153 152 Growth Rings
many lasting contributions during his tenure.
Amidst ongoing leadership changes, the company marked the third year of its
operation under the newest iteration of the Davey Strategic Plan, Vision 20/20,
and the financial strength of the company became a focal point as emphasized by
management throughout every business segment. e financial performance of 2014
reflected that focus through record revenues, a revenue increase of 10.7 percent to
$789 million, and a year-end stock price increase of 14 percent.
Adding to this growth was the completion of eight acquisitions during the year.
Most of the acquired firms were smaller, with total annual revenues of less than $2
million, but they were all strategically critical in terms of location, services offered,
personnel talent and knowledge, and the prospects for growth. Davey remained
focused on Residential/Commercial and Davey Resource Group operations when
it came to acquisitions, but management also kept its eye on firms operating in the
commercial grounds maintenance market.
One of the more notable acquisitions involving DRG was Wetland Studies and
Solutions, Inc. (WSSI) in Gainesville, Virginia. WSSI is a leading natural and cultural
resources consulting company. e firm specialized in partnering with public and
private sector builders and public works agencies to gain local, state and federal
approvals relating to wetlands, streams, forests and cultural resources. In residential
services, a sizeable acquisition came when Davey acquired Maier Tree and Lawn in
Rochester, Minnesota, thereby expanding Davey's presence in the Upper Midwest.
Residential operations followed that with another large acquisition in 2017 when
Arborguard Tree Specialists joined the Davey family of brands. Arborguard, with
operations in Atlanta and Charlotte, had been providing specialized tree and plant
health care services to residential and commercial clients in the Southeast, including
caring for some of the region's prestigious golf courses and resorts, since its founding
by Spence Rosenfeld in 1981.
Client Experience Role Evolution
A nearly 11-year evolution culminated in what seemed like a minor alteration in
2014, when the R/C service line made a title change for the personnel handling the
management of the local offices. Once merely "clerks" and "secretaries," the service
line updated the title for those employees managing that role to "client experience
Chapter 10
Fred Johnson, right, talks with Jim Houston
during a shareholders meeting in 2017.
Johnson retired in 2014 as corporate vice
president of operations.
Gordon Ober retired in 2014 as vice president
of personnel and recruiting.
e acquisition of Maier Tree in 2014
expanded Davey's presence in the residential
tree care market in Minnesota.
Two WSSI employees conduct a wetlands
survey in 2017. WSSI joined Davey in 2014.
Mark Svozil, left, vice president of operations
for Commercial Landscape Services, talks to
a group of high school students who visited
Davey's corporate headquarters to learn about
arboriculture careers in 2018.
