KENT, Ohio – George Gaumer, Davey’s commercial landscape services vice president and general manager, has announced his retirement. He is a longtime industry leader who retires from Davey with more than 35 years at the company.
Gaumer began his Davey career in 1977, serving in a number of positions in the residential/commercial service line, including area manager, sales and marketing manager and national sales manager. In 2000, with the establishment of the Davey commercial grounds maintenance group, he was promoted to vice president. He was promoted to his current position in 2005.
Pat Covey, chief operating officer, said Gaumer has been a dedicated leader of the service line. “Throughout the years that George has been employed at Davey, he has provided consistent leadership and commitment to the people working with him in each capacity,” Covey said. “He has been a valuable ambassador of the company within the industry.”
Gaumer holds a number of industry honors, including the Gold Medal Award from the Professional Grounds Maintenance Society (PGMS), and the PLANET “Trailblazer” award.He is a past board member of ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America), Professional Grounds Maintenance Society (PGMS), and Green Industry Expo and is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and an ALCA/PLANET certified landscape professional.
Joy, Svozil promoted. Covey also announced two strategic promotions: Dan Joy (left) to vice president and general manager of the Commercial Landscape Services, and Mark Svozil to the position of vice president of operations.
Joy, who has more than 36 years of experience in the industry, served most recently as vice president of the service line.
Joy has experience in multiple area of the business, starting on the Cleveland Electric Illuminating account, before transitioning to the residential service line and working his way to district manager of the Columbus residential office in 1989. In 2000, he became an operations manager for the commercial grounds maintenance group, and he was promoted to vice president of commercial landscape services in 2005.
Joy has been the recipient of some of the company’s most prestigious awards, including three “Outstanding Manager” awards and one “Best of Davey Leadership” award. He is also a past member of President’s Council.
Covey cited Joy’s deep knowledge of the service line, company and industry when discussing the role. “Dan’s career at Davey has given him a diverse background,” Covey said. “His past experiences will serve him well as he takes on the new challenges associated with this promotion.”
Svozil has more than 20 years of experience in the green industry and most recently held the title of commercial operations manager. He joined Davey Tree in 1992 as a landscape foreman, and worked his way up to branch manager of the Northeast Ohio commercial office in 2001.
In 2006, he was promoted to operations manager of the Midwest region, his last title before this promotion. Svozil is also a Davey award-winner, having received an" “Outstanding Manager” award, “Safety Leadership” award and a “Best of Davey Leadership” award. He is also a past member of President’s Council.
“Mark is a smart businessman who works collaboratively and has an amazing work ethic,” said Covey. “We are confident that he will continue to pursue opportunities for the company in new and exciting ways.”
