Name of company: Black Bear Tree Solutions
Name of owners: Nick Cosentino and Jed Kurts
Location, Website, Email, Phone:
Waitsfield, Vermont
www.BlackBearTreeSolutions.com
Description of your business?
We are a full-spectrum tree service equipped to take on jobs of any size. We provide property consultations and hazard assessments free of charge. We specialize in climbing tree removal with an emphasis on technical rigging. We also take on other projects such as lot clearing, view clearing/enhancement, large tree pruning, property cutbacks, fence line cleanup, and fruit tree pruning.
Who are your customers?
Our customers care deeply about the safety and aesthetics of their homes and properties. Our clientele include Olympic athletes, high-level attorneys, musicians, and extreme outdoor enthusiasts. They have respect for their homes and appreciate our ability to improve their property to be safer and more beautiful. We serve commercial, municipal, and HOA accounts as well.
What makes your business unique?
We are unique because of our small size, extensive skillset, and technical experience. We work with our customers to understand their vision and provide a solution to bring it to reality. We are both experienced tree climbers with modern equipment and aerial rigging skills. Our equipment loadout is optimized for maximum capability and efficiency while keeping our footprint small. Our core values are: efficiency, consistency, and clarity in our work.
How long have you been in business?
We are a brand-new business and are very excited for a successful 2026 tree season. We work through the winter because the ground is frozen and equipment impact is low and have schedule availability.
Personal background:
Nick Cosentino: Grew up in Waitsfield, GMVS alpine ski racing alumni, accomplished outdoorsman with waterfowl guiding experience, avid snowmobiler and enjoyer of tropical weather.
Jed Kurts: Grew up in Middlesex, former national level Nordic skier, hiked Vermont’s Long Trail in seven days, faller on a wildfire crew in Idaho, former snowmaker at Sugarbush resort, snowmobiler, motorcyclist, and adventurer.
Best advice you would give someone starting a business?
Set goals. If you don’t know what you’re shooting for, you’ll never accomplish your dreams. Stay organized with your appointments, paperwork, and finances. If you have an idea, service, or product that has value don’t be afraid to bet on yourself. Take the risk and go for it!
What do you like best about the business?
The best thing about the tree industry is that every job is a puzzle. You need to consider the goal of the project and the resources you have in order to come up with a viable plan of action. This could mean rigging an extremely technical limb over someone’s house or efficiently clearing a build site and burning the brush. The job keeps our bodies healthy and minds engaged. Aerial tree work is unlike anything else.
What was your first job?
Our first job together was cleaning up an old-growth maple that had fallen on our client’s storage tent. It was quite a mess and required some creative problem solving as access was very limited. We pruned some limbs away from the house while we were there in order to provide roof clearance and prevent mold, decay, or damage to the roof.
What was your most fun job?
Our most fun job was probably in Montpelier next to the State House at an apartment complex. This tall elm tree was leaning over the building with limited access, so it was tough to get to. The drop zone was really tight with the apartment building on one side and the neighbors on the other providing zero margin for error. We set a rope, cut an open-faced notch, and pulled it over into the drop zone with extreme accuracy. Great views of Montpelier from that one.
What do you like best about The Valley?
The Mad River Valley is an outdoor enthusiasts’ paradise. There are three ski mountains, numerous mountain bike trails, breathtaking dirt roads for cycling and running, soccer and baseball fields, the Warren skate park, the famously clean Mad River, an airport, and two Nordic ski centers. Members of the MRV community are physically active, positive minded, and love spending time outdoors.
What new business would you like to see move to The Valley?
We would love to see a calisthenics gym/movement training center come to The Valley. The Valley has limited options for indoor movement spaces in the winter which is a unique niche that could be filled. A family-friendly space with trampolines, mats, parkour features, and basic gym equipment would be a big hit for everyone.
When you're not working, what are you doing?
When we’re not working, we are skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, rec tree climbing, dirt biking, camping, and canoeing with our friends and family.
