Meet Matthew Komar | Co-Owner Old Growth Tree Service and Specialized Land Management

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Komar and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Matthew, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Most people do not understand that wildfires and timber harvesting are a critical part of forest health. If you don’t manage the forest, a fire will. Wildfires are a natural process that helps the forest regenerate. Overgrown forests are prime habitat for beetles and other insects that kill trees leaving tinder-dry fuel for fires. In the absence of fire, reducing forest density improves stand health, helps slow bug outbreaks, and ultimately helps reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
What should our readers know about your business?
Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My business partner and I saw a need in our community for a company specializing in tree care with a laser-like focus on customer service. We knew that the foundation of our company had to be a great work environment for our employees where we equipped them with the tools, training, and knowledge they needed to grow personally and professionally, so, we invested heavily in our people and in the best equipment for tree care and forestry work, and we continue to do so today.
We also knew that we needed to clearly define our company culture and hold ourselves accountable to a set of core values that would be a guide for all that we do. Integrity, respect, teamwork, training & knowledge, quality & customer service have sustained us since our founding, and with these as guideposts, our efforts have resulted in an incredibly loyal customer base. Now in 2023, we’ve recognized a new opportunity in forestry and have created a second company that specializes in land management and fire mitigation. The catastrophic wildfires that have become the new norm in the Western U.S. have created an awareness of the need to manage forests and create defensible spaces in the Wildland Urban Interface. Once again, our goal is to do it better than anyone else in the region by leveraging knowledge and specialized equipment to empower our employees, exceed the expectations of our customers, and ultimately, help mitigate the risk of wildfire.
Along the way, we certainly faced challenges, including COVID-19. My business partner and I were forced to make some tough decisions during the pandemic, and we had to let go of some of our employees for a period of time. After three incredibly successful years of growth, we were truly hitting our stride, but then suddenly we had to pivot pretty drastically. It wasn’t the cost to the business that worried us—we knew we’d get through that—it was confronting, for the first time, the prospect that we would be unable to fulfill a promise that we had made to someone who relied on us for their livelihood. But as with everything, we worked together to redefine our operations, our customers stood by us, and we emerged stronger.
As for lessons learned—throughout my life, my grandfather told my dad, and my dad told me “You only have ONE reputation; don’t f*ck it up.” This is among the most important lessons I’ve learned, and I try to live by it each day. When you say you’re going to do something, you do it, and you do it how you said you’d do it, and when you promised it. Our success is because of the relationships we’ve created and that is a direct result of keeping our promises. We’ve built our brand by staying true to our word and showing people that we care about them and their interests. It all comes down to the relationships you create and the work that you put into maintaining them. This goes equally for our customers and our employees, or anyone else with whom we interact. As a result, we’ve grown exponentially, but our greatest pride point is achieving that growth without compromising quality or customer service.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love where I live because of the natural environment, and I spend most of my free time snowboarding when I’m not with my family. A weeklong itinerary would pretty much consist of the following: start each day at Village Bagel in Edwards for breakfast; snowboard somewhere in the backcountry; have a late lunch at craftsman in Edwards or Pickups Pizza in Eagle; have dinner at home; and repeat daily until my guest departs or the snow is no longer fun.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Old Growth Tree Service started as a casual conversation with my business partner, Mike Earl, and we’ve worked side by side since the beginning. Our team also deserves significant credit. They are the heart of the business and without them, we would not be where we are today. Stepping back a bit further, Colorado Mountain College in Leadville played an important role in setting me on the path to where I am today. After taking a handful of uninspiring, required classes at the first college I attended, I dropped out and took some time to reevaluate. I found Colorado Mountain College and enrolled in courses that interested me like equipment operation and snowmaking. I was surrounded by like-minded people doing things that inspired me, and I enjoyed school for the first time in my life. Ultimately I found an industry and culture where I’ve been able to thrive.
Website: www.oldgrowth-tree.com
Instagram: @oldgrowthtreeservice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldGrowthTreeService/