Kevin Donner: Treesmith USA

April 13, 2023

Kevin Donner: Treesmith USA

“So, we are a small tree company.

I’m an arborist. I’ve been an arborist primarily for 10 years or more now. Always with a passion for, not seeing things go to waste after we bring trees to the ground. So, 90% of our work is pruning and removal, and general tree assessment. Providing people with guidance as far as caring for their trees and their properties.”

– Kevin Donner

Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Kevin Donner, owner of Treesmith USA.

Kevin has worked mainly as an arborist for the past ten years. He is constantly driven by a desire to prevent things from being wasted once they have felled trees. Pruning, removal, and general tree evaluation make up 90% of their job, which involves advising clients on how to take care of their trees and property.

In this episode, Kevin talks about the moment he realized he could run his own business, the difficult lesson he learned the hard way when he first got going, and the key pieces of equipment he bought that helped him get started.

It all began as a hobby, as per Kevin. Word gets around, and guys just start hitting him up. And for him, it feels right that he is turning materials into usable ones, as it’s difficult for an existing tree company to incorporate that because it’s relatively new in the market.

Listen now and get the whole story!

“It kind of started as a hobby and then word, just like everything kind of word gets around and guys just start hitting you up and they say,

“I need this for a table that I want to make, and this and that.”

And, I just believe that it should be part of the operation. It just feels right that I turn material into usable. It is difficult for, an existing tree company to start incorporating that. And it’s just something new.”

– Kevin Donner

Is it time for your company to make an equipment purchase?

If you have the appropriate equipment, you can improve your operations, productivity, and ability to innovate. But should you invest now or put off your purchase until later? You might need to buy new equipment now if you have upcoming large contracts that require you to enhance output or if your company is snowballing. Kevin is trying to broaden his capabilities at his own pace as he is aware that if he purchased a mill, given his current situation, he would soon be drowning in lumber and struggling to keep up with three clients. It is simple to become preoccupied with your company’s expansion and neglect to take the essential time to determine whether you are in a position to purchase additional equipment. To project your costs over the following several months or years, think beyond your current circumstances.

“I know that if I bought a mill, given my current circumstances right now, I’d quickly be just drowning in lumber and trying to keep up with three clients and so I’m kind of trying to grow with my capabilities.

I do want to hire somebody, at least one guy this year, and kind of build, I can kind of see the company getting to a point where we have a tree division in a lumber division, and we can kind of divide up that way.”

– Kevin Donner

Want to get in touch with Kevin Donner?

Contact him through:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treesmith_usa/?hl=en