B. Haney & Sons Tree Service has joined the Davey family of brands. B. Haney provides residential and commercial tree care, plant health care and wood waste recycling services at its Lombard, Illinois, office. The firm has 12 employees who will continue with Davey in the operation, which will become the Davey Lombard Residential/ Commercial (R/C) services office. Geoff Cowan, operations manager, Davey South Chicago R/C operating group, said B. Haney & Sons brings additional resources to serve existing clients of Davey’s several Chicago area offices. Former owner David Haney will serve as district manager of the new Davey Lombard office.

“Clients of Davey and B. Haney will benefit from the expanded service capabilities they offer. The technical knowledge, equipment, facilities and rich arboricultural history of B. Haney are a great complement to our existing offices here.” Geoff Cowan, operations manager, Davey South Chicago R/C operating group

The Davey Tree Expert Company was awarded three 2017 Professional Communications Awards from the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). More than 20 years old, this program honors marketing and communication excellence within the tree care industry. Davey won two first-place awards, and a third-place in three separate categories: flyer/ad/postcard, digital/social media and website. The Economic Benefits of Trees bookmark was awarded first place in the flyer/ad/postcard category. The bookmark embraces awareness of trees by illustrating 10 ways trees give back to us economically, and was handed out to attendees at several different conferences. Davey’s Mannequin Challenge video took the first-place award in the digital/social media category. The video joined in on a fun, current social media trend and celebrated the more than 50 employees who took part in the 2017 Davey Institute of Tree Sciences (D.I.T.S.) intensive month-long training program. The Davey Blog was awarded third place in the website category. The blog is a digital library of educational content answering real questions with clear advice and tips from professional arborists.

“The TCIA Communication Awards are an exciting opportunity to showcase some of the work our team is most proud of, and we are grateful to receive these awards. Beginning the year with this recognition within the industry gives us a great start to create more fun and effective communication pieces in 2018.” Sandra Reid, vice president, Davey corporate communications and strategic planning administration

 

A small group of Davey employees work behind the scenes to keep the equipment of crews in all four service lines running smoothly and safely. The employees of Davey Fleet Services rebuild chainsaws, service chippers, change truck oil, conduct inspections and more.  Fleet Services employees work out of shops across the continent. That includes eight roving mechanics, whose duty is to respond when a piece of Davey equipment needs service out in the field.  Aside from standard maintenance, mobile mechanics provide a variety of services, including OSHA and DOT inspections and aerial unit inspections. Fixed shop locations are adept at routine maintenance on equipment. In general, the shops are staffed and outfitted to perform all types of repairs on Davey trucks, chippers, trailers, handheld equipment and more to serve operations crews. Many Davey competitors don’t operate in-house shops and instead take all their equipment to external repair facilities, Milano said. Fleet Services tracks total annual labor sales, which are dollars generated by Davey shops by repairing Davey equipment. “The more dollars we generate in Fleet Services, the more dollars we keep within Davey rather than spending that money at outside repair facilities,” Milano said.

“Our shops are service oriented with the goal of getting equipment back on the road for our employees.  It’s important that we help the service lines avoid down time. We work to be an added value to our field operations, to the point that they trust our shops as a place to take their vehicles and machines for service and repairs.” Paul Milano, director of fleet operations

Trees are treasured creatures for all ages, but there is something special about the view of trees through children’s eyes. The Kent State Child Development Center expressed an interest in adding a tree near the playground area for the children to read under, play around and learn about, and Davey jumped on the opportunity to provide the gift of a tree to local children. After donating a large red maple and handling the planting and mulching, Davey received the following sweet note from the students along with a photo and painting. “This is Ari. She noticed the new tree by the playground and spent her entire time outside playing around it. She and her classmates were thinking of some ideas about the tree. They think it will get leaves in the summer. They think it will grow really big. They thought they should name it. They circled around it and sang happy birthday to it. They thought it would be great to make decorations and put on it.”

Dominion Tree Service in Windsor, Ontario, and Mountain Maple Garden & Tree Service, in Vancouver, British Columbia, joined Davey Tree Expert Company of Canada, Limited, the largest tree care company in Canada. Dominion provides residential and commercial tree care services, operating out of its office in Windsor, On.  Dominion, which has been in business for more than 25 years, has approximately a dozen employees, all of which remained with Davey. The owner, Robert Laliberty, is also staying on as a Production Manager in the new Davey Windsor office. Dominion clients will be exposed to more service offerings, including Davey’s wide range of plant health care options. Current Davey employee Alexandria Buchanan will be the new district manager for Davey Tree Windsor. In Western Canada, Mountain Maple, an urban forestry and arboricultural consulting firm based in Vancouver, will be adding a handful of arborists to the Davey Resource Group consulting team. Mountain Maple brings experience and expertise in construction and development to Davey clients, and Davey brings expanded services to existing Mountain Maple clients. The acquisition expands Davey’s consulting services into Western Canada.

“We will continue to focus on high-quality companies with customer demographics that are similar to our own, within markets where we want to grow density. Our intent is always to pick up talented, safety-conscious employees determined to provide a high level of customer service.” Mike Nash, Vice President and General Manager, Davey Tree

Longtime Davey client Johnson & Johnson presented details of its new sustainability goals during an Earth Day event at their Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, campus. Jason Parker, district manager of Davey’s North Philadelphia R/C office, was invited to attend the event. Johnson & Johnson is working to make the campus 80 percent sustainable by 2020 and 100 percent by 2050. To meet this goal, the client installed a solar array and storm water management system on site, which has created some unique landscape maintenance challenges for Davey. Davey crews regularly apply turf growth regulator around the solar array to minimize mowing requirements and prevent damage to the arrays, which are expensive to replace if accidentally damaged. The crews must keep wildflowers—seeded as part of a storm water management system—out of the turf. Davey also prioritizes protecting the health of the 80-plus ash trees at the site against the emerald ash borer. Strict local regulations require inch-for-inch tree replacement for removed trees, which could result in a large expense should the trees require removal. For example, if a 30-inch tree was removed, enough new trees would need to be planted to equal the removed 30-inch tree. In addition to answering questions about the trees on Johnson & Johnson’s campus, Parker answered employees’ questions about how to protect their own trees.

Three Davey employees stopped a small wildfire from spreading in the Hat Creek area of Shasta County, California—located in high-risk Northern California. In 2017, the region recorded six wildfires that destroyed more than 40,000 acres in 2017. While volunteering for a Saturday shift, the crew spotted the brush fire on the side of the highway encircling a large pine tree. After calling Cal Fire and 911, the crew grabbed the basic firefighting tools equipped on Davey trucks—a shovel, a spade with a 4-foot handle, a 5-gallon water backpack sprayer, a fire extinguisher and a McLeod tool—and set to work. Foreman Jose Vargas and climbers Tony Aitkin and Christopher McCarley cut a fire line to prevent the fire from spreading, knocked the flames down using the sprayer, and then monitored the fire until local firefighters arrived. Davey’s regional safety managers conduct regular fire safety refresher courses with crews for these exact scenarios—the crew did a fantastic job! “Davey crews aren’t firemen, but they know enough that if an incident happened in the field, they have the equipment to take care of themselves and suppress a small fire.” Dave Handt, regional safety manager

The Davey Tree Expert Co. announced the acquisition of certain assets of LMS, Inc., (Landscape Management Services), a commercial landscape management company based in Houston, Texas. The company provides landscape and irrigation maintenance and new construction services to more than 60 commercial properties in the greater Houston area. The majority of the 60-person LMS team will remain on staff, and the owner, Jeff Corcorran, will remain for a few months to help make a smooth transition. Corcorran said he was drawn to Davey because of its sterling reputation and opportunities for his employees. He said he wanted to assure his clients that reliable and exceptional service will still be provided with the additional benefit of Davey’s more comprehensive offerings. Corcorran explained that he was impressed to hear that Davey was an employee-owned company and appreciated the choices that structure gave to LMS employees.

“LMS brings a talented team of professionals, and we are excited to welcome them to the Davey family. Like Davey Tree, LMS provides excellent landscape care while concentrating on the client experience and quality control. Now, we can focus on sharing our mission with the greater Houston area – together.” Dan Joy, executive vice president and general manager of commercial landscape services and operations support services

While helping Refuge of Hope Ministries in Canton, Ohio, clear a lot for their expansion project, a crew from the Canton R/C office found a large honey bee nest in one of the trees. “We run into hornet and yellow jackets nests in the field, but it’s not often we encounter honey bees,” said Jeffrey Wernet, district manager. Crew members Steve Barchalk, foreman, Mike Ellis, foreman, and Jeremy Baker, trimmer, felled one of the last remaining trees on the lot. That’s when they discovered a honey bee nest about 14 to 15 feet up inside the tree. Barchalk called Mueller Honey Bee Rescue, a local beekeeper, to see if they wanted to keep the bees and they did, Wernet said. The crew cut the portion of the log containing the nest and helped load it on a trailer. The nest was removed from the tree and is now living inside a beehive. On the last warm day of 2018, the bees were still alive, and Mueller Honey Bee Rescue anticipates they will make it to spring. “With all of this talk over the last couple of years about the honey bee populations declining, nobody wants to see a hive die out. I’m glad our crew had the mindset to do something to preserve the hive.” Jeff Wernet, district manager, Canton R/C office    

The Davey Institute provides employees opportunities to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to maintain their International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist® accreditation through online courses. The Davey Institute website for education and training allows employees to access a variety of extension lessons on subjects such as tree care and lawn care. All tree-related lessons have been approved for ISA re-certification credits, and many states have approved Davey’s courses for state pesticide applicator CEU credits. Providing continuing education opportunities and resources to our employees is just one way we foster personal and professional development and create pathways for growth and career advancement at Davey.

