Leveraging previous experience

jip40

jip40

Location
Northern Virginia
Please move to a more appropriate forum if necessary.

Looking for advice from the experienced members of this site.

I'm separating from the military after 12 years of commissioned service, most recently serving as the operations officer of a Battalion of 600+ Marines and $100 million in equipment. To sum it up, I coordinated and supervised operations and training across the US and Globe.

Prior to entering service, I obtained a 4 year degree in horticulture and worked for 4 years for various different tree companies serving as Foreman prior to entering the military. I've maintained my ISA Certification and CDL (B), but I let EHAP Cert and pesticide license expire.

My dilemma is whether I should continue pursuing an operations manager type role in the tree industry or start my own company. I've tested the waters and applied for a couple of supervisory positions, and in both instances so far been told I'm overqualified and they went with other applicants. I have two young children, and I don't know that I can spend the amount of time with them I'd like too if I tried starting up my own company.

I'd be really grateful of anyone sharing any lessons learned from your personal experience that will help me make a decision.
 
best of luck in your search

It would seem like someone with your resume would be desired. You’re finding that isn’t true though. Too bad that more industry, not singling out tree work, didn’t have a tighter command structure. Maybe not as tight and regulated as the military though.

It seems that your experiences and skills would find a home at a larger, multi-office tree care company rather than a one office setup
 
If time with family is important, then you will always have that battle as an Owner-Operator. That being said, if you take a position outside of production with another company, it’s very easy to have a hard time managing that work-life balance. The larger companies (Bartlett, Davey, etc) are high production, high pressure sales. You will be pushed to keep the crews busy and maintain a back log. Personally, I’d take on a role with a good local company to help transition back into the civilian world, as well as get your hands on where the tree industry stands today. You’re never tied to a company, you can always start your own thing down the road or on the side. Speaking as a former Marine myself, you will have enough adjustment coming into the civilian world, don’t ad the stress of starting a new company to the mix. It will be a lot on you, and a lot on your family.

I’m located here in VA. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

Semper Fi
 
zlarborprotc said:
If time with family is important, then you will always have that battle as an Owner-Operator. That being said, if you take a position outside of production with another company, it’s very easy to have a hard time managing that work-life balance. The larger companies (Bartlett, Davey, etc) are high production, high pressure sales. You will be pushed to keep the crews busy and maintain a back log. Personally, I’d take on a role with a good local company to help transition back into the civilian world, as well as get your hands on where the tree industry stands today. You’re never tied to a company, you can always start your own thing down the road or on the side. Speaking as a former Marine myself, you will have enough adjustment coming into the civilian world, don’t ad the stress of starting a new company to the mix. It will be a lot on you, and a lot on your family.

I’m located here in VA. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

Semper Fi
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Thanks brother, I got started in the industry with Bartlett and only exposed to the production side. I'm interested in working with local companies and will look into some in the area I plan to relocate to.
 
Thank you for your service !
I think it really depends if you love doing the work. If so run your own show if not go for a management position.
But as pointed out your own show will eat a lot of time before and after the job is done. Estimates, books, etc etc, and once people know you are a tree guy you will be talking trees at every party you will ever attend for the rest of your life.
 
flushcut said:
Thank you for your service !
I think it really depends if you love doing the work. If so run your own show if not go for a management position.
But as pointed out your own show will eat a lot of time before and after the job is done. Estimates, books, etc etc, and once people know you are a tree guy you will be talking trees at every party you will ever attend for the rest of your life.
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Thanks, I love the industry. One of the big reasons I left was most of the companies I worked for couldn't keep us busy enough (many weeks only 20 hours in summer months), and I wanted to start and be able to afford to support a family. I still can't help but look up and see all the hazards and widow makers as I drive around. I've started to work on weekends on my own or with friends at most of my duty stations, but at this point in my career I became too busy to continue.
 
No, I'm actually planning to return home to the SC/GA border to be closer to family. It's one of the main reasons I'm leaving the military. Unless you run your own show, or are high in management, I don't see how the lower echelons of tree workers afford to live up here.
 
Talented, motivated people attracted to arboriculture face a dilemma of limiting employment careers or going it alone. With the right team you can do far more together than the sum of what you can do separately.

Partnerships or franchising might be options with the right partners or business. We've got a good thing going in Chapel Hill but my business partner and I are often thinking about ways to attract awesome folks into arboriculture by breaking that dilemma. We're open to ideas.
 
Totally agree, my biggest concern going it alone is finding good help.

One thing to consider is attracting former military members b/c most of them enjoy being outdoors and are used to working as a team. After 4 years, most have led at team of 3-4 or even a squad of 12.
 
Tough decision to not do another 8 years and collect a retirement check, eh?

Military service is tough on the family life, especially when the kids are pretty young still. If they had wanted you to be a husband and father, they would’ve issued you a wife and kids.
 
Agree with what you’ve stated. I don’t ever really plan on retiring, just want to get back to work I enjoy and don’t have to worry about being sent to the brig for refusing orders I find unconscionable or in violation of constitution.
 
Based on what you have told us about yourself, I don't think you will ever be satisfied until you run your own business. It is a time consuming pursuit, but you can decide how much work you do at any given time. You can create a monster company or, keep it small.
 
My Guess...

You will be very disappointed in dealing with most hourly laborers who are needing a job.
Might be me, too many guys like that are too dangerous to have around.

Especially true if you think being less than 15 minutes early, and prepared, is late.

My Marine former-employee was never late, and always came prepared.
The most late he was, was because of someone else's traffic accident, getting him to work at 755a, not at the 8am start time.



My Guess...
You would do better with people also used to planning and chain of command.

Former service members might be your best employees to work under AND along side a longtime Marine supervisor.




Dunno.

$.02
 
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Former or returning Wildland firefighters.

Structural fire fighters on their days off.

Good possibilities.



Three of my best employees in the past were short timers, one awaiting wildfire season to come back around, one was an urban FF trainee, one got on a Hot Shot crew after working for me.





Again, modern mini loaders change removal work.




Doing only solo pruning/ preservation, or with a helper is another route.
Finding an Assistant might be a tough one.

Arbor trolleys/ material haulers and portable winches help.





Beware tree manufacturer marketing departments.
KISS.
After 13 years I have about 6 or 7 different active-duty ropes and 6 friction devices for rigging including a GRCS. I mostly go for 3-strand treemaster or True Blue, and natural crotch rigging. Rigging rings and my BMG bollard next.
A $3 ratchet strap holds up an otherwise floppy POW better than a fancy sling.
Maasdam rope pullers are fantastic and dirt cheap.
 
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jip40 said:
Agree with what you’ve stated. I don’t ever really plan on retiring, just want to get back to work I enjoy and don’t have to worry about being sent to the brig for refusing orders I find unconscionable or in violation of constitution.
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Hats off to you,sir.
 
I think one thing that would help is assisting talent finding an out. No matter how fit, or what new equipment comes out, eventually there comes a time to hang up the saddle. Ideally, they could get a job as a sales or consulting arborist. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always pan out that way and in my experience, it is hard to leverage treecare experience into other positions that offer competitive pay. There’s also room for advancement, which dissuades some people. The title promotion can be just as important as the salary promotion for some.
 
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