We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Luke Hiotis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Luke below.
Alright, Luke thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I have been working in the fields of landscaping and forestry for 15 years. Many of those years were spent in the field working with or leading crews on the job.
One day, a co-worker suggested that I look into becoming an ISA Certified Arborist. Once I started the process, I fell in love with what I was learning. That started years of schooling and studying, with a goal of becoming a Consulting Arborist. This meant working long days up in the mountains of Colorado, performing hazardous tree
removals and wildfire mitigation. Then I would go home and study for the night.
It has been a huge learning curve for me, to merge my main source of work from tree removals to professional consulting services. But it has been incredibly rewarding. Today, I am working as an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, and an SAF Urban Forester. I work with Colorado State Forest Service, private homeowners, and cities around Colorado.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am the owner of Hemlock Consulting, LLC. The main services we provide include hazardous tree removal, wildfire mitigation, and professional consulting services in the fields of arboriculture and forestry. This means that we write Forest Management Plans, draft specifications for cities planning contracts for tree work, and consult on tree and forest health concerns. This work brings us all over the state of Colorado, and sometimes across the United States.
One thing that I feel sets Hemlock Consulting apart from other tree care/removal companies is the dedication we show to staying up-to-date with changes to our forests, and our planning for the future. Wildfires, pests, and climate change have all had tremendous impacts on the forests here in Colorado. Hemlock Consulting has been actively involved with industry leading organizations like the Society of American Foresters, National Forest Foundation, and the American Society of Consulting Arborists, bringing the local concerns here in Colorado to the attention of powerful organizations who can help make a difference.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
One day, I received advice from someone who has owned a tree removal company for over 20 years, and is now a great model for all tree care companies. His advice was: never underestimate the power of making connections. I didn’t understand at first exactly what he meant, but looking back, he was correct.
Over the last few years, I have dedicated myself to meeting industry leading experts in this field, and meeting with them in person. This has certainly called for a lot of work. Long days on the road, late flights, and traveling to every part of the United States. And it has definitely been worth the effort. I have had the privilege of meeting with, learning from, and even being coached by men and women who are unbelievably intelligent and talented. I also feel this has led to a better reputation for myself, as I try my best to apply what I have learned from these individuals who were so generous with their expertise and experience.
We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.
I have sold one business before. It was a landscaping business that I personally built from the ground up. It was doing very well, but the time came to focus entirely on tree work.
One lesson I learned came to me by making a mistake. An ancient proverb says “there is wisdom in many counselors”. Taking that advice and speaking with many others who had owned their own companies would have helped me tremendously. I was in too much of a rush, and relied to heavily on my own thinking.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.hemlockconsultingco.com
- Instagram: @hemlock_consulting_co
Image Credits
Pictures taken by myself and my wife