We’ve built our business on valuing the natural capital of trees, plant life, and animal habitats created for our homes and communities. In our work and in our research, evidence of a changing climate is mounting. Moving to combat these changes is not only something we see as a capability, but a responsibility. We would like to highlight just a couple items we have implemented to fulfill our commitment to sustainability. In 2017, we began a fleet management system to help reduce our emissions by 35% per labor hour by 2023. And this year, we have also taken steps to eliminate our plastic bag usage by switching to renewable replacements, such as our paper door hangers. These doorhangers were specially designed to withstand the elements and can be recycled, unlike their plastic bag counterparts. We are proud to be able to find solutions within our business that align with our values and commitment to the environment. Corporate responsibility has been rooted in our culture for over 140 years. We’ll continue to hold ourselves accountable for managing and mitigating our impacts on the environment we love.

In a city full of concrete and casinos, the people and city of Las Vegas turned their energies to creating a community healing garden, as a memorial to those who lost their lives in a tragic mass shooting in October. Matt Haro, district manager of the Las Vegas Residential/Commercial office, and a crew from his office volunteered for the following two days at the memorial garden doing anything that was needed. The vision of the garden was for 59 trees to be planted, one for each individual who lost their life that tragic evening at a concert on the Las Vegas Strip. The trees line a winding path through the garden, and at the heart of it is a grand oak tree surrounded by a heart-shaped bench. Also, in the garden is a wall of remembrance for visitors to leave a note. The garden was completed in 48 hours. After all the trees were planted, Haro sent a spray technician to the site to fertilize the trees and help them get off to a healthy start. In addition to the work on the Healing Garden, the Davey Company donated to a fund, which directly supported funeral costs of those who lost their lives in the Las Vegas tragedy and health care expenses for those who were severely injured.

“It was pretty amazing to see the way the Las Vegas community came together during this time. Whether it was volunteering to work on the garden, repeatedly standing in long lines to donate blood, or donating money, everyone wanted to help, including our entire office.” Matt Haro, district manager, Las Vegas R/C office

Dan Defelice, a UVM specialist, San Diego Gas & Electric account, Davey Resource Group, was traveling to the office when he noticed a fire with billowing smoke on the side of the highway. Defelice speedily dialed 911, only to hear a blaring busy signal. Knowing he had a backpack-style fire pump, Defelice sprang into action and put his fire training to use. He knew the fire was still small enough that he could work to put it out safely. Defelice hoped he could stop it from spreading. Instead, he put the fire out from a safe distance within a few minutes. “You can always do something to help. Just stay calm, step up and do what you gotta do.”  Dan Defelice, UVM specialist, San Diego Gas & Electric account, Davey Resource Group

In May 2017, Davey acquired 170 acres of land across the street from our corporate headquarters in Kent, Ohio. The abundance of trees and green space, diverse topography and proximity to our current corporate offices provides Davey ample opportunity for capability and facility expansion. Known as the Davey East Campus, the property could also include additional office space for our corporate functions. The property offers a variety of areas for showcasing many of Davey’s diverse services, such as wetland management around the Cuyahoga River, golf course maintenance expertise or our core tree services. Davey has a long history of research and training in the Kent area, and this property will allow our integrated teams of plant, soil and insect scientists, computer specialists and horticulture and arboriculture researchers to work together in state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor laboratories. “I think we have to be thoughtful about where we continue to grow. There’s tremendous opportunities to continue to grow, but we want to make sure we do it in a strategic way.” Pat Covey, president and chief executive officer

It’s only polite to say thank you when receiving a gift! This Arbor Day, DRG employees in Missouri showed gratitude to trees by participating in several events throughout the surrounding Twin Oak community. From planting, climbing and pruning, to engaging students and professionals in a variety of arboricultural processes, Missouri DRG embraced the importance of Arbor Day. To get a wholesome education during Arbor Day, local students spent a school day in a different classroom: nature’s classroom. Throughout each activity, Missouri DRG employees shared their knowledge of tree care with participating students. Applying this knowledge outside of the classroom created an impactful Arbor Day experience for each student. During the Arbor Day festivities for professionals, DRG employees educated attendees on how to use TreeKeeper8 inventory software effectively and highlighted helpful features. This was an opportunity to train partners on ways to develop proactive maintenance plans and demonstrate promoting tree benefits to the public. By engaging several different groups in their local community, Missouri DRG employees were able to make an unforgettable impact for Arbor Day 2018.

Tallahassee, Florida, celebrated the state’s Arbor Day this year by planting 185 trees throughout Apalachee Regional Park. More than 100 volunteers stepped out to reconnect with nature and give back to their community with the gift of trees. After the trees were planted, six Wolf Tree, Inc., a Davey company, employees tended to the trees by properly mulching each tree. The Wolf Tree employees, George Trice, Jeff Teehee, Harold Robison, John Conley and Ronnie Ruth came out to the park on a cold and rainy Saturday to make sure the community would have these trees to enjoy for many years to come – now that’s tree love!

Dan Herms, vice president of research and development for Davey, spoke about climate change and its impact on arboriculture at multiple conferences in 2018. In an interview with the Davey Bulletin, Herms shared his knowledge of climate change and how it affects Davey’s clients. Weather and climate are differentiated by the measurements of time, climate is long-term, and weather varies daily. In a little over 100 years, the average temperature has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit. This may not seem like much, but since the 80s, Earth has started warming faster than it has since the end of the last ice age almost 12,000 years ago. There are no naturally occurring phenomena that could be causing the climate changes we are witnessing. Almost all scientists agree that this warming is caused by an accumulation of greenhouse gases (CO₂) in the atmosphere. For Davey clients, the warmer temperatures are contributing to pest problems, higher stress in trees and higher intensity of storms threatening trees, and the environment they live in. In other areas, tree growth is increasing because of increased precipitation and a longer growing season.  With proper species selection and tree health care practices, trees can help mitigate climate change by decreasing energy use and sequestering carbon.

FirstEnergy, one of our valued clients, hosted a Family Safety Day at their complex in Fairlawn, Ohio, to educate employees families on the importance of safety. While the event was focused on safety, it was also chock full of good old-fashioned fun. Sharing a mutual commitment to safety, we eagerly accepted when asked to participate in the event. Additionally, Davey sponsored a woodcarving demonstration at the event, using wood waste from our operations to create a lasting piece of art. A local woodcarver, Bob Anderson, shaped the block of wood into a bear with a welcome sign, which was given away as a door prize at the event. To emphasize the event’s safety focus, Anderson worked behind safety barriers while wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). Two Davey employees, Lee Jordan, area manager, Utility Services and Shane Adams, general foreman, FirstEnergy account, were on hand to help answer safety questions during the demonstration. The entire process took about two hours to complete and resulted in a unique, one-of-a-kind piece for a lucky family.

This March, approximately 100 young women from Portage County middle schools spent a day exploring opportunities in science, technology, engineering & math careers. Davey sponsored and was involved in the planning of the American Heart Association’s 2020 STEM Goes Red for Girls event. Alyssa McQuillen, search marketing specialist for Davey, sat on a panel of local women talking about their different pathways to successful STEM careers. The girls also heard about STEM internships held by high school students from Bio-Med and participated in stations that featured hands-on STEM-based activities.

“STEM Goes Red for Girls aims to empower young girls to also take charge – of their health, of their passions, and of their future professions in a fun and interactive way. Some of them may end up being surgeons or neuroscientists and may make the very breakthroughs the AHA is currently working to find; but all of them will leave this event knowing that they have the power to pursue their passions.” Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration

To honor both trees and veterans, Davey Resource Group (DRG) helped plant half a dozen trees this Arbor Day in Fall River, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation worked alongside DRG employees to replace windstorm damaged trees with a resistant variety of American elm trees. Fall River Street Tree Planting Program (FRSTPP) organized the event and invited Andy Hillman, regional business developer for DRG, and Liz McKinley, associate consultant for DRG, to demonstrate proper planting and mulching procedures. The mayor of Fall River dedicated the trees to Fall River veterans who were killed in the Gulf War and Mary Ann Wordell, the founder and president of the FRSTPP.

