20
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
March/April 2023
LEADERSHIP
Davey partnered with the Virginia,
Maryland & Delaware Association of
Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC) to
host the second annual Girl Power
Camp. Young women took part in a
one-day interactive career exploration
event, which introduced the basic skills
and tools needed to be a utility line
worker, at VMDAEC's training facility
in Palmyra, Virginia.
Alyssa Gagnon, environmental
technician, Utility Vegetation
Management services (UVM), Davey
Resource Group (DRG), ran a chainsaw
safety station. Gagnon brought three
types of chainsaws, two different sets
of chaps, and helmets. "I spoke about
the importance of PPE and how to
properly start a chainsaw," Gagnon said.
Leah Morris, FAA certified remote
pilot, UVM, DRG, and Rachel Miller,
project manager, DRG UVM,
discussed and demonstrated the
applications of operating drones in
utility forestry. "The benefits of aerial
application with drones are numerous,"
Morris said.
Miller said taking part in these types
of events focused on empowering
DAVEY RESOURCE GROUP SUPPORTS GIRL POWER CAMP
EASTERN UTILITY TRAINS TOGETHER AT D.I.U.V.M.
Employees from the Atlantic, Central, Gulf, and Lakes
regions of Eastern Utility services gathered at Davey's
corporate campus in Kent for the Davey Institute of Utility
Vegetation Management (D.I.U.V.M.) week-long training
session in January.
Attendees learned about the growth rate of trees,
environmental stewardship, wildfire inspections, pruning,
tree biology, and Factors and Forces. They were also
given a company overview, and learned about employee
development, as well as workplace ethics. Their afternoons
were spent outdoors in field training skills sessions.
Top left: Alyssa Gagnon, a consulting utility
forester for client Rappahannock Electric
Cooperative, runs a chainsaw safety station
at VMDAEC's Girl Power Camp.
Top right: Rachel Miller is pictured with a
student taking part in the drone demonstration.
Photo credit: Virginia, Maryland & Delaware
Association of Electric Cooperatives
D.I.U.V.M. January attendees were Jody Ennis, Lawrence Farrell,
Terry Gantt, David Hernandez, Sean Kaeberlein, Michael Knott,
Rob Morrison, Randy Mueller, Jerry Pacheco, Dave Poghen,
Dana Shanabarger, Mark Solada and Chris Weitoish.
young women is important. "When
I was younger, this was never an
industry that would have been available
to me. The ability to be a good mentor
and to be able to showcase there are
women out there who are successful,
passionate, and empowered in their
field is vital," Miller said.
