Davey Tree Flipbooks

31 March/April 2021 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN BOB POE LIVED, WORKED AND RETIRED OUT WEST By the time Bob Poe retired from Davey in 2000, he had spent 37 years working around utility lines in the American West. You might think he would retire somewhere away from the desert sun, but Poe, now 84, retired to the community of Pueblo West, Colorado. "It's Eastern Colorado, so it's warm enough to be pleasant during the summers but we don't get the same cold weather that Denver gets," he said. "It's perfect." Poe started with Davey in 1963 as a groundman on the Public Service of Colorado account. After attending the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences in 1968, he was promoted to foreman, then supervisor, and in 1988 account manager. He was a charter member of the President's Council in 1988. By 1992 he was an area manager, overseeing the Central West region of utility services (at the time it was Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming). He often reminisces about the rough work involved with ground line pole treating work, spending days outside in remote areas ensuring power line poles were preserved. As one of the original 114 employee owners, Poe helped purchase the company from the Davey family in 1979. The decision to invest in Davey as an employee owner and buy stock has paid off in the long run during his retirement, Poe said. The dividends, along with his retirement pension and social security benefits, have helped him financially in recent years. "Davey is a really good company. If you've got a job and you're an employee owner, you're lucky and you shouldn't forget that," he said. "But you have to work for it. My best advice has always been to just show up and do your job." RETIREE CORNER Bob Poe retired in 2000 after starting at Davey in 1963. He was among the original 114 employee-owners who made it possible for Davey employees to buy the company from the Davey family in 1979. During his retirement, Poe tries to stay as active as his body will allow, helping plant small trees and shrubs for neighbors and friends, and pruning hedges here and there as needed, often with the assistance of his grandson, Jason. He doesn't travel a lot but says the small trips to nearby friends' houses to give planting advice are enough for him after years of traveling around the West for work. Poe has been married to his wife, Sharon, for 63 years and the couple have three daughters and countless grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even one great-great grandchild. He spends a lot of quality time relaxing with his family. Retirees! Have stories to share about retirement or your life at Davey? To be featured, call 800-447-1667 ext. 8615 or email bulletin@davey.com. MEMORIALS We are saddened by the passing of Steve Kuefler on March 4, 2021. Steve was a sales arborist at the North Minneapolis Residential/Commercial services office. We are saddened by the passing of Stephanie Bell on March 9, 2021. Stephanie was a utility vegetation management technician for Davey Resource Group. CORRECTION Deborah Poniatowski, Davey Resource Group, marked 20 years of service in February 2021.

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