Andrews coaching a fellow arborist on proper pruning techniques, building skills that help keep trees thriving
at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. All photos courtesy
of Redwood Consulting Arborists.

When I entered the tree care industry in 2007, consulting arboriculture was not part of my career plan. Like many arborists, I was focused on building a successful tree-service company, serving customers, training employees and learning everything I could about trees. For 15 years I owned and operated ProClimb Tree Care, and I genuinely loved it. I enjoyed meeting with customers, solving problems, training employees and helping clients care for their trees. Looking back, those years provided the foundation for everything I do today.

Ironically, the moment that changed the course of my career did not happen at a conference, during a certification exam, or while attending a training program. It happened in a client’s yard.

One day, after diagnosing a problem with a homeowner’s tree, she handed me money. I immediately tried to decline it. Then I declined again. To me, I had simply answered a few questions and shared some knowledge. But she would not take no for an answer. She explained that my advice had helped her understand the problem and save her tree. Eventually, I accepted the payment and went on with my day.

When I arrived home, I kept thinking about that interaction. Someone had paid me not to prune a tree, remove a tree or perform a treatment. They had paid me for my knowledge.

That realization sparked my curiosity. I began researching “consulting arboriculture” and quickly discovered an entire side of the profession I knew very little about. I learned that arborists were building successful careers providing consultations, risk assessments, appraisals, expert opinions and professional reports. For the first time, I began to see that the knowledge and experience I had spent years developing could become a profession in itself.

At the time, I had no idea where that path would lead. But that homeowner helped me recognize something important: sometimes the most valuable thing we offer is not the work we perform on trees, but the knowledge we bring to the people who care for them.

Credentials matter

Like many tree-service owners, I spent years pursuing education and credentials primarily to improve my business. I obtained TCIA credentials such as Tree Care Specialist, Plant Health Care Technician, Tree Care Safety Specialist, Crew Leader Qualification and EHAP (Electrical Hazards Awareness Program). Safety has always been important to me, which eventually led me to pursue the Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) designation.

At the time, my goal was simple: to become better at running a tree-service company, provide a safer workplace and offer better service to my customers. What I did not realize was that every credential was quietly preparing me for consulting.

The more I learned, the more interested I became in the science behind tree care. I found myself increasingly focused on diagnosis, risk assessment, tree biology and educating clients. While I still enjoyed production arboriculture, I was becoming more interested in understanding trees than simply working on them.

The major turning point came when I earned my ISA Board Certified Master Arborist credential. Shortly after being listed on TreesAreGood.org, I began receiving calls from people seeking consultations rather than tree work. Around the same time, I earned my Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, which further expanded opportunities for consulting work.

For the first time, I began to realize that consulting arboriculture could be more than something I occasionally did for free. It could become a career.

A gradual transition

Rather than immediately walking away from the tree service I had spent years building, I decided to transition gradually. I established Redwood Consulting Arborists while continuing to operate ProClimb Tree Care. For approximately a year-and-a-half, I ran both businesses simultaneously. Looking back, that transition period was invaluable. It allowed me to build a consulting client base while maintaining the stability of the existing business. More important, it allowed me to determine whether consulting was truly the direction I wanted to pursue – because consulting was far more challenging than I expected.

Some may assume that consulting is the easier version of production arboriculture. My experience has been exactly the opposite. Running a tree service presents challenges, but consulting requires a completely different skill set. As a tree-service owner, I was largely selling work. As a consultant, I was selling knowledge, experience, professional judgment and opinions.

Consulting requires constant learning. Research evolves. Standards change. New pests and diseases emerge. Every report carries responsibility. Every recommendation may influence important financial, legal or safety decisions. I spend significantly more time reading, studying and researching now than I ever did while operating my tree service.

For me, that challenge became one of the greatest benefits of consulting. After 15 years of operating a tree service, I found myself wanting a different kind of challenge. I enjoyed the work, but consulting pushed me intellectually in new ways.

Andrews performing a sounding assessment to identify potential internal decay and structural defects.

As my consulting practice grew, I attended the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Consulting Academy and eventually earned my Registered Consulting Arborist credential. I also obtained the Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification. The Academy introduced me to consulting arborists from across the country and exposed me to opportunities within consulting that I did not know existed. More important, it reinforced the value of mentorship and professional relationships.

Interestingly, expert witness work was not one of the opportunities I intended to pursue.

When I established Redwood Consulting Arborists, my goal was to help homeowners make informed decisions regarding their trees. I had absolutely no intention of becoming involved in litigation. In fact, I specifically remember thinking I did not have the personality for expert witness work and certainly did not possess the knowledge necessary to testify in court.

Then a routine tree-risk assessment unexpectedly became involved in a lawsuit.

Suddenly, I was being asked to testify.

