Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Shy.
Hi Alex, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have always had an interest in biology and nature, which led me into pursuing a degree in Forest Resource Management at West Virginia University. This is where my love for forestry really took hold. Shortly after I graduated from WVU, my wife and I decided to start a family and move to Maryland, where I connected with a friend who also owns a successful local tree company, and earned my first job in the field as a working foreman and crew leader. It was also around this time that I became an ISA-certified arborist. From there, my career in the field of forestry and arboriculture continued to progress and I eventually went on to work for local municipalities for a few years. After years of learning the trade in the field, but having a continuing drive to accomplish more, I decided to start my own company, Sustainable Home and Yard in 2017. I started out with just a small chainsaw, a few ropes, a worn saddle, and an old truck, and operated in the evenings and on the weekends. My business continued to grow until it reached a point of success that I could no longer manage part-time while working full-time elsewhere. In May of 2020, I decided to take the leap and leave my full-time municipal position in order to give my full attention to my tree business, and I haven’t looked back! It has been a wild ride of success, failure, joy, stress, and pride. We have continued to grow and persevere despite many setbacks, and have continued to double our revenue each year. We currently operate under the dba Shy Tree and are looking forward to the future for our company.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has been far from smooth sailing. I had no idea how much time and energy would have to be dedicated to owning my own business, especially one that requires so much physical effort. I love what I do so that keeps me driven to continually improve on methods and help power through any adversity. Learning how to balance my own work-life balance is extremely difficult when you are passionate about your work AND your family.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Shy Tree, formerly Sustainable Home and Yard, is a licensed and insured Tree Service Company founded in 2017 with the mission to practice Arboriculture in a commercial setting while prioritizing plant health care. Shy Tree has earned several commercial contracts, municipal contracts, and services residential properties in central Maryland.
We offer tree removal, tree pruning, tree care, stump grinding, tree planting, and much more.
Alex Shy, owner, and operator of Shy Tree is an ISA Certified Arborist, MD Licensed Tree Expert, FAA Certified Remote Pilot, and is qualified in Tree Risk Assessment. Alex graduated with honors from West Virginia University with his B.S. in Natural Resource Management. He is contracted to teach the MAC-ISA’s Arborist Certification Course.
What do you think about happiness?
When I think about happiness, I think of my family and the time I get to spend with them.
Contact Info:
- Email: office@shytree.com
- Website: www.shytree.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shy_tree_service/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShyTreeService
