About
About Ernst and Katie
OBX Tree Doc is a family owned and run tree company on the Outer Banks, focused on holistic tree health care.
Ernst and Katie are the owners of OBX Tree Doc, and they'll work with you through every step of the tree care process, with excellent customer service and a quality finished product.
The owners
A family company
Ernst and Katie moved back to the Outer Banks, Katie's hometown, to start the company in 2019, to raise their children by the ocean and be closer to family. Katie runs the business, and she's probably who you'll speak to when you call.
The aim is simple: help trees grow healthy, give excellent service, and meet every safety rule. We also plant native trees on the Outer Banks every Arbor Day.
ISA Certified Arborist
Ernst Greive
Ernst is an ISA Certified Arborist, certification SO-10542A, and holds the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. He is also a certified safety climber.
As a kid he learned to tie knots and to respect nature from his dad in the Boy Scouts, and went on to become an Eagle Scout. He has always liked hard, physical, outdoor work: he was a white water rafting guide on the Arkansas River in Colorado and a lead safety climber on industrial wind turbines around the world, including in Australia. In between, he did tree work for friends' companies.
He keeps studying. After work you'll usually find him reading a textbook for his next certification.
Runs the business
Katie Morgan
Raised on the Outer Banks, she earned her pilot's license at 17, inspired by the Wright brothers, and attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University before returning to school and spending nearly a decade in dental hygiene. After meeting Ernst and traveling together, they returned to the beach to raise their family and build OBX Tree Doc. As her "baby," OBX Tree Doc is a true passion, and she takes pride in providing exceptional customer service, guiding clients through every step of the tree care process with knowledge, dedication, and attention to detail
Spec sheet
Certifications
- 01ISA Certified ArboristErnst, certification SO-10542A. Check it on ISA's public directory.
- 02ISA Tree Risk Assessment QualificationErnst
- 03SPRAT certified safety climber
- 04Certified pesticide application
- 05FAA certified drone pilot
- 06Fully insured
Our equipment
Our own gear
Having our own gear means we don't wait on rentals, and the right machine keeps your yard in good shape.
- Vermeer BC1800 and Vermeer AX19 chippers
- Ford F600 and Isuzu NRR chipper trucks
- Teupen TC89 AJ Plus spider lift, 89 feet
- Vermeer SC48TX stump grinder
- Two Avant 528 compact loaders with grapples
- Dump trailers and pickup trucks for hauling
- BIK TC-104 grapple saw crane truck (arrives January 2027)
Free quote
Ask for a free quote
Tell us about the trees and we'll get back to you, usually within two business days. Tree on your house, car or a power line? Call 252-305-1966, emergency calls answered 24 hours a day.