“We’ve done this planting in Fall River since 2011. We even transplanted a giant sequoia tree one year for Arbor Day.” Andy Hillman, regional business developer, DRG

The Davey Tree Expert Company proudly pledged a $250,000 educational endowment fund through TREE Fund. The Davey Fund supports community-based arboricultural education in the United States. Davey Tree has a history of supporting TREE Fund’s dedication to furthering scientific discovery and research in the field of arboriculture and has given more than $500,000 in donations and in-kind gifts over the last 15 years. TREE Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry. Its primary public outreach and fundraising event is the green industry renowned Tour des Trees, an annual weeklong, 500+ mile cycling adventure. Since 1992 Tour riders have cycled through communities in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., planting trees, educating children and shining a light on the work done by arboriculture professionals and the importance of science-based tree care. Davey’s pledge of $250,000 over five years will be allocated directly to the funding of scientific research on urban tree care issues and community-based education.

“As the Davey Company continues to evolve and grow, it’s increasingly important that we invest in research that will advance not only our company, but the industry that we are so proud to be part of. With the establishment of the Davey Fund, we strengthen our long-time commitment to TREE Fund and its mission to support arboricultural research. This endowment fund is a reflection of our employee-owners’ dedication to continued education and the advancement of arboriculture throughout our industry.” Pat Covey, president and CEO of Davey Tree

With nearly 10,000 vehicles spread across the continent, managing Davey’s vehicle fleet is complex. In 2016, we began piloting a new tool in utility vehicles to streamline our mobile resource management—the Davey Fleet Solutions program. A suite of Telogis integrated mobile applications, the Fleet Solutions program provides employees a simple, yet comprehensive solution to fleet management. Through tablets installed in each truck cab, employees can access training videos, digital inspection and job briefing forms, electronic safety tailgate documents and other materials. In addition, drivers can fill out digital vehicle inspection reports, take photographs and submit all the information instantly to a central database. Real-time tracking of non-productive idling, start times and time on site supports efficient asset deployment. Data also supports driver safety—tracking driver habits through a mobile interface that reports on driver performance. The interface also rates drivers against their peers, encouraging improved driving through friendly competition. Top drivers in the program are also rewarded for earning high marks. So far, we have expanded the Davey Fleet Solutions program to more than 500 vehicles—approximately 10 percent of our Utility fleet. “We’re able to pull utilization rates daily—that’s a real benefit. When we see a truck sitting idle or at 30 percent utilization, we’re able to transfer it to another client or region right away.” Laura Wimer, director of client experience, Eastern Utility

A 50-foot live oak tree cruised through downtown Austin, Texas, thanks to careful tree moving services by Environmental Design, Inc., a Davey affiliate. The oak became a part of downtown traffic, but the tree had the road all to itself for roughly three hours as it traveled from the Texas state capital complex grounds to a new location in nearby Waterloo Park. Jon Hillis, regional vice president, EDI, said they shut down the roadways early on a weekend so the tree, complete with police escort, could be transplanted to the park. In all, it only took about five hours. What did take long was planning for the gigantic move. The Texas facilities commission, Waterloo Park, city of Austin and Waller Creek Conservancy all worked together with EDI to move the tree to make way for construction of a new pedestrian corridor on the state complex grounds. Waterloo Park is being renovated by the conservancy. EDI, which has a strategic alliance with Davey to provide tree transplanting resources, pruned the tree to make sure it would clear the high-rise buildings. Austin Energy provided several bucket trucks so crews could temporarily remove or relocate streetlight signals to make way for the tree.

“The city determined this tree is termed a heritage-size tree, which is qualified as any tree over 24 inches in trunk diameter. Some of the ordinances mandate that you either work around the tree by designing around it, or you must move it. This tree was chosen because it was one of the largest trees on site.” Jon Hillis, regional vice president, Environmental Design, Inc.

Each day, our teams at the Davey Resource Group (DRG) and Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) assist clients with planning and managing their landscapes. From wetland restoration to endangered species consulting, our scientists, foresters and planners work tirelessly to protect our clients’ natural resources. In 2017, DRG and WSSI added several drones to their equipment fleets, providing Davey technicians another tool to help deliver unmatched services. Equipped with drones, Davey’s certified drone pilots can offer a variety of aerial inspection services to our clients, such as:

• Providing images for inspection of utility rights-of-way clearances
• Imaging for GIS mapping
• Wetland inspection
• Tree canopy control work

Historically, technicians have often relied on lower-quality satellite imagery for many of these applications. The high-resolution cameras on our drones offer improved aerial imagery, as well as videography capabilities. The drones also enable Davey to correct image distortion, providing more detailed, spatially correct topographical sitemaps and taking our mapping services to new heights. “Our main goal is to continue providing our clients with innovative solutions that meet their needs and exceed the quality they expect.” Deborah Sheeler, production manager, Davey Resource Group

This year, we established a bold goal to reduce our global fleet fuel consumption by 35% per labor hour by 2023 from a 2017 baseline. Since 95 percent of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprint comes from our corporate fleet, achieving this goal requires innovative equipment. In 2017, the Davey Institute and equipment department partnered with Husqvarna to pilot lithium-ion battery-powered equipment, such as tree trimmers and leaf blowers. Testing the equipment with our residential and commercial business segments, we found that this equipment performs on par with, or better than, gas-powered equipment. Furthermore, this equipment is substantially quieter and physically less straining on our employees’ arms and hands. Due to the pilot’s success, the Davey Institute endorsed the battery-powered tools for all offices to consider when replacing older equipment. Two offices in Northeast Ohio have already switched exclusively to battery-powered equipment, and we will continue to promote battery-powered equipment throughout our operations in 2018. “The battery-powered equipment is not only quieter, protecting our employees’ hearing and providing a quieter neighborhood around job sites, it also lowers the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Compared with gas-powered chainsaws, vibrations in the battery-powered equipment are almost nonexistent.” Mike Veney, manager of environmental programs

For a nonprofit organization like Hiram Farm, clearing hazardous trees can be costly and dangerous. But thanks to a long day of volunteer hours from Davey’s East Cleveland residential and commercial office crew, several ash trees and overgrown bushes were trimmed or removed from the property of the rural northeast Ohio program that employs individuals with developmental disabilities in a farm setting. Crew members Wendell Crumley, Brian Blozie and Alex Simon participated.

“It’s nice to be able to help a local organization that is giving back to the community. The people working the farm were so thankful. They gave us a card which we hung in our shop.” Tedd Bartlett, district manager

Davey employees from various Residential/Commercial offices in Texas gathered in San Antonio for the 2019 Texas Soil Care Workshop. Topics included assessing soil compaction and organic matter content, as well as applying compost and Biochar® to soils. Hands-on workshops included using hydraulic soil injections, vertical mulching, soil renovations and topdressing using air tools. The Texas workshop was part of a series of soil care seminars conducted by the Davey Institute in Detroit, Toronto, Boston, Kent, Atlanta, Greensboro, and Livermore.

Specialized training and research in the field of arboriculture are at the center of plans for developing a 174-acre former golf course into the new Davey East Campus. A six-month master planning process, guided by the SmithGroup integrated design firm in collaboration with TC Architects, wrapped up in November with participation from Davey executive leaders and a steering committee representing all company service lines and operations. Greg Ina, executive vice president, Davey Institute and employee development, said the planning process deliberately involved multiple levels of company management in identifying best uses for the site, which Davey acquired in May 2017. Some of the planned facilities include a training center with associated offices totaling more than 25,000 square feet, an indoor climbing center of 10,700 square feet and 18 spans of non-energized right-of-way. Research facilities include more than 7,000 square feet of laboratories and greenhouses, a container nursery, and multiple research plots and fields. Davey President and CEO Pat Covey said the training, education and research commitment Davey is making with the East Campus will reinforce and build upon our long history of investing in our employees, clients and the green industry. Dan Herms, vice president of research and development, Davey Institute, said the land has wonderful natural areas that can be used to support training efforts, including a healthy bog, close to1 mile of river frontage, wetlands with rich native plant communities, riparian forests and many mature trees.

 “Our intent is to coordinate the building of this facility with our other business needs over the next five to 10 years and create a facility that our employees, shareholders and community will benefit from.” Pat Covey, President and CEO

The Davey Tree Expert Company was ranked the 9th largest employee-owned company in the U.S., according to a report from the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO). The NCEO 2019 Employee Ownership 100 list showed Davey grew considerably, moving from the 13th largest employee-owned company in 2017 to the 12th largest company in 2018 and, now, ninth on the list. Companies are ranked on the list according to the number of the employees; Davey now employs nearly 10,500 people across North America. The NCEO’s 2019 Employee Ownership 100 list includes the nation’s largest companies that are majority owned by an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) or other, broad-based employee ownership plan. Davey cracked the top 10 of the Employee Ownership 100 while celebrating 40 years of employee ownership in 2019. Davey has been proud to be employee-owned since 1979 when employees successfully bought the company from the family of its founder, John Davey. Collectively, the top 100 employee-owned companies on the 2019 list employ more than 610,000 people.

