January/February 2017 | The Davey Bulletin 13
MY DAVEY
A TOUCHDOWN CONTRACT FOR CHARLOTTE
Davey's Charlotte, North Carolina,
Residential/Commercial office has been
named Bank of America Stadium's
sole tree care provider for a second
consecutive five-year contract.
Ray Betz, district manager of the
Charlotte, North Carolina, R/C office
first took on this highly sought-after
role of caring for the stadium's trees
in 2010. After five successful years,
Betz's contract came up for renewal
in 2016.
"To work for a client that is this pres-
tigious has been the highlight of my
tenure here in Charlotte," Betz said.
Renewing this coveted contract is a
special point of pride for Betz's office.
"We are here to support and be
humble and thankful and take care
of the trees," Betz said.
Betz couldn't have done it without
the support and expertise of his
hardworking crew, including Chris
Diffley, S&S technician; Bill Hickman,
foreman; Sean Martin, foreman;
Branden Phelps, foreman; Chris Rose,
trimmer; and Zachary Hall, trimmer.
"My first time there, Ray told me
every cut to make," Phelps said. "He
had a picture in mind and once we
understood his expectations we
were able to carry it out through the
entire property."
The stadium's 33-acre complex is
encircled by green, with more than
270 established trees shading the
stadium's many visitors on game day.
"We do everything at a high level,
from trimming to cleanup, because
that's what they selected us to do,"
Phelps said. This hard work was
tested in 2014, when the stadium
underwent a major $125 million
renovation project.
Preparing for and during construction,
Davey pre-emptively pruned trees and
tied up limbs to allow the construction
of several escalators, deep-fertilized
trees using Arbor Green Pro
®
and
conducted other tree health care
procedures to ensure their health
during heavy construction.
Although it was a difficult challenge,
Betz and his crew persevered.
"No trees were lost during
construction," Betz said.
Ray Betz, district manager of the Charlotte,
North Carolina, R/C office, inspects Bank
of America Stadium's many trees.
Bank of America Stadium's alley of
the South's beloved live oaks.
Davey's Branden Phelps trims trees
at the Bank of America Stadium.
Davey's Charlotte, North Carolina, R/C
office is Bank of America Stadium's
preferred tree care provider.
