MATT D.
ISA Certification: WI-0777A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment: WI-0777A
Commercial Pesticide: 77559
I am a Madison native, born and raised on the east side. I eventually discovered that trees and plants are my life’s passion while studying at UW-Madison, where I earned a degree in Forest Ecology & Management.In 2007, I started my career in arboriculture and in 2008 I attained the ISA Certified Arborist credential.
I’ve gained many years of experience since then. I treated old growth eastern hemlocks for invasive insect pests in Great Smoky Mountains National Park; restored short grass prairie plant communities on the Front Range near Denver, CO; removed hazard trees in both Grand Canyon National Park, AZ & Sequoia National Park, CA; and traveled with a National Park Service traveling exotic plant management team. For three years, I lived in Boston, MA and climbed trees for Davey Tree Expert Co.
I love being outside for work every day, working with trees and marveling at their strength and beauty. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, camping, exploring local history and architecture, and photography. I joined ECO Tree Company in July of 2020 and feel that I’ve finally found the place that shares my passion and vision for the care of trees in our landscape.
ISABEL (IZZY) K.
ISA Certification: WI-1610A
Commercial Pesticide: In Progress
My interest in tree health care started during my undergrad at UW Stevens Point. I spent those years learning to identify native plants, trees, birds, reptiles, and mammals, and understanding how every part of an ecosystem is connected. That knowledge shaped my goal to help protect and restore the environments that give so much to us, whether through their natural beauty, recreational value, or the way they support life. I found that one of the most enjoyable and direct ways to do this is by caring for trees in urban landscapes. Now, I get to help people connect with trees and support the many living things that depend on them. Plus, I get to talk about trees every single day, which is a win in my book.
One experience that stands out was when I recommended end weight reduction instead of cutting an entire limb. That choice gave the tree smaller, more manageable wounds and helped it avoid long-term decay. It’s a small change that made a big difference.
When educating customers, I like to focus on the idea that trees are a vital part of our urban ecosystem. There are many ways to support their health and longevity while still meeting a homeowner’s needs. I always try to find a balanced solution that protects the tree and helps the customer feel good about their options. Often, that means introducing ideas they hadn’t considered beyond just removing the tree.
If I could have any tree in my backyard, it would be a mature sugar maple. Actually, maybe ten. Not just because they’re beautiful, but because a steady flow of maple syrup for my morning coffee sounds pretty perfect.
My hobbies change with the season, but I love anything outdoors—backpacking, camping, biking, swimming, and paddleboarding. I’m excited to try fly fishing now that I’m moving to the Driftless. I also make art, and lately I’ve been getting into watercolor painting and knitting. If I’m not doing one of those things, I’m probably cooking, hanging out with friends, or dancing to live bluegrass wherever I can find it.
If the fate of the world depended on a stranger liking the movie I recommend, I’d choose Spirited Away. The animation is stunning, the story is moving, and it transports you to a whole new world in the best way.
What am I passionate about? Being in nature, hugging my friends, dancing, telling stories, eating great food, and laughing until my stomach hurts.
DILLON T.
ISA Certification:
Commercial Pesticide: 111319
Ever since I was young, I have loved roaming the woods, climbing trees and being able to immerse myself in nature. I grew up in central Wisconsin where I went to high school and spent my childhood. I then moved to Appleton for a year to study landscaping and horticulture. After spending that year in school my passion for trees and tree health care grew immensely. This is about the time I decided I should follow my passion for trees.
I am currently working towards becoming a certified arborist and Eco Tree Company has been a big part in this. I started with the company towards the end of 2021. Just in this short time I have been able to learn so much and work with a lot of great people. In my free time I love to spend time hiking, fishing and hunting.
MICHELLE G.
Born and raised in the Madison area, I am the oldest of 15. I spent the better part of 10 years as an amateur ballroom dancer, participating in competitions across the country. I went to school for Culinary Arts, specializing in Patisserie, and I enjoy baking and decorating sweet treats to this day. I enjoy traveling to warm places as often as possible and I love going to concerts. I have a strong affection for all things caffeine. When I am not working or traveling, you will likely find me at a local park, curled up with a good book and a London Fog or a lovely cup of Ethiopia Yrgacheffe.
