Special: Employee
Ownership 101
Building Momentum
F
or Davey, 2014 adds up.
This year, the company has finalized
five major acquisitions. The number of
employees has increased to more than 8,000.
Davey remains the No.1 largest employee-
owned service firm company in the U.S.
And the company celebrated 35 years of
employee ownership.
Today, Davey is not the same company it
was in 1979 when employees purchased the
company from the Davey family. "Now, Davey
is much stronger and growing faster," says Rick
Ramsey, corporate vice president of Canadian
operations. "We all learned to grow."
Ramsey, an original employee owner who
has 42 years of service at Davey, says employee
ownership and commitment in the past 35
years is the primary reason for Davey's current
strength and size in the green industry.
"Employee ownership is phenomenal at
Davey," Ramsey adds. "Not all employees
from other companies have this opportunity."
Educate. Davey growth improves
collaboration within the company; new
employees also become more familiar
with employee ownership and the oppor-
tunities associated with that concept.
"I like the idea of feeling like an
owner," says Jen Morgan, sales arborist at
Maier Tree & Lawn, an acquisition Davey
completed at the beginning of 2014. "It
helps me get more emotionally invested in the
company, and I feel pretty good about it."
Because employee ownership isn't
common among tree care
industry companies,
Morgan says
education is
very important when familiarizing other
employees with the concept. She not only
explains the big picture, but also her
responsibilities and purchasing options as
an employee owner.
"Knowing how the things I do as an owner
affect the culture in the company is something
I emphasize," Morgan says. "I show how
that ties into the mission. Having those
conversations is important."
Reflect. As the year draws to a close, it's time
to appreciate the victories we've experienced
so far in 2014. It's time to assess the paths we
chose to get there; assess the knowledge and
skills we applied to build momentum for
future success.
But it's also that time to show some
gratitude for the opportunities we have as
Davey employees. The New Year will be here
before we know it; who knows which situations
or challenges will face us months from now.
Just remember this: As employee owners,
"we are all in this together."
As Morgan adds, "We are just one big team.
A bigger team that I have ever been on in my
life and that's really exciting."
Looking ahead, how will you help educate
yourself and other Davey employees about
the facts and benefits of employee ownership?
If you need help, you may access the employee
ownership video on YouTube here:
http://bit.ly/1vxOD1i.
If you have any questions about the video
or employee ownership, send an email to
bulletin@davey.com.
Jen Morgan,
Maier Tree & Lawn
18 | November/December 2014
