The first tree care company in California to be accredited!

Professionals You Can Trust

Finch Tree Surgery, Inc.

The founder of Finch Tree Surgery, Fred Finch, started his career in tree care in 1946.  Leaving the U. S. Coast Guard after World War II, he was hired by Davey Tree Surgery, Ltd., in Fresno, California as a Tree Trimmer.  Hard work and promotion brought him to Los Angeles in January 1960, where he continued with Davey as District Representative for Los Angeles and Orange Counties until September 30, 1968, when he resigned to start his own business. 

Working out of their home in San Gabriel, Fred hand-built the truck bodies and trailers needed to carry out the trimming while his wife, Midge, established and maintained the many office requirements needed to operate a successful business.   Their unaltered pursuit of excellence in pruning and customer satisfaction earned them the respect and friendship of thousands of clients.  Today, year round tree pruning is provided by over thirty employees who are supported by a fleet of trucks, chippers, and specialized equipment that are maintained in a fully equipped shop.  

His son, Randy, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1971, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He then served for nine years in the nuclear submarine force, resigning his commission on July 4, 1980, while assigned as Navigation Officer on board USS Flasher (SSN 613).   Randy then worked for Hughes Aircraft Company as Submarine Data and Acoustic Systems Marketing Manager for about a year before joining the family business in August 1981.

Randy’s tree knowledge has come from the many years of practical experience shared by his father, completion of the Davey Tree course on Tree Care-Urban Forestry at Kent, Ohio.  Continuing education at CAL-POLY, Pomona, University of California Extension and trade association seminars keeps he and the firm updated with problem and technique developments.  

On August 7, 1981, the company incorporated.  Fred Finch, as principle shareholder, became its first President.  Other elected officers were Midge Finch as Secretary and Randy Finch as Vice-President.  Modern equipment and a computer system support the daily routine, which were first installed in 1985.  A new office and maintenance complex was built at 841 E. Mission Dr., San Gabriel and occupied on September 5, 1987.

Randy is a Certified Arborist and a member of the International Society of Arboriculture.  The Corporation is a member of the Tree Care Industry Association.  The Corporation became a Licensed California Contractor (Classified C61/B49) on July 31, 1992. Randy qualified as a Registered Consulting Arborist with the American Society of Consulting Arborists.

The Nineties was a decade of modernization for new vehicles, for state of the art computer systems, and for specialty tree worker hardware.  It was a decade of management expansion and new faces in key support roles.  It was a decade of leadership in setting the standard for tree care and in elevating the professional image for tree care professional in our service area.

In August 2005, Finch Tree became the first company in California to be accredited by the Tree Care Industry Association.  This TCIA "seal of approval" helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety, maintenance of trained, professional staff, and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices.

 And in 2006, the newest family member and Randy's daughter, Robin joined the company. She will help bring back the friendly caring voice that early clients enjoyed with co-founder and Fred's wife, Marjorie Finch.