When you email or call ECO Tree Company, chances are you’ll be talking with me to schedule your consultations and services. I look forward to chatting with you!
TRACE M.
ISA Certification: Wi-1452A
Commercial Pesticide: 95298
Working outside has always been my passion, and I can’t imagine sitting at a desk all day. Joining Eco Tree Company has allowed me to pursue my love for tree health care. I find great satisfaction in preserving trees through cabling and bolting, and enhancing their structure rather than removing them.
I enjoy educating customers about tree health and am always eager to answer their questions. My favorite tree is the American Beech for its unique bark and winter beauty.
In my free time, I love climbing, trout fishing, and cross-country skiing. For me, it’s all about enjoying the outdoors and having a great time.
KAI H.
ISA Certification: WI-1553A
Commercial Pesticide: 118784
My journey into tree health care began with a desire to ensure that every pruning cut I make benefits the tree rather than harms it. I approach each decision with the tree’s long-term health in mind. Watching the growth of young trees I’ve pruned near my home has been particularly rewarding, reinforcing the impact of thoughtful care.
At Eco Tree Company, I enjoy engaging with customers who are eager to learn about their trees. I love sharing my knowledge or finding answers, creating a learning experience for both of us.
If I could choose any tree for my backyard, it would be a single-stem river birch that I could nurture for decades. Outside of work, I enjoy golf and poker. And if I had to recommend a movie to anyone, it would be The Godfather…a timeless classic.
I’m also passionate about cheering on the Eagles. Go birds!
MICHAEL D.
ISA Certification: WI-1602A
Commercial Pesticide: 546225
My interest in tree health care started with a fascination for regenerative agriculture, particularly silvopasture and the role of trees. Given the choice between working in the sky or the ground, I chose the sky, and it’s been rewarding ever since. I find great satisfaction in improving the health of trees, especially when removing deadwood from honeylocusts, making them look cleaner and stronger.
When educating customers, I aim to provide more information than necessary to give a solid foundation for my recommendations. If I could have any tree in my backyard, it would be a white pine; their presence in Wisconsin forests is truly commanding.
In my free time, I enjoy hurling, kayaking, and cooking meats and veggies. If I had to recommend a movie, anything with Jennifer Coolidge is a safe bet…she’s simply fantastic. I’m also passionate about enjoying a warm room with a frosty window, embracing the cozy comforts of life.
MICHAEL P.
ISA Certification: WI-1348A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment: WI-1348A
Commercial Pesticide: 105219
My love for tree health care started right here in the Madison area, where I spent my childhood exploring the outdoors. My first job in high school, working at a Christmas tree farm sealed the deal. I knew I wanted a career that let me work outside with trees every day. That passion led me to UW-Stevens Point, where I earned a degree in urban forestry. After graduating, I came back to Madison, became a certified arborist, and have been doing what I love ever since.
One of the most rewarding parts of my work is rehabbing old oaks that have been stressed or damaged by construction. These trees have stood the test of time, and being able to help them continue thriving is an incredible feeling.
When it comes to educating clients, I believe knowledge is power. I try to provide as much information as possible about the trees on their properties and in their communities so they can better care for and appreciate them.
If I could have any tree in my backyard, it would be a massive bur oak with sprawling branches. In my free time, I enjoy archery, hunting, and going to concerts. As for movie recommendations? You probably don’t want to take my advice!
I’m passionate about my dogs. I have two hounds and love meeting my clients’ dogs, too.
MARCELA M.
DreamScapes Designer / Landscaping Consultant
B.S. Ornamental Horticulture
M.S. Project Management
Permaculture Certified
Wisconsin Master Naturalist
My love for the outdoors, combined with my artistic side, led me to obtain my B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and M.S. in Project Management. I have always been drawn to creating beautiful spaces, and landscaping gave me a way to blend creativity with nature. Today, my work is driven by a desire to educate and encourage people to incorporate more natural and native plants into their outdoor spaces. That mindset shapes every design I create.
