Davey Tree Flipbooks

RETIREE CORNER IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE On Brad Comport's first day at Davey, in 1990, he was already learning the biggest lesson he'd take away from his 16 years with the Davey Company. "When I signed on as Davey's corporate controller, I was properly consumed trying to get to know the people. To understand how all the other parts work, you first need to understand the people who make the company work," Comport said. He realized just how true this sentiment was as he worked alongside his co-workers and began to grow in the company. "What makes Davey such a strong company is the people," Comport said. "We have the benefit of great leadership both in the board and at the executive level. Our employees have always been hard-working and incredibly bright. When that's combined with our dedication to providing high-quality services to our valued clients, it's clear to see why Davey has done – and continues to do – a tremendous job. From my perspective, the main driver of it all is really employee ownership." As a numbers man, Comport did his research on the company and its employee-ownership model before buying Davey stock. "I did not hesitate for a single second about becoming an employee-owner. I would, in fact, encourage every employee to buy company stock to the extent that they can. Whether it's 100 or 1,000 shares, it's a fantastic investment," Comport said. "When you have skin in the game, you have the ability to reap the rewards from an excellent company. And, Davey is an excellent company in every way." July/August 2016 | 39 "Listening is an incredibly important tool – and frankly, it's one we often forget. You really have to listen. We so often talk through each other or simply don't spend enough time listening to the other party," Comport said. "Sitting down with a person face-to-face and talking through an issue is still the right way to communicate. It also helps you value the people you work with more." In his retirement, Comport has allowed these lessons and his experience at Davey to continually guide him. He served on the board of trustees at Birchwood Farms Golf and Country Club for six years, including two years as president. Even on the golf course, he knows it isn't about the score, but instead the people you play the course with. While at Davey, Comport spent his time sharing data about how great a company Davey is. Specifically, as corporate controller, and later treasurer and corporate risk manager, he got to communicate Davey's financial results. "What I did absolutely revolved around numbers and finances. But, the more I became exposed to it, the more I realized it all comes down to the people. The people drive everything," Comport said. The most important lesson Comport wants to share? "Be patient with the people you work with. Of course, I'm not always successful at this myself, and none of us are all of the time. But, we need to be conscious of this, and do as good a job at it as we possibly can," he said. To Comport, it all boils down to communication. Throughout his career and retirement, Brad Comport knows "it all comes down to the people. They're the most important part of it all." "Our employees have always been hard-working and incredibly bright. When that's combined with our dedication to providing high-quality services to our valued clients, it's clear to see why Davey has done – and continues to do – a tremendous job. From my perspective, the main driver of it all is really employee ownership." — Brad Comport

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