Davey Tree Flipbooks

29 November/December 2023 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN RETIRED SHOP MANAGER ENJOYS TRAVEL, CAR RESTORATION In 1973, while working at a gas station putting on exhaust systems and brakes, Denny Anderson was approached by retiree and former Kent Shop manager, Albert Stress, who invited Anderson to work in the Kent Shop as a mechanic. At the time, Anderson didn't realize the interaction would lead to a 42-year-long career at Davey, where he would have the opportunity to travel and become a leader. After starting at the Kent Shop in 1 973, Anderson moved to help open a new shop in Atlanta, Georgia in 1974. He returned to the Kent Shop in 1975, where he stayed until 1984. Anderson then made the move to Charlotte, North Carolina as a shop manager in the Charlotte Shop. In 1989, he moved for the final time back to his hometown of Kent as the Kent Shop manager, where he stayed until his retirement in 2016. During his career, Anderson got to watch the company grow, become an employee owner, and explore his interests of engineering and designing new, innovative equipment. "That's what I liked to do, design equipment to make updates, and to get things ahead of competitors," Anderson said. "Jeff Stevens, retired fleet operations manager, and I designed a lot of different trucks, chippers, and other equipment." One project Anderson worked on included removing one of two engines from the power take-off chipper truck to lessen emissions and sound to make for a more sustainable, quiet drive throughout neighborhoods. In retirement, Anderson continues to work on cars and projects including restoring a 1953 Hudson Hornet and a 1932 Ford 5-Window, as well as building a home and 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. restoring a barn on his late grandfather's farm in Kent. When he isn't working on restorations and his property, Anderson travels with his wife, Linda in their RV. They go on individual travels, as well as group tours from coast-to-coast with Adventure Caravans, a guided RV tour company, where they travel around different states with other RV owners for 30-to-40-days at a time. Anderson particularly enjoys traveling throughout the Southwest. "The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was pretty cool," Anderson said. "We stayed there seven days, and it was amazing watching around 500 hot air balloons go into the sky at once." Anderson says being an employee owner has given him the opportunity to do the things he has done in retirement. Anderson also credits Stevens, as well as Don Sellman, retired Kent Shop manager, and Jergen Begala, retired Florida Shop manager, as some of his biggest mentors while at Davey and in life. "The people make the company," Anderson said. "It was just a joy to work with all the great people at Davey." ADVICE FROM DENNY ANDERSON: 1. Treat people the way you want to be treated and go with the flow. 2. Be an employee owner and buy stock! 3. Your job is what you make it, so make it a good one. 4. For fellow retirees, keep traveling and moving. Above: Denny Anderson with his 1953 Hudson Hornet he restored with the help of his brother, Dan. Left: Denny and Linda Anderson at the end of Route 66 in Santa Montica, California. Anderson and his wife drove the 2,448 mile-long, famed highway in their RV, starting the route in Chicago. RETIREE CORNER

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