Kansas native Ulrich Baumgardner found the tree industry through cutting firewood, hunting from trees, and falling down a YouTube rabbit hole. Inspired by arborist creators, he joined Wellnitz Tree Company after seeing them bid a job at his home, starting as a groundie and quickly embracing climbing. With a National Guard background, Ulrich continues to sharpen his skills through coworkers, trade shows, and YouTube, often climbing just for fun.

Kevin Hamm’s passion for trees began in high school and grew into a lifelong career. After years of tree work on a college campus and at a federal prison, often while working two jobs, he launched Hamm’s Arbor Care following a major 1998 storm. Kevin weathered the 2008 downturn without filing for bankruptcy and rebuilt over the next decade. Today, his company runs on a strong employee-first culture, family involvement, and education, while his Game of Trees YouTube channel and work in Guatemala highlight his commitment to the arborist community.

Zach Czirr of HAIX Boots shares his journey from beer marketing to building premium footwear brands for first responders in the U.S. Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Zach has always been a marketing guy with a passion for elevating strong brands. After a life-altering cliff-jumping accident at 29 that shattered his heel, quality footwear became deeply personal. Now based at HAIX’s North American headquarters, Zach helps grow a European-established brand in the U.S., highlighting why HAIX boots, built with bull leather and top-tier craftsmanship are made to last.