Davey Tree Flipbooks

6 THE DAVEY BULLETIN | September/October 2020 1 2 3 4 3 1: DRG DIGITAL FIRE TRAINING Davey Resource Group (DRG) modified its annual in-person training on Davey's Wildfire Safety Management Plan to include online training. This training is particularly important to DRG operations in the Western states. Educating Davey's employees on best management practices for fire prevention can have real-world outcome, as knowledge gained from the training has helped employ- ees to control and extinguish several small fires they've encountered in the field. DRG operations on the San Diego Gas & Electric account conducted small group trainings while maintaining physical distancing practices, with each session starting with self-health and temperature checks. Tom Schwend, UVM lead specialist, DRG, led discussions on the proper use of fire tools, a demonstration of use, and then each person got practical use training of their own equipment. Schwend was assisted by Keith Addis, UVM senior specialist, DRG. Inspections and fitness for use verification of tools was also completed using electronic forms to eliminate the need for passing paper. 6: A WINNING WORK ETHIC Just before what was to be his 21st professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fight in April, John De Jesus, trimmer, South Pittsburgh office, had to head home because the event was canceled unexpectedly due to COVID-19. De Jesus, who started with Davey in July of 2019, said it was truly disappointing. But working with Davey during the pandemic – hauling brush, climbing trees and carrying wood around – has kept him in prime physical shape. "Especially in the summer heat, my cardio health is at the next level. I'm in the best condition I've ever been in," he said. "I absolutely love climbing, even the tough climbs. It's physically exhausting, and mentally, I'm learning a lot about treecare." The reigning featherweight champion in the Honor Fighting Championship (FC), the 247 FC and Pinnacle FC plans to stay with Davey even if he's tapped by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for higher profile bouts. 3: CHICAGO OFFICE FOOD DONATIONS Food insecurity is a genuine problem facing senior citizens in the Chicago area, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Natia Barnett, client experience coordinator, Chicago R/C office, founded Village Minds, a grassroots mutual aid organization that fundraises and gathers donations for seniors in need. In June, Barnett hosted the organization's first food drive. She arranged for the donated items to be delivered to the Chicago office and gathered volunteers to sort, package and deliver parcels of food and essential items to almost 650 senior citizens around the city. "I have learned as I am doing this that the need for fresh food is great for the seniors. They often have low incomes and sometimes cannot afford what they really need. They are appreciative, but it's going to be a long-term effort, however," Barnett said. To donate to Village Minds, use Cashapp "$VillageMinds" or send funds using Venmo to "Village-Minds." You can also mail checks to Village Minds, 818 E. 63rd St., Suite 818 #211, Chicago, Ill, 60637 5 : UVM IN THE COVID AGE In August, Vince Mikulanis, market manager, Davey Resource Group, took part in a webinar titled "Utility Vegetation Management in our time of the New Normal." The event was sponsored by the International Society of Arboriculture's Western Chapter. The webinar covered wildfire concerns in the West, business drivers, changes to utility grid infrastructure that affect UVM work, regulations that Davey's utility clients face, and implementing new technologies. "And if those aren't enough, the COVID-19 pandemic has obviously changed the game. We also covered challenges and solutions for keeping our employees and homeowners safe, and adapting procedures to this new environment," Mikulanis said. 4: CARE KITS FOR SCHOOL KIDS Samantha Mockus, regional recruiter, Eastern Utility services, has spent years volunteering, often taking her daughter, Madison, 10, along with her. In June, the pair volunteered with the United Way of Summit County and Cleveland Clinic Akron General Hospital in Akron, Ohio, to help pack a few thousand care kits for school-age children and families in the Akron City School District. The care kits included bottles of hand sanitizer and water, a face mask, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap and informational pamphlets on self-care during the coronavirus pandemic. In July, they helped distribute the kits at local schools. "I've been teaching Madison how lucky we are and how it's time for us to give back, especially during this pandemic," Mockus said. "I was looking for an opportunity when she started asking how we could help. She likes to go and do what she can to help." 5 COVID-19 ROUNDUP 2: TREE RISK WEBINAR The Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee typically holds a monthly in-person forum featuring a different speaker. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization moved the discussion online. In June, the forum topic was tree risk assessment. Ryan Gustafson, project developer, DRG, participated in the presentation, which featured various arboricultural practitioners discussing and demonstrating methods and experiences with tree risk assessments. 6

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