Funk Becomes Chief Technical Officer at Davey Tree

Recent changes at The Davey Institute in Kent, Ohio have resulted in changing responsibilities that are designed to ensure the sterling reputation of Davey’s training, technical and research-based services.

Roger Funk

Roger Funk, Ph.D., has been named to the position of Chief Technical Officer for the Davey company. In the newly created post, he will focus on research, training, education, