10 | Acquisition International, May 2026 The Science of Preserving Nature eadquartered in New Rochelle, New York, with branch offices in Hawthorne, New York; Stamford, Connecticut; and North Haledon, New Jersey, Almstead’s services are offered to the communities of Westchester, Putnam, Fairfield County, northern New Jersey, and parts of New York City. Its mission across all of these locations is the same: to provide expert, science-driven tree, shrub, and lawn care, through services designed to both protect and enhance the landscapes its clients depend on. In particular, Almstead is known for its tree pruning/removal, tree risk assessments, plant health care, lawn care (organic or traditional), custom blend fertilisation, soil care/analysis, disease/pest management, and professional consulting services. When it comes to likes of its plant health care and organic care offerings, methods such as compost teas, OMRI-approved products, and Air Spade soil decompaction are all utilised, highlighting a scientific and comprehensive approach to what it sees as problem solving. “We view tree and lawn care as a problem-solving business, and believe the best solutions only come from knowledgeable experts. That’s why our arborists and technicians are professionally trained and certified, and why Almstead holds TCIA accreditation. ” Joining this esteemed arboriculture and lawn care firm in September last year, Merrick’s path to Almstead has been shaped by years of experience building digital marketing and growth capabilities across several industries. His previous roles have taken him from marketing at companies like NuEnergen and MetroPlusHealth to digital marketing leadership at SavATree. Merrick has always been motivated to harness digital strategies to drive real growth, and the green industry is ideal for this. Merrick explained: “When the opportunity came to bring my expertise to a legacy brand like Almstead, it was a natural fit. The green industry is one where trust, expertise, and long-term relationships matter enormously, and that’s where smart digital strategy can make a real difference.” As for what this difference looks like, it means building a bridge between more than 60 years of arboriculture experience and the modern digital channels where today’s clients find and evaluate their service providers. Combining a data-driven approach with a people-first ethos, this work sees Merrick use analytics and digital tools to make better decisions, without losing sight of the fact that this is a business built on the personal relationships between its arborists and the communities they work in. As a result of him striking this balance, clients new and old trust Almstead for its blend of scientific expertise and genuine care, something reflected in both its high rate of return work and the glowing testimonials it receives from clients. To ensure it preserves this legacy of excellence well into the future, a number of goals are in place over the next five years to drive innovation across the business. For example, on the digital side, the company is in the process of migrating its web presence to a WordPress platform, using a content strategy based on what its clients are actually searching for and engaging with. Merrick is also building a science-led content programme across social media, positioning Almstead as an educator, not just a service provider. Finally, Merrick shared: “Almstead is continuing to invest in organic and sustainable care practices, expanding our organic offerings. We also want to deepen our use of data and technology in how we assess tree risk, manage client relationships, and optimise our operations.” He continued: “The goal is to be the most trusted, knowledgeable, and accessible tree and landscape care company in the tri-state area, full stop.” 62 years ago, Almstead started with a chainsaw, some rope, and a station wagon. Today, it is running science-based health care programmes for plants and delivering educational content grounded in ISA ANSI standards, all whilst migrating to digital infrastructure. What is so impressive about the evolution of this family business is that it has remained just that, having grown across the region without losing its soul. For the part Merrick is playing in this as the company continues to evolve, he is more than fitting of this award. More on Almstead – Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care can be found below. Contact: Merrick Lee Jr. Company: Almstead – Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care Web Address: https://almstead.com/ Founded in 1964 by Richard E. Almstead, Almstead – Tree, Shrub & Lawn Care has gone from a oneman operation to a full-service arboriculture and lawn care firm serving residential and commercial clients across the NY/NJ/CT tri-state area. Merrick Lee Jr. is Almstead’s Head of Growth, and his role is to strengthen its 60-year legacy by bridging data and creativity. With Merrick being named the Most Strategic Business Growth Leader 2026 – Arboriculture (North East USA), we caught up with him for more on the role he plays in this familyowned business. H
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