There have been many projects I am proud of over the years, but a few stand out. Designing a zen-inspired rock meditation garden was especially meaningful. I also had the opportunity to install the first LEED Gold certified residential landscape in Wisconsin, which was a milestone moment. Another project I loved involved covering an entire front lawn with cardboard and mulch to eliminate the grass naturally instead of cutting it out. Finding sustainable solutions like that is incredibly rewarding.
When I educate customers, I look to nature as the ultimate beauty standard. I choose plants that enhance a space with their natural form, use color and texture to create interest, and integrate hardscapes and water features that invite people to immerse themselves in the outdoors.
If I could have any plant in my backyard, the honest answer is all of them. I want layers, diversity, and life everywhere.
Outside of work, I enjoy woodworking, kayaking, gardening, and spending time with my four dogs.
If the fate of the world depended on someone liking a movie I suggested, I would recommend Into the Wild. It captures freedom, connection to nature, and the human spirit in a way that resonates deeply with me.
I am passionate about reducing the amount of traditional turf grass in our communities, working one yard at a time to shift landscapes toward something more ecological, functional, and alive.
ADHEM T.
ISA Certification: WI-0785A
I grew up roaming the woods of Northern Maine where I was able to immerse myself in the forest. From there, I attended the Urban Forestry program at Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids. I’ve been in the Madison area Arboriculture scene for over 10 years now.
I started ECO with one primary goal, and that’s to save as many trees as possible in the urban forest. I couldn’t be more proud and honored to have such a passionate and competent group of Arborists working with me to help achieve that goal.
Currently, my wife, daughter and I live in Dodgeville on an organic farm with six cows that were once classified as beef cattle but are now strictly pets. They’ll die of old age! As a family, Jenna and I enjoy exploring the outdoors with Violette, boating, and morel hunting in the spring.
JON F.
ISA Certification: WI-0925A
Commercial Pesticide: 90101
I got into tree health care and landscaping because I wanted to work outside. Being outdoors every day keeps me energized, and it makes the work feel real and rewarding.
One thing I’m especially proud of is dog obedience training. It taught me patience, consistency, and how to communicate clearly, even when progress happens one small step at a time.
When I’m educating customers, I lean on analogies. Adults learn best when you connect something new to something they already understand, so I try to explain tree and landscape issues in a way that clicks quickly and feels practical.
If I could have any plant in my backyard, I’d pick a holly bush. I love how it looks, and it brings a classic feel to a yard.
Outside of work, I’m usually watching football. If the fate of the world depended on my movie recommendation, I’m going with Talladega Nights. It’s hilarious and hard not to like.
And if we’re talking passions, mine is simple: coffee.
HANNA R.
ISA Certification: In Progress
Commercial Pesticide: 546216
I’ve loved nature for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, if we didn’t have somewhere we had to be, we were outside. My mom had a special love for trees. Almost every day, she would find a wooded trail to run or hike, and she often brought us along. That connection to the outdoors definitely stuck with me.
Working at Eco Tree feels like everything coming full circle. I’m no longer just admiring trees. I get to take care of them and actually help them thrive. It’s something I find incredibly fulfilling.
I don’t have one dramatic tree-saving story, but I’ve always been someone who advocates for tree health. I do what I can to care for the trees on my own land and encourage others to do the same. Small actions matter.
When I talk with customers, I like to share whatever I know about the trees we’re working with and keep the door open for any questions they have. I’m here to help them understand and appreciate what’s growing around them.
If I could pick any tree for my backyard, I’d go with a weeping willow. I spent a lot of my childhood swimming in lakes and ponds, and I always found myself near those calming, beautiful trees. They’ve always felt like home to me.
In my free time, I love to travel, explore hiking and biking trails around Wisconsin, read under a good tree canopy, go to concerts, snowboard, swim, and spend as much time as I can with friends and family.
If I had to recommend one movie to save the world, I’d choose Clerks. I’m a fan of older films, especially anything made before 2000, and Clerks is my go-to comfort movie.
What I’m most passionate about is being outside, traveling, and learning something new wherever I go.
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