Davey Tree Flipbooks

13 September/October 2024 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN While working at his grandfather's gas station during his high school years, Brandon Freeman, operations manager, Southern region, Surgery Company, would watch various tree companies' trucks pull in and fi ll their tanks at the end of each workday. After speaking with some of them about their work, a young Freeman decided to take his fi rst job within the tree care industry. Freeman knew about Davey, having grown up in Burton, Ohio, not far from the corporate headquarters. But it wasn't until he decided to move down to Texas where his uncle lived that he started his Davey career. "I looked in the newspaper one day and saw that Davey was coming to Texas," Freeman said. "It was completely coincidental that I moved all the way from Northeast Ohio to Texas to get a job with Davey." Freeman decided to become an employee-owner early on, in his twenties. At the time, he didn't think much about what his retirement would look like, as it felt like it was "a million years away." But now, he's glad that other Davey employees including David Miller, vice president, Southern region, Surgery Company, inspired him to become an employee-owner when he did. "I started investing in the ESPP because of him," Freeman said. "He was constantly telling me 'Hey you should look into this,' and asking me 'Are you putting some extra money in there?' He's been a big infl uence in my career and life." Now, Freeman encourages others to get involved and become employee-owners. "For my employees, it creates a sense of being on a team," Freeman said. "A lot of them are fi rst- generation Americans, and just need an extra boost of confi dence to get involved, so I try to help as much as I can with how to do it and why it's so benefi cial." Many of Freeman's teams also have generational Davey ties, with some of his employees being the children of past and current employees. For him, family is also a big part of why he thinks being an employee-owner is so important. With an eleven-year-old son and six-year-old daughter, he said it's always helpful to know there's enough fi nancial stability to ensure their futures. "Employee-ownership increases engagement and motivation," Freeman said. "The longer you do it, the more it builds a sense of belonging. This isn't just a job and a paycheck, but a career and something you can make a life out of if you choose." Freeman joined Davey in 2002 as a climber on the CenterPoint Energy account in Texas. In 2006, after serving in various roles, he was promoted to area supervisor. Freeman is an ISA Certifi ed Arborist ® and an ISA Certifi ed Arborist Utility Specialist ® . He is also a 2006 Davey Institute of Tree Sciences graduate and is the vice president of the Texas Vegetation Management Association. EMPLOYEE-OWNED 45 YEARS Kevin Sproule assistant district manager Edmonton Residential offi ce Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited '' I became an employee-owner because it is very convenient. The money comes directly out of my paycheck, and I never really have to think about it. Being an employee owner give me a sense of belonging to the overall Davey team. '' Brandon Freeman operations manager Southern region Davey Tree Surgery Company

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