At Tree Worx, we are more than a team, we are family. Respect, loyalty and professionalism are top traits we look for among our staff.
Leadership
Hannes de Wet
Owner
Hannes, born in South Africa, started Tree Worx, LLC prior to graduating from University of Tennessee Chattanooga with a degree in Entrepreneurship. Within two years, Hannes was able to strike out on his own with Tree Worx on a full-time basis. Now 10 years into growing the business, Tree Worx, LLC has become Chattanooga’s premier tree service.
Hannes enjoys spending time with his wife, Liz, and their growing family. They welcomed their first son this year.
Sales Arborists
Kevin McDonnell
Sales Arborist
Kevin McDonnell is a certified arborist with a TRAQ certification and a degree from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. With a career that began with the U.S. Forest Service, Kevin transitioned into residential and commercial arboriculture, where he gained extensive knowledge and experience in urban tree care. A passionate advocate for sustainable forestry practices.
Kevin enjoys spending quality time outdoors with his family, including his wife, daughter, and son.
Josh Schrager
Sales Arborist
Joshua Schrager is a certified arborist with a TRAQ qualification. He studied horticulture at Chattahoochee Technical College. With over a decade of experience in the tree care industry, Joshua has worked with reputable tree companies across the Southeast. He places a strong emphasis on safety, both for the hard working crews and for the clients whose trees he stewards. As a sales arborist, he strives to provide exceptional communication, helping clients to understand the reasoning for every recommendation, whether it’s pruning, removal, or long-term tree health planning.
Outside of work, Joshua can be found rock climbing, trail running with his border collie, and backpacking with his girlfriend. He’s a hobbyist wood turner and takes pleasure in crafting a second life for the trees we remove- making bowls, pens and vases.
Joe McClung
Sales Arborist
Joseph McClung is a Certified ISA Arborist with a TRAQ qualification and studied at Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Plant Science. Joseph focuses on preserving the health of your trees while keeping your property safe and beautiful through approved arboricultural pruning practices and advocating for plant health care (PHC).
Joseph enjoys spending his spare time with his two year old daughter and lovely wife, exploring Chattanooga’s many trails and parks. He is eagerly waiting for his daughter to be old enough to take her on camping trips and playing the many board games he and his wife bond over.
Janzen Velba
Plant Healthcare Specialist & Sales Arborist
Janzen Velba holds a degree in Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries. She began her career as an intern with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, conducting bat and salamander research, where she unexpectedly discovered her love for trees. That spark led her into nearly a five-year career as a consulting utility forester for local utility companies, before shifting her focus to Plant Healthcare and ethical pruning practices—where science, art, and care for trees come together.
When she’s not working, you’ll probably find Janzen exploring local hiking trails and swimming holes with her dog, and occasionally her adventurous tri-pawed cat riding along in a backpack. She’s happiest outdoors, whether that means hiking, kayaking, or camping, as long as her furry sidekicks can join. When she’s not outdoors, she enjoys painting, embroidery, and other creative outlets.
Administrative Staff
Kristen Camden
Office Manager
Kristen has been with the Tree Worx team since 2020, and has a background in broadcast and marketing. She is passionate about helping others, whether that be people or furry friends.
Kristen spends her free time with friends, traveling, listening to live music, and searching for the best pizza in Tennessee.
Hali Vice
Finance Manager
Hali has been assisting our clients in the office since early 2021, before which she worked in the dental field.
When she’s not at work, you can find Hali and her daughter spending time outdoors on their farm, camping, or enjoying anything outdoors.
Josh Beers
Operations Leader
Josh, an ISA certified arborist, spent several years as a contract climber before finding his home at Treeworx. In his time as a climber for hire he worked with many companies across the country tackling everything from tree preservation to powerline clearance. He was lucky to find excellent mentors along the way. Being a part of this unique industry has given him a chance to pursue both his passions for nature and conservation as well as his love of adventure. His role in operations, safety, and training provides the opportunity to share his passions with clients and help others build a career in the industry he loves.
Trees are not just his profession but his hobby. He frequents hikes with his dog Gus and has recently taken up bonsai as a way of relaxing. When he does finally go inside he likes to play around on his drums and guitar. On the weekends he loves enjoying good food with friends.
Support Staff
Belmer
Team Lead
Jose
Team Lead
Pablo
Team Lead