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In the late 1800s, a man from England landed in the United States with a dream and a burning desire: to preserve ailing trees and provide high-quality horticultural services. Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, the company founded in his name in 1880 continues his work as The Davey Tree Expert Co. With 5,000 employees across North America, the company still retains John Davey’s passion.
EARLY EXPANSION. In the early years, the company mostly served to give John a platform to demonstrate his tree surgery practices. His book, “The Tree Doctor,” self-published in 1901, helped spread the word about his new scientific techniques for tree care. However, it wasn’t until he recruited his son Martin in 1906 that the company really began to grow as a business.
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As president of the company, Martin marketed the company by pursuing highly visible clients such as New York’s Central Park, securing Will Rogers as the speaker at the company’s 1934 anniversary celebration, planting trees in Philadelphia for each of the original 13 colonies during the U.S. Sesquicentennial and sponsoring a nationally broadcast radio program.
While his involvement in the company grew, Martin also pursued politics, eventually becoming mayor of the city of Kent, Ohio, a four-term member of Congress and a two-term governor of Ohio.
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One of the early struggles for the fledgling company was how to keep its field force employed during the slower winter months. Establishing The Davey Institute of Tree Surgery in 1909 allowed for a consistent field force while teaching them new techniques and horticultural practices.
In 1921, the company began its first utility contract. Utility lines required year-round care, and by 1960 the service would account for 60 percent of the company’s business.
The reciprocal nature of loyalty between the company and its employees was demonstrated during the economic tough times. In 1934, the company forgave the debt owed by salesmen who had been advanced funds against future commissions. And employees accepted partial payment of wages when the same economic downturn interrupted the company’s cash flow.
INVENTION & INNOVATION. At the end of World War II, the company experienced a shift in leadership as Martin Davey, Sr., died and was replaced by his son, Martin (Brub) Davey, Jr. In addition to the leadership change, the period following WWII was marked by remarkable changes in equipment in the industry and to Davey crews.
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Chemical brush control was conceived by Homer L. “Red” Jacobs when he concluded that a DuPont-made chemical was effective against brush. The company realized the potential success of the service, and offered it to Davey’s utility customers. Within a few years, the chemical brush control service reached a million dollars.
The first power saw, introduced after WWII, was cumbersome, difficult to repair and frustrating to operate, but as it became lighter and more dependable, the power saw became an essential tool for tree surgery crews. By 1957, Davey Tree had 430 power saws in use in the field.
The brush chipper, introduced in 1949, could be towed behind the Davey truck, and grind limbs and brush quickly and cleanly. Today, it is an essential piece of field equipment.
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The aerial bucket truck also revolutionized the way trees could be pruned. By the mid-1950s, Davey crews were using the bucket trucks to trim trees around power lines and at residences, including the Henry Ford estate in Dearborn, Michigan.
EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP & OPPORTUNITY. In the late 1960s and 1970s, the company’s leadership changed hands between Brub Davey, Paul Hershey, Joe Myers and Alexander Smith. Finally in early 1977, the family announced its intention to sell the company. This announcement started a domino effect among employees that ultimately led to employee ownership. After four offers and countless hours of negotiations, ownership transferred to the employees of the company in 1979.
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Over the ensuing months and years, employees worked diligently to ensure that their investment paid off. During that time, the number of employees working at the company doubled, the revenues increased eight-fold and the number of employee shareholders increased from 113 to more than 2,000.
The company also experienced incredible growth through more than 40 acquisitions, including High Tree services, the largest line-clearing contractor in Western Canada; numerous grounds care operations; and a large residential operation, the B.D. Wilhelm Co. of Denver, Colo.
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At the 10-year anniversary of employee ownership, the company offered a second stock subscription. When the company offered its third stock subscription in 2002, 365 employees subscribed for more than 800,000 shares for a total subscription amount of more than $10 million.
In the 1990s, the company reorganized around customer groups, launched Davey Resource Group, the technical consulting division, and the Commercial Service group, the grounds management division.
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At the turn of the century, the company’s acquisition of National Shade stablished a national presence and capability in the large tree moving market. With the addition of the golf and sports turf division, Davey’s host of offerings included everything from urban forestry to vegetation management and from commercial grounds management to large tree moving.
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“Over the past 125 years, Davey Tree has changed from a regional tree care operation to a North American company providing complete horticultural services in the residential, utility, commercial and governmental markets,” said R. Douglas Cowan, chairman and CEO. “I think ‘Father John’ would be impressed with our growth. I know I’m proud of our accomplishments and am certain that the next 125 years will be as impressive as the last.”
The Davey Tree Expert Co. provides tree, shrub and lawn care, large tree moving, grounds management, vegetation management and consulting services throughout North America. Founded in 1880, Davey has more than 5,000 employees and is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year.
