Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirstie Ansara.
Hi Kirstie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m born and raised in South Florida, in Deerfield Beach, and I started out working in small plant nurseries where I fell in love with the industry. From there, I worked my way up to becoming an inspector for the City of Fort Lauderdale while earning my degrees in business administration from Palm Beach State College and plant science from the University of Florida. Along the way, I slowly earned my certifications and kept building experience in the field.
While I was at the City reviewing plans and arborist reports, I started noticing a gap between what municipalities require and what property owners and developers actually understand. That’s really what sparked the idea of branching out, no pun intended.
I started Branch Out Consulting to bridge that gap and help clients navigate tree regulations in a way that’s clear, strategic, and actually moves projects forward. Today I work with developers, contractors, and property owners across South Florida on tree inventories, appraisals, and regulatory consulting.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve always known I wanted to work outside and build something that combined my work ethic, my skill set, and my love of nature. I was working full time while earning both of my degrees, which took about eight years, and I paid my own way through school. Nursery work is hard, physical work, and there were plenty of times I questioned whether I was on the right path or if I would find the right fit in the industry.
At one point, I started a business called Honeycomb Gardens, focused on high end edible gardens for residential clients. It wasn’t the right long term fit, but it taught me a lot about running a business and working with clients, and it helped clarify what I actually wanted to build.
Professionally, one of the biggest challenges has been establishing credibility in a male dominated field. Early on, I felt like I had to prove myself over and over again. There’s also a side of running a business that no one really prepares you for, things like pricing your work, managing clients, and building the right team.
But those challenges have shaped how I operate now. They’ve made me more confident, more direct, and more intentional about the kind of business I’m building.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Branch Out Consulting is a South Florida based consulting arborist firm I started in 2023. I focus on helping clients navigate tree regulations and move their projects forward. I’m born and raised here, so I understand the local landscape, both environmentally and from a regulatory standpoint.
I work primarily with developers, contractors, and property owners on tree inventories, appraisals, and permitting support. What sets my work apart is that I understand both sides of the process. I’ve been on the municipal side reviewing plans, and now I’m on the consulting side helping clients get approvals. That perspective allows me to be strategic, not just technical.
I see my role as both a consultant and an advocate for my clients. I’m not just documenting trees, I’m helping clients understand what matters, where there’s flexibility, and how to avoid costly delays.
I’m known for being clear, responsive, and solutions oriented. A lot of my work involves translating complicated codes and comments into straightforward next steps that actually make sense for the project.
Brand wise, I’m most proud of building something that clients trust and come back to. Much of my work is referral based, which tells me I’m doing something right. I’ve been intentional about positioning the business as professional, efficient, and easy to work with.
At the end of the day, I want clients to feel like they have someone in their corner who understands the system and can help them navigate it with confidence.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think we’re going to see tighter restrictions around tree protection and a bigger emphasis on preserving and increasing canopy coverage, especially in cities. There’s already a shift happening where urban planners are prioritizing more walkable, livable environments, and trees play a huge role in that, from shade and heat reduction to overall quality of life.
I also think we’ll see a move toward more measurable standards, not just counting trees, but looking at canopy coverage, long term viability, and how landscapes actually function over time. That’s going to require a more thoughtful, strategic approach from both municipalities and developers.
For the industry, that means consulting arborists will play a bigger role in the early stages of projects, not just as a requirement for permitting, but as part of the planning process. The projects that succeed will be the ones that integrate trees from the beginning instead of trying to work around them at the end.
Overall, I see the industry becoming more collaborative, more data driven, and more integrated into how cities grow and develop.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies depending on project scope, size, and jurisdiction requirements
- Basic arborist reports typically start around $750–$1,500
- More complex projects involving full tree inventories, appraisals, and permitting support can range from $2,500–$5,000+
- Mangrove permitting and planting plans are typically more involved and can be significantly higher due to state level regulations, environmental considerations, and coordination requirements
- Proposals are customized to each project to ensure clients are only paying for what they actually need
Contact Info:
- Website: https://branchoutconsultingllc.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstieansara/
- Other: http://www.asca-consultants.org/member/kirstieansara
