Lewis Tree Service
Lewis Tree Service is a 100% employee-owned, North America's second-largest provider of utility vegetation management, serving investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and municipal electric companies across 30 states with 4,000+ employees and 6,500+ fleet assets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1938
- HeadquartersWest Henrietta, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lewis Tree Service does
Lewis Tree Service (operating under the DBA "Lewis Services") is a 100% employee-owned, majority-minority workforce provider of vegetation management services to the North American electric utility sector, headquartered in the Rochester, New York area. Founded in 1938, the company is self-identified as North America's second-largest provider of vegetation management to utilities and governments, employing more than 4,000 people across 30 states and operating a fleet of more than 6,500 assets that traveled over 30 million miles in the prior year. Its core offering is transmission and distribution line clearance for investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric companies, supplemented by storm emergency response services and a specialized line spanning fire hazard reduction, water quality protection, soil erosion control, and roadside vegetation management. Multi-year contractual agreements with utility customers — rather than transactional spot work — anchor recurring revenue, while mutual-aid storm response provides episodic, demand-driven upside tied to severe weather events.
The business is fundamentally a labor- and equipment-intensive field services platform, with craftworkers comprising over 90% of the workforce organized primarily in two-person crews. Lewis' principal "technology" stack is operational rather than software: proprietary cultural and safety frameworks (the trademarked "9 to Know©" safety principles, the Smith Driving System certification program, human performance tools, and naturalistic decision-making training), an AI-powered dash cam system (Motive) for fleet safety, and a unified data platform being built out by a dedicated VP of Technology. Capital intensity is material — more than 6,500 fleet assets including bucket trucks, backyard lifts, chippers, and light-duty pickups — making fleet utilization and crew productivity the dominant unit economics. The company is controlled through its parent North Coast Holdings, holds certifications from the National Center for Employee Ownership (ESOP) and Supplier.io (Minority-Owned Diverse Supplier), and is led by CEO Leslie Kass following a planned 2022–2023 leadership transition.
Lewis Tree Service firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lewis Tree Service
- Legal name
- Lewis Tree Service
- Website
- https://lewisservices.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1938
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Lewis Tree Service is a 100% employee-owned, North America's second-largest provider of utility vegetation management, serving investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and municipal electric companies across 30 states with 4,000+ employees and 6,500+ fleet assets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lewis Tree Service industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Utility Vegetation Management Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (11531)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ROW Clearing & Tree Trimming (Routine Cycles) (EUADAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vegetation Management (ROW Clearing) for Distribution Lines (EUAEACAI), Hazard Tree Identification & Removal (Fall-in/Fall-zone Trees) (EUADAOAB), Utility Line Clearance & Vegetation Management (HSAIADAK), Tree Removal & Dismantling (HSAIADAB)
Keywords
Where Lewis Tree Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Henrietta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lewis Tree Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Utility Vegetation Management Services: Recurring vegetation management services for transmission and distribution power lines, serving investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, and municipal electric companies. Contracts are typically multi-year and involve systematic vegetation clearing, trimming, and maintenance along utility right-of-ways.
- Storm Emergency Response Services: Rapid deployment vegetation and debris clearing services during natural disasters and storms to restore power. These services are reactive and demand-driven, often involving mutual aid agreements with utility partners.
- Specialized Vegetation Management Services: Services including fire hazard reduction, water quality protection, and soil erosion control. These specialized offerings expand beyond core utility vegetation management into broader environmental stewardship.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lewis Tree Service product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lewis Tree Service provides professional vegetation management services for utility transmission and distribution infrastructure, including systematic tree trimming, clearing, and removal along power line rights-of-way. The company also delivers rapid storm emergency response to restore power after severe weather, and specialized environmental services covering fire hazard reduction, water quality protection, and soil erosion control. Services are delivered through multi-year contracts with investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric companies across 30 U.S. states.
Product overview
Lewis Tree Service operates as a vegetation management company offering three interconnected service lines: Utility Vegetation Services (core transmission and distribution line clearance), Storm Services (emergency response and power restoration), and Specialized Services (fire mitigation, environmental protection, and roadside management). These services work together to deliver comprehensive vegetation management for utility and infrastructure clients across 30 states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Utility Vegetation Services Comprehensive transmission and distribution vegetation management services delivering the right balance of quality, efficiency, and safety for investor-owned electric utilities, community-focused cooperatives, and municipal electric companies. Includes systematic tree trimming, clearing, and removal along power line rights-of-way.
- Storm Services Emergency vegetation and debris clearing services for rapid power restoration during severe weather events. Trained and experienced teams ready for rapid response to clear vegetation and other debris to restore power and essential services for homes and businesses, activated through mutual aid agreements.
