Jack Richardson

Jack is the founder and president of Guardian Tree Experts, LLC. Originally from Arlington, VA, he is a graduate of Trinity College (Hartford, CT) where he majored in history and played four years of varsity baseball.  He began his career in Northern Virginia with Bartlett Tree Experts, an international company recognized for its scientific approach to tree care and its firm commitment to safety and training.  Jack moved to Ann Arbor with his wife who is an Ann Arbor native, and he has been working in this area ever since their arrival.

He is an ISA Certified Arborist, our area’s only TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), and a three-time Michigan Tree Climbing Champion and competitor in the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC). Over the past eight years, he has worked as a groundsman, climber, crew leader, general foreman, plant health care technician, safety director, and arborist representative.  As a Guardian client, you can rest assured that you will receive appropriate recommendations and safe, high-quality work due to this diversity of experience.

Kris Adler

Kris began his career in arboriculture in 1995 with the Care of Trees in Chicago, IL, and has worked as a certified arborist in Ann Arbor since 2000.  He holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in forestry, both from Michigan State University.  In addition to his extensive training and experience, he is our area’s only ISA Board Certified Master Arborist.

Kris is passionate about trees and their proper care.  He enjoys establishing and maintaining long-term relationships with our clients while helping them care for the health and safety of their trees and shrubs.  He resides in the city of Ann Arbor with his wife and two adorable daughters.

Garrett Brun

A graduate of Michigan State University, Garrett manages our plant health care department and is also a ground operations specialist.  As an ISA Certified Arborist, he works closely with Kris to ensure that our clients’ trees receive the proper treatments at the correct times of the year.

Prior to joining our team, he was a park officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.  Before that, he spent time as a Civilian Conservation Corps Crew Leader within the same department.  In the former position, Garrett was responsible for general maintenance tasks and enforcement of park regulations.  In the latter, he performed a wide variety of ecological restoration tasks.  These most recent experiences have instilled in Garrett an excellent work ethic, solid communication skills, and an interest in trees, shrubs, and native plants.   When he’s not working or home with his wife in Brighton, he enjoys camping, fishing, and hiking.

Mitch Zost

Mitch joined our team after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Horticulture.  Prior to graduating, he spent two years interning at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum working in all areas of plant care. While at MSU, he was the president of the Horticulture Club where he organized activities for meetings as well as organized and managed the club’s fundraising plant sale.  This experience expanded his knowledge of woody plants and proper tree care. During his time in the horticulture program, he caught the bug for arboriculture and has since brought some life back into the field at MSU. He also spent three years as a competitive runner at Eastern Michigan University and continues to run in his spare time.  When he gets a free day, he likes to spend the time fishing. Mitch works primarily as a climber and crew leader and takes great pride in caring for our clients and their trees.

Alan Dosenberry

Alan joined us after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Horticulture.  While at MSU, he spent a summer interning at Bartlett Tree Experts in the New England area which helped to solidify his desire to pursue a career in arboriculture.  He works primarily with Mitch and Ethan and has become a big contributor to the efficiency and safety of our tree crew.

Keegan Pape

We’re extremely fortunate to have found Keegan to help us during the summer months.  His work ethic, dependability, stamina, and skills are impressive…especially when one considers the fact that he is only a senior in high school.  He wrestles and golfs at Pioneer and is interested in attending Purdue or Wisconsin for college.  We hope to work together with him in upcoming summers as he continues his education.

Kyle Bracken

Kyle’s appreciation for hard work and interest in becoming a tree climber make him a great addition to our outfit.  As an apprentice, he is working primarily with Mitch to learn how to care for trees properly and climb them safely.  He’s picking up the trade quickly, and we’re looking forward to his future growth.  In his spare time, he enjoys working out, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his fiancée and family.

Jen Bachman

If you call the main number or send us an email, you will most likely reach Jen.  She is our office manager and handles everything from setting appointments to sending out invoices.  She’s especially good at listening to our clients’ requests so she can ensure we offer the right solutions to their problems.  Her attention to detail, ability to multi-task, and overall care for our clients is one of the main reasons why people continue to work with us on a regular basis.

Charity Barnes

Charity’s positive attitude, enthusiasm, and cheerful demeanor are contagious, and we’re happy to catch the bug on a daily basis.  She is currently working in the office, but we expect she will help us out in the field as time goes on.  She holds a B.S. in Conservation with a minor in Geology from Northern Michigan University and loves spending time outside (especially up north where she grew up).  Her work experience has included outdoor jobs (river restoration work, map making, and boat building.)  Throughout these jobs, she has enjoyed providing exceptional customer care…something one experiences often when walking into her family’s two Ace Hardware stores here in town.