Trusted, Certified Professionals

Meet Our Team

Bradford Phillips

Bradford Phillips

President/Chief Executive Officer/ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® TX-3850B

Years with ArborTrue: 24+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Brad is an accomplished ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® TX-3850B, certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. For over two decades, he has been the proud owner of ArborTrue, an esteemed arborist firm based in Kingwood, TX, serving clients across the nation. Brad's contribution to the field of arboriculture goes beyond his professional practice. He has been actively involved in writing state legislation aimed at preserving trees and advocating for stronger tree protection laws. Coming from a family of arborists, Brad has been learning from his father and grandfather since childhood, making him a 3rd generation arborist. Apart from his work with trees, Brad is also dedicated to enriching the diets of animals at the Houston Zoo by supporting a nonprofit venture called "Phillip's Farm."

What do you love most about your job?

The people I work with, both my customers and teammates. I work with the best kind of people on the planet - concerned and responsible people who love trees and the environment that we all share.

Favorite Tree: Texas White Oak (Quercus alba)

Certification Number(s): TX-3850B

Shahzad Saleem

Shahzad Saleem

Vice President/Chief Operating Officer

Years with ArborTrue: 2+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Shahzad Saleem, an army veteran, leads his companies and projects with organizational development and management revitalization teams. He has managed strategic planning for three private organizations and has a strong knowledge of creative development, marketing, and IT startups. Shahzad is responsible for multi-fund budgets, financial forecasting, resource allocation, fund management, creative development, marketing, and control, as well as operations and logistics.

What do you love most about your job?

I love seeing our team's hard work come to fruition as we help trees thrive and improve the natural environment. It's fulfilling to know that our efforts make a positive impact on the world and contribute to a healthier and more beautiful planet.

Favorite Tree: Dragon Blood Tree (Dracaena cinnabari)

Andrew Howard

Andrew Howard

Chief Financial Officer

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Andrew is a born and raised Texas native who loves golf, grilling, and all things outdoors. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in accounting, a master's degree in finance, and the designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Though he started his career in New York City, the great state of Texas called him back after a couple of years to serve the oil and gas industry in Houston. Andrew brings to the table over a decade of accounting and financial experience across multiple disciplines and various industries. His corporate responsibilities include the oversight of ArborTrue's accounting and financial operations, as well as strategic and other commercial developments, adding value to owners.

What do you love most about your job?

I most enjoy how much I learn from every single colleague, every single day. The ArborTrue family is a diverse, resolute, and well-educated group of professionals who have vastly different backgrounds, certifications, and life experiences. Given my constant desire for learning and development, it is truly a joy to meet and work with such an informed and accomplished ensemble of associates.

Favorite Tree: Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni)

Osman Ceniceros

Osman Ceniceros

Service Manager

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Osman has had a steady career of progression at ArborTrue. Starting out as a crew member, he quickly advanced to become a project manager, then a crew foreman, and now serves the company as a service manager. Osman's experience ranges from oil and gas to landscaping to tree care. His excellent work ethic, talent, and leadership skills have enabled him to serve ArborTrue and our clients with the greatest level of service.

What do you love most about your job?

I love being able to help clients. A client calls with a need and I am proud to lead and be part of a team of talented crew members who all work to exceed their expectations. Whether it's routine pruning, tree planting, or an emergency tree removal job, I know our team can meet and exceed our clients' expectations. Being able to do this and help clients with their projects is the best part of my job.

Favorite Tree: American Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

Michael Brown

Michael Brown

Foreman

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

18 years of climbing experience. 10 years of management experience.

What do you love most about your job?

Being outdoors/climbing. Heavy equipment operation.

Favorite Tree: Live oak (Quercus virginiana)

Certification Number(s): ISA Certified Arborist® (TX-3779A)

Christie Norton

Christie Norton

Office Manager

Years with ArborTrue: 2+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Previous business law paralegal.

What do you love most about your job?

The extended family of ArborTrue and our ability to grow together and provide our customers peace of mind. The arborists are extremely knowledgeable, well-versed, and truly care about the longevity of trees. I love assisting during natural disasters, as I myself have been devastated by hurricanes and major storms. Our team of experts, in each area of the business, is amazing and makes work feel like a blessing!

Favorite Tree: Camphor Tree (Camphora officinarum)

Kerryn Bennett

Kerryn Bennett

Ops Specialist/Customer Service Representative

Years with ArborTrue: 2+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Kerryn has six years of combined administrative/customer service experience and is currently working towards her Associate's degree in Human Resources.  She is familiar with several relevant software applications and has received a Texas811 Damage Prevention Certification.

What do you love most about your job?

I truly love everything about what I do. I love the office environment, communicating with clients, and constantly learning new things. 

Favorite Tree: Rainbow Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Deglupta)

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Gabriella Jensen

Customer Service Representative

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Paloma Henriques

Customer Service Representative

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

5 years of customer service experience

What do you love most about your job?

I love being able to help people and protect the environment.

Favorite Tree: Imbondeiro (Adansonia digitata)

Brittany Bates

Brittany Bates

Consulting Arborist; Fungal specialist

Years with ArborTrue: 8+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

8 years of Independent study in Mycology. Currently studying to become a Board Certified Master Arborist®.

