About US
Very Good Tree Service is owned and operated by Ryan Brenteson and Rebecca Sobel, a husband and wife team based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Ryan is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, a designation held by fewer than 5% of arborists worldwide. He holds a degree in Forest Resource Management from the University of Montana, and spent years in hazard tree work and fire management with the Department of Interior before founding Very Good Tree Service. That background shapes how the company approaches every job: with a methodical eye toward risk, tree health, and long-term outcomes rather than just getting the work done and moving on.
Ryan leads a team of Certified Arborists, plant health care specialists, and trained climbing professionals. It is a company goal that every field employee achieve ISA Certification, and the team is well on its way, with more than half currently certified. He also serves as the consulting arborist on significant projects throughout Santa Fe, including work protecting mature trees during construction at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.
Rebecca Sobel works in environmental advocacy and climate policy at WildEarth Guardians, bringing a deep commitment to ecological stewardship to her role supporting Very Good Tree Service operations. That shared investment in the health of the natural world is not incidental to what this company does. It is the reason it exists.
Very Good Tree Service exists because trees in New Mexico deserve people who actually understand them.
What’s in a name?
We got the idea for Very Good Tree Service from one of our favorite comedy shows, Parks and Recreation.
To quote the fictional character Ron Swanson:
“I left the parks department two years ago. Now I work in the private sector running my own building and development company. It’s called ‘Very Good Building & Development Company’. I wanted to convey the quality of our work without seeming flashy.”
We thought that philosophy sounded pretty awesome – so Very Good Tree Service was born.
We’re passionate about the great work we do.
OUR MISSION
Very Good Tree Service strives to be an ethical and Equal Opportunity Employer with goals of hiring of people from all walks of life that care about our trees and bettering our urban forest. We work closely with all parties (including your neighbors!) to make sure the job gets done quick, clean, and with care so that all parties are completely satisfied.
OUR PROCESS
Working with us as is easy as 1, 2, 3! Once work is complete, we send you a detailed invoice and are able to receive payment through a variety of methods, including credit cards. Then we will be in touch with you from time to time throughout the year with pertinent information about your trees or important reminders (such as getting cabling inspected every 5 years).
STEP 1
Inquire & Assess
Our services begin as soon as you call, email, text, instant message, or just run into us on a job site. We will respond to you within two business days, at which point we set up a time to visit your property and assess your situation.
Once there, we will take the time to do an initial assessment of the other trees on your property. More than once have we found issues that were of greater concern than what we were originally called for! During this time we learn about your needs and preferences, and then give you some information and perspective to make sure you are well aware of what’s going on with your trees.
STEP 2
Explore Your Options
As a rule, we don’t try to sell our clients unnecessary work. What we do instead is try to efficiently prioritize and maximize the amount of work we can do for you without going beyond your budget. We will explain the different options with as much or as little detail as you like, and of course in the end the decision is yours.
We do not cut corners to make things less expensive for our clients. The safety of our staff and your property are our primary goals, and doing things more cheaply can often mean having more risk involved. We also know that doing things right the first time means less money spent coming back to fix things later. We do however offer fair and consistent pricing for our services, and are up front with what they will be.
STEP 3
Take Action As Agreed
After you decide what you would want us to do, we will email you an estimate within a day or two. We are also able to produce up-to-date proof of insurance at this time if you would like.
We arrange our schedule on a first-come first-serve basis, but will always try our best to find a time that works well for our clients. Emergencies and weather (which are often related) are two factors that will affect our scheduling, so we will keep you informed as to when we are planning to show up to your property and if it changes.
Safety is our first priority, followed closely by leaving your property in as good or better condition than we found it. We take pride in how we treat your landscape, spending the time it takes to leave as little impact as possible.
MEET OUR CREW
Our team has over a decade of experience working with trees and invites only the most conscientious and experienced Arborists to join the Very Good Tree Service Team.
Ryan
Owner/Board Certified Master Arborist
Ryan is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist with over a decade of experience in the tree care industry, representing the highest level of credentialing offered by the International Society of Arboriculture. His background spans hazard tree work, fire management with the Department of Interior, and a degree in Forest Resource Management from the University of Montana.
Certifications
- ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
- TRAQ #test1234
- CTSP
Rebecca
Co-owner
Rebecca Sobel co-owns Very Good Tree Service alongside her husband Ryan. By day she works as an environmental advocate at WildEarth Guardians, focused on climate policy and the protection of wild places. That commitment to the natural world carries directly into her role supporting Very Good Tree Service operations, where she brings the same care for ecosystems she applies in her professional life.
Luis
Client Communication and Coordination
Luis is the organizational backbone of our operation, handling consult scheduling, job coordination, and client communication since joining us in 2024. If you're reaching out to set up a consultation or have general questions, Luis is your first point of contact.
Dusty
Consulting Arborist/ISA Certified Arborist
With over a decade in the tree care industry and a background running his own company, Dusty joined our team in 2024 and has served as our primary consulting arborist since April 2025. He holds ISA Certified Arborist and TRAQ credentials, and brings a rare depth of hands-on and professional expertise to every client engagement.
Certifications
- ISA Certified Arborist
- TRAQ
Kayla
Crew Leader/ISA Certified Arborist
Kayla has been a cornerstone of our team since 2021, serving as crew leader and bringing her skills as an ISA Certified Arborist and experienced tree climber to every job.
Certifications
- ISA Certified Arborist
Irving
ISA Certified Arborist
Irving leads our plant health care crew as our PHC specialist, drawing on years of experience with his family's tree care business in Hawaii. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and tree climber with a deep knowledge of tree and plant health.
Certifications
- ISA Certified Arborist
Josh
Plant Health Care
Josh came to us in 2026 with a solid background in pest management and plant health from his work in Washington state, making him a natural fit for our plant health care team.
Connor
ISA Certified Arborist
A former wildland firefighter who honed his tree care skills in Albuquerque, Connor brought a sharp eye and a strong work ethic to our team when he joined in 2025. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and tree climber.
Certifications
- ISA Certified Arborist
Margaret
ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP
Margaret came to us in 2024 after caring for trees with the City of Denver, and she brings a strong foundation in urban forestry to Santa Fe. She is an ISA Certified Arborist, tree climber, and CTSP.
Certifications
- ISA Certified Arborist
- CTSP
Travis
Tree Care
Travis Silver brings hands-on climbing experience and a deep familiarity with Santa Fe's tree care landscape, having worked with a local company before joining the Very Good Tree Service team. His background in small engine repair adds a practical mechanical dimension to his work, keeping equipment running and crews moving. Travis is currently working toward his ISA Certification.