“The longevity of employee ownership at Davey says there’s a belief in the ownership structure. Employee ownership has allowed us to create a culture that has withstood a lot of economic and business challenges over time. We’ve created a culture through the people we hire and promote, and I like to think that’s because employee ownership fosters hard-working, savvy businesspeople.” Pat Covey, Davey President and CEO

In 2017, we implemented our Electronic Close Call Communicator, making it easier than ever to report and debrief close call incidents and build tools and tactics for prevention. Accessible through a mobile app, the Close Call Communicator creates a company-wide platform for safety communication. Davey employees have reported more than 500 close calls using the new system, tripling the number reported last year. The Close Call Communicator also provides a further mechanism for us to analyze safety trends over time. These data enable us to proactively address potential safety risks to prevent injury or property damage. Building on the Close Call Communicator, we plan to integrate electronic incident reporting with field and motor safety observations into our risk management system. These combined efforts serve to improve the holistic management of safety across our operations. By examining data over time, Davey will see trends and use them to inform preemptive actions that will drive us forward on the Road to Zero. “With hundreds of reported close calls, we can now look at data trends more specifically. Sharing these data across our operations will help our field employees anticipate and manage hazards.” Joe Tommasi, vice president of corporate safety

If you visit the Davey Nursery, you might notice some interesting residents on the property. A flock of Katahdin sheep call the nursery their home. But, why would a nursery need sheep? At the nursery, there are groups of older trees that are difficult to maintain due to holes in the ground, where trees were once dug up for planting, or the trees are simply too large to maneuver equipment around. Rick Hanshaw, branch manager, Davey Nursery, had heard of municipalities using sheep or goats to maintain sloped or challenging areas, so he thought he'd give the sheep a try. Hanshaw said they wanted low maintenance sheep and Katahdin sheep are easy to look after. Four years ago, the nursery started with four Katahdin sheep in a 7-acre space, which now has a permanent fence. This space has a steep valley, which was a challenge to maintain. The nursery would have someone mow it three or four times a year. Now, it’s the sheep’s domain. At this point, Hanshaw said they haven’t had the sheep long enough to see any long-term effects on the trees, but they have seen a cost savings by having them.

“There are a few big benefits to having them. The areas we put them in are the older areas of the nursery where we just mow. They save on labor, wear and tear on the equipment, chemicals, and while they are grazing, we are getting soil in those areas fertilized.” Rick Hanshaw, branch manager, Davey Nursery

Close to 400 Davey employees attended and “graduated” from Factors and Forces training courses in 2018. The training program, implemented in 2018, provides instruction on tree risk assessment. Attendees are taught to determine the risks associated with working in, on or near a tree in a straightforward and efficient manner using terminology printed on custom work gloves. The Factors and Forces gloves, which are only available to employees who attend and pass the course, feature the five factors that can cause strength loss in a tree and the forces that can alter those factors – such as weak branch attachment or decay being impacted by wind or ice, causing a failure. The work gloves are considered the diploma for participants and are awarded upon completion. R.J. Laverne, manager of education and training, Davey Institute, traveled across the U.S. in 2018 to facilitate 11 instructor-led sessions, which typically grouped together employees from multiple Residential/Commercial offices. Sessions were also held for employees in Eastern Utility services and Davey Resource Group. In addition to the 378 graduates of the instructor-led program several more employees completed the digital course available online through the Davey Learning Management System. “I encourage people who attend the program to offer their ideas, criticisms and input. The only way to evolve and improve the program is to continually get the knowledge, insight and experience of people who have that knowledge of climbing, rigging, roping and generally working in trees. That’s why we built the program.” RJ Laverne, manager of education and training, Davey Institute

Multiple Davey operations made history in the nation’s Capital when they relocated three heritage trees in a project that exemplifies the pinnacle of Davey’s accumulated knowledge of tree care. Shortly after Washington, D. C., passed new heritage tree laws, a redevelopment project, City Ridge, brought on Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, and Environmental Design, Inc., a Davey affiliate, to inventory the trees at the former Fannie Mae campus. The new laws required trees of 100 inches or more in circumference to be protected or relocated if endangered by construction. Chris Cowles, senior urban forester, WSSI, and Christopher Fields-Johnson, regional technical advisor, the Davey Institute, worked closely with the design team and the District Department Urban Forestry Office to identify three trees to move: a pin oak, a willow oak and a red oak. The most difficult part? Protecting the trees in an active construction site and ensuring that, once moved, the trees adapted to the new soil mix of on-site clay and new compost (including a mix of Biochar), as well as maintaining an irrigation system through a drought-heavy summer that helped nourish the trimmed roots as they expand into new territory.

“This project is an opportunity to show all of our capabilities working as a team. It makes me proud to be part of this team on some of the biggest arboricultural challenges out there.”  Christopher Fields-Johnson, regional technical advisor, the Davey Institute

Picture this; 70 acres of beach-style adventure camp with rope courses, lakeside trails, and physical fitness activities ranging from swimming and wakeboarding to archery and putt-putt. So cool! But, what’s even better is this adventure wonderland is designed specifically to welcome everyone -- wounded veterans, families of the fallen and adults and children with disabilities or special needs. Camp Grom is a dream that came to life through the fundraising efforts of The Virginia Gentlemen Foundation. The Foundation is a collective group of business owners and individuals with clout in the community who decided to pool their resources to help families affected by disabilities in the Virginia Beach area. Jason Fawcett, regional manager for Elizabeth River Landscape Management, a Davey company, is a member of the Foundation. Elizabeth River Landscape Management, a Davey company, donated about 30 days of work to the initial landscape care for the camp. “All of this is a reminder of what good can come out of something so bad. When we started talking about Camp Grom I knew this was a project that I wanted Elizabeth River to contribute to. The nature of it provided the perfect opportunity for us to step up and contribute our expertise.” Jason Fawcett, regional manager for Elizabeth River Landscape Management, a Davey company

Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company, announced the acquisition of the assets of Land Management Group, Inc., an environmental consulting firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina. Land Management Group provides specialized services in wetlands science, geology, soil science, environmental permitting, marine biology and many other facets of environmental management. The staff at LMG was very excited to join the tradition and client-focused approach embodied by DRG, as well as the technical and business support of Davey, said Christian Preziosi, president and environmental scientist for LMG. Based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Land Management Group consults with clients throughout the Southeast. The company has more than 15 employees, and Preziosi will continue to lead the Land Management Group office as the area manager.

“They are client focused and strive to provide timely solutions to complex environmental challenges. Operating in the southeast U.S. with an emphasis on coastal systems and regulations, the partnership provides Davey Resource Group with an expanded set of services, new geography, strong leadership, and a talented team of scientists.” Karen Wise, division manager, DRG

The Davey Tree Expert Company committed to adopting one of Akron’s most iconic historical landmarks, the Signal Tree. Located in the Summit Metro Parks, the tree is estimated to be more than 350 years old with a rich, local history. This adoption ensures the Signal Tree continues to receive proper arboricultural care for the next five years. Davey’s Akron Residential/Commercial office will provide regular maintenance of the tree in addition to annual assessments of the tree’s health. Davey Tree has a long history of working with the Signal Tree and has been involved in its care for more than 40 years. Among many different theories, the Signal Tree is said to have been a landmark for Native Americans to hold ceremonial gatherings. No one is quite sure of the exact historical significance of the tree, but the three-prong trunk is certainly indicative that its growth pattern was manually shaped by humans. Davey Tree will continue to donate care for the Signal Tree through 2022.

“As a tree care company, we have a special interest and appreciation for large, historical wonders like the Signal Tree. And since the Signal Tree is in a public green space, it’s especially important that we keep it healthy so our community can enjoy its beauty and the benefits of a healthy and beautiful green space for many years to come.”  Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration 

The inaugural session of the Davey Institute of Utility Sciences (D.I.U.S.) convened at the Davey Institute to elevate the knowledge and capabilities of managers working in Utility services. D.I.U.S. is designed specifically to help employees in Utility services learn how best to address the needs of their clients, communities and coworkers. Some aspects of the program included tree biomechanics, work planning, safety, technology implementation, environmental stewardship and social media awareness. Students experienced a variety of hands-on lessons. In a safety exercise, students identified safety hazards or failures on 42 different pieces of equipment. In another lesson, students developed a work plan for a right-of-way. In another, students were called on to demonstrate the company’s hazardous spill procedures. This new program is intended to bring our mid-level management in Utility operations, our general foremen and up, up to speed on what the utility clients we serve see as emerging opportunities for expanding Davey’s service offerings.

