Davey Tree Flipbooks

6 | November/December 2014 T he birthplace of rock 'n' roll got all shook up when the Hard Rock Rocksino set the stage for fun games, exciting entertainment and great food in Northfield Park in late 2013. Located 20 miles southeast of downtown Cleveland, Ohio, the 200,000-square-foot Rocksino embraces the history of rock 'n' roll, yet it delivers a new vibe to the region. While some visitors play to win, others browse the vast collection of arena rock memorabilia along the walls; there's something thrilling for everyone. Last winter, however, the Rocksino at Northfield Park was very "chilling," as the northeast Ohio facility celebrated its first full season experiencing not only consecutive days in subzero temperatures but also brutal snow falls. Snow often accumulated upon every open inch of its 1 million-square-foot parking lot. COLD AS ICE. The Rocksino owner and his staff didn't know what they had gotten into. In fact, Brock Milstein, owner and partner; Jon Lucas, president; and Lenny Lantz, director of facilities, hail from the south—they had no idea what to expect weather-wise. But before the snow began to fall—and before the Rocksino's grand opening in December—Lucas chose Davey's bid for snow removal services. "We found out Milstein was building a casino, and from there we met and began to build a relationship," says Frank Monteleone, business development manager. "They awarded us the bid in late September 2013." From there, Kent Winterhalter, account manager at Davey's Cleveland East CLS branch, created a plan for crews to tackle snow removal and maintenance that following winter. YOU REALLY GOT ME. Heavy, frequent snow storms often challenged Davey crews to remove accumulation quickly and efficiently. After all, they were under pressure to clear a 1 million-square-foot parking lot, capable of accommodating up to 3,000 visitors or more. "You have to be on the lookout when you're plowing along the main loop road," Winterhalter says, adding it's approximately 1 mile long. Davey crews plowed snow and salted sidewalks every time snow fell. "One million square feet is one big parking lot," Winterhalter says. "It's not easy, what those crews did." It was a long winter, and Monteleone negotiated a summer maintenance contract before winter ended. "We offered everything they needed up front—and it has turned out to be one of the best client relationships we've had," he says. SATISFACTION. When the maintenance contract began at the Rocksino in spring 2014, Lantz coordinated Davey crews' assistance with plant replacement to remove many dead plants that had suffered from the harsh winter. "We replaced 90 percent of the landscaping," Winterhalter says. In addition to weekly watering and fertilizer applications, mowing and other maintenance responsibilities, Davey also accepted the owners' requests for more flowers—and more work—week after week. "They loved our work," Winterhalter says. "Now, the owners are comfortable picking up the phone and simply asking what they want at any time. It's just a friendly conversation; good for both sides." DREAM ON. Thanks to efficient coordination and open communication, Davey delivered an excellent service experience to Rocksino owners during their facility's first year. "The only way the professional relationship got to this point is communication, to sum it up in one word," Monteleone says. "Communication was huge—it made this contract successful. The whole process went so smooth." The work Davey performed was a win-win for both Davey and the client, and it has resulted in additional annuals and tree installation this past fall. "Two years ago, the space was a grass lot; now, a multi-million-dollar casino sits there," Monteleone says. "We're thrilled to be part of their vision. It was a great first year. Here's to many more to come." Davey's superstar snow removal services—in one of the wildest winters—raise client's trust to the next octave. Thousands of annuals line the sidewalks and driveways leading to and from the entrance to the Hard Rock Rocksino at Northfield Park in Ohio. The annuals Davey installed in spring (pictured) led to more flower installation and more work for Davey crews throughout summer.

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