Meet Luke Hiotis | ISA Board Certified Master Arborist & ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luke Hiotis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luke, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have always had a passion for spending time in and working with trees, forests, and the complex ecosystems found in them. After more than 10 years of working for forestry companies, I wanted to expand my scope of work. So I dedicated myself to a study of trees and forests, the cellular make-up of an individual tree, and the best way to care for them. After being trained by several pioneers of the arboricultural and forestry fields, I decided the best way to put this newfound knowledge to use was to start my own business and try to push the limits of what seemed possible for me at the time.

What should our readers know about your business?
Owning and managing Hemlock Consulting, LLC has been an extremely rewarding, yet challenging venture. I have had the opportunity to work in some of the most amazing places, ranging from urban forestry in the mountain towns of Colorado, to the streets of Denver. Writing Forest Management Plans has taken me all over the state, in elevations ranging from 5,500 up to 12,000 feet. Today, I am one of less than 300 people on earth who hold the unique set of certifications in the Tree Care Industry of ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, along with Tree Risk and Tree Appraisal qualifications. I am in the process of becoming an SAF Certified Urban and Community Forester. And I think that is what sets me apart, something that I can be proud of. These certifications have taught me to value the work that is put in to push the boundaries of an industry, and I am so excited to use this knowledge and experience on every job, every day I go to work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Get out, go to the mountains. Period. Experience what Colorado has to offer with its forests, mountain ranges, and wildlife. Go backpacking for a few days in the San Juans, do a day hike in the Sawatch range, and grab a local brew in a micro brewery in Breckenridge. When you get back to Denver, try to experience the different ranges of foods across the city, and get some rest.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by some of the most incredible individuals. There are too many people to name that have had an impact on myself personally, my career choice, and the passion that I have for working in this industry. I would like to give a shoutout to two specific people who had a tremendous impact on me. First, the late Vince Urbina, an extremely accomplished Arborist who worked for the City of Grand Junction. I had the privilege of being instructed by him at a course in Wyoming several years ago. Second, and more recently, James Komen served as my coach at the ASCA Consulting Academy in California. Both of these individuals taught me proper techniques, and how to continue to love this line of work.

Website: https://www.hemlockconsultingco.com

Instagram: @hemlock_consulting_co

Image Credits
Luke Hiotis
Janell Hiotis