 

Davey has sponsored a new Tree Campus Healthcare program, launched by the Arbor Day Foundation. This one-of-a-kind program, made possible through financial support from Davey Tree, aims to transform community health and wellness and ultimately save lives through the health benefits provided by trees, as well as recognize health institutions that make a mission-aligned impact to improve community wellness through tree planting, education, and community engagement. Davey has supported this program because of the natural connectivity between trees and human health and the business connection in the emerging healthcare market. The Tree Campus Healthcare recognition program connects inpatient healthcare facilities of all sizes with local community forestry programs to improve human health outcomes, while improving the extent and condition of community forests. Through Tree Campus Healthcare, thousands of people and hundreds of communities will be touched by the proven health benefits of trees. Facilities in the U.S. delivering inpatient healthcare services are eligible for Tree Campus Healthcare recognition, including hospitals, senior care, and other residential rehabilitation centers. To receive Tree Campus Healthcare Recognition, eligible facilities will conduct planning and activities that fulfill the five program standards. Those standards include: the formation of an advisory committee, development of a tree care plan, participation in a community forestry project, sponsorship of a celebration event or education campaign, and a suggested commitment to financial investment in tree projects, education events and/or community outreach.

"Healthy trees generate so many benefits for both healthcare campuses and the communities they serve. Davey understands this and so do our clients. We support Tree Campus Healthcare because we want trees and natural landscapes to reach their maximum potential so we can all feel the impacts of those benefits.” Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration

For Arbor Day, the sales management team from Davey’s San Diego R/C office helped bring some joy to children staying at Ronald McDonald House. Daniel Kump, district manager, Ian Campbell, assistant district manager, and Matt Kirk, sales arborist, volunteered their time to plant two fruit trees in the house’s edible garden. The kids loved the trees so much that they named one “Lily the Lemon Tree” and the other “Chad the Guava Tree,” Campbell said. “They really loved digging in the dirt, planting them and putting rocks around them from the nearby other gardens to make them look special,” he said. “Lots of smiles and happy faces.” At first, the Davey team hadn’t planned to do aftercare on the tree, but that quickly changed. “Then we saw the reaction of the kids, the joy it brought them and how much ownership they were taking of them,” Campbell said. “They made us want to go the extra step to continue caring for the trees.”

This is why you are safe. The tens of thousands of decisions you make each day at work is all for them – the people you return home to after you clock out. From here on out, that will be easier than ever to remember. This year, Davey rolled out “This is Why I’m Safe” photo frames that can stick to nearly any surface. “These are about making safety personal and putting a face on the issue,” said Tim Walsh, director, corporate safety department. “I have a photo of my niece in mine. Every time I take off my helmet, I see her looking back at me and know I need to make good decisions.” That’s the goal. Every time you make a choice during the day, you’ll see their faces and remember why it’s worth spending the time to do the task the right, safe way.

“Being safe is about making good decisions, whether you’re at work, at home, in your car, anywhere. All of our safety initiatives tie back into helping and reminding every employee why they need to make good, safe decisions all day long.” Tim Walsh, director of corporate safety

Davey has committed to plant one tree for each of our 10,500 employees with the Arbor Day Foundation through a donation to the #TeamTrees global reforestation effort. In 2019 Davey celebrated 40 years of employee ownership. To mark this milestone, the company committed $10,500 to the Arbor Day #TeamTrees campaign. For every $1 donated Arbor Day will plant one tree in forests of high need in California, India and Kenya. The #TeamTrees campaign started when a popular YouTube content creator asked his audience how he should celebrate achieving an audience of 20 million followers, and his audience suggested they plant 20 million trees by 2020. Celebrities and other large organizations followed suit, with donors including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey.

“During a year of celebrations and milestones, it seemed appropriate to honor our employees by planting a tree for each of them” Sandra Reid, vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning administration

Growth and success defined the Davey Company in 2018, as the company surpassed a record-setting $1 billion in annual revenue. Davey President and CEO Pat Covey explained to attendees of the 2019 Davey Shareholders’ Meeting, held at the Davey Institute in May, that all the company’s operations grew their sales to contribute to the historic revenue figure. Vision 20/20, the company’s strategic plan introduced in 2013, originally set a goal of reaching $1 billion in annual revenue by 2020. Davey saw $108 million in annual revenue growth in 2018 to reach $1,024,791,000.

“We reached $1 billion two years earlier than planned.” Pat Covey, Davey President and CEO

Davey, along with the Southern Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the USDA Forest Service, proudly announce the launch of the Shigo Collection Learning Resource Center website. The website, shigo.davey.com, creates a platform for viewing part of Dr. Alex Shigo’s collection and to learn about his legacy. The website features 3-D renditions of Dr. Shigo’s wood collection, dozens of his over 300 publications and personal history and accomplishments.

Many employees at Davey wear different hats during the work day. But for eight Utility accounts in Pennsylvania, the employees there literally wear a different color on their hardhat to represent their strong commitment to safety. Bill Bunker, area manager, Utility services, got together with Jason Henry, area supervisor, Utility services, and Roy Montan, senior regional safety specialist, corporate safety department, and brainstormed a way to emphasize safety for Bunker and Henry’s crews. As a result, they developed a pilot safety program on the FirstEnergy account in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to test their new idea and see if it could be expanded to other crews. Henry said they decided that each week one member of the crew would wear a mesh wrap on their hardhat. The wrap changes the color of their Davey hardhat to a bright, fluorescent green and orange color. So far, the program has performed well. The pilot program’s success means it is now being expanded to several other accounts under Bunker. The program has expanded to the United Electric and Central Electric accounts, along with several other FirstEnergy accounts, and now includes about 140 total Davey employees.

“The idea behind this was to have an extra set of eyes, in addition to the crew foreman, who’s watching out for the entire crew’s safety. They work on the ground and just act as another line of defense for the whole team.” Jason Henry, area supervisor, Utility services

 

Highfield Hall celebrated Arbor Day for the first time in a decade, thanks to the help of Davey. Steven Mercer, a sales arborist at Davey's Cape Cod Residential/Commercial office, helped to coordinate the day of service. Highfield Hall is a restored Cape Cod estate used as center of cultural and community life. Davey employees provided services such as pruning, tree-removal and stump grinding. Mercer recruited local tree companies to join Davey in the day of service, and more than $6,000 worth of tree services were donated to Highfield Hall. The services were vital to honor the hall’s historic trees and plant the next generation.

“It was a great day made even better by your expert help. We likely would have had to expend several hundred if not thousands of dollars for what you gave as an in-kind contribution. These are dollars saved, which we are able to apply directly to support the programs and services we provide in our community." Peter Franklin, executive director of Highfield Hall

ABS Tree Care of Omaha, Nebraska’s business operations joined with The Davey Tree Expert Co. to offer leading residential and commercial tree care services in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and in Omaha. The company has been accredited with the Tree Care Industry Association for six years. Approximately 10 employees work for ABS, and substantially all will be remaining with the business. ABS Owners Cody Forristall and Josh Kallsen, who handed over leadership of the company to focus on another business, said they chose Davey because of its reputation within the industry, its industry associations, and strong culture of employee ownership and opportunities for growth. ABS clients will benefit from more comprehensive service offerings, including access to the Davey Institute, an industry-leading diagnostic and research facility, Forristall said. The new Davey office is led by Joshua Rongish, who is the district manager of the operation.

 “Both companies have a passion for excellent tree care while concentrating on the client experience. This change will allow us to introduce additional Davey services within the greater Omaha area.” Jim Stief, executive vice president of U.S. residential operations for Davey Tree

In mid-2017, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. (WSSI), a Davey company, hosted a delegation from China at its LEED® certified headquarters to discuss stormwater management. The group comprised of 19 government officials from the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department of Shandong Province. Local government officials from Prince William County, Virginia, approached WSSI to share their experience and expertise in water management. The visitors toured WSSI’s office, which incorporates numerous stormwater management techniques, including a green roof. Next, the group saw several nearby stormwater management project sites in the Gainesville, Virginia, area. During the tours, the Chinese delegation observed various methods of stormwater management, such as stormwater harvesting—the practice of collecting and reusing rain water runoff.

The Utility Arborists Association (UAA) Oklahoma Safety Summit covered topics ranging from gear inspections to customer interactions, emergency responses and other situations. But, the real goal of the summit was giving field personnel the opportunity to discuss these various safety topics amongst peers. Davey’s Tim Walsh, safety manager, corporate safety department, and UAA board of directors’ member, said attendees are intentionally broken up into discussion groups whose participants may include a CEO of a company or a crew leader to aid in a diverse discussion. Davey sent several employees to the summit from the Oklahoma Gas & Electric account, and Walsh was one of the introductory presenters during the summit. He spoke about industry fatality statistics, changes in the OSHA standards and changes in the ANSI Z133 standards. The Davey Tree Surgery Company and the Davey Resource Group served as gold level sponsors of the event.

