Davey Tree Flipbooks

32 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | September/October 2022 MERCALDO ENJOYS STAYING ACTIVE, STARGAZING AND FAMILY Davey found Mark Mercaldo after he graduated from Penn State University. Mercaldo received a card in the mail from Davey, saying they were looking for people with a horticulture or agronomy background. He was a soil engineer at the time, had a lot of landscaping jobs as he was growing up, and his grandfather was a master gardener in Philadelphia. Mercaldo joined Davey in 1978 as a lawn technician, then later became a lawncare sales representative. He spent six months as an assistant district manager in Rochester, New York, but in 1982, he was able to move back home as the district manager of the North Philadelphia lawncare office. After that, Mercaldo was an assistant district manager of the West Philadelphia office. He later became the district manager of the North Philadelphia tree and lawncare office. "When I was promoted to district manager, I came back to Philadelphia, which made all the difference in my life because my wife and I were from here, and our families were here. Our children were able to grow up in the same place we grew up in," Mercaldo said. Bruce Semeria, operations manager, R/C northeastern operating group, who retired in 2010, was a mentor to Mercaldo. "He tutored me in tree care, and how to deal with clients. Bruce also valued my input, as there weren't many people that came from a lawncare background at the time," Mercaldo said. Mercaldo recalls a project which involved removing hundreds of spruce and pine trees. "Manpower and equipment were Retirees! Have stories to share about retirement or your life at Davey? To be featured, or to nominate a fellow retiree, call 800-447-1667 ext. 8615 or email bulletin@davey.com. ADVICE FROM MARK MERCALDO: 1. My driving force was that I always did the hard things first. Once you do the hard things and master them, I'd say that the other stuff is easy. 2. Stay challenged and be engaged. Have a good sense of curiosity. If you don't know how to do something, find out how and pass it on to someone else. 3. When I was younger, I didn't realize how important employee ownership was for retirement. As I grew older, I was preaching the importance of it to my employees, every chance I had. 4. For fellow retirees: Stay healthy and physically active. If your health isn't a priority, your later years will certainly be a struggle. Above: Leesa and Mark Mercaldo are pictured on the Cinque Terre coast in Italy. Right: Mark and Leesa are pictured on Mauna Kea at 11,000 feet above sea level, close to the summit of the volcano. They stayed for the sunset and stargazed at an infinitely star-studded sky. logistically challenging. It lasted for two and a half years, with crews doing removals and stump grindings," Mercaldo noted. He retired in 2015 after 37 years at Davey. Mercaldo and his wife Leesa enjoy traveling. They've rafted on the Colorado River and visited Italy and Hawaii. They went to the top of Mauna Kea to view the stars with telescopes. Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano with its highest peak at 13,803 feet, is the highest point in Hawaii. "That place was amazing. You're above the clouds. It was a trip to remember," Mercaldo said. Mercaldo enjoys astronomy and finds the information coming out of the James Webb Space Telescope very intriguing. He's out stargazing with his four grandchildren any time the conditions are right. Mercaldo stays active by going to the gym and hiking. He also goes deep sea and surf fishing on the Jersey Shore, where one of his two daughters lives, as well as in North Carolina's Outer Banks, and Florida. As for sports, Mercaldo is a big Phillies fan, and cheers on the Eagles, Sixers, and Penn State Nittany Lions as well. RETIREE CORNER

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