Davey Tree Acquires Companies in Nashville, Boulder and Fort Collins

The Davey Tree Expert Company is continuing a record growth phase with acquisitions in Nashville, Boulder and Fort Collins.  This brings the total acquisitions by the company to 12 in the past three years.

The 127-year-old Ohio-based provider of arboricultural and horticultural services expects the locations to involve new jobs, as well as expanded opportunities for current employees, including sales, management and service employees, says Karl  J. Warnke, president and CEO.

“Strategic expansion is the foundation of our business model, and these cities offer excellent growth opportunities for our company,” Warnke said. “The residential/commercial services offices represent the business we were founded upon--providing expert tree care for home owners and commercial property managers.”

In Nashville, Davey expanded operations through the purchase of Oakley Tree Care and Landscape Company, a family-owned provider of tree and landscape care services since 1977.  The acquisition expands Davey’s reach into the northern area of Nashville where Oakley’s client base was concentrated.  Davey is now one of Nashville’s largest tree care service providers.   

Davey’s Boulder office is expanding with the acquisition of Hayes Tree Services, Inc. Hayes, which has been in business for more than 30 years, has a customer service area that roughly parallels Davey’s.  Davey is now the largest tree care company in the Boulder area. 

Davey enters the Fort Collins market with the purchases of Alpine Tree Company and Alpine-Hill Pruning Company.  With the purchase, Davey will operate the two from a single location. 

The Boulder and Fort Collins acquisitions bring the total number of Davey locations in Colorado to five.

“Davey is committed to growth in existing operations and through acquisitions of respected firms, such as Oakley, Hayes, Alpine Tree, Alpine-Hill,” Warnke said.

Nashville

According to Bob Meoak, district manager at Davey’s Nashville office, “We’ve always had a lot of respect for Oakley Tree as a competitor, and now we welcome the additional skills and expertise they bring to complement our existing team.” He continued, “We are bringing to Davey from Oakley some very talented arborists who will enhance our ability to provide high quality tree care service.”

A total of six former Oakley employees joined Davey, including co-founder Bob Oakley and his niece, Brenda McCool.  They will serve as sales representative and office coordinator respectively.  McCool is the daughter of co-founder Doug Oakley, who is retiring.

Bob Oakley says the move will benefit Oakley’s clients. “This provides a great opportunity for us to offer additional services to our existing customers -- all with the same commitment to excellence and prompt service that they’ve enjoyed in the past,” he said. 
 
Boulder, Colo.

Most of the former Hayes employees joined Davey, including owner Craig Hayes who will join as a sales representative.  According to Brian O’Niel, Davey’s Boulder district manager, “Craig is eager to work with us and wants a seamless transfer for the employees and clients.”

The acquisition makes Davey the largest tree company in the area.   “The Hayes employees are looking forward to working with us and this will give them the opportunity for advancement in our company,” said O’Niel.

Fort Collins, Colo.

Natalie McNeill has been named district manager for Davey’s Fort Collins operations.  She was formerly office manager of Davey’s Denver office.

“Fort Collins is a great smaller city and I’m delighted to have the opportunity here,” said McNeill.  “Our challenge is to help our customers know that even though Davey is a large company, we have a ‘small town’ philosophy.”  

McNeill holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry from the University of New Brunswick and has been with Davey since 2001. 

For more information about Davey visit www.davey.com.