By Denise Leslie
You might think someone who runs a tree service business always knew they wanted to work with trees. However, for Roman Jefferson, owner of Legacy Tree Solutions, his journey to becoming an arborist was far from straightforward. As Roman himself says, “I had no idea what I was going to do with my biology degree. When an arborist visited my class, I thought it sounded boring!” Little did he know that trees would soon become his passion and career.
Born in Northwest Arkansas but having spent significant time in Northern Arizona, the Middle East, and Botswana, Roman’s childhood was anything but ordinary. He finished high school in Botswana and later returned to the U.S. to study biology in Flagstaff, Arizona. His path took a unique turn when he joined AmeriCorps, where he worked in fuel reduction and trail work, even leading a crew for a while. However, the spark that would ignite his career came when he worked with Woodchuck Tree Service in Durango. Here, Roman learned how to climb trees and discovered the intricate science behind arboriculture.
Roman’s love for trees and the environment grew after working with David Temple at Trees of Trail Canyon and becoming certified through the International Society of Arboriculture. His mission? “More Trees. Better Trees.” Roman aims to improve his town’s urban forest by planting trees and taking care of existing ones through expert care, pesticide use, and proper fertilization. His passion for leadership and his love of trees converged, inspiring him to start his own business—Legacy Tree Solutions—in its fourth season.
Running a business, however, was a whole new adventure. Roman admits, “I knew nothing about running a business and was woefully naive! Thankfully, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) stepped in.” Through business classes and mentorship, Roman gained the tools to create a working business model and plan his company’s future. “I learned the importance of ‘bootstrapping’ and starting small, which kept us grounded,” Roman says. By sticking to the fundamentals of lean manufacturing, Legacy Tree Solutions has grown sustainably, allowing Roman to remain hands-on with his clients and trees while also managing the company’s expansion.
From installing irrigation systems to designing landscapes and providing comprehensive tree services, Legacy Tree Solutions is now an essential part of the community, both economically and ecologically. Roman’s business offers expert tree care and jobs to hardworking individuals, positively impacting their lives.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Learning how to run the business has been tough, but Roman describes it as rewarding: “The stress of being in charge is easily alleviated by the reward of knowing I am making my own destiny.”
Roman’s story is one of growth—both personal and professional—and a testament to his dedication to trees, people, and his community. With a commitment to planting more and better trees, Legacy Tree Solutions is helping to shape a greener future, one tree at a time.
