Davey Tree Flipbooks

69 68 Growth Rings as being responsible for a major portion of the company's increased volume. "ey have become the pacesetters for the entire company," the report states. e surgery company operated in five states – California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon – with more than 1,000 employees, 800 vehicles, and 35 profit centers. e three organizational components of the surgery company consisted of Utility services, Residential/Commercial services, and finance and administration. Residential/ Commercial operations were managed by A.B. "Mac" McKinstry, vice president, tree care, and Rick Ramsey, assistant vice president. Utility services were managed by Paul Daniel, vice president, operations, and Howard Bowles, operations manager. Bob Oyen, vice president, finance, and Richard Edson, office manager, oversaw the financial and administrative functions. Gene Haupt, vice president and general manager, Davey Tree Surgery Company, argued that the surgery company had pioneered the tree maintenance industry on the West Coast in a November 1982 Davey Bulletin article. "At this time, we believe that the Davey Tree Surgery Company is the fourth largest tree service company in the world, doing between $20 million and $30 million a year, and covering the geographic area that reaches from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the borders of New Mexico and Mexico, a distance of 2,000-plus miles," Haupt wrote. "ese miles are one of the obstacles in the operation of the surgery company. ere are often hundreds of miles between the areas of operation, and sometimes even between trees. However, through persistence and much effort, our people have accomplished a large, profitable volume for both private tree care and utility." To keep pace with growth, Davey Tree Surgery in Livermore, California, expanded its offices and shop facilities in 1983. e office received a 2,700-square-foot addition, and 7,500 square feet of extra space was added to the shop facility. In general, Davey Tree had put a renewed focus on utility work. In spring 1982, Davey rolled out a five-year utility marketing plan internally. e plan was the subject of a day-and-a-half long presentation by executives, who traveled around to Davey's five major operating areas explaining the finer details. Kent hosted a marketing meet- ing and line-clearing supervisors' meeting that fall. As utility operations continued to grow, a young operations supervisor rose within the service line, who management viewed as having great potential to be a future Chapter 4 Ken Celmer started at Davey in 1971 as a climber. He would retire in 2010 as senior vice president and general manager of R/C services. George Gaumer started with Davey in 1977 and climbed the ranks within residential services. He would retire in 2013 as vice president and general manager of Commercial Landscape Services. Howard Bowles started with Davey in 1966. He would eventually retire as senior vice president and general manager of the surgery company in 2012. Steve Marshall joined Davey in 1977 as a lawnscape technician. He rose through the ranks of both residential and Utility services, including spending time in California operations, and retired in 2017 as executive vice president. Dave Adante joined Davey in 1979. He retired in 2013 as chief financial officer, executive vice president and secretary of the Davey Company. Karl Warnke joined Davey in 1980. He retired as CEO in 2017, after 37 years of service, but he continued as chairman of the board of directors. Doug Cowan was elected a director of the company in 1982. He would eventually retire as chairman after serving as president and CEO. Pictured is the management group for the Davey Tree Surgery Company in 1984. From left are: Robert J. Oyen, vice president, finance; A.B. "Mac" McKinstry, vice president, tree care; Gene Haupt (seated), vice president and general manager; and Paul Daniel, vice president, operations. Rick Ramsey started at Davey in 1972 as a groundperson in the North Detroit office and he aslo helped manage California operations. He retired in 2015 as corporate vice president of Canadian operations.

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