TreeServe Expands Its Presence Through Two Strategic Acquisitions

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Sep 22, 2025, 08:00 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TreeServe, LLC ("TreeServe"), a portfolio company of Soundcore Capital Partners, LP ("Soundcore"), a New York-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce its acquisition of both Dave Leonard Tree Specialists ("Dave Leonard") and JL Tree Service ("JL Tree").

Based in Lexington, KY, Dave Leonard has built a reputation for excellence in residential tree care, plant healthcare, and mulch services over the last 50 years. Under the continued leadership of Ross Raterman, the company brings deep regional expertise and a legacy of arborist excellence to TreeServe.

Based in Fairfax, VA, JL Tree Service is a leading provider of tree care services. With a strong foundation in trimming, pruning, removals, and plant healthcare, JL Tree has served the DC metro area for over 50 years. Sean Lewett will continue to lead the business, bringing operational excellence and a deep network of industry relationships.

With the acquisition of Dave Leonard and JL Tree, TreeServe now offers tree care, plant and shrub health care, and lawn care services in six states and will continue pursuing strategic opportunities in high growth MSAs in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest.

"Dave Leonard and JL Tree have long been trusted names with deep roots in their communities. We're honored to welcome them into the TreeServe family as we continue building a premier multi-regional platform for tree and plant care. Their exceptional teams and reputations strengthen our mission, and we're proud to have them on board" said Cheri Michaels, CEO of TreeServe.

"The terms 'Dave Leonard' and 'Tree Care' are synonymous in the state of Kentucky. We are proud of our company's 50+ year history of providing quality arboriculture services to the greater Lexington, KY area, and today we celebrate a new era of Dave Leonard Tree Specialists by partnering with Soundcore and TreeServe – people who really share our core values. Our talented team of Arborist Professionals remain dedicated to our trade and to providing our clients with the best tree care services right here in Central Kentucky. Thank you to Jarrett, Cheri, and the whole gang who helped make this possible, and we look forward to a bright future for our growing company!" said Ross Raterman, President of Dave Leonard Tree Specialists.

"I started this company in 1975 and have worked all my life to make it the best tree company in Northern Virginia. Now as I pass the torch, I look forward to working with TreeServe and Soundcore to make TreeServe the best. My son and the rest of the team here are very happy and honored to continue building the business together" said John Lewett, founder of JL Tree.

"Since our founding 10.5 years ago, Soundcore has established a strong reputation as the leading private equity partner for founder-led businesses, with 100 of our 104 acquisitions representing partnerships with the founder of the respective company. Today, we're proud to continue that tradition by partnering with two exceptional founders at Dave Leonard and JL Tree. Both businesses bring exceptional talent and long-standing customer relationships, and we're excited to support management in accelerating their growth while continuing to deliver outstanding service as we build a leading tree care platform " said Jarrett Turner, Managing Partner and Founder of Soundcore.

O2 Sponsor Finance, a division of Old Second National Bank, served as the administrative agent and lead arranger for the senior secured credit facilities supporting the creation of TreeServe. O2 Sponsor Finance will continue to support Soundcore and TreeServe in their future growth initiatives.

Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

About Soundcore

Soundcore Capital Partners was founded in 2015 by Jarrett Turner and is based in New York, NY. Soundcore is a thesis-driven private equity firm that specializes in buy-and-build investments in the lower middle-market that are headquartered in the United States and Canada. Soundcore has completed 104 acquisitions creating 13 platforms, across 33 U.S. states, and focuses primarily on business & outsourced services, industrial services, specialty manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors. For more information, please visit www.soundcorecap.com.

Soundcore is actively seeking additional acquisitions. Please contact Danny New regarding new platforms and add-on opportunities for our existing portfolio, including TreeServe.

Danny New
Deal Origination
[email protected]
(212) 812-1198

About TreeServe, LLC
TreeServe was created in 2025 as a platform in the tree care services sector. The platform now operates four leading tree care service providers specializing in tree trimming and pruning, tree and stump removal, plant and shrub healthcare, and emergency and storm services. TreeServe is focused on high growth MSAs across the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest United States. For more information, please visit www.calltreeserve.com

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Olt
[email protected]
(212)-812-1432