SavATree was founded by Ralph Robbins in 1978 with a single objective in mind; to save trees from the devastating effects of repeated defoliations by the Gypsy Moth Caterpillar (Lymantria dispar). While this moth was accidentally introduced into the United States by French entomologist Leopold Trouvelot in 1868, it was not until the late 1970’s that the population exploded in the Northeast. Ralph, a graduate of Paul Smith’s college and entrepreneur at heart, saw an opportunity to make a difference in support of tree preservation and care.
Today’s Executive Chairman, Daniel van Starrenburg, a graduate of University of Massachusetts, which has the oldest Arboriculture program in the country, teamed up with Ralph in 1985 to build a best-in-class arboriculture company focused on service excellence and environmental sustainability.
In 2020, Carmine Schiavone joined SavATree as Chief Executive Officer, bringing extensive leadership experience from Johnson Controls and Tyco International. A holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, his expertise ensures that SavATree remains at the forefront of the arboriculture industry.
Over the years, SavATree has expanded throughout the country, and has added lawn care, deer deterrence, tick management and holiday lighting to its portfolio.