14 | September/October 2015
M
aples, one of America's most-loved
trees, have stood strong and sturdy in
our landscapes, streets and forests for hundreds
of years.
But now, unfortunately, maple trees host
the pesky Asian long-horned beetle (ALB).
Jeff Polvado, assistant project manager for
Davey Resource Group (DRG), founded the
Mighty Maples—an all-girl, U9 soccer team in
Bethel, Ohio—to prove maples' strength over
infestation. Polvado started the team three
years ago as a way for his daughter, Skyler, to
play the sport he loves.
"The Mighty Maples started off as a losing
team; playing for the pure enjoyment of the
game," Polvado says. "We are from a small
town, with little funding for soccer; we had
no uniforms and little equipment to play with."
Seeing the potential in the girls, Polvado
The Small But Mighty
Maples
Idea submitted by: Heather Reitano,
project coordinator, DRG
Jeff Polvado (far right) coaches his daughter Skyler on the Mighty Maples soccer team
Davey sponsors.
Davey sponsored Debbie Louck's
grandson's (pictured, also Lisa Miguel's
son's) Little League Davenport East
(AAA) champion baseball team for the
first time this year.
A Homerun
For Davey
Idea submitted by: Debbie Louck, client
experience coordinator, Quad Cities R/C
Davey hit a homerun when its Little League
baseball team won the Davenport East
(AAA) Championship 13 to 6 in its first
year of sponsorship.
Davey's Jason Housworth, district
manager of the Quad Cities R/C office,
decided to get involved in the community
by sponsoring the 9- and 10-year old Little
League baseball team of Brody Miguel, son
of Clerk Lisa Miguel and grandson of Client
Experience Coordinator Debbie Louck.
"They are so enjoyable to watch," Louck
says. "When they are on the field it's all
about fun and winning."
The team sports bright gold jerseys with
the name "Davey Tree Co." Louck says that
fans ask her "What's Davey Tree?" at the
baseball games all the time.
"It's a great way to get Davey's name out
there," she says. "Even Brody knows how
to explain Davey to his teammates."
went to DRG's Ohio ALB project team leads
for support. DRG agreed to help and has been
sponsoring the team since 2013. The girls now
have Davey Mighty Maples uniforms and are
playing better than ever. This year, the Maples
won second place in the Clermont County
Soccer Association Tournament.
"For the team to get second place was
huge for the girls," Polvado says. "They have
worked so hard for so long, and that was a
great accomplishment."
With the help of DRG's sponsorship, the
Mighty Maples are winning on and off the
field. ALB has affected a great number of
people in the Bethel community and a handful
have lost their maples to ALB infestation,
but with the help of DRG, Davey is helping
eradicate the infestation and making a great
name for the company in the area.
