
Expertise
ISA-certified arborists ensure precision, health, and safety, enhancing your trees with over two decades of hands-on experience.

Reliability
Count on 24/7 emergency services and transparent processes for efficient, dependable tree care solutions.

Passion
Our team's deep-rooted love for the local environment results in tailored care, enriching Thurston County's greenery with every project.
Green Harmony Narrative
At Capital Tree Experts, our story is one of passion and commitment. Founded by Barry Specht at the young age of 21, we've nurtured and grown alongside Thurston County's landscape for over two decades. Our journey is defined by a deep love for trees, a commitment to excellence, and the relentless pursuit of arborist mastery.
In Thurston County's heart, Barry, an ISA Certified Arborist, founded Capital Tree Experts. Our arborists blend technical mastery with a deep local understanding, crafting tailored solutions that elevate tree health, beauty, and safety. We don't just care for trees; we embody arborist excellence, passion, and Thurston County's enduring green beauty.
Voices of Satisfaction
Meet Our Team: The Heart of Excellence
Discover the dedicated professionals behind Capital Tree Experts, committed to delivering top-notch service with expertise and passion.
Barry
I was born and raised in Olympia. I graduated from Capital High School in 2000. I started a stump grinding company in 2003 called Capital Grinding. I bought a small stump grinder out of the classified section in the Olympian. I learned how to operate it and started advertising. At first, I worked on the weekends or after work. I worked at Washington Truck Wreckers as an apprentice mechanic and an excavator / loader operator at Concrete Recyclers. After a year of being in business, I bought a mid-size stump grinder. I started doing tree work without any formal training. Luckily, I met an Arborist named Ray Gleason and he taught me how to do tree work safely. In 2010, I passed the ISA certified Arborist test. After 13 years of climbing, we became the first tree service to purchase a spiderlift in Washington state. It changed the way we do tree work and has given my body a break! My favorite thing about tree work is coming up with a plan for jobs that don’t have a clear solution. I still encounter jobs that I have to pass on, when the risk isn’t worth the reward.
I am on a team of canyoneers that discover new, uncharted canyons in the PNW. We research, route find, and then take the first descent. My knowledge of ropes and ability to problem solve come in handy with this hobby. I have had fun building my relationship with our son through mountain climbing. We made it to the top of Mt. Elinor this year, after multiple failed attempts due to snow. It makes me proud to see our kids develop a sense of grit and perseverance. I do my best to be an example of both.
Sara
I attended the North Thurston school district until my sophomore year. I graduated from Black Hills High School. After training at a technical college, I started work as a Medical Assistant at the Olympia outreach clinic for Children's Hospital. Later I moved to work for Olympia Orthopaedic Associates. I received on the job training and became the clinic’s x-ray technician. Barry and I began dating in 2006. We married atop The Remarkables mountain range in New Zealand in 2012. When our first born required an extended stay in the Mary Bridge NICU in 2013, my return to work was postponed. I returned part time. We decided it was the right time for me to join Capital Tree Experts, LLC in May 2016. Our second child was born in 2017.
In our spare time, we love adventures. We do our best to enrich our lives through travel. Yellowstone and Zion are a couple of our favorite spots. Our son endured a 10 mile, 10 hour canyoneering trip through the Subway in Zion on his 6th birthday! We work well as a team in life and in business. While at home, we spend as much of our time as possible at the barn. We have 6 miniature donkeys, 13 chickens, and a very sweet barn kitty. Barry installed climbing holds and a climbing rope. We have races to ring the bell at the top. Our daughter is working with one of the donkeys in hopes of being in the local parade. I volunteer at the elementary school several times a week and am a member of their PTO. Community and family are incredibly important to me. Capital Tree Experts, LLC is not just a business to me. It is a family. Our son loves to ride in the trucks and help on the jobs. Our daughter loves to delivery lunch and snap photos. Our goal is to show our children how to work hard, take pride in what you do, and to always respect one another.
Sara
Travis
Travis has worked for Capital Tree Experts for more than 17 years. He is pleased to be a solid and trustworthy worker. He enjoys showing others and brings an abundance of information and functional abilities in areas of mindfulness, procedures and ground support.
Travis has spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, where he thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the great outdoors.
Outside work hours, he treasures spending quality time with his wife, three children, and his Chocolate Labrador, Emmy. He's passionate about outdoor activities, takes pleasure in home renovation tasks, and loves tuning in to watch the Las Vegas Raiders.
Award Winning
Recently we were honored to be voted by the regional community as the Best Tree Service in the South Sound for the 2nd year in a row! See all winners.









