30
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
January/February 2018
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
CHAIRMAN, RETIRED CEO KARL WARNKE
EARNS JOHN DAVEY AWARD
Davey Chairman and retired CEO
Karl Warnke received the Davey
Company's most prestigious honor
when he was presented with the
John Davey Award of Excellence
upon his retirement in 2017.
Warnke retired in July 2017 following
37 years of service. He started with
Davey in 1980 in the West Cleveland
Residential/Commercial office. After
accepting a management trainee
position with the corporate office,
he was promoted to utility operations
coordinator in 1982, utility operations
manager in 1984 and vice president
of utility operations in 1986. He
became corporate vice president and
assistant to the president in 1987 with
responsibility for operations support
services. In 1988, Warnke was
promoted to corporate vice president
and general manager of North
American Utility services. He became
executive vice president in 1993 and
president and chief operating officer
in 1999. Warnke was elected CEO in
2007 and named chairman in 2009.
DAVEY SURGERY V.P. LARRY ABERNATHY
EARNS JOHN DAVEY AWARD
Larry Abernathy, vice president,
Davey Tree Surgery Company, recently
received the prestigious John Davey
Award of Excellence.
Abernathy has nearly 50 years with
Davey. He started in 1969 in the
field working vegetation control for
the San Diego Gas & Electric account.
Abernathy was eventually promoted
to operations manager of the Davey
Tree Surgery Company. In 2012 he
was promoted to vice president
and general manager of Davey
Tree Surgery. In 2015 he was
named a corporate officer of the
Davey Company.
THE JOHN
DAVEY AWARD
OF EXCELLENCE
The Davey Company introduced
the John Davey Award of Excellence
in 1992 to recognize exemplary
employees, and it represents the
highest award the company can
bestow upon an employee.
The John Davey Award is presented
to Davey employees who exhibit
the qualities most revered by our
founder, and who through their
performance and example have
earned the respect and admiration of
their fellow employees. The award is
granted to the uncommon few who
consistently "Do It Right or Not at All."
John Davey Award winners also
demonstrate the following: character
in honesty and integrity; leadership
that inspires, motivates and helps
people; genuine caring for people
that develops commitment,
teamwork and self-respect;
commitment to service that
surpasses customer expectations;
work ethic that consistently
exceeds normal requirements; and
loyalty that passionately supports
and promotes the company and
its mission.
John Davey
Larry Abernathy, left, receives his John Dav-
ey Award of Excellence from Davey President
and CEO
Pat Covey.
Karl Warnke