In the weeks leading up to my testimony, I barely slept. I barely ate. I constantly questioned whether I was capable. The thought of sitting in a room with attorneys asking questions about my opinions was intimidating. I remember thinking, “I can’t do this. I don’t belong here.”

At the time, expert witness work felt completely outside my comfort zone. The responsibility seemed enormous. I understood that attorneys, clients and ultimately the court would be relying on my opinions and professional judgment.

However, one thing I have learned throughout my career is that growth often happens on the other side of fear.

Rather than avoiding the opportunity, I decided to prepare as thoroughly as possible. I read books on expert witnessing, studied legal procedures and attended educational programs, including the SEAK National Expert Witness Conference. The more I learned, the more comfortable I became.

When the testimony was finally over, I realized something surprising. Not only had I survived it, I had actually enjoyed it. It required me to explain complex arboricultural concepts clearly, defend my opinions and think critically under pressure.

What began as one of the most stressful experiences of my professional career ultimately became one of the most rewarding. Had I allowed fear to make the decision for me, I never would have discovered a part of the profession that I now genuinely enjoy.

Consulting to teaching

One of the things I appreciate most about consulting is the diversity of opportunities it provides. My practice includes plant-health-care programs, diagnosis of tree and landscape problems, insect and disease management, tree appraisals, tree inventories, tree protection during construction, forensic investigations, litigation support and expert witness services.

Consulting also allowed me to pursue teaching. My involvement with TCIA played a major role in that journey. The knowledge I gained through EHAP, Crew Leader Qualification, CTSP and other TCIA programs not only helped me become a better arborist, but also inspired me to share that knowledge with others. Today, as a TCIA Qualified Trainer, I teach EHAP, Crew Leader Qualification and CTSP workshops. Helping arborists grow professionally has become one of the most rewarding aspects of being a consultant.

Lessons learned

One lesson I often share with arborists considering consulting is the importance of understanding what you want your consulting practice to become. Consulting is broad enough that you can often shape your career around your interests and strengths. Some consultants focus primarily on risk assessments. Others specialize in appraisals, construction consulting, urban forestry, plant health care or litigation support. Understanding what interests you—and what does not—can help guide your professional development and determine which credentials and educational opportunities are most beneficial.

Andrews examining root structure and site conditions to assess factors affecting tree health and stability.

Another is the value of mentorship and professional involvement.

Much of my professional growth can be traced back to organizations such as TCIA, ISA and ASCA. The credentials certainly helped establish credibility, but the relationships I developed were equally important.

People often ask why I dedicate so much time to volunteering with organizations such as TCIA, ISA and ASCA. The answer is that I would not be where I am today without them.

Throughout my career, these organizations provided the education, credentials, mentorship and opportunities that helped shape my professional journey. They introduced me to industry leaders, expanded my knowledge, challenged me to grow and opened doors I never knew existed. Many of my consulting opportunities can be traced back to relationships and experiences that originated through these organizations.

Volunteering is my way of giving back to a profession and to organizations that have given so much to me. Whether serving on committees, coaching Academy students, mentoring arborists, teaching training programs or helping develop educational content, I view it as an opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of our industry.

Building relationships vs. marketing

Many arborists ask how I market my consulting business. The answer is surprisingly simple. I build relationships. I talk with tree-service companies, consultants, engineers, attorneys and property managers. I volunteer. I teach. I stay involved in professional organizations. Over time, those efforts create trust, and trust creates opportunities.

Community involvement also has been an important part of building my business. Providing pro bono consultations, volunteering my expertise and supporting professional organizations not only helps others, but also allows people to see my work firsthand. Some of my most meaningful professional relationships began through volunteer activities rather than formal business-development efforts.

The drawbacks

Of course, consulting is not without drawbacks. One thing I occasionally miss about running a tree service is the immediate satisfaction of physical accomplishment. There is something rewarding about seeing a crew safely complete a difficult removal or transform a tree through proper pruning. Consulting often lacks that immediate visual result. Much of the work takes place behind a computer writing reports, reviewing documents and conducting research. Despite those challenges, I would not change anything about my journey.

Operating a tree service gave me the practical field experience necessary to become an effective consultant. Consulting challenged me to continue growing professionally in ways I never anticipated. It introduced me to teaching, leadership, forensic investigations, expert witness work and opportunities to serve the profession I did not know existed when I first entered the industry.

If you’re considering transitioning from production to consulting, my advice is to continue learning, pursue credentials, seek mentors and remain open to opportunities. Some of the most rewarding experiences in my career began with opportunities that initially made me uncomfortable. I loved owning and operating a tree service, and I will always value those 15 years. However, consulting provided a new challenge at exactly the right time in my career. It allowed me to continue growing, learning and contributing to the profession. For me, consulting was not a departure from arboriculture, it was simply the next step in the journey.

Monika D. Andrews, RCA, BCMA, CTSP, QT, is the owner of Redwood Consulting Arborists in Pennsylvania.