About 300 Davey employees responded to Hurricane Michael recovery efforts to assist about 100 employees local to the path of the storm. Johnny Page, area manager, Gulf region, Eastern Utility services, sent 65 of his team to Florida and southern Georgia to help Gulf Power, the City of Tallahassee, Florida Public Utilities and Three Notch Electric Cooperative. For about one month, the crews cleared downed trees from power lines in mostly rural areas. With limited access to supplies, the crews ate cold-prepared meals and ledged in military-style tents. One crew worked in Panama City where entire neighborhoods had been flattened by the storm. Commercial Landscape Services responded to two military bases on the panhandle, where Balfour Beatty Communities operates housing for Tyndall Air Force Base and Naval Support Activities Panama City. Blane Pshigoda, vice president of operations, government/projects, said officials were impressed with Davey’s response to the residential side of the base and asked for help on the rest of the base. Tom Freeman, regional manager, government/projects, said work consisted primarily of removing entire trees blown over or snapped in the storm, which were collected and processed for mulch to be used at the base. Farther up the coast in North Carolina, Scott Wyatt, district manager, Greensboro office, said Michael caused enough damage for his crews to be responding to storm-related calls for a month. The entire workload was managed in-house with a crane crew running for about a week.

“At Tyndall, a conservative estimate is that 85 percent of the vegetation is on the ground now. Literally you can see miles of mature pine trees just snapped in half like they were toothpicks.” Tom Freeman, regional manager, government/projects

When you share your passion, you create a spark in someone else. That’s what happened when Joe Pomeisl, sales arborist, New Jersey Residential/Commercial office, began working with Rick Close, who at the time was the office’s district manager. “Rick was like a mentor to me when I started at Davey,” Pomeisl said. “Without him, my passion could have been just climbing – not trees.” Pomeisl keeps in touch with Close, who is now an adjunct instructor at the County College of Morris. This past December, Close asked Pomeisl to present a hands-on training session about tree care safety to the college’s arboriculture students. To illustrate, Pomeisl narrated the process while his coworker Vince Peters, trimmer, demoed the techniques. Together, they shared the proper steps to prepare for climbing – from setting up the job to using the bucket truck and chipper safely. “Both gentlemen represented the Davey Company in an extremely professional manner, were polite, humorous and very accommodating to questions by the students,” Close wrote in a thank you letter. Already, Close and Pomeisl are talking about doing this on a more regular basis. “Doing training and educational sessions like this is beneficial. It shows Davey’s commitment to training and development,” Pomeisl said. Pomeisl acknowledged his successful presentation was  because of Davey’s investment in his education. Since joining Davey, Pomeisl graduated from the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences and became an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist®. Now, Pomeisl wants to share his experience at Davey and showcase potential careers in our industry. “I hope the students learned that it’s okay to work with your hands and make an honest living by a trade,” Pomeisl said. “I used my passion to instill passion in others, and it felt great to teach people about what you love to do.”

“My wife and my kids are everything,” Fred Allison, a senior foreman at Wolf Tree, Inc., a Davey company, said. “They’re why I’m here working. It’s all for them.” Throughout the day, Allison thinks of them often. In fact, each time he looks down at his gloves he sees his wife’s name. “When I look at my gloves and see her name, it reminds me to do it the right, safe way. Then, you can go home to your family and the people that you love at the end of the day,” Allison said. When Michael McCollum had the idea for this new safety initiative, that’s exactly what he was hoping would happen. McCollum had supervisors gather their crews and review the last two safety incidents. Then, each employee got a pair of gloves and wrote the name of their loved ones across them. They were encouraged to think about those names when they’re working and how those people would be affected if anything happened on the job. “A lot of the guys thanked us for taking the time out to do something like this. When you stop production for 30 minutes, it shows how important it is,” McCollum said. “It also shows we care.” Allison agreed. “The company is all about family,” he said. “When I see names on my employees’ gloves, I ask who that is. You get to know the man or woman you’re working with. You can relate to them and their family. It makes me want to do everything right so that they can go home to their family, too.” Allison knows it’s not just about himself at work. It’s about keeping each member of his crew safe as well. When we all look out for each other like family, everyone wins.

The Davey Tree Expert Company announced the acquisition of the assets of Kerr Environmental Services, located in Virginia Beach, VA, by Davey’s subsidiary, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., (WSSI). The work done by Kerr Environmental Services consists of environmental consulting, including wetland and stream delineations and permitting, wetland and stream restoration and mitigation consulting, watershed planning, natural areas management, endangered species consulting, contaminant investigations, and NEPA studies. The owner, Bob Kerr, will remain at the company as Director of Tidewater Operations, as well as his eight employees. Mike Rolband, Chairman of WSSI, said Kerr’s group already has connections to the WSSI team and has worked with Kerr for more than 20 years.

“Furthermore, this sale provides our clients with a deeper and broader capability of services. This also allows us to stay focused on cutting-edge service, high-quality results and value. Finally, not only will our employees have additional career and training opportunities, but they will also have the opportunity to participate in Davey’s employee-ownership program.” Bob Kerr, owner, Kerr Environmental Services

Al Zelaya, urban forester, the Davey Institute, conducted a webinar hosted by the Canadian Institute of Forestry focusing on i-Tree tools for improving urban forest resilience and community health. The idea of the webinar was to introduce tools that Canadians could use, such as i-Tree Canopy, i-Tree Eco and i-Tree Design, Zelaya said. Zelaya hoped attendees left the webinar understanding that there are amazing ways to look at vegetation and the benefits it can provide communities.

“It’s about changing perceptions and opening their eyes to the services and values that vegetation right in front of them provides. Showing that trees are not only providing economic values, but many other social and environmental benefits that i-Tree and other tools can’t really quantify.”

Al Zelaya, urban forester, Davey Institute

Every year at the start of fire season, all field level managers and senior managers from the Davey Tree Surgery Company meet in California to discuss the Davey Fire Plan and fire prevention. Before the meeting, the fire plan is reviewed and goals for improvement are made, said Bill Heriford, operations manager, the Davey Tree Surgery Company. “This year, all field level managers were requested to go through the Factors and Forces courses online prior to fire season,” Heriford said. The Forces and Factors course was developed by the Davey Institute and the corporate safety department. This course teaches participants a straightforward, efficient way to determine the risks related to climbing or working in, on or near a tree.

The Davey Tree Expert Company proudly welcomed two companies into our family of brands in 2017: Arborguard, a residential and commercial tree care company based in Atlanta, with operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Arborel Tree Service, a residential tree and lawn care company operating in Pittsburgh. Since 1981, Arborguard Tree Specialists have provided tree and plant health care services to residential and commercial clients in the Southeast, including some of the region’s prestigious golf courses and resorts. The late Spence Rosenfeld, owner and founder of Arborguard, saw the partnership with Davey as a natural fit given Davey’s reputation for integrity, innovation and leadership and its focus on safety and environmental stewardship. Since 2001, Arborel Tree Service provided specialized tree and plant health care services, lawn fertilization and pest management to clients in the greater Pittsburgh area. Arborel’s founder, Robert Kruljac, and employees looked forward to joining the culture of employee ownership and appreciated the shared passion for high-quality client service. “Arborguard and Arborel are welcome additions to the Davey Family. Like Davey, they both provide excellent tree care while concentrating on client experience and quality control.” Jim Stief, executive vice president, U.S. Residential Operations

During the 2017 Northern California wildfires, PG&E called on 30 Davey Resource Group (DRG) employees to lead inspections of the affected areas. The base camp was set in a Napa vineyard with rows of trailers, equipment, generators and trucks filling the space. The trailers were filled with bunks, dining halls and offices for the contractors as there was no time for inspectors to go home during the fires. Inspectors were tasked with surveying the areas affected by the fires and determining which trees presented imminent hazards. At the time, fires still burned throughout Northern California. Because of the dangerous conditions, safety precautions required that everyone work in pairs, increasing time spent in the field. DRG employees worked seven days a week, inspecting each tree at least three or four times. Accurately identifying dangerous trees was critical, as many trees were in neighborhoods and around people. DRG employees’ due diligence paid off, as many trees that passed the first inspection were later found hazardous. For example, some of the fires that ripped through the area were very low, so the trees would appear healthy at the top, but weeks later, another inspection would show that the fire had scorched the roots and the tree would be entirely brown. DRG employees were stationed at base camp and performed tree inspections throughout the affected areas for about five weeks. After base camp was broken down, wildfire management was ongoing, but on a smaller scale. Davey is proud to have been a part of the containment efforts and will continue to deliver unmatched excellence to our clients in Northern California. “[The work] was emotionally heavy because this wasn’t just fire burning in desolate areas, this was fire ripping through people’s neighborhoods and causing massive devastation. We were dealing with people who had just lost everything.” Jonah Schwartz, project coordinator, Davey Resource Group

The King of Prussia Residential/Commercial office donated a crew and equipment to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties for their Rock the Block Clean-Up Day in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Alan Jensen-Sellers, PHC technician, coordinated the office’s efforts and did the preliminary tree inspections on the property managed by the Genesis Housing Corporation to make sure the crew had all the necessary equipment. The volunteers pruned a hazard maple tree, removed a dead red oak tree and helped clean up trash around the property. Timothy Marino, sales arborist, said the benefits extended beyond the donation. Jensen-Sellers was even able to reuse wood from the red oak removed from the property to make a guitar.

