09/23/2026
I often hear “How’d you get into this?” And it’s usually when I’m 70-80’ in the air 😂 I realized since starting the company I’ve never publicly shared my backstory so here it is -
Attended College straight out of highschool, but life had other plans. Started working here and there, including some time underground mining.
Wright Tree Service came into the area around the time coal started its decline. I looked into it and the guy promised me 40 hours a week with the opportunity for more and room to grow.
I joined their team as a ground hand, working my way up the ladder to becoming General Foreman. I spent 7 years here contracting under Appalachian Power, a subsidiary of AEP. At the peak I was managing 8-10 crews, made up of 30-35 men. We were responsible for clearing power line right of way by means of manually climbing and cutting trees, utilizing bucket trucks & other equipment when terrain allowed, and applying herbicides.
We also assisted with restoration efforts during natural disasters. You don’t know nervous until you’re a 25 year old kid leading a group of 30 men into the aftermath of a hurricane 😂
In 2020 I parted ways with Wright to start my own company, Top Notch. In those 6 years we have grown organically by word of mouth and with the help of Facebook into what we are today. We’ve produced a great reputation and built so many relationships along the way, being trusted to work residentially for some of the biggest names in EKY and building partnerships to work for commercial accounts such as the City of Pikeville, UPike, Breaks Interstate Park, and more.
God has led and opened doors since before those college days I mentioned, and is still leading and providing daily. My hope is in Him with the dream that Top Notch Tree Care will continue its growth into something that can be passed down into later generations and into a company that can continue to serve this community and provide jobs for local families.