- Specialized Services Environmental protection services including fire hazard reduction, water quality preservation, soil erosion protection, and proactive problem-solving for infrastructure maintenance. Helps clients save on-site maintenance costs while promoting the safest work environment.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports utilities serving over half the U.S. population
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lewis Tree Service
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lewis Tree Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Lewis Tree Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Lewis Tree Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACRT Services: ACRT Services provides vegetation management, utility forestry consulting, and arborist training to electric and gas utilities across the U.S. It is a direct competitor in the consulting and oversight layer of utility VM contracts, often working alongside or in place of field-service providers like Lewis.
- Trees Inc. Trees Inc. is a vegetation management and right-of-way clearing contractor serving electric utilities across multiple U.S. regions. It directly competes with Lewis on transmission and distribution line clearance contracts in overlapping geographies.
- Nelson Tree Service: Nelson Tree Service is an Ohio-based utility vegetation management provider serving electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities across the Midwest. It is a direct competitor to Lewis in shared Midwestern operating geographies.
- Davey Tree Expert Company: Davey Tree is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) provider of tree care, utility vegetation management, and environmental services operating since 1880. It is one of Lewis's closest structural analogs given the shared ESOP model, similar service lines (utility VM, storm response, residential/commercial tree care), and comparable scale.
- Wright Tree Service: Wright Tree Service is a large Iowa-based utility vegetation management and storm response provider serving electric cooperatives, IOUs, and municipalities across the Midwest and beyond. It directly competes with Lewis for utility line clearance contracts in overlapping Midwest and Southeast geographies.
- Asplundh Tree Expert Company: Asplundh is the largest utility vegetation management company in North America — the explicit #1 incumbent that Lewis identifies as its primary benchmark (Lewis states "until we arrive at #1"). It provides utility line clearance, storm response, and tree care services to IOUs and municipalities with a similar national footprint and customer base.
- ArborMetrics Solutions: ArborMetrics Solutions is a utility vegetation management company specializing in work planning, inventory, and field execution for electric utilities. It competes with Lewis for both the planning/software layer and the field execution layer of utility VM contracts.
Regional players
- Mountain View Tree Service: Mountain View Tree Service is a West Coast utility vegetation management contractor serving California and Pacific Northwest utilities. It is a relevant regional player that occupies the geographic territories where Lewis has not yet built presence.
- Atlas Tree Service: Atlas Tree Service is a regional vegetation management and tree care provider serving utilities in the western and southern U.S. It competes with Lewis on a regional basis for utility line clearance work in geographies not yet covered by Lewis's 30-state footprint.
Broad incumbents
- SavATree: SavATree is a broad-based tree care, lawn care, and landscape services provider that also offers utility vegetation management. It is a broader incumbent than Lewis, with significant residential and commercial tree care alongside its utility practice, competing for some of the same IOU and municipal contracts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lewis Tree Service social profiles
Digital presenceLewis Tree Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lewis Tree Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles26 records
Lewis Tree Service subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Lewis Tree Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lewis Tree Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lewis Tree Service
What does Lewis Tree Service do?
Lewis Tree Service provides professional vegetation management services for utility transmission and distribution infrastructure, including systematic tree trimming, clearing, and removal along power line rights-of-way. The company also delivers rapid storm emergency response to restore power after severe weather, and specialized environmental services covering fire hazard reduction, water quality protection, and soil erosion control. Services are delivered through multi-year contracts with investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and municipal electric companies across 30 U.S. states.
Is Lewis Tree Service a public or private company?
Lewis Tree Service is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Lewis Tree Service founded?
Lewis Tree Service was founded in 1938. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Lewis Tree Service based?
Lewis Tree Service is headquartered in West Henrietta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lewis Tree Service make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Utility Vegetation Management Services are the primary driver. The others are storm Emergency Response Services and specialized Vegetation Management Services.
Who are Lewis Tree Service's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACRT Services, Trees Inc., Nelson Tree Service, Davey Tree Expert Company, Wright Tree Service, Asplundh Tree Expert Company and ArborMetrics Solutions. Regional players are Mountain View Tree Service and Atlas Tree Service. SavATree is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Lewis Tree Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lewis Tree Service.
What industry is Lewis Tree Service in?
Lewis Tree Service's product category is Utility Vegetation Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUADAOAA, ROW Clearing & Tree Trimming (Routine Cycles), with a secondary code of EUAEACAI, Vegetation Management (ROW Clearing) for Distribution Lines. Its NAICS code is 11531 and its SIC code is 4911.