“The impact was contagious. One neighbor approached me, my son and my crew expressing interest in volunteering next year.” Timothy Marino, sales arborist, King of Prussia office

The only noise you’ll hear from the lithium-ion battery powered commercial mowers Davey operates in Babcock Ranch, Florida, and Washington, D.C., is a faint whir when the blades are engaged. The new electric mowers eliminate emissions, oil changes, fuel, air filters, carburetors and other moving parts. Most importantly, the sounds of a large four-stroke engine is gone. Two CLS operations put the new electric mowers on the properties of select clients in 2018. Previously, both operations had been using electric handheld tools such as trimmers, edgers and backpack blowers. Now, each location is fielding two electric mower units. At Babcock Ranch, one of the first fully solar-powered communities in the U.S., Davey maintains all the roadways, business landscapes and the school as the community develops further. In Washington, D.C., Davey crews use the large, commercial electric mowers on a variety of properties in the Capitol, including parks, government buildings and the National Mall. The electric mowers are comparable to their gas-powered counterparts in terms of speed and power.

“This battery powered equipment is definitely an advantage and a selling point we can pitch from Davey as salesmen to potential clients,” Bassler said. “It’s not only going green for emissions, but clients should have a better customer experience due to the equipment that we can bring in and use at their properties.” Jason Bassler, Southern regional manager, Commercial Landscape Services (CLS)

Davey employees sometimes go above and beyond outside the workplace to serve their communities. In Cleveland, Ohio, Monica Wirick, crew leader, Commercial Landscape Services, witnessed an accident involving a SUV and another tree care company’s chipper truck. The SUV, driven by a father with two young children inside, turned directly into the truck and went off road, while the chipper truck flipped on its side and skidded into a ditch. Wirick quickly helped the family out of the car, found no serious injuries and helped calmed the children. In Cumberland, Rhode Island, on their way back to the yard, Matt Cabral, foreman, and Ronald Mallon, groundman, National Grid-New England account, noticed a man whose car had run out of gas at a red light. As it started to rain, people started beeping at him. The two parked their truck and helped push the car roughly three blocks to the nearest gas station. Across the country in Colorado, Erik Benton, sales arborist, West Denver R/C office, was leaving a service call when he noticed a car pulled off the side of the road with its hood up. The driver was late for work and the battery was dead, so he helped jump-start the car. And near the California coast, Shane Smith, UVM technician, Davey Resource Group, was headed home for the day when he noticed a car on the roadside with a flat tire. He stopped to make sure the driver was ok and discovered she was on her way to pick up her kids from school. Happily, Smith changed her tire for her.

“If you see something out of the ordinary or someone who might be in trouble, it’s nice to stop and see if they are OK. I would like to think if I was in that same situation that someone would help me.” Shane Smith, UVM technician, Davey Resource Group

The Davey Tree Expert Company was awarded three Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Safety Awards for 2018. Davey won two Outstanding Individual/Crew Performance safety awards. These awards recognize “an individual's or crew's heroic reaction to an emergency situation,” according to the TCIA website. The winners of these awards were Amador Reyes, Jr., foreman, Eastern Utility services, and Matthew Shepherd, pictured, ecosystems specialist, Wetland Studies and Solutions, a Davey company. Reyes won for helping residents in Panama City, Florida, change a tire so they could continue to bring aid to their community after Hurricane Michael. Shepherd and his crew were recognized for noticing a fire had started in a townhouse unit near their work site and alerting the neighbors of the fire. Due to their quick action, no one was injured in the fire. The third award was an Outstanding Company Contribution safety award, which recognizes a TCIA member's proactive program to address safety issues. Davey won for the Safety Mentor-Regional Level Initiative, with special recognition going to Bill Bunker, area manager, Eastern Utility services, and Randy Palmer, regional safety specialist. This local, crew-level initiative was developed to improve safety performance and engagement.

For the third year in a row, Davey participated in the annual Christie Lake Kids Camp cleanup day. Hydro Ottawa, a longtime client, has been involved in this project for several years and invited to Davey to join in on the community outreach. Christie Lake Kids Camp is specifically designed to meet the needs of children from low-income families throughout the Ottawa area. While it includes all the fun outdoor activities of your typical summer camp, their curriculum emphasizes developing the campers physical and social skills during a two-week stay. The annual cleanup day is all about getting the camp ready for the kids to enjoy throughout the summer. Davey donated a day of work, a bucket truck and six employees. The day was spent removing dead and hazardous trees, pruning vegetation around power lines and clearing some of the trails for hiking.  

Davey has a long-standing tradition of helping the communities where we live and work, and giving back in a meaningful way has always been important to its employees. With these ideas in mind, the Davey Green Leaders program was created and officially launched in 2018. The program supports employees’ passions and desires to help others as well as any activities or initiatives that promote trees, sustainable landscapes and the environment. It also asks that they log those volunteer hours so we can have a comprehensive view of the many ways Davey and its employees are helping to grow a better future for our communities. With over 19,000 submitted volunteer hours for approximately 600 different organizations, the program’s first year was a success. Ian Johnston of DRG Canada, who volunteered more than 900 hours and had the highest recorded amount for 2018 says, “Helping others brings great satisfaction and is a way I can make a small contribution towards the betterment of society.”

For Davey’s i-Tree team, 2018 was a busy year. i-Tree launched in Mexico and 33 European countries and, to top it off, an i-Tree team member was selected for the U.S. delegation at the first World Forum on Urban Forests. The team, including software developers, scientists and technicians, has been working for several years with collaborators from all over the world to launch versions of i-Tree that work for each country. At the end of 2017, the first World Forum on Urban Forests was held in Mantova, Italy. The U.S. Forest Service’s International Programs put together an international delegation to represent the Forest Service. Al Zelaya, urban forester, Davey Institute, was invited to serve on the delegation. Zelaya was the only delegate from the private sector representing a company. And that “says something about Davey, our value and how we are perceived as leaders in the urban forest community,” he said. The forum sought to bring people from all over the world to network and share ideas on how to improve urban forestry. Over 1,000 people attended.

“We really see an opportunity to make i-Tree a global tool that anyone can use, no matter where you are located. There are a lot of countries that simply don’t have access to urban forest assessment tools. We think i-Tree can fulfill that need.” Scott Maco, director, research and development, Davey Institute

Elizabeth River Landscape Management, a commercial landscape company based in Suffolk, Virginia, has joined The Davey Tree Expert Company family of brands. Elizabeth River Landscape Management provides specialized commercial  landscape management services in addition to irrigation, landscape installation, tree care, snow removal and emergency response. “Elizabeth River is excited to join Davey for many reasons. Most importantly, we value their commitment and enthusiasm toward honesty, customer service and high-quality full-service landscape and tree care,” said Jason Fawcett, CEO, Elizabeth River Lawn and Landscape, Inc. “With Davey, not only will our employees have additional career and training opportunities, but they will also have the opportunity to participate in Davey’s employee-ownership program.” Dan Joy, executive vice president and general manager, commercial services, said Davey is excited to welcome the talented and client-focused employees of Elizabeth River Landscape Management. “Elizabeth River Landscape Management is a commercial landscape company with a great reputation and this change allows their clients to experience Davey’s diversified service offerings in this area,” said Joy. “Clients will still see the same focus on exceptional service, but also now have access to Davey’s technology and equipment, and research and development capabilities provided by the Davey Institute.” Based in Suffolk, Virginia, Elizabeth River Landscape Management has 130 employees at additional locations in Virginia Beach, Yorktown and Richmond, Virginia, operating a total five territories.

Over the past few years, i-Tree has grown into a leading suite of natural resource modeling and valuation tools. A collaboration between Davey, the U.S. Forest Service and other partners, the i-Tree suite now comprises four downloadable programs and nine web-based applications. The free software aids users in modeling canopy cover and waterflow, controlling urban pollution and temperature, and analyses of landscape planning and design. I-Tree Hydro, the first vegetation-specific urban hydrology model, enables urban planners, engineers and others to simulate the effects of changes in urban tree cover and impervious surfaces on the hydrologic cycle. Created with city-scale in mind, storm water engineers and natural resource managers can use i-Tree Hydro to assess how management practices can affect local stream responses to storms. Version 6 of i-Tree Hydro, currently in beta testing, includes several enhancements, including enhanced green infrastructure modeling, pollution analyses, and climate-based simulations.

