Robert O’Brien Celebrates 20th Anniversary with ACRT Pacific
Robert O’Brien Celebrates 20th Anniversary with ACRT Pacific
Robert O’Brien, an ACRT Pacific operations manager, recently celebrated his 20th anniversary with the organization. Learn more about the tenured operations manager and his two-decade journey through the vegetation management industry.
Tell us about yourself.
I’m from Visalia, Calif. I enjoy training in martial arts, fitness/wellness, and going on road trips with my family. I’m an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and Utility Specialist, OSHA 30-certified, and completed Incident Command System (ICS) 100 training through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I have also read many books on leadership and human nature to help manage my team and work well with others.
What did you do prior to joining ACRT Pacific?
Prior to ACRT Pacific, I worked as a nurseryman at a landscape and irrigation company in Visalia, Calif.
How has your career evolved over the years?
Over the years, I have had many roles. I started as a field inspector on [our customer’s] transmission team, then was promoted to a senior consulting utility forester (SCUF) on the [same] team. Following my time with the Fresno team, I supported a startup project in New Mexico. Afterward, I was promoted to contract vegetation program manager for [our customer’s] system transmission, then moved over to contract program manager for [our customer’s] integrated vegetation management (IVM) program. In 2016, I was promoted to the operations manager role. In 2019, [a new customer] contract was awarded to ACRT Pacific, at which I served as an operations manager for this start-up project, as well.
What has kept you at ACRT Pacific over the years?
I enjoy the type of work we do. I also appreciate the family orientation of the ACRT Services family of companies. It’s a plus that our leadership is honest with open communication.
What do you, or have you enjoyed about your job and are the proudest of?
I’m very proud of seeing my team members succeed with their goals.
Is there anyone special who stands out or has helped you along the way?
Thank you to Mike Weidner, Brian Joiner, and Bryan Durr for their ongoing support.
Related Articles
Tristan Hoffman joined the ACRT Services family of companies in 2019 and brought a wealth of knowledge and a passion for trees and nature that has been evident ever since. When asked why he chose this industry, Hoffman shares, “I love trees and nature and enjoy talking to people about their trees. I also chose[...]
Read More
Dawson Westurn’s admiration for the outdoors originated long before he found himself at Texas Tech University working toward a degree in natural resource management with a concentration in conservation science. His appreciation for all things nature developed from a young age, as Westurn’s childhood was centered around the Boy Scouts of America. Once he completed[...]
Read More
Dedication to safe practices is a core value of the organization that is ingrained in our DNA and a nod to our founder Richard E. Abbott, who was instrumental in the development of the ANSI Z133 Tree Trimming Safety Standards through the American National Standards Institute. His influence on safety set a precedent for our[...]
Read More
For three years, Rian Owens served as a youth pastor while moonlighting as a pest control technician. With the addition of a newborn baby, Owens and his wife took a leap of faith when he accepted a job at ACRT Pacific in 2016. He remembers his supervisor at the time telling the group of new[...]
Read More