Davey Tree Flipbooks

19 January/February 2020 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN CLIMBING TO A CAREER Doug Lyle had no experience in tree care before coming to Davey. He was a college student about to graduate with his degree in outdoor education and was an avid rock climber. With training and guidance from his Santa Cruz Residential/Commercial (R/C) office team, he's advanced from working as an intern to becoming a foreman in less than three years. Lyle's interest in tree care sparked while having a conversation with a co-worker about the trees at a high ropes challenge course and outdoor program where he was working at the time. He was also looking for an opportunity to have a paid internship, which isn't a typical find for his major. "I ended up getting in contact with Andrew Misch (recruiting), who scooped me up and placed me down in Santa Cruz," Lyle said. "He felt I'd be a good fit and could learn a lot from the crew down there." Lyle had climbing experience with non-tree related climbing prior to his internship. When asked if it was an easy transition from rock climbing to tree climbing, Lyle surprisingly responded "No." "Tree climbing and rock climbing, at least in my opinion, are very different," Lyle said. "I'd say my previous climbing experience did help a bit, especially when it came to heights and trusting my gear. Honestly though, my previous experience hindered me a bit because I had such a hard time learning to use my rope and other work positioning gear. In rock climbing your gear is there primarily as a backup." Lyle attributes his success to great leadership and support from his team members, specifically Travis Evans, district manager, and foremen Raul Carrillo and Jamie Merritt. "I, without a doubt, would not be where I am if it weren't for my manager Travis' constant support," Lyle said. "He is the best manager I could ask for. He is a great guy and friend." Evans has been impressed with Lyle's willingness to go the extra mile. "Whether it's doing extra online Davey training courses through the Davey Learning Management System, reading any literature I or crew RESOLVE Doug Lyle's advice to anyone new to the industry or contemplating a new career is to be open-minded. "Don't be complacent when it comes to safety and best practices, obviously, but the same goes for every other aspect of your job," Lyle said. "Don't settle for where you end up or what is given to you. Always strive for more." members recommended or even watching YouTube videos," Evans said. "He's been trying to absorb as much about the industry as possible." Lyle's drive will allow him to ascend wherever he wants to go in his career. "His willingness to learn and his ability to keep calm in stressful situations are two qualities that make him a tremendous leader," Evans said. " I work with integrity. So, I try to show my employees that I'm working with integrity, so they do as well. I try to encourage them and make sure they are doing their best every day. " JOSH BANUELOS vegetation control supervisor, PG&E account INTEGRITY OWNER'S BOX

• Cover