Jim Jenkins, senior project manager, Davey Resource Group (DRG), worked with the North Detroit R/C office to provide a tree climbing safety presentation for the Department of Public Works (DPW) in Ferndale, Michigan. The DRG natural resource consulting team in Michigan works with the city of Ferndale on a four-phase tree inventory to collect data for the DPW to promote their urban forest and prioritize tree work. DRG has a second consulting contract with the city through which Jenkins supplies various training sessions, including a tree climbing safety training. Josh Leo, district manager, and Jake Swearingen, sales representative, North Detroit R/C office, talked with the staff about climbing and chainsaw safety.

“We are giving a baseline understanding of what tree climbing involves, including the equipment and the safety precautions in hopes that they might incorporate some of those requirements into their requests for proposal.” Jim Jenkins, senior project manager, Davey Resource Group

In a male-dominated industry, three female employees of the Davey Resource Group (DRG) united at an event created by women climbers for women climbers. They learned about climbing equipment and techniques at the Western Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture’s three-day workshop. Jenn Mahley, senior consulting utility forester, DRG; Jillian Keller, consulting utility forester, DRG and Jessika Mitchell, associate consultant, DRG, comprised nearly 20 percent of the event’s attendees. They learned climbing and safety skills- everything from planning a route and inspecting gear to tying knots and throwing lines. “Not only was I excited about learning how to climb,” Mahley said, “but I knew that it would also improve my skill set and advance my career.” In the past year, Mahley completed this workshop and also became an ISA Certified Arborist® and ISA Arborist Utility Specialist™. For Mahley, investing in industry education worked. She got promoted after a year because of her dedication. If you’re contemplating investing the time or money in training, Mahley advises taking the leap.

Traveling from as far away as Maine and California, more than 1,000 Davey employees aided Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. Because the storm hit so shortly after Hurricane Harvey, some crews went directly from storm work in Texas to storm work in Florida. Many crews convoyed to locations closer to the storm path a week prior to landfall so that they could respond immediately after the storm subsided. While waiting for the storm, crews reviewed safety procedures and prepared equipment. The crews’ response to Harvey was unique because it lacked hazards common in other storms, such as downed power lines and trees laying on power lines under tension. Instead of typical tree damage due to high winds, it was primarily uprooted trees due to flooding and soil saturation. After Hurricane Irma came through, the damage in Florida included fallen trees, but much of the cleanup work consisted of broken limbs on lines and leaning trees, or damaged trees otherwise blocking the utility rights-of-way. After the storm, crews from all of Davey’s service lines spent weeks identifying and removing tree hazards to help power companies restore electricity quickly. “We cannot fully express how proud we are of these employees. We are grateful, our clients are grateful, and the public is grateful for their service. Above all, we are happy that they came home safely.” Brent Repenning, executive vice president, U.S. Utility and Davey Resource Group

Over 60 field employees from Hartney Greymont, a Davey company, and the town of Needham, Massachusetts’ Department of Public Works-Parks and Forestry Division, participated in an aerial rescue event held at Claxton Park. A training committee helped facilitate the teaching while also challenging every participant. The event had five stations that were strategically planned to match the different skill levels of those participating. The stations included advanced climbing rescue, beginner climbing rescue, advanced spar climbing and two beginner bucket truck stations. The training committee members were Ed Pomerleau, foreman, Jose Artica, foreman, Ryan Maley, trimmer trainee and Misael Flores, foreman. They received guidance from Emmett Shutts’, skills trainer, Arborist Skills Training team.

“The best part was everyone’s willingness to help their co-workers. It was a great day of training, team building and showing our commitment to safety. I’m always proud to work at Hartney Greymont, but especially on this day.” Tom Anderson, assistant district manager, Hartney Greymont, Needham office.

Thick, pungent-smelling smoke billowed across the wintery rural right-of-way Matt Smith, Chris Weitoish and Ron Weitoish were maintaining for the United Electric Cooperative account in Pennsylvania. The group was finishing up work when they noticed the smoke, and as they were leaving the right-of-way a volunteer firefighter flew by in a pick-up truck with lights and sirens blaring. Matt and Chris grabbed the fire extinguishers in their truck and headed back towards the house. At the house, they encountered the volunteer firefighter – with no firefighting equipment – on the roof of the house, where smoke puffed from the chimney. The firefighter grabbed the Davey fire extinguishers and entered the basement of the house. He emptied the extinguishers’ contents up into the chimney, dousing a flue fire that had developed. Soon, the rest of the local fire department arrived, and Chris and Matt returned to work. An infirm elderly couple had been home, unaware of the near-disaster looming. The next day Rob Kunselman, general foreman, went back to the house to retrieve the spent fire extinguishers. The couple’s daughter was there and told him the Davey crew had saved their life. Another 15 minutes and the house would have been totally engulfed, a local fire chief had told her.

“Chris, Matt and Ron’s dedication saved them from harm, and for this, we are so grateful to them and Davey Tree. This crew demonstrated an ‘above and beyond’ work ethic. Davey’s outstanding performance has been recognized by everyone here at United. We are fortunate to have them working on our property.” Brenda Swartzlander, President and CEO, United Electric Cooperative

The Davey Institute of Tree Sciences (D.I.T.S.) welcomed 51 Davey employees from across North America to our annual month-long, hands-on course. Employees with varying levels of experience and education participate in this intense experience to learn decades of tree care knowledge in just four weeks. For example, identifying tree and plant problems is a difficult skill to master for many D.I.T.S. students, especially if they do not deal with tree biology in their daily work. But, learning this skill will help keep employees safe on the job, particularly when working with dead or dying trees on utility rights-of-way. The D.I.T.S. legacy of educating generations of Davey’s finest tree care professionals spans more than a century, and we are proud of the 51 graduates that will carry on this legacy into the future. “Diagnosing trees and infestations tested me the most, but this is why I wanted to come to D.I.T.S. I wanted to get a better handle on that kind of stuff and make me ultimately more effective in my role as a manager. The more well-rounded I can be, the better.” Kyle Wilson, district manager, North Muskoka, Ontario, Canada

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, nestled on a bluff, sits the San Elijo Campground, a place Vince Mikulanis, production manager with Davey Resource Group, remembers fondly from his childhood camping days. This past Arbor Day, teams from the Davey Resource Group (DRG), the San Diego R/C office and over 70 volunteers partnered to help revitalize the campground, which was devastated by drought and the invasive insect, myoporum thrips. Volunteers installed Catalina ironwood, Catalina cherry and Torrey pine trees— drought tolerant trees that can withstand the salt-spray from the ocean and sandy soil—along with smaller shrubs. Drought tolerant trees still require hydration, which sparked volunteers to suggest a novel source of water—ice from coolers. Campers traditionally dumped leftover or unused ice on the ground or in the streets. It is not uncommon to use 20 pounds of ice, which equates to about five gallons of water. Signs installed throughout the campground now encourage campers to take the ice over to the trees and dump it. In June, Mikulanis visited the site and observed people heeding the recommendation and watering the trees with their cooler ice and water. He hopes 20 years from now, his children can camp at San Elijo and enjoy the improvements the volunteers made to the site this year.

Safe crews now earn the greatest recognition in U.S. Residential/Commercial services, as the service line introduced a new safety award to honor operations with a Total OSHA Recordable Incident Rate of 0.0 for the year. R/C services established the 0.0 Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) Award to spotlight safe offices with no OSHA recordable incidents. Jed Day, vice president and general manager, Western operations, U.S. R/C services, said the new award has quickly become the most coveted recognition in residential services. “We want our teammates to recognize their company puts their safety and well-being first and foremost,” Day said. For 2018, R/C services bestowed the new 0.0 TRIR Award upon 31 offices for achieving an incident-free safety record for the year. Each office receives a plaque with space for up to 10 years’ worth of award recognition. Companywide, Davey’s corporate safety department tracks the TRIR for each service line. Those rates are distributed monthly to managers. R/C managers display their operation’s TRIR – along with those of other R/C offices – in crew rooms across the service line. The offices can see where they rank currently compared with other residential operations to see where they stand with their rate. Recognizing safe crews with the R/C services’ top award represents a shift from the past, Day said, because traditionally it’s been the operations with the best operating profit that have earned the most recognition.

“I sleep well at night knowing that my staff is going home at the end of each day the way they started the day – healthy and happy. Safety is a huge component to running a sustainable office.” Travis Evans, district manager, Santa Cruz office

High school students studying arboriculture are getting some brand-new, professional grade climbing equipment thanks to support from Davey. Davey made a $10,000 donation to the arboriculture program at Theodore Roosevelt High School, located next to the corporate campus. The money, along with a $5,000 grant from the TREE Fund, will pay for the purchase of 15 new sets of climbing gear, which includes ropes, harnesses, lanyards and carabiners. The program is part of a six-district compact which includes students from across Northeast Ohio. Students in the program have worked alongside Davey employees, including at The John Davey Arboretum, to learn proper pruning and other tree care methods.