139 138 Growth Rings
e price, or the experience? In my estimation, it is the experience, our expertise, our
history, and our relationship-building that will win us a client time and again."
Ken Celmer, then senior vice president and general manager of Davey U.S. R/C
operations, noted that Davey employees are the key to building strong relationships
with clients, particularly Davey's frontline employees. eir skills, knowledge and
work ethic are what earn the unwavering trust of clients, therefore generating an
exceptional retention rate, Celmer explained in a 2008 Bulletin article.
e efforts to rebrand and refocus did pay off, at least as reflected in the company's
total revenue. However, revenue for the service line dropped seven percent in 2009 –
during the deepest point of the Great Recession in the U.S. – prompting executives to
note in the 2009 annual report that despite the revenue drop, the service line "continues
to improve our customer relations efforts." R/C revenue rose by 10 percent in 2010,
5.1 percent in 2011, 8.2 percent in 2012, and by 10 percent in 2013.
Leadership Changes and DaveyCare
e year 2009 brought a major leadership transition when Roger Funk retired from
full-time service. Having started in 1973, fresh out of college, Funk had a lasting
impact on the success of Davey Tree through numerous innovations, both technolog-
ical and research-based. He also had a far-reaching effect on the employees, having
instructed thousands of them through the company's various training programs.
Funk continued as an instructor for D.I.T.S. until 2013, when his final class marked
40 years of teaching the program. Funk left the Institute in Greg Ina's capable hands.
Funk recalled in a 2015 interview that he owed much of his success to mentors and
colleagues who played just as important a role as he did in groundbreaking initiatives,
such as the development of Arbor Green or establishing the Plant Health Care
program. "I think of all the support I had, and I can say there's not a single thing that
I accomplished that wasn't because of somebody else," he said.
With the next year came another significant retirement. Ken Celmer retired in
January 2010 as senior vice president and general manager of Residential/Commercial
services, a position he held since 2000. Celmer played an important role in expanding
R/C services and seeing the service line through growth periods and tighter times in
two recessions. "roughout the years Ken has […] provided consistent leadership
Chapter 9
Opposite page: e January/February 2007
Davey Bulletin introduced the "Building on
the Best of Davey" campaign to employees.
e rebranding initiative aimed to reintroduce
the company to both employees and clients.
From left, Karl Warnke, Brent Repenning
and Joe Paul take part in the ceremonial
groundbreaking for part of downtown Kent's
more than $100 million redevelopment in 2011.
Davey was one of the anchor tenants in a new
building at the corner of South Water Street
and State Route 59.
