September/October 2017 | The Davey Bulletin 35
• You've got to keep learning.
"In the late 1950s when I
worked for Canada's provincial
government, we were still using
phonograph cylinders, which were
one of the earliest ways to record
sound back in the early 1900s.
When I was working at Davey,
we were using computers, and
shorthand went out of style by
then. You have to transition from
old to new and always be open
to learning through experience.
You have to keep learning to
move forward and grow."
• Make clients feel special.
"You've got to get along with
people – especially on the phone.
You can't see who you're talking
to, only hear them. You have to
remember every time you answer
the phone that there's a human
being on the other end! I always
asked names and did my best to
recognize voices when I could.
A good deal of the time, we
would chit chat, and that makes
such a difference to clients."
RETIREE CORNER
BARBARA WALTERS' TIPS FOR SUCCESS AT WORK
INTERVIEWING BARBARA WALTERS
From 1995 to 2004, if you called Davey's West
Toronto office, you likely spoke to Barbara
Walters. She was the one who would remember
your voice (or even what you were calling
about) and help any way she could.
Technically, Walters was a secretary, but
everyone who knew her called her a jack-of-
all-trades. Now, Walters looks back at her years
at Davey and shares her insights to help you
and your career.
• Embrace the job's variety.
"I answered the phones, talked
to customers, typed and handled
the paperwork. The fellas I worked
with used to say, 'I don't know
how you do so much!' There's
no trick! You just get on with it.
You keep busy and get through it
eventually. It helps if you like the
work, and I did really like working
at Davey. Really, I liked it all! I
liked the people I worked with.
I liked talking to the clients. And
I learned a lot about trees."
When Barbara
Walters first retired,
she couldn't believe
how "lovely it was
to go where you
wanted to go when
you wanted to go!"
Then, she'd get up
at 7 a.m. and spend
hours in the garden,
growing "miles
of squash." Now,
Walters primarily
enjoys nurturing her
houseplants and
watching Canada's
sports teams
on television.
Ronald Beach, retiree, passed away Aug. 19, 2017.
Beach retired in December 2006 as assistant district
manager of the Columbus office following 40 years of
service. Beach graduated from D.I.T.S. as the Golden
Oak recipient in 1970. He was named production
manager at the Columbus office in 1989 and assistant
district manager in 2000. In 2004, he was a recipient
of the John Davey Award.
IN MEMORIUM
Clifford Bouton, retiree, passed away Sept. 4, 2017.
Bouton retired in April 2006 as a sales representative
in the Albany, New York, R/C office after 42 years of
service. Bouton had served as district manager of
the Albany office for 30 years but stepped down to
serve as sales representative for a smooth transition
to his successor.
