21
May/June 2026
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
PERSEVERANCE
STEWARDSHIP
CHICAGO PARK PRUNING PRAISED BY COMMUNITY
In the midst of a cold Chicago winter, a four-person
Residential/Commercial services (R/C) crew found
themselves at Winnemac Park.
The team was tasked with removing deadwood from
a willow tree measuring 50 inches in diameter and
providing neighboring tree clearance, and their great
work received a post of gratitude on social media from
a local park commissioner.
"It was really great to get to work at that park because
I've hung out there many times before with friends, so
getting to work on a tree that I've enjoyed was really
special," Liz Carroll, trimmer trainee, Chicago office, R/C,
said. "I have many friends in the community that get a
lot of joy from that park and that tree, so it was cool to
be a steward for the community with this work."
SOUTH ST. PAUL OFFICE KEEPS COMMUNITY GREEN
For five years, Residential/Commercial's South St. Paul office
has worked to grow their local tree canopy through the 100
Trees Initiative, a program made possible through Creative
Enterprise Zone, a local nonprofit.
This year, the South St. Paul team of Emily Mumford, assistant
district manager; Matt Gerke, tree care coordinator; Dan Pitzen,
trimmer; and Alex Guest, trimmer; along with Andrea Ebeling,
regional community engagement specialist, planted trees in
a nearby "Celestial Grove," which is a reclaimed nature space
where an old rail line used to run, and gave seedlings to
local residents.
"Most of us are familiar with the statistics of what trees do for
mental health and public health, but I think a lot of people would
admit we don't get a lot of education around trees," Mumford
said. "Being able to provide education and tools around trees
in our community that they wouldn't have access to without
outside support is a great way to care for the community."
Emily Mumford, assistant district manager; Matt Gerke, tree
care coordinator; and Alex Guest, trimmer, from R/C's South
St. Paul office stand under a Davey tent at a local program
where they planted trees and handed our seedlings to the
community.
A Chicago R/C office crew
that included Liz Carroll,
trimmer trainee, and
Ryan Sams, trimmer,
removed deadwood from
a large willow tree in
Winnemac Park in Chicago.
