LAS VEGAS, NV – Joe Noriega, who manages the tree maintenance organization Mr. Tree for parent company Pro Turf International in Las Vegas, has been named 2021 recipient of the Tree Care Trailblazer Award from the Southern Nevada Arborist Group.
The award is presented annually to a person for “outstanding contributions to arboriculture in Southern Nevada.” SNAG is a group of professionals and dedicated tree friends that has been incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation since 1994. SNAG meets regularly to promote the proper selection, planting, care and maintenance of trees of all types.
Noriega directs all efforts of the popular, full-service tree maintenance company Mr. Tree that was purchased by PTI last year. That agreement also included Las Vegas-area landscaping company Private Greens.
Noriega earned his arborist certification about eight years ago, and went into business with previous Private Greens owner Russ Griffin, who was looking to expand into tree trimming. The service took off right away and hasn’t slowed down.
Joe Noriega, has been named 2021 recipient of the Tree Care Trailblazer Award from the Southern Nevada Arborist Group.
“Tree work is not mindless labor,” said Noriega. “You have to have some skill, so it has always been a challenge to find the right manpower. PTI has a great human resources department, so I’m getting more assistance on the support side and that really helps us in bringing in the right people.”
PTI management continues to sing the praises of Noriega and his team.
“Tree care is a huge business in our region, and we are fortunate to have a highly regarded arborist like Joe Noriega to manage that portion of our company, ” said Mickey Brown, CEO of Pro Turf International, a longtime golf course construction and maintenance company that in recent years has successfully incorporated landscaping into its service offerings. “This company’s excellent reputation and work ethic matched our brand perfectly. It was a seamless transition, and we are excited by the prospects of growth in this business right in our own backyard.”
“Las Vegas is a unique place,” said Noriega. “The population development here is only about 30 years old, so you don’t have institutional knowledge from generations of tree work. Plus, the trees are desert type varieties – smaller and wide spreading. So a lot of the guys in Vegas who call themselves tree guys are actually palm guys.
“Dealing with palms is far different from trying to pull down a large tree. There is a science to that, dealing with roping, directions, etc. As an arborist, my standard for proper technique, things like how much of the tree to take – the science behind it all – is pretty high. Getting guys trained right is extremely important. That’s another reason people like the work we do. We deliver quality. The customers know we’re not going to go in and butcher their property.”
ABOUT PRO TURF INTERNATIONAL
Pro Turf Landscaping is a division of Pro Turf International, a family owned construction, landscape and golf maintenance company with over 30 years of hands-on experience in the Southwest. They proudly serve the golf, sports and landscape industry to enhance quality and improve conditions in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. For more information call (702) 315-5121, or visit www.ptigolf.com.
Contact: Mike Jamison, (407-474-0531), mike@jamisongolf.com
