Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Airoldi.
Andrew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My start in landscaping began at age 12 when I started a lawn mowing service in my neighborhood of Hubbardston Ma. I pushed the mower around, knocked on doors and mowed lawns for $10, slowly gaining a small “client” base of weekly jobs. Maybe 5 or 6 a week through the summers. At 17 I got a job with “Green Gardens”. An established landscape maintenance company catering to homes in Worcester & surrounding towns. I felt like it was a real step up for me as I was using commercial lawn equipment & driving dump trucks & learning the “Trade”
I ended up following my passion for Music & went to study at Umass Lowell with a double major in the Music business & Jazz guitar performance. My 2nd year there I ended up getting an apartment with friends & need a summer job that would “pay the bills”for the college semesters. Landscaping! I thought. I know I can make some good money through the summer and then leave when school starts.
I was very confident walking into my first interview. I knew all about commercial lawn equipment & driving dump trucks and the different varieties of mulch available. I sat down & the owner explained: “we don’t mow lawns, we don’t rake leaves, we don’t spread mulch.” This company was a design / build firm that dealt with landscape architects & built Hi-end small-scale landscapes catering to the Beacon Hill & Cambridge clientele. In addition, the owner was a consulting arborist who took on the care of specimen trees throughout Massachusetts.
I was hired & immediately fell in love the art & craft that is landscaping. After school, I ended up working full time for this company & became a Certified Arborist through the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). Planting & transplanting large specimen trees really grabbed my attention & in 2007 I decided to give it a go & start my own company. Tree Advocate was born with a focus on Tree Care: Planting, Pruning & Tree Preservation
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The path of Tree Advocate has been relatively smooth. No huge hurdles or potholes to maneuver. I never had the dream of growing a huge company at a rapid rate & think that helped. I wear all the Tree Advocate hats. I am the first contact, the production team, Office worker & accountant.
I take on the work I know I can perform flawlessly & purchase equipment when the work warrants it. I never stretch myself or Tree Advocate too thin
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Tree Advocate story. Tell us more about the business.
In Greater Boston, there are two very different types of Tree Service Companies. Tree Removal & Tree Care. Tree Removal companies have the large equipment & take trees down 6 days a week. Their employees may not know the difference between different tree species or the science behind PHC & IPM but they are very good at taking trees down.
Tree Care companies are generally a bit more refined. We generally have Certified Arborists on staff who may have a bit more knowledge about trees, Tree Pests, Diseases & effective treatments. Tree Advocate is a Tree Care Company.
My size really sets me apart from the others. Many of my clients have tried the other companies & have been dismayed by the aggressive sales tactics & lack of consistency common of “corporate tree care.” My focus has always been Tree Care. The money will follow. My clients appreciate that their trees always look better & their tree care budgets shrink. If there’s an issue or a question. I pick up the phone & I’m there.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
When I first started I placed “tree Care” adds on Craigslist. About 8 months into 2007 I got a call from a gentleman who told me about a large renovation undertaking in Chestnut Hill. A 12,000 square foot house built in 1939 with 3 acres of unmanaged landscape that has sat abandoned for 30 years.
We chatted on the phone & he said he would be in touch. I didn’t think I had a chance, Why would he hire me for such a large undertaking. A week later he called and wanted to set up a time for an interview.
I went into the RH design and development office as confident as I did for my Interview with the Design / build firm years earlier. I told them about myself & showed them pictures of work I managed. I said I had never done anything on this scale but am confident I can do it. We shook hands & I walked out thinking there is no way.
Two weeks later I got a call from Marty who said they want me to manage the entire landscape part of the project. Rolling into 2008 this was the luckiest thing that could have happened. I was on that job every day of that year & successfully oversaw completion of the 3 acres landscape design & build. Chestnut Hill has been my focus area since.
Contact Info:
- Address: 464 Common St, Suite 171 Belmont Ma, 02478
- Website: www.TreeAdvocate.com
- Phone: 9787588673
- Email: Andrew@TreeAdvocate.com
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