SavATree’s All Female Crew Generating Attention in the Denver Market
Like many other labor-intensive industries, the tree care industry is often shrouded in stereotypes that field crews should be bearded, rugged, and sturdy – more accurately put, men.
Such stereotypes are always amusing to me, especially when juxtaposed against some historical data from the past regarding women’s incredible contributions to the infancy of the tree care industry.
For instance, during her tenure in the Forest Service, Margaret March-Mount was known as the “Ambassador of the trees” – encouraging tree planting throughout the country with her famous catchphrase, “Bombs explode, pines grow.”
In 1810, Tabitha Babbitt, a quiet weaver living in a Shaker community in Massachusetts, noticed men using a pit saw to cut trees – a laborious, time-consuming process. She thought of attaching a circular blade to her spinning wheel, which revolutionized how trees were cut.
Margaret Stoughton Abell was the first women forester back in 1930 – working on nearly every project conducted by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station and paving the way for other females to join the industry.
Not surprisingly, women are still positively contributing to the tree care industry, though perhaps not always commonly recognized, as they safely suspend from branches high above the ground. But SavATree in Denver, Colorado is setting a new course – an entire field crew comprised of three women – Sarah Kieffer, Presley Laryea, and Whitney Lippert.
I recently had the pleasure to speak with the team onsite at a residential property in Denver, where a majestic yet overgrown tree filled the front yard and was definitely in need of SavATree’s expertise.
I was immediately struck by the team’s camaraderie – the level of trust and mutual respect which was evident between these teammates and imperative to maintaining each other’s safety as well as the safety of the property and its inhabitants.
I watched as they greeted the homeowner with affability before walking the perimeter of the property to ensure that every detail of their work was accurately explained to satisfy the homeowner’s expectations. During their conversation with the homeowner, the team seemed energized and excited, a feeling I suspected they applied to their craft once the job was underway.
As the team continued with their walk-through of the property, I conversed with Randy Duet-Champagne, Branch Manager for SavATree’s Denver, Colorado location, and the reason I was onsite for this discussion.
When asked about this all-female team, the answer for their formation seemed more logistical than calculated. “Sarah, Presley, and Whitney all joined the SavATree tribe around the same time, and our Operations Manager, Phil Jankovich, suggested pairing them together for a trial run to see how they’d be received both internally and externally,” said Randy.
What may have started as unintentional has certainly generated a lot of attention in the market. “The team has been getting rave reviews from customers, not because they’re all females, but they’re doing an amazing job in the field with great attitudes. They’re approachable and take the time to walk through the process with the customer – making sure to build a level of trust through education and engagement we all could learn from.”
As the team approached me for a quick chat, I felt like a welcomed presence as they went about the ordinary and extraordinary details of their day. It was easy to understand why so many customers appreciated their initial connections with Sarah, Presley, and Whitney – considerate, friendly, accommodating.
I quickly learned that while their educational backgrounds and converging paths towards SavATree had been unique, they all shared an appreciation for nature’s wonders, as well as a desire to inspire others to do the same by sharing what they’ve learned about the importance of properly caring for trees and shrubs.
“Growing up, I was always climbing in trees, but it was never something I thought I could do for a living,” said Sarah. “But when I started thinking about the idea, I felt like I had a lot to offer the industry based on my love of nature and knowledge.”
“I started doing conservation work as my first introduction to more sustainable, environmental experiences, and it was a lot of fun,” said Whitney. “But I didn’t like spending half the year living in tents to do so. Working at SavATree allows me to still feel fulfilled while having more time to encourage other people.”
When asked how customers react when they greet them, the team admits there have been some skeptics when they’ve arrived on a new property for the first initial introductions, but nothing dramatic.
“Sometimes, we’ll go up to a customer’s door, and they’ll be surprised to see the three of us standing there. They’ll often ask if we’re actually going to be the ones climbing in the trees!” said Sarah. “But no one ever makes us feel inferior. Instead, when we’re done, they’re super impressed with our abilities.”
“I love working outdoors and building relationships with customers, especially when we see how happy they are with the results we’ve created,” added Presley.
Throughout our candid discussion about their inclusion in what is still a male-dominated field, it became clear from the trio that many of the challenges that exist for women have a great deal to do with a companies’ culture and their tolerance of the stereotypes plaguing the industry.
“When we first started as an all-female team, we broke down the barriers immediately not by anything we said or confrontations we experienced, but more by the quality work that we did. We gained a lot of respect just by showing we could do the job,” said Whitney.
While it’s not uncommon for women considering a career in the tree care industry to experience feelings of being underestimated in strength and abilities, not to mention intimidated by their male counterparts, this team feels SavATree never discriminated based on gender.
“SavATree didn’t hire us because we had a feminine touch. Instead, they saw that we could truly do the work,” said Presley. “They gave us the same opportunities as anyone.”
“They’ve always supported us. SavATree provided us the tools and training we needed for success and never treated us differently,” said Sarah.
While I thoroughly enjoyed our lively conversation, I was also aware that a job needed to get done – that a tree required pruning that day. So, after snapping a few quick photos of Sarah, Presley, and Whitney smiling beside their company-supplied vehicle, which would soon be put to good use, I asked, why SavATree?
“We go out and do our job every day knowing we’ve got the support of the organization behind us. That’s a great feeling,” said Whitney.
I couldn’t agree more.
For more information on career opportunities at SavATree, visit savatree.com/careers.
