Meet our Team
WIlliam spradley
Owner/President
Main Expertise: Arboricultural Consultant, Sales Representative, Plant Health Care Diagnostic Specialist, Landscape Designer, Plant Selection/Procurement, Horticultural Instructor/Educator
Established at TFL: Founded company in 1990
Education Experience: Bachelors of Science in Forest Management from University of Missouri
Certifications: ISA Certified Arborist since 1992, Licensed Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Since founding Trees, Forests and Landscapes in 1990, William has gone on to do so much for the tree care industry. He has been president of St. Louis Arborists Association and has been on their officer's board for more than a decade. He also has been a past president of the International Society of Arboriculture's Midwestern Chapter.
He also likes to help out with future arborists. He is an active board member of the Horticulture Department at St. Louis Community College-Meramec, has participated in field days with University of Missouri Forestry students and teaches as an adjunct professor.
Over the years, he has traveled throughout most of the country and abroad to give more than 100 speaking engagements for various garden clubs, horticultural symposiums and arboricultural training programs. While in the meantime scouting out what the landscape and tree care industry has to offer in other countries to find the best solutions to our problems or queries back home.
Recently, William was acknowledged for his efforts in aiding the urban forest at William Woods University in Fulton by accepting the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence. The award given out by The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Community Forestry Council recognizes those that excel in improving Missouri communities through the stewardship of our community forests. He also was honored as one of seven recipients worldwide to receive ISA's True Professionals award. Read more about the award at ISA's website.
He also is one of the only arborists in Missouri to receive a state proclamation from former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon for his work in preserving the champion McBaine Bur Oak near Columbia, MO. Read about the work TFL did to help preserve this great natural treasure. Check out this video to learn more about the McBaine Bur Oak.
Michael Sestric
Chief Arborist, Operations Manager, Salesman
Main Expertise: Expert Aerial Lift Operator and Pruning Arborist, Arboricultural Consultant/Salesman
Established at TFL: June 2004
Education Experience: B.S. in Arboriculture cum Laude University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Certifications: ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Tree Worker Evaluator, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Tree Care Safety Professional, Licensed Pesticide Applicators Technician, CTSP Certified, First Aid/CPR
Michael Sestric has been in the tree industry for more than two decades and has established a great work ethic, professionalism and relations with customers.
Sestric now oversees all facets of arborist care and manages the company's team of arborists in the most safe and efficient way possible. Since joining, Michael also has stepped up as a sales representative and consultant.
In the past Michael has been president and vice president of St. Louis Arborists Association, board member of the International Society of Arboriculture Midwestern Chapter, arborist on Carondelet Park Master Planning Committee and published in local arboricultural and green industry publications. More recently, Michael has served as president of the Midwestern ISA chapter.
He also was part of the team that received the Tree Care Industries Excellence in Arboriculture award for Arbor Care in San Jose, CA in 1995.
Matt schmittgens
Climbing arborist
Main Expertise: Aerial Lift Operator, Climber, Chief Equipment Mechanic, Licensed Pesticide Technician
Established at TFL: Spring 2005
Education Experience: Continued Education from Arboricultural Conferences for ISA, EHAP, Hort-Coop, Midwestern Chapter of ISA
Certifications: ISA Certified Arborist, Pesticide Applicators License, CPR/First Aid
Matt Schmittgens has quickly grown into a professional tree climber. His skills do not stop in the tree. He is a skilled mechanic and groundsman.
After becoming an ISA-Certified arborist, it helped set the standard for professionalism in the St. Louis area. Very few other tree service companies in the country can claim to have as high of a percentage of their employees to be ISA Certified as Trees, Forests and Landscapes does.
He continues to attend conferences to obtain continued education units and keep updated on the latest climbing techniques and safety policies. In the past, Matt competed in the Midwestern ISA's Tree Climbing Championships.