What do you love most about your job?

The most rewarding aspect of being an arborist is the reaction I receive while educating tree owners of the complexity of trees, their ability to communicate with one another, how they raise their offspring, and the overall health benefits of being in nature surrounded by trees. To witness a glimpse of excitement, awe, and wonder come across their faces is a magical experience I can't imagine living my life without now.

Favorite Tree: American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)

Phillip Monterrubio

Phillip Monterrubio

Arboricultural Advisor

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

2 years

What do you love most about your job?

I love that helping both clients and colleagues is a top priority within the company, and it's refreshing. We genuinely care for the health of trees.

Favorite Tree: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Jeff Amato

Jeff Amato

Sales and Distribution

Years with ArborTrue: 6+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Jeff has over twenty years of experience in the tree industry.

What do you love most about your job?

Providing a quality product that works and that is safe for people and the environment.

Favorite Tree: Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)

Orion Stahlbaum

Orion Stahlbaum

Business Development Executive/ISA Certified Arborist® TX-3904A

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Orion Stahlbaum is an accomplished arborist, a successful consultative sales professional, and a deft business development strategist who thrives in highly technical fields.

As an ISA Certified Arborist® (TX-3904A), he has helped thousands of home and business owners with their tree care needs. He has also provided valuable support and education to land development professionals to help them navigate the municipal complexities around tree protection and construction.

Orion's background in business development includes work in the healthcare, manufacturing, and tech sectors. Orion is passionate about trees and the outdoors, and he has a lifelong love of learning.

What do you love most about your job?

Professionally, I endeavor to be a bridge of understanding between people, businesses, and institutions in the field of arboriculture. It follows that I thoroughly enjoy building relationships, building consensus, and finding solutions through creative strategy and cooperation.

Favorite Tree: Forest Pansy Redbud - A cultivar of Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Certification Number(s): ISA Certified Arborist® TX-3904A, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified, ISA Texas Oak Wilt Qualified

Ahmed Parekh

Ahmed Parekh

Project Manager

Years with ArborTrue: 1+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Ahmed brings a wealth of experience to the ArborTrue team.  Some previous positions include serving as the Director of Implementation at a landscaping firm, working as a management consultant at a top 4 consulting firm, and a position as a product manager in the tech industry. Ahmed has extensive experience in leading digital, financial, and operational transformation projects for Fortune 50 companies across banking, telecommunications, logistics and technology industries. He has a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and numerous certifications.

What do you love most about your job?

Contributing to a growing team that bases its success on helping clients and their trees.

Favorite Tree: Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)

Certification Number(s): Business Foundations Program from McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas, Advanced Google Analytics for Power Users from Google Academy, Product Management 101 from Codesmen LLC, Full-Stack Web Development from Codesmen LLC, A/B Testing from Udacity, Human-Centered Design from IDEO, Leading Agile transformation from SAFe, Product Management from SAFe

Mario Sakran

Mario Sakran

Marketing Manager

Years with ArborTrue: 2+

Relevant Industry Experience/Accomplishments

Mario brings a strong background of education and experience to ArborTrue.  He has a Bachelor of Science in economics, an MBA with Product Management and Business Consulting certificates, a Google Project Management Professional Certificate, and is an ISA Certified Arborist® TX-5095A.  He has experience in marketing, writing, editing, and consulting, and uses this experience to help ArborTrue connect with and be a resource for others.

What do you love most about your job?

My favorite things about my job are the opportunities I have received to do new things and to learn.

Favorite Tree: Fuyu Persimmon (Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu')

Certification Number(s): ISA Certified Arborist® TX-5095A

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Erik Gamez-Garcia

Foreman

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Servando Sanchez

Foreman

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Alec Bates

PHC Technician


Organizational Chart

Executive Team

  • Bradford Phillips - President/Chief Executive Officer/ISA Board Certified Master Arborist® TX-3850B
  • Shahzad Saleem - Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
  • Andrew Howard - Chief Financial Officer

Foremen

  • Osman Ceniceros - Service Manager
  • Michael Brown - Foreman
  • Erik Gamez-Garcia - Foreman
  • Servando Sanchez - Foreman

Administration Team

  • Christie Norton - Office Manager
  • Kerryn Bennett - Ops Specialist/Customer Service Representative
  • Gabriella Jensen - Customer Service Representative
  • Paloma Henriques - Customer Service Representative

Arborist/Advisors/Sales Team

  • Brittany Bates - Consulting Arborist; Fungal specialist
  • Phillip Monterrubio - Arboricultural Advisor
  • Jeff Amato - Sales and Distribution

Plant Health Care Team

  • Alec Bates - PHC Technician

Business Development Team

  • Orion Stahlbaum - Business Development Executive/ISA Certified Arborist® TX-3904A

Tree Service Industry Memberships

ISA Board Certified Master Arborist
ISA Certified Arborist
Tree Care Industry Association, Inc. (TCIA) Member
TNLA Certified Nursery Professional
Texas811

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