The Davey Tree Expert Co. has acquired Nature First, a residential and commercial tree service based in Santa Cruz, California and serving the Monterrey Bay Area.
Here is the text of the release:
As part of the company’s plan to continue its strategic growth, The Davey Tree Expert Co. has announced the acquisition of Nature First, a tree care residential/commercial company based near Santa Cr
uz, California.
Nature First has approximately a dozen employees providing tree pruning and removal, planting and diagnosis, and garden renovation to its clients in the San Jose/Santa Cruz area. Dick Scoppettone started the company in 2006, and will remain with the company during the transition. Additionally, MiMi Scoppettone will be indefinitely retained as an employee.
“I am excited about the new direction we are heading,” he said. “I want to assure our clients that we will continue to provide reliable and exceptional service. Additionally, our clients can now benefit from comprehensive Plant Health Care services, including subsurface fertilization, pest and disease management, along with specialized prescription care for their trees and shrubs.”
Jim Stief, executive vice president, U.S. residential operations, said Davey is excited to welcome Nature First and its talented team. “Nature First clients also will now have access to the Davey Institute, an industry-leading diagnostic and research facility,” Stief said.
Stief also stressed that Nature First employees would also have more opportunities to grow as industry leaders. “We have no doubt they will benefit from Davey’s diversified service offerings, technology and equipment resources, research and development capability and of course the culture of employee ownership.”
Davey’s Travis Evans will be managing the Santa Cruz office. Evans is an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist and a lifelong resident of the community. Evans started with Davey in 2001 and has worked within the Davey Tree Surgery Company, Davey Resource Group and Davey’s residential/commercial operations.
The acquisition is Davey’s 6th in the last year. Stief reiterated that Davey is committed to future growth – organically and through acquisitions. “We will continue to focus on high-quality companies with customer demographics that are similar to our own, within markets where we want to grow density,” he said. “Our intent is always to pick up talented, safety-conscious employees intent on providing high level customer service.”