Dreadknot Services, LLC

Tree Care With Deeply Rooted Values

By Robbyn Moore

Photos by Dawn Townsend Photography & Design

Most 9-year-old boys are preoccupied with friends, recess and video games. For Jay Rhodes, however, that was the age he found his “playground” with roofing and construction. Throughout the years, until he left for college, Jay worked for several small, self-made teams and bosses who were always willing to teach and educate him. At age 19, he was introduced to tree work and found his calling even farther off the ground. He pursued an education in business management while slowly acquiring knowledge, equipment and friendships. Today, Jay is still a kid at heart who loves to climb trees. Literally.

Jay is the owner and operator for Dreadknot Services, LLC, a tree care company specializing in removing, trimming, pruning, stump grinding and fine-tuned tree work that requires rope climbing techniques to go anywhere and everywhere. “A lot of people call us because most other tree companies will not take care of trees that require too much climbing,” Jay explained. “For us, that’s where our knowledge and skills set us apart. We can access any tree with man-powered techniques over equipment. Furthermore, our number one point of differentiation is our drive to get the job done right — without compromising other trees, the property or even a flower bed.”

Jay and his solid five-man team bring trust and peace-of-mind to their customers. The company name was built around the promise of alleviating any worry in the job request or requirement. “When I started this company, I wanted my customers to know they should ‘fear not,’ or rather, ‘dread not,’ when they need us,” Jay said in reference to the company name. “When I’m preparing and climbing trees, I’m basically tying knots for a living, so it was a fun play on words to create the company name — Dreadknot. And I guess it’s no coincidence that my hair is dreadlocked.”

But don’t let Jay’s hairstyle fool you. Behind the hippie, dreadlock persona is a skilled, hardworking, professional tradesman who brings efficiency and care to every project he does. He is the person you speak to on the phone, the one who is creating the quotes and attending meetings, and the guy who shows up on the site, doing the work. He treats every property like it’s his own and goes to great lengths to ensure his team is doing the same.

While tree care has been happening for thousands of years and helps to maintain communities, homes and gardens, it’s still a complicated, high-risk business. “By nature, tree work is a relatively destructive process,” Jay said. “But that doesn’t mean you should destroy the environment around the work. We go the extra mile to provide quality over production.” This unique attribute has customers praising the company’s work.

“Hands down,” Jay said, “the most fulfilling thing about the tree industry is what it has — and continues — to teach me. I have learned physics, patience, team development, stress management, motor mechanics and time management. I am a student of the profession, and I will continue to learn all that I can.”

Jay’s definition of success is measured by the amount of effort and involvement a person gives. “No amount of money or praise can replace the feeling of doing your best, working hard and completing a difficult task,” he said. Jay relates this mentality to his years as a wrestling coach, a CrossFit trainer and a musician. “I’ve had wrestlers lose a match but still perform successfully. I’ve played successfully to a nearly vacant audience, and I’ve successfully completed jobs where no money was made.”

While Jay’s tree company has rooted itself in Oakland County, his family has lived all over the world. His father, a native of Highland, Michigan, was in the Air Force, and as a result, was relocated many times. Jay was born in Landstuhl, Germany; his brother Vince was born in London, England; and his sister Deana was born in Marquette, Michigan. Jay attributes much of his success to the support he receives from his family. “Nothing I have accomplished would have been possible without my family,” he said. “I am consistently blown away by how supportive and involved my parents are in each of our lives. As a family, we look after one another and enjoy working together. People often say you shouldn’t work with family, but I feel that’s all we have ever done.”

Even if he was a millionaire, Jay said he would still do tree work because he truly finds it fun. “I have several capable young men who are seeing the fun amidst the hard work,” Jay shared. “If we can continue to fuel that notion as time progresses, I feel this company is going to see a lot of smiling faces in its future.”

Stay connected with Dreadknot Services, LLC on Facebook and Instagram, or call 248-884-1681 for more information.

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