The Rancho Way

A utility partner built on family, grit, and a deep respect for the communities we serve

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Rooted In Family. Grown By Grit. Powered By Purpose. 

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A Proven Path from Local Service to Regional Scale

Rancho Tree Service began with a pickup truck, a big dream, and a promise: to build something better for the next generation. In 2010, Jose De La Cruz and his wife Griselda established Rancho as a family-owned business based in Bakersfield, California, driven by a shared vision and commitment to quality. Back then, Jose knocked on doors and hauled brush by hand, estimating jobs by day and answering phones by night, often from a makeshift office in his home.

But what started as a hustle quickly became a mission. Branch by branch, relationship by relationship, Rancho grew. Early wins like city tree management projects laid the foundation. From there, new experts came aboard, new contracts followed, and Griselda’s steady leadership alongside Jose became a driving force behind the company’s consistent climb.

By 2020, Rancho was partnering with California’s largest utilities. Not long after, we were leading coveted contracts as a prime contractor. Through natural disasters, regulatory shifts, and industry-wide challenges, Rancho stayed true to its roots. We built something bigger than a business, we built a culture grounded in integrity, opportunity, and community impact.

Today, Rancho is a leading name in utility vegetation management — serving SCE, SDG&E, SMUD, and PG&E. With offices across California, the company has experienced triple-digit growth in just three years.

As Rancho has grown to become a nationally recognized utility contractor, one thing remains the same: its commitment to people. Whether it’s the families we support, the communities we protect, or the careers we help launch, Rancho is rooted in the belief that hard work builds the future and that no job is too small when you’re building something that lasts.

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"The Growth We've Experienced Is 100% Because Of Our People And Our Culture"

- Jose De La Cruz

Leadership Team

The Road We’ve Taken, the Roots We’ve Grown

2010

Jose and Griselda De La Cruz founded Rancho Tree Service as a small, family-run operation offering residential and commercial services in California’s Central Valley.

2012-2013

Jose wins his first city contracts through grassroots outreach. A home office is set up, staffed by Rancho’s first official secretary.

2014

Rancho begins subcontracting operations with SCE and PG&E, marking its entry into larger utility work. Griselda steps further into the business, helping manage operations and guiding investments in new equipment and capacity to support this next stage of growth.

2020

Rancho becomes a prime contractor for PG&E’s Orchard Division.

2021

Rancho begins a period of robust initiatives, focusing on growth capacity and strategic approaches under the guidance of new team member Ed Martinez. These initiatives coincided with enhanced vegetation management on PG&E property.

2022

Rancho 2.0 takes shape, driven by rebranding, strategic scaling, and strengthened leadership. A programmatic and organizational transformation propels the company from a family-run business to a nationally recognized corporation, built for sustained growth and impact.

2023

Rancho opens a new regional office in Escondido to better serve Southern California after being awarded a five-year contract with SDGE.

2024

Rancho continues its exceptional service record and is awarded a prime contract role across multiple regions for SCE.

2025

Rancho undergoes a leadership transition as Ed Martinez becomes CEO and Geoffrey Taylor is named Vice President. With a presence spanning the state of California and new contracts with major utilities including SMUD, Rancho is positioned for continued expansion and national impact.

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Protecting Nature, Powering Resilience

Sustainable Vegetation Management for a Safer, Greener Future

At Rancho, environmental stewardship is more than a box to check — it’s embedded in every job we do. From wildfire prevention to habitat protection, our crews help utilities and municipalities safeguard ecosystems while keeping infrastructure secure.

By integrating advanced tools like LiDAR and GIS with sustainable practices, we reduce risk and support long-term climate resilience. Every cut, every clearing, every assessment is made with the future in mind.

Rooted in Community, Growing Together

Building Stronger Neighborhoods Through Partnership and Care

We believe that showing up for our communities is just as important as showing up for our clients. That’s why Rancho partners with workforce development programs, community colleges, and nonprofits across the regions we serve.

From volunteer days to sponsorships, we give back where it counts. Internally, we invest in people through mentorship, growth tracks, and a culture that puts safety and trust first. Because when our people thrive, our communities grow stronger — and that’s a future worth building.

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