Ben Patton
Mattias Smith
Austin Jeng
Connor McCron
Donovan Jensen
Calym Cochlin
Founding President Benjamin Patton, 30, is a small business owner and is the former Owner/Operator of Two Lions Tree & Landscape; with 8 years experience as a Climbing Arborist, Arborist Technician, Danger Tree Assessor, Occupational First Aider, and Wildlands Firefighter.
He has studied in BC Institute of Technology's Applied Biology Program, with a focus in Natural Resource/Environmental Protection and Urban Forestry, at University of Northern BC in the Natural Resources Management Program, and has a Wood Kiln Drying Certificate from University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry: Centre for Advanced Wood Processing.
Also an outdoorsperson, horticulturist, landscaper, and woodworker, he is an avid environmentalist. A dedicated husband and father, he routinely spends his time outside gardening, fishing, foraging, and hiking with his family.
Often volunteering with a few non profit environmental organizations, he has committed to making a difference in his community with political advocacy and utilizing municipal resources for spreading awareness of local environmental sustainability and zero waste principles!
Director of Logistics Mattias Smith, 33, is a former Firefighter, Training Officer, and Fire Captain of the SVRD Seton Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Also a successful small business owner of LakeTown Building (est. 2010) providing custom millwork and building services to property owners, Matt excelled in providing sustainable building methods using local resources, and sold the company in early 2019; to transition into a new role.
He then began his new endeavor as Property Manager of Gibbons Whistler; overseeing a 10 acre estate outside of Whistler, BC. Matt was essential in project management, operations management, logistics, and accounting services.
Having lived in Southern Sweden, he has a strong understanding of European/Scandinavian building design, and incorporates such into his millwork and building projects. Responsible for the construction of a 12,000sqft French Norman Castle in Beverly Hills, he is no stranger to construction, carpentry, and contracting services.
Matt grew up on Quadra Island doing eco tours for Kayakers. Always a fan of the ocean and living on a 70 foot topsail schooner, he used to work in his dad’s boat yards as a shipwright, and spent his free time beachcombing for timbers and drift logs. He enjoys gardening, fishing, and woodworking, but you’ll never find him without his dogs!
A true “mountain man”, Matt is never one to shy away from an opportunity or challenge, and routinely proves himself as an independent and resourceful person. He has committed himself to TreeCycle’s mission to recover as much Carbon from traditional waste streams as possible, and help establish an innovative and carbon negative solution to Urban Wood Waste.
Director of Logistics Austin Jeng, 32, studied Computer Science at Langara College from 2008 to 2010. Former Owner/Operator of Parabine Industries, he has also worked with FedEx Ground Ltd overseeing dispatch, warehouse and contractual operations as an Operations Manager; and continues to be a dynamic and resourceful member of our team.
Originally starting with FedEx Ground in 2016 as a package handler, throughout the years Austin has learned multiple aspects of operations logistics; including working as a Customs Associate with various federal and local agencies to expedite international clearance of packages, managing domestic warehouse operations and logistics, and creating/executing Quality Driven Management plans for efficient workflows.
Austin enjoys photography in his free time and often seeks adventures or meeting new people on the weekend to express his creativity. He worked as a Media Editor/Content Creator for Mountain West Studios from 2012-2015. Photography is a way to clear his mind and think beyond everyday constraints. Also an outdoor sports enthusiast, we’ve known Austin since 2010 and continue to recreate responsibly within our beloved outdoors!