Davey Tree Flipbooks

and Western Reserve Land Conservancy to facilitate one of the nine innovative sessions at the two-day event. Davey's session leaders included Joe Gregory, DRG assistant manager of natural resource consulting, and Rachel Comte, DRG associate consultant. They discussed trees' roles in the future of Cleveland and the need to change the culture of urban forestry throughout the community. "Our goal is to reconnect Cleveland with its urban forestry roots," Gregory says. D avey Resource Group (DRG) wants to help restore Cleveland's once thriving urban canopy to its original roots, back to when it was known as the "Forest City." The 2015 Sustainable Cleveland Summit, sponsored by Davey, was the perfect platform to present The Cleveland Tree Plan to the public for the first time. DRG's Cleveland Tree Plan is a community-wide collaborative plan to rebuild the urban forest through partnership. Davey teamed up with Holden Arboretum Cleveland Reclaims its 'Forest City' Title 24 | November/December 2015 On the first day, Davey employees explained The Cleveland Tree Plan, which included Davey's recommended actions on how to grow the city's canopy coverage by organizing planting projects and developing a public out- reach strategy and education campaign about the roles trees play in an urban environment. "Having a session like ours at Cleveland's sustainability summit grabs people's attention on the role of trees in a thriving, competitive city," Gregory says. Approximately 30 individu- als attended Davey's session to discuss the plan, give feedback and determine future tactics to push The Cleveland Tree Plan forward. Together, session attendees brainstormed ideas and prototyped a public education campaign. They created a big paper tree; the canopy was filled with note cards of different messages that could be included in the city's education campaign, and the roots were all the stakeholders who require targeted messaging. "It was great to see everybody excited about our plan; it shows that everyone can connect with the fact that trees are an important part of what makes a city great," Gregory says. Joe Gregory and Rachel Comte led a discussion with about 30 attendees during Davey's breakout session at the Sustainable Cleveland Summit. Q uilting, a tradition passed down through generations dating back to the 12th cen- tury, brought three Davey employees together through passion, philanthropy and friendship. Janis Hittle, program support coordinator for corporate communications, fell in love with sewing many years ago. However, her passion for sewing blossomed into a passion for quilting after her mother-in-law gave her two of her mother's handmade quilts in the 1980s. "I have made more than 50 quilts in my life- time," Hittle says. "I love to sew; it's a calming activity for me that I thoroughly enjoy." To continue her passion, Hittle joined The Calico Hearts Guild in Ravenna, Ohio, nearly 25 years ago. The guild provides more than 35 members from Portage County the platform to gather, learn, laugh and grow in their quilting expertise. Hittle convinced fellow employees Quilting a Friendship In and Out of Work Linda Roberto, secretary in the equipment department, and Susan Straub, supervisor of administrative services, to join the cause. "I get along with all the members of the guild; the different personalities make it great," Hittle says. "Linda and Sue are my closest friends in the guild. It's great to work with them inside and outside of work." Philanthropy is a big part of The Calico Hearts. "We donate anywhere from 30 to 80 quilts, of all different sizes, to the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) each year," Hittle says, explaining the CAC is a support and education center to improve the community's response to child abuse and lessen its negative impact on children. "We like to learn from each other and share ideas," Hittle says. "Everyone needs to have a diversion in their life, and quilting is mine." Janis Hittle, Sue Straub and Linda Roberto show off their quilted masterpieces.

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