Alex Burrecce
Alex has deep roots in Montana, having lived in various parts of the state throughout his life. He studied diesel mechanics and fire management in college, and after graduating, spent nine years fighting wildland fires across Montana, Texas, Oregon, and Washington.
An avid outdoorsman, Alex enjoys camping, wildlife viewing, snowboarding, and spending time in the mountains with his horse. His passion for climbing has evolved into a love for both tree climbing and free climbing on cliffs.
In his free time, you can find Alex exploring an eclectic mix of hobbies—whether it’s spinning his favorite records on the radio, riding motorcycles and dirt bikes, racing RC cars, playing video games and board games.
Alex’s favorite chainsaw is the 572, one of the crew’s ported saws that “absolutely rips.” When it comes to trees, he’s especially fond of cottonwoods for their medicinal properties, aspens for their unique root cloning system, and Montana’s own Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) for its wonderful scent and fire-adaptive qualities.
Ben Bain
From a young age, Ben has been fascinated by trees. Born and raised in Wisconsin, he pursued his interest in Forest Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before working as a Wildland Firefighter in Idaho. It was there that he discovered his true passion for arboriculture, which has driven his work in the industry for over a decade.
As a Certified Arborist and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor, Ben co-founded Rootbound Arborists in 2015 with a strong commitment to providing reliable tree care guidance based on sound research and proper techniques. He’s passionate about training the next generation of skilled arborists while prioritizing safety and education. He values client experience and creates a customized and detailed proposal for every project; working with each client to achieve their goals while also considering the health of each tree.
When it comes to his favorite trees, Ben has a special affinity for Montana’s Western Larch (Larix occidentalis), although he also loves the Sugar Maple and Black Walnut trees of the Midwest. He’s always excited to prep his arsenal of saws for upcoming projects, with the 540 xp being his favorite saw.
Ben is passionate about the collaborative efforts of the Rootbound Crew and leaving a legacy of well-managed trees in the Gallatin Valley landscape.
Matt Wiles
Matthew grew up in a small town in Massachusetts before moving to Boston for college. Seeking an escape from city life, he embarked on rock climbing and backpacking trips in the nearby mountains. Matthew’s love of exploration, mountaineering, and back-country snowboarding eventually led him to Washington state. Where he became captivated by the region’s towering volcanoes.
After his time in Washington, Matthew continued to pursue his passions by traveling to Thailand and Kentucky, where he honed his rock climbing skills and learned to build cabins. It was this combination of adventure and craftsmanship that eventually led him to Montana.
For Matthew, working with trees blends his love of climbing and creating with the reward of improving tree health and enjoying the great outdoors.
His favorite tree is the Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica), which evokes memories of his childhood, where he would spend hours climbing the one in his front yard. When it comes to chainsaws, Matthew appreciates the Echo cs-2511, a lightweight companion, made for tree climbing.
Molly Sternke
Molly grew up on a subsistence farm in Wisconsin’s picturesque “Driftless Area.” In 2012, she followed her passion for sustainability and the environment to Bozeman, Montana, where she earned a degree in Sustainable Food & Bioenergy Systems from Montana State University. During her time at MSU, Molly gained valuable experience in integrated pest management, environmental ecology, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
In 2015, Molly helped launch Rootbound Arborists, where she started out as a member of the ground crew while also handling operations, administration, and managerial duties. Today, she focuses primarily on managerial and administrative tasks, and is the friendly voice you’ll hear when you call Rootbound Arborists.
Molly is deeply committed to improving the positive impact of Rootbound Arborists on the community and creating a supportive, & friendly working environment.
When it comes to her favorite trees, Molly loves anything in the Prunus family (especially Tart Cherries), as well as the majestic American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis).
Theresa Gerdin
Meet Theresa, also known as “Tree”. For eight seasons, she worked for the US Forest Service, where she gained valuable experience serving on fire crews and Backcountry Trails crews. Theresa earned her FFT2 Wildland Fire redcard and honed her skills using crosscuts, handsaws, katana saws, and chainsaws to fell trees and clear trails.
While working in a district near Jackson, Wyoming, Theresa learned various tree climbing and rigging techniques, including climbing white bark pines to collect cones for fungus and beetle-resistant regeneration, and securing bear poles in backcountry hunting camps. Theresa has also done some recreational tree climbing in some of Oregon’s monster Douglas Fir trees ascending 220+ feet, for the exhilaration, and deep connection to nature that can be felt high up in a canopy.
In 2022, Theresa became a certified Emergency Medical Technician and also moved into the private sector, where her expertise in working with well-managed crews, prioritizing safety, efficiency and ecological considerations have made her a vital and supportive manager on the Rootbound Crew.
When she’s not operating chainsaws and chippers, you can find her teaching skiing at Big Sky or serving as a heli-ski guide in Alaska. She also enjoys exploring Montana’s mountains, hiking, and floating down rivers.
If Theresa could be in the canopy of any tree, she would choose the Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), not just for its size and beauty, but also because many of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest consider it the Tree of Life.
Theresa lives by the motto “Life is for Learning,” and we couldn’t agree more.
Zach Maguire
Introducing our crew leader, Zach Maguire, a Certified Arborist with a diverse skill set, passion for learning, and unwavering commitment to tree care. A true ‘tree man’ at heart, Zach is deeply passionate about arboriculture, tree climbing, and ecophysiology. Known for his meticulous pruning and careful removal techniques, Zach brings a thirst for knowledge, a positive attitude, and a great sense of humor to the Rootbound Crew.
Zach’s love for arboriculture is matched by his studies in ecology and wildlife management. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he has spent the last decade in Montana where he was a wilderness guide in The Bob Marshall Wilderness before pursuing a Master of Science degree in Fish and Wildlife Management at Montana State University, where he served as a teaching assistant for Ichthyology. His coursework in classes such as Forests and People, Forest Botany, Identification of Seed Plants, and Seminar in Arboriculture, perfectly complement his skill set as a tree advocate and arborist.
Zach has a soft spot for Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Alpine Larches (Larix lyallii) and enjoys working with his ported 562 xp saw.
