Jim Gollnick loves to work with his hands and help people. While working full time as an auto mechanic, he started doing some tree care work on the side. It only took one year for his tree service work to become his main gig. In 2003, he started Gollnick and Sons Tree Service in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, about 20 miles (32 km) north of Milwaukee.
“I used to love running a chainsaw. I never dreamed in my wildest dreams that I would be running a business,” says Gollnick.
There are similarities between the professions. Gollnick is still working with his hands and, more importantly, helping people. Gollnick and Sons has grown from a one-man operation to 13 employees. Services include plant health care, tree removal, pruning, stump grinding and emergency calls. Between powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes, bitter cold temperatures and relentless snow, there’s no shortage of emergency calls. Whether it’s strategically removing a large tree that fell on a house or a small tree that fell in a backyard setting for a party, Gollnick is ready to respond.
“Things like that are really gratifying,” he says. “I don’t have days off, but that’s part of having your name on the trucks.”
That dedication and quick response contributes greatly to Gollnick’s success. The other pieces are his great employees and Vermeer equipment.
“If you invest in good people and good equipment, and be fair and honest with people, the business will take care of itself.”
When Gollnick first started, the only name in tree care he knew was Vermeer. So that’s what he bought — and he has never looked back. He says the equipment is reliable and efficient. His company now runs three Vermeer BC1500 brush chippers, one SC852 stump grinder and one SC30 stump grinder.
“Take the chippers — they can handle the workload. My crews don’t have to do the tedious work of cutting the brush into smaller pieces to feed it into the chipper,” says Gollnick. “When we come in with our Vermeer equipment, the job gets done.”
Another example of efficiency is having two S800TX compact utility loaders for his crews. He estimates the work a compact utility loader does reduce labor expenses by as much as 40 percent.
“You can use a compact utility loader to carry a large log through a gate as opposed to having to cut it up and carry it by hand.”
Even though tree service is a highly cost-competitive industry, he says the productivity Vermeer equipment offers allows him to hold his prices. Plus, Gollnick says his Vermeer dealer has always provided quick service and support.
“I bleed yellow. It’s either Vermeer, or I don’t have it.”