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Up Close with Anthony Williams

DAVEY TREE district manager

THERE ARE GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO THEIR CRAFT, MADE OBVIOUS BY THEIR CAREER CHOICE. WE ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE INFLUENCES TOWARD THEIR CAREER, AS WELL AS OTHER INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THEIR LIFE.

Job Description: The District Man-Job Description: ager position demands the ability to switch between multiple roles effectively and efficiently at a moment’s notice. First and foremost, I am a team member of the Kansas City Office. Some of my responsibilities include (but are not limited to) ensuring that Safety is our top priority, providing on the job training, the supervision of all services, ensuring Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance, providing consultations, and working in the field with the team. My adventure with Davey Tree began about 17 years ago in 2004 with our N. Detroit office. In 2008, I transferred to our Charlotte office. Then, I took a sales position in Cleveland in 2016. Finally, in 2019, I moved here to run the Kansas City office.

Services offered: We offer a wide variety of services and can be helpful with just about anything in the landscape. Our core services include tree pruning and preservation, tree removal and stump grinding, plant health care services, fertilization, and pest management. We even offer lawn care services such as fertilization, weed and grub control, disease treatments and seeding options.

How you came to work in the green industry: I first began working with plants and soil when I attended a trade school back in Michigan. It was not long before I knew I wanted to be a part of the green industry in one way or another. One day a recruiter came to the school to tell us about his company, The Davey Tree Expert Company. The long history of the company and the employee ownership really hit home for me coming from a proud union family. Over the years I have had the pleasure of working my way up the ranks with some really great people. It is hard to say who inspired me the most. Every day I’m reminded of something someone has taught me along the way and I value all the experience this company has shared with me.

Favorite tree: My personal favorite is the Live oak. Next in the running would be the American Elms and Swamp white oaks, but there are so many others. The shade they provide, the wildlife they shelter, and the stories they tell are just some of the reasons why the trees speak to me.

No doubt COVID-19 has affected your company and operations: In the tree care industry, safety must always come first. COVID-19 prevention immediately became another safety program within our company. We quickly implemented safety policies to keep our teams and clients safe. I long for the day when I can have a face-to-face consultation without a mask again, but for the time being it is just too risky (even outdoors).

As an industry professional, what what do you see trending on the home gardening scene? Pollinator and environmentally friendly methods and products to help better control pests like emerald ash borer, Japanese beetle, and bagworm are becoming increasingly more common. The single rope technique of tree climbing is also exciting for us. It has brought a new level of safety to our tree climbers.

What every homeowner and gardener should know: I wish more people were aware that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Having your tree inspected by a certified arborist regularly to stay informed on their condition helps keeps your trees healthy; and healthy trees are resistant trees. A great way to keep them that way is with annual fertilization. Proper cultural practices like mulching correctly and watering during hot dry weather is sometimes overlooked and could cause more damage than homeowners realize. Your evergreens will benefit from watering prior to winter.

When the work is done, how do you spend your free time? Since I am still fairly new to the area, I like to get out and explore. Taking my dog to the lake for a swim or the woods for a hike are favorite outdoor activities. I wish more things were open this year, but this too shall pass.

Contact information: www.davey. com; 913-451-TREE (8733)