LEADERSHIP
Dustin Feider
Designer and builder Dustin Feider started O2Treehouse with the intention to inspire people to reconsider how we can more harmlessly co-exist with nature. O2Treehouse was born in 2005 when Dustin Feider built his first geodesic structure 50 feet up in a Poplar tree in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Dustin’s treehouse designs have received national and international recognition in the design community, appearing in over 100 design publications and television shows around the world, most notably Popular Mechanics, Dwell and Wired Magazine. Most recently, he was featured on NBC Nightly News with Lestor Holt.
Jon Paul Chapman
JP has been building treehouses with O2 since 2009 and is O2 Treehouse’s lead foreman. His skills range from mechanical HVAC, traditional framing, rigging and large scale tensegrity structures. After moving west in 2007 from NM, Chapman began work with Bamboo DNA and quickly expanded his network amongst the greater festival production community throughout the west coast. JP moonlights as a lead foreman for the premier festival production company Do Lab and is a cherished member of the CA alt community.
When it comes to getting it done on time, with limited resources, JP will always be top pick; he is the O2T McGuyver.
Niko Kush
Niko started with O2 Treehouse in 2017 working on whatever projects he could and although he was a bit fresh to building his curiosity and clear intent to learn brought him up to speed quickly. Niko’s calm cool, collected demeanor and friendly style makes him a custodian of good vibes and always fun to have on the crew. Kush’s thirst for new experience has him traveling and building abroad and developing prototypes for an additive-manufacturing modular home.
Niko manages marketing for O2T and is also a lead developer of Treewalkers.
DESIGNERS
Luke Wilson
Luke grew up deep in the woods of Sonoma County, climbing trees and romping barefoot since he could walk. With a background in sculpture and construction, Luke recently completed a Master of Architecture at Cal before starting as a designer at O2 Treehouse.
His in-depth understanding of construction and fabrication, balanced by his artistic background, give him an edge in the abstract, yet heavily utilitarian world of custom treehouses. His particular excitement and sensibility for the elegance of refined production and installation workflows will come in handy as we launch our expansive Treewalkers network. On the side, he brews tanks of hard cider, runs a burning man theme camp, and manages the land where he lives out near Tomales Bay.
John Briscella
John Briscella is an industrial, architectural, and urban designer based in NYC. With a focus on 3D-modeling, large-scale public art, and emerging technology, Briscella creates innovative experiences for virtual and physical worlds.
Briscella started at O2 Treehouse in early 2023 and is currently a designer and engineer.
CREW MEMBERS
Hadley Clarke
Professional tree hugger, creative charmer, life lover, plant enthusiast and absolute construction crusher. Hadley would rather spend most days in the canopy of a Redwood tree, but she stays grounded by dream creations for people in search of a more meaningful relationship with nature. She has a New Mexico heart, a California state of mind, and is living the Peter Pan dream.
OFFICE TEAM
Heather Feider
A pinch-hitter for O2 Treehouse for years, Heather finally joined the team full-time in 2018. The resident jill of all trades, Heather’s role has quickly become crucial to smooth day to day operation as she floats between business management, project management, marketing and outreach, event planning, and everything in between. Her positive attitude, organization, quick thinking and creativity are a boon to the helm of the team.
With a background in general management, a penchant for planning, and a passion for nature and sustainability, she is happy as a gnome to be a part of the O2 Treehouse family.
Angela Torres
A passionate certified bookkeeper and tax preparer, Angela loves to work side by side with business owners. She graduated in 2021 from Empire College with a Certificate in Accounting with Entrepreneurship Emphasis and is a passionate mom-trepreneur with a hard work ethic. As a small business owner herself, she has a heart for looking after fellow entrepreneurs.
With her contagious laughter and ability to make every situation hilarious, Angela helps make the day-to-day stresses of running O2 Treehouse a little bit easier by providing bookkeeping, payroll, admin support, and tax preparation.
ADDITIONAL CREW
Brian Capobianchi
Builder, musician, photographer, Brian joined O2T in 2017 soon after completing works with world renowned human-nest builder Jayson Fann. Brian’s hard work ethic, his empathic ability, and prolific creative output in various media keeps the O2 Treehouse crew humbled and inspired.
Under the musical moniker Driftr, Brian spearheads the recent musician collaboration “The Pinecone Series” a candid musical performance in the O2 Treehouse Pinecone Treehouse featuring guest talents from around the nation. You’ll likely find Capobianchi casting sultry rat pack style notes, plucking blue grass on his ukulele or skillfully weaving words at venues around Santa Cruz.
Forrest Kelly
Forrest has over 15 years professional experience as an arborist and treehouse builder. His diverse skill set has taken him the world over facilitating workshops in tree climbing and yoga. His early passion for the outdoors and environmental stewardship connected him with a thriving local counter culture in Asheville, NC. His good nature and keen wit quickly expanded his network coast to coast and to Central America. Kelly's skill as a beat boxer brought him recognition as a member of the group Rising Appalachia.
Kelly currently stewards his two land projects in Barnardsville, North Carolina where he runs an arborist business and lives in his new geodesic sphere treehouse. Forrest has worked with O2 Treehouse since 2012 as an east coast project lead.
Adam O’Brien
Since starting at O2 in July of 2022, Adam has been a jack of all trades, managing multiple parts of O2 Treehouse operations. With his background in finish carpentry and wood working, he thrives in the O2 Team and is the shops go-to for keeping things running smoothly.
O’Brien currently operates as Shop Manager, working one-on-one with the Pre-Fabrication team to make sure each part of the O2’s final treehouse is as mind-blowing as always.
Giavaninia Pardue
Welder, Blacksmith, future sword-making legend, Gia started at O2 Treehouse in June of 2023 and from the jump was working hard and creating incredible pieces. Within her first week on site, Gia showed impeccable craftmanship and an instant connection to the rest of the O2 Team.
Pardue currently operates as Metal Fabricator and Welder at O2 Treehouse, and in her free time hopes to blacksmith swords(!) and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited about it.
Kurt Brenner
Kurt started at O2 Treehouse in July of 2022, working on anything and everything within the shop. Brenner truly is a renaissance man, coming from a background as a chef before starting his career in plumbing and heating, carpentry, and welding. He’s traveled from coast to coast and has an incredible story for each step of the way.
Brenner currently operates as Carpenter on the O2 Treehouse Pre-Fab Team. Though he refused to have his picture included in his profile, trust that Brenner can make the whole team laugh and still manage to put incredible work into his creations.