Mark Noark and Bill Whitmire came to visit the campus again and to speak to the Horticulture Seminar students and also, in a few select classes. Mark Noark is the main recruiter for the business. He goes out and visits universities about nine months out of the year. Bill Whitmire is the Vice President of Operations and specifically in charge of the Western Operating Group. Davey Tree is the 4th largest company in the green industry and the largest full service tree care company. If you want to do anything in arboriculture, you need to talk to these guys. They love the students that come from our program; in fact, they have one working there now.
One thing they emphasized a lot during their presentation was customer service. Davey has amazing customer service, the best in the industry. They understand that if you burn bridges with one customer, it can ruin your reputation instantly. However, it also happens to work the other way. If you work your hardest to make it a good experience for your client, they will be customers for life and most likely refer family, friends and neighbors. This principle applies to all areas of business.
They are more than just a tree company. Davey Tree is so diverse with a great skill set and many departments. Not only do they do full tree care, they do utility line clearance operations, large tree moving, commercial and residential care, and golf course maintainance. They also have a resource group (primarily women) who give it their all when it comes to project. Mark Noark said, "There is nothing they don't do, or will not try." The resource group checks electrical lines, performs surveys, conduct tree inventories for national cemetaries etc.
Davey is the 16th largest employee-owned company. Each employee invests in themselves which helps to motivate even more. They help their employees to grow within the company to become the best they can be. Davey has great employee retention; you are still a newbie if you have worked there 15 years. They value hard work, honesty, a good attitude and creativity. Bill Whitmire said, "You need to be able to roll with the punches and think on your feet." Good things (such as promotions) happen to people when they least expect it and are not looking for it. They said that they always are watching their employees even when they are going their routine jobs, they are watching for dedication and service.
Check out their website at http://www.davey.com/ and/or join their FaceBook group. They are an excellent business doing all the right things. Bill Whitmire's email address is bill.whitmire@davey.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment