Team | Canyon Cutters

Douglas Liva

Owner / ISA Certified Arborist

Originally from Northern New Jersey, Doug got his first taste of living in the Southwest when he moved to Arizona for college in 2006. After graduating, he moved back to NJ and became involved with the tree service industry just after Hurricane Sandy, while working as a fence contractor.

From 2012 to 2017 Doug had a joint fence & tree company in Northern NJ working from Warren to Bergen County. Since he spent most of his winters in the Wasatch Mountains, Doug decided to relocate his tree service business & make the permanent move to Park City where his family has had a residence since 2006. He started Canyon Cutters in the spring of 2018 and enjoys the new lifestyle that has come along with it.

John Hill

Operations Manager / Safety Administrator

Born and raised in Massachusetts along the shores of Cape Cod, and the woods of Eastern Maine- John grew up sailing and hauling brush, depending on which Grandfather he was with at the time.

Bouncing around North America as a professional Chef, John arrived in Park City in 2011. Eventually, cooking and butchering for a living had reached a crossroads with his family roots, so he decided it was time for a change and got involved with the tree service industry. John joined the crew of Canyon Cutters in June 2018 during the company’s infancy. Covering all the bases in the woods from felling trees, to operating machinery, John hopes to continue learning the trade alongside the Canyon Cutters team.

Jesse Gardner

Lead Foreman

Lifelong Utah native. Working in the Tree Industry for 5+ years now, specializing in Mountain Operations and Fire Mitigation. Tree work is my passion along with being a father to my two year old daughter. I love anything outdoor and adventure related. I chose to work in the Tree Service industry because it requires constant evolution and continuous education. I love seeing the impact I have on forest sustainability / habitat conservation and I take great pride in what I do.

Nate Potter

Lead Foreman

Nate grew up in the Northeast, with a deep love for the mountains and forests of New England. Throughout his youth, he enjoyed camping, hiking, and skiing in New Hampshire and Maine. He moved to Salt Lake City in 2013 to attend Westminster College where he majored in Marketing. During his time at Westminster, College Nate worked for Doppelmayr building ski lifts in Utah, Montana, and Idaho. This experience taught him about working in the mountains, where he continues to enjoy the winter and summer seasons and the wilderness of the West.

Robert Valencia

Foreman

Hey, I’m Robert Valencia and I was born in Salinas, CA. Went to College and graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University back in 2015. Right after that I joined the Marine Corps and became a Combat Helicopter Mechanic and Huey Crew Chief. Deployed twice, and experienced the world. Rejoined the civilian world in 2020 and worked in Construction in Santa Rosa, CA.

There were major fires occurring in the area and I felt the need to do something about it so I joined a forestry division managing and preventing forest fires in the Napa Valley. In June of 2022, I signed a reservist contract for the Army National Guard and now continue to work on Helicopters and fight fires as a Crew Chief on Black Hawks.

I love tree work and it definitely keeps me humble. I went to academies to climb and remove/maintain trees and I have experience with tree felling. I enjoy operating equipment and have the desire to upkeep and hold standards to make the tree industry great.

Logan Duvall

My name is Logan, and I was born and raised in Ogden Utah. I love Mother Nature and everything she has to offer us, and I love our relationship with her. I’m constantly learning who I am and what I’m here to do, so I’m glad to be lucky enough to work on the Canyon Cutters crew making a difference. I’ve done many different things for work, and nothing compares to being in the woods bettering the environment as part of a meticulous company with a drive to be the best. It’s a dream to be running power saws with happy, inspired, hardworking individuals!

Brian Barnes

Raised in Lake Murray, South Carolina, Brian originally came to Utah to pursue a college degree. He fell in love with the mountains and now works winters as ski patrol for PCMR and in the summers as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. off the Alaskan coast before joining Canyon Cutters

Holden Stephenson

I’m Holden and I grew up in Salt Lake County Utah. I graduated from Corner Canyon HS in 2024 and I’m looking forward to a new career with Canyon Cutters. I enjoy Fishing, watching sports and Skiing. I find it super fun to work alongside the rest of our great crew, and I enjoy learning something new everyday.

Kade Jolley

I’m Kade Jolley, born and raised in Utah. I graduated from Provo High in 2024 and I love playing Soccer and outdoor adventures. I’ve spent my whole life on the field and in nature. Whether I’m Mountain Biking, Hiking, Camping, or Snowboarding, I thrive on the freedom and challenges that the great outdoors bring. Always up for an adventure, I live for the rush of exploring new places and pushing my limits. This is my first season with Canyon Cutters, and it’s the best job I’ve had. This job brings together an amazing group of cool dudes and offers the opportunity to be in the beautiful mountains.

Hero Quick

Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, I joined Canyon Cutters 3 years ago and have been enjoying every season since. I appreciate the variety and challenges that come with working as an arborist and I take pride in helping maintain the health and beauty of the local landscape. When I’m not working, I love skiing Utah’s mountains and diving into a good book. Being part of a team that values hard work, learning and the great outdoors makes this job truly rewarding.

Dylan Pohl

I was born and raised in Minnesota where I played rhythm guitar in a band with some of my closest friends. I’ve been playing guitar for about 2 years now and everyday I find something new to love about it. I’ve been an active person my whole life whether it be through football or personal fitness. I decided to make the move out to Utah in 2025 for a lifestyle change, because I’ve always had an affinity with nature. My dad was a climber, so I’ve always been around this type of work throughout my life. I got into working in tree care in 2021 and I’ve been training to become a climber myself. I love the guys I work with and I couldn’t be in a better position to grow as an arborist and as a person, than here with the Canyon Cutters team.

Jake Busch

I’m Jacob Busch- someone who’s happiest outdoors, whether hiking through the mountains, casting a line into the water, or sitting by a campfire under the stars. I’ve always found peace and purpose in nature, and that love for the outdoors is a big part of who I am. It keeps me grounded, reminds me to stay patient, and fuels my appreciation for the simple things in life. I’m a hands on, down to earth person who believes in staying consistent, showing up when it matters, and doing things the right way. I take pride in being reliable, learning through experience, and I always trying to keep moving forward. Whether I’m out in the wild or handling life’s day to day, I try to keep a steady mindset and stay true to who I am.

Anton Hibl

I grew up in Park City, Utah, where I spent my youth biking, swimming, and skiing in the Wasatch Mountains. I studied and dual-majored in Cybersecurity and Chemistry at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where I also enjoyed skiing and exploring the red rock country of Arizona and southern Utah. I now work with Canyon Cutters and serve as a Cyber Warfare Specialist in the Utah Air National Guard. I have also worked as a ski instructor at Park City Mountain Resort and continue to enjoy spending time in the mountains year-round working with the Canyon Cutters team.

Carter Lippard

Hello! My name is Carter Lippard. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and I’ve lived there my whole life. In 2024-2025 I served a year in the AmeriCorps NCCC program in the Southern region, which entailed disaster recovery, trail building, roof repairs, etc. Other than that, I enjoy the outdoors, especially hiking and exploring, as well as a good laugh. I will be attending the University of Utah beginning in the Fall of 2025 to study Biomedical Engineering, where I was awarded a scholarship from the John and Maria Price school of Engineering. I am very excited to be working with Canyon Cutters and helping as many people as I can along the way.

Ian Hamilton

From feeding cattle as a kid to working on the slopes in Montana, the outdoors have been a constant thread in my life. I grew up outside Chicago, then headed to Texas to earn a degree in Animal Science. Since then, I’ve followed the call of the West—doing fire suppression in Oregon, farming in California, and ski resort operations in Montana—before being drawn to Utah by its powdery slopes, sweeping vistas, and rugged terrain.
All of those roles have strengthened my respect for safety, teamwork, and working hard in tough outdoor conditions—values I bring with me into tree service work.

In my free time, I enjoy skiing, hiking, four-wheeling, reading, and writing about the history of the American West. I thrive in close-knit crews, and I take pride in hands-on work that helps protect the landscapes and forests of the Rockies for future generations.

Meet Our Crew