Davey Tree Flipbooks

9 May/June 2020 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN Above left: The long-track tornado that passed through Davidson, Wilson and Smith counties was on the ground for roughly 60 miles and ranged in intensity along its destructive path. Above: An example of the type of debris found in the trees. Some of the hazards included limbs hanging up in trees, broken wood with nails or screws sticking up and items like aluminum, insulation, metal and windows with glass stuck in the trees. DAVEY EMPLOYEES: • Eric Berner, trimmer, R/C • Ricky Bibb, PHC technician, R/C • John Cavender, area manager, Wolf Tree, Inc. • Robert Kraker, sales arborist, R/C • Stephen McLaren, foreman, R/C • Ashlynn Royce, landscape crew leader, CLS • Robert Trafzer, branch manager, CLS "A lot of the homeowners were telling other volunteers to leave once we showed up because they knew we would do it right and safe," Kraker said. "It was great to see the homeowners recognizing the Davey difference and noticing how we ran things, did the job briefs and how we conducted ourselves." Robert Trafzer, branch manager, Nashville CLS territory, said good communication was key. "One thing I'm proud of our team for is that we were very safety conscious of our people, other volunteers and people's homes," Trafzer said. Trafzer was proud of the expertise they were able to provide these homeowners. "They were truly grateful that a team of highly skilled people were there to volunteer to take care of the more difficult work," Trafzer said. "I'll never forget how we assembled and how we really touched people who were in need. That's something you won't ever forget. I think it goes a long way to show what Davey will do for its community." UTILITY EMPLOYEE DOES HIS PART John Cavender, area manager, Wolf Tree, Inc., a Davey company, and his family volunteered with Crossroads Fellowship Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, to help community members clean up their yards after the tornado tore through the area, which is roughly 32 miles east of Nashville. "I've been on hurricane response crews and on ice storms and things like that with the company over the last 20 years," Cavender said. "You go out and help those people. It hits a little deeper when it happens right in your backyard." Before heading out to work on these projects in a neighborhood of elderly residents, Cavender had a safety and job brief with the other volunteers on the tree removal volunteer crew. He told them once they were at the properties they were going to assess each property for potential hazards. "Before they started cutting trees, I would look things over for them and tell them if it was OK to cut," Cavender said. For Cavender, the most memorable part of the day was how grateful the people were and the homeowners he met in the process. "It was a great day and gratifying that we could do what we could do," he said. "It felt so good going home that day after helping those people."

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