Bartlett Tree Experts Acquires S.P. McClenahan Company, Expands Operations in Northern California | Bartlett
March 14, 2022 – PORTOLA VALLEY, CA. – Bartlett Tree Experts, the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company, is pleased to announce that it has acquired S.P. McClenahan Company of Portola Valley, California.
The largest ever in Bartlett’s 114-year history, the acquisition of 111-year-old S.P. McClenahan in the heart of Silicon Valley was a natural fit for both companies; each a four-generation family business that has thrived for over 100-years by providing the highest quality of tree care to customers.
We are excited to join forces with S.P. McClenahan. I have known the McClenahan family for 40 years, and like Bartlett Tree Experts, they have worked hard to build a stellar reputation for their company as an industry leader,” Jim Ingram, President and COO of Bartlett Tree Experts said. “We look forward to combining our strengths and adding significant depth to our arboricultural services in gorgeous Northern California.”
Bartlett’s acquisition broadens its presence in California’s Bay Area and is unique given the combined history and depth of arboricultural knowledge that S.P. McClenahan’s talented team of arborists brings.
With the acquisition closing today, S.P. McClenahan Co. and its 55 employees are now a Division of Bartlett Tree Experts, which provides more than 188 services to its customers from 151 operations in 39 U.S. states, Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain.
John Henry McClenahan, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the company his great-grandfather founded, will run Bartlett’s new Portola Valley office as Local Manager. His younger brother, Josh McClenahan, joins Bartlett as a Loss Control Manager, administering and supporting compliance with all insurance and loss control programs, analyzing risks, and developing strategies to reduce losses throughout the corporation.
“Becoming a division of Bartlett gives all of our employees and staff, including me, a chance to grow and develop and be better arborists because of the resources that Bartlett has, such as the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories,” said John McClenahan, who has been involved in his family’s business since 1993.
It was a meeting with Robert A. Bartlett Jr., Chairman and CEO of Bartlett Tree Experts and touring the Bartlett lab that highlighted the benefits of joining Bartlett for John McClenahan, who has known President and COO Jim Ingram personally for 40 years. “Bartlett provided the right fit, culturally, and the right leadership,” he said.
Founded by Seymour P. McClenahan in 1911, S.P. McClenahan’s original office consisted of desk space in the Mercantile Exchange Building of San Francisco. The company enjoyed steady growth over the years, providing tree care on the San Francisco Peninsula. Its headquarters moved from Palo Alto to the Portola Valley in 1968.
The decision to join Bartlett Tree Experts was not taken lightly by the McClenahan family, given their long history. “We hold the generations before us in extremely high regard,” said Josh McClenahan. He was impressed by their own historic similarities to Bartlett Tree Experts, which started small and grew into a global company because of its commitment to exceptional customer service, safety and scientific tree care.
“We see this as an opportunity to help Bartlett with its growth while providing us with an opportunity to grow and succeed. We finally found an organization that matched our culture. This was a perfect marriage of the two companies.”
In addition to expanding the Bartlett Tree Experts footprint on the West Coast, adding S.P. McClenahan to Bartlett’s growing list of operations leverages the expertise of the McClenahans and their talented group of arborists, many of whom have 20 years’ experience working with them, Robert A. Bartlett Jr. said.
“I’m excited to bring S.P. McClenahan on board because this acquisition really gives us stronger footing in terms of both quality and also the coverage in the Bay Area,” said Bartlett, who represents the third generation of Bartlett family management. “They have a reputation as a leader in arboriculture and we are getting some very good arborists. We look forward to working with them.”
“Our acquisition of S.P. McClenahan provides our new and existing clients in the Bay Area with a significant expansion of service to best meet their needs,” said Peter Andreucci, Vice President and Division Manager for Northern California. “They have built an extraordinary business and we are excited to have them join us. They have gorgeous trees and client demographics that don’t exist anywhere in the world, in a place where we see unlimited potential.”
John McClenahan started working for his family’s company in 1993. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture, he is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Licensed Pest Control Adviser and TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional. McClenahan is also a qualified ISA Tree Risk Assessor and a member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists.
His brother, Josh McClenahan, started working for his family’s company in 2006, and most-recently served as Chief Operating Officer of S.P. McClenahan. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and Master of Science in Safety Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. His certifications include: BCSP Certified Safety Professional, TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional, and ISA Certified Arborist.
Josh McClenahan transitioned to the family business from a Commercial Insurance Loss Control Consultant position. With his insurance background, McClenahan will provide an immediate contribution to Bartlett’s safety and loss control programs.
“Over the years, Josh has worked with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and companies like North American Training Solutions to improve his company,” said David Marren, Bartlett’s Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs. “They’ve always tried hard to do the right thing and a focus on taking care of their employees. It’s a good fit for us to take the skill set he offers and utilize him on an international level.”
Patrick Franklin, the great-grandson of Bartlett Tree Experts founder Francis A. Bartlett, appreciates the significance of the two four-generation tree care companies combining as one. “There is a huge synergy,” said Franklin, Vice President of Special Operations and representing the fourth-generation of Bartlett family management. “The fact that they have thrived for all of these years as a family business, doing what they say they’re going to do and providing exceptional customer service, safety, and superior tree care makes them a great partner for us. Not too many companies survive for over 100-years and that is a great testament to their family and business values as well.”