky hails from Virginia. The switch from the East coast to the Pacific Northwest was an obvious one for Ricky, who loves the access to nature and grandeur of the mountains we enjoy in our Emerald City. In his free time, Ricky enjoys playing the piano, hiking, and running.

Favorite tree: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)