Our Team
Jonathan Bethea
Jonathan’s career in tree services began as a 2-year-old when he cut down the family Christmas tree with his plastic handsaw. Then as a teenager, he was responsible for processing firewood for his family's home furnace. Now at Heritage, he’s the visionary, safety nerd, and daily operations chief.
His background, which includes research in Theoretical & Computational Chemistry research and working as the Corporate Chemist and Waste Disposal Coordinator for E3 Environmental, developed his safety-first mindset, attention to detail, and sense of thoroughness.
As a lifelong outdoorsman, he enjoys backpacking, camping, shooting firearms, and anything that involves spending time with his family. He’s currently learning how to build hardscapes. (Ask him about the plans for his backyard patio.)
Jonathan and Bethany are members at CityChurch Jackson. They live in Clinton.
CO-OWNER, OPERATOR, CLIMBER
Bethany Bethea
Bethany is the behind-the-scenes mastermind who turns the big-picture vision into practical action plans.
Her background includes working as a Pediatric Nurse in Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and Post Anesthesia Care Unit at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham, and at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She handles insurance billing at a local clinic and she is a full-time mom.
If superwoman wore jeans and a sweater, she’d look like Bethany.
She enjoys cooking, flower gardening, and reading…when she has extra time. Bethany, Jonathan, and their two girls live in Clinton.
CO-OWNER, MANAGING PARTNER
Eddie Gaines
Eddie is the machine who keeps the projects moving smoothly on the ground. He has a knack for always thinking two steps ahead, works until the job is done, and knows a knot for everything.
Eddie's background is in construction and when he’s not slinging chainsaws, he’s always down for fishing. Eddie lives in Jackson.
FULL-TIME GROUND CREW, RIGGER
Rob Grete
Rob moves to the tune of slow is smooth, smooth is fast–he takes the time to do it the right way, the first time.
Rob is a West Point graduate and served as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer in Afghanistan where he received a Purple Heart. Currently, he works as an Engineering Technician for the US Army Corps of Engineers and is the owner and operator of Grete Renovations.
He’s also a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu martial artist and like most tree guys, is a gear nerd through and through. Rob and his wife, Susannah, live in Clinton with their four children.
FOREMAN, CLIMBER
David Allen
David brings a load of experience leading, managing projects, and operating equipment. He’s a straight-shooter, reliable, and will whip out his phone at the drop of a hat to show you pictures of his last alligator hunt or his kids latest accomplishment.
His background is in railroad management and environmental and industrial services management. He also owns and operates A7 Construction, specializing in construction debris removal and hauling.
He’s passionate about fostering, adoption, and giving kids the ultimate outdoor hunting experience. David and his wife, Nicole, live in Florence with their five children.
FOREMAN, GROUND CREW, DEBRIS HAULER
Maurice Potts
Maurice is Heritage Tree Service’s first employee and continues to be a force of encouragement, support, and manpower. He’s the person who checks in on the people around him, genuinely cares about how others are doing, and is passionate about supporting others along their path of growth and development.
He’s a personal trainer, the owner of Blessed Hands Fitness, and a State Law Enforcement Officer. When Maurice isn’t training, working, or connecting with friends and family, he’s probably grilling or perfecting his Bar-B-Que game. Maurice lives in Jackson.
GROUND CREW
John Bethea
John originally came out of retirement to work as our Team Trainer—teaching new team members the ropes (literally!), and lead clean-up projects. Though he’s back in the Nuclear industry, he makes appearances on the occasion his schedule aligns with team projects.
As Jonathan’s dad, he was the first person to show Jonathan how to work a chainsaw as well as the one who assigned his wood splitting chores.
John is a beekeeper, and can always be convinced to take his catamaran sailing, especially if it involves time with one of his nine children. He and his wife, JoyLynn, live in Edwards.
FOREMAN, GROUND CREW, RIGGER
Ben VanHorn
Ben is the Coordinator of Reference at Mississippi College during the week and joins our team to run chainsaws on the weekends.
He brings a sense of passion, motivation, and commitment to everything he does, from his professional work, his interest in woodwork and crafting furniture, and to his family.
He is the knott-wizard, and in true librarian fashion, enjoys delving into the origin, lore, and history around each knot just as much as learning to tie them.
He and his wife, Christy, have three children and live in Clinton.
GROUND CREW, RIGGER
Ben Branch
Ben is less of a talker and more of a get-it-done guy. He has an eye for noticing the details, is always looking for the next thing that needs to be done, and has a way of making projects go smoothly.
He’s in the Union Apprentice program (IBEW) and is an electrician for Fountain Construction. When he’s not on the clock, Ben is hunting, fishing–anything that gives him the chance to spend time outdoors. Ben and his wife, Makayla, live in Raymond.
GROUND CREW, RIGGER
Helen Claire & Ruthie
These two little ladies are everyone’s favorite cheerleaders. They might as well be the team mascots, too.
Helen Claire loves dancing and music, and is automatically drawn to anything that involves unicorns, her friends, or the color pink.
Ruthie, on the other hand, is working on growing teeth and hair.
Helen Claire loves riding in her dads truck and often joins him on the days he’s looking at prospective jobs. We’re giving Ruthie a little more time but, no doubt, she’ll join the estimating team soon.
THE BIGGEST LITTLE CHEERLEADERS
