Able Tree Services, spanning four generations, has amassed an extensive and comprehensive background in tree work, wildfire safety, arboriculture, logging, forestry, and natural resource management. Shasta Tree Service”. At the time, Dale worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a full-time employee, serving in such diverse capacities as timber cruising, marking and inventory crew foreman, firefighte
r squad leader, assistant snow ranger, the McCloud—Mt. Shasta Management Unit’s Safety Officer, and lastly, as a timber sale planner. By 1981, realizing his limitations as a part-time tree service operator, he resigned his appointment with the Forest Service and embarked on full-time endeavors with tree service entrepreneurship. Over the next 29 years he either acquired or established Able, Alpine, and Nova Vita Tree Service companies in various locales, consolidating them to eventually become Able Tree Services. The legacy, however, goes much further back to Dale’s father, the late Carl Nova, who with Dale’s godfather, the late Jack MacIlroy, started a tree service in Monterey County in the early 1950’s as avocations to their Fire Captain positions with the California Division (now Department) of Forestry (CDF). In the early 60’s, Bob Woods, Dale’s uncle, also a CDF Fire Captain at the time, was integrated into the business and became a partner. From the age of 8, Dale grew up in the business, serving in varied capacities from brush-dragging “bush beast” to sawyer. Ultimately, he became a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture, the most highly-acclaimed tree care organization in the world. He is presently a Certified Master Arborist candidate. Carl Nova’s tree service operations took a turn by 1965 when he became a State Forest Ranger, acquiring a district in the Van Duzen River country of southeastern Humboldt County. A new tree service developed, although a scaled-back one, with Dale and other adroit employees climbing up even bigger trees, old growth redwoods included. At 15, Dale began logging in Humboldt County, financing his college sojourn with money saved from falling old growth redwoods while working at Louisiana-Pacific Corporation’s Big Lagoon Woods Operations. He also worked as a seasonal firefighter for CDF. Following graduation from Stanislaus State University, and now better enlightened with a degree earned in Natural Resources Management, Dale immediately went back to work for CDF, first as a fire apparatus engineer, then soon promoting into a resource management position. In 1979, the U.S. Forest Service lured Dale away and hired him onto the Mt. Shasta Ranger District. Following his retirement, Carl joined Dale’s tree service operations in 1981, assisting as a consulting forester and paragon mentor on a semi-retired basis until his death in 2002. Giselle Nova, Dale’s wife and partner for life, joined Able Tree Services more than 30 years ago. Quickly establishing her skills as a businesswoman and people person, she is also a consulting arborist and urban forester with a keen acumen for G.I.S. (Geographic Information Systems) development. A third generation joined Mt. Shasta Tree Service just as early in their years as Dale had followed in his own father’s footsteps; Dale’s 3 sons, Mike, Nick, and Marcus all became highly accomplished arborists. At 18 years old, Mike bought the Nova Vita Tree Service in Turlock from his family. Mike is presently chief safety officer on the Klamath National Forest out of Yreka. Marcus and Nick each run their own tree service crews for Able Tree Services when they are not running and gunning in other directions. Marcus recently vacated his U.S. Forest Service Battalion Chief job to promote to the Mt. Shasta Ranger District as their Assistant Resources Officer. He is a graduate of Humboldt State University with a degree in Natural Resources Management and an emphasis in fire fuels management. Nick is an adept Fire and Forest Technician, an expert E.M.T., and works with the California Department of Forestry (also known as CALFIRE). Both Marcus and Nick are highly skilled specialists in fire-safe fuels reduction and prescribed fire management. Each graduated from the renowned College of the Siskiyous Fire Academy, and both continue earning numerous advanced vocational certificates from C.O.S. and other institutions. They bring tremendous depths of scientific and practical knowledge to Able Tree Services’ wealth of tangible tools. A fourth generation has been inculcated into Able Tree Services, with five of Dale and Giselle’s eight local grandchildren having joined us. They all engage their work assignments with gusto, their enthusiasm rarely curbed by long hours or complex arboriculture studies. These men and other very worthy men and women are the people who have prompted Able Tree Services to keep re-inventing itself as THE singular quintessential tree services provider in Northwestern California. TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR SATISFIED CUSTOMERS
Dale Nova’s crews served us in a recent extensive tree storm damage emergency. They were prompt, very safe, highly efficient, and eager to please. I would not hesitate hiring them again. They are not just Able; they are excellent! Mike DellaBona
Mt. Shasta High School
Buildings/Ground Maintenance Supervisor
Tree Services is very professional, pro-active, and safety-focused. We will definitely have them back for future tree work. Morris Eagleman, Mount Shasta
Able Tree Services removed a large pine next to our cabin, a very difficult job involving some expert rigging techniques that the crew made look very easy, extremely safe, and highly professional . For sure, we'll have them back again! Gene Barrett
Salt Creek Homeowners' Association President
Dale Nova and his crews have performed excellent work on our trees for nearly 25 years. Recently Dale properly diagnosed a diseased tree we had and after his crew performed deep root feeding, the tree is great! We highly recommend Able Tree Services!! Maureen and Gordon Loomis
Yreka, California
Able Tree Services' work looks great! They communicated very well to assure a job well done and left my property nicely cleaned up. Audrey Gustufson
Yreka, California
Able Tree Services performs excellent work! They used the highest standards trimming and properly cabling my large maple tree. Also, they are very safety conscious, highly attentive to details, and thoroughly adept. How refreshing to receive such classic service! Ellen Powell
Weed, California
