Meet the Ground to Crown team.
Anthony Williams
Certified Arborist
Favorite tree: Sycamore
Growing up in Black Mountain, NC, Anthony got his first spark of interest in trees as a young kid when he climbed to the top of his grandmother’s sycamore. He noticed ivy starting to choke the tree and wanted to help, so he stripped it off by hand.His father, also a Black Mountain native, was an active voice against clear cutting, and he was a source of inspiration for Anthony.
When he was older, Anthony was offered the opportunity to be a climber with a well-known line clearance business. He carefully researched the tree care industry and realized that this particular path was not for him. That research led him to discover the International Society of Arboriculture, where he gained important insights about the difference between “tree guys” and arborists. Anthony’s journey into the arboriculture world began. His love of climbing trees and his passion for tree preservation and education led him to become certified as an arborist.
Today, he combines these multiple passions into a job that is more than just scaling trees with a chainsaw. Anthony loves figuring out the strategy of a difficult tree felling, and he also enjoys helping homeowners understand what’s best for the health of the tree. His education is an ongoing evolution as he continues to learn and grow every day, and he is grateful for every moment of the process.
His future goals for the business include raising more awareness about tree care, and in turn seeing less clear cutting.
When he’s not enjoying the view from the treetops, Anthony indulges his other passions: BMX, mountain biking, skateboarding, welding, drumming, and motorcycles. He still lives in his hometown of Black Mountain.
Betty Ekleberry
Client Liaison
Favorite tree: Live Oak
Betty comes by tree work naturally, as her ancestors worked in the Black Forests of Germany. Her love of trees has been a constant, and Anthony’s work inspired her to learn more about plant health care.
Along with keeping the worksite organized and clear, and maintaining schedules and certifications for the team, she truly enjoys educating people on how to take care of trees, and is a steward of the land she calls home.
Betty hopes to see more environmentally friendly options become the norm for tree care and pest control. She loves the community of western North Carolina, and connecting with new people through her work.
When she’s not clearing the site and chipping dropped tree branches, Betty enjoys gardening, herbalism, and being a mom. She has recently earned her Holistic Wellness Coaching certification, and hopes to help people with natural solutions for healthier living. Betty lives in Black Mountain.
Additional Crew
Ground to Crown Tree Care also has several additional tree care employees on the team. Each employee is trained personally by Anthony and Betty, ensuring the highest level of safety compliance, care, and expertise.
“We highly recommend Ground to Crown. They removed a huge, 150-year-old oak tree perilously close to the house—a job three other tree companies refused to take on. Anthony’s skill and expertise allowed him to take it down without any difficulties. He and his team were both professional and extremely well-equipped for the job. Also, they cleaned up so well you wouldn’t have known they were even there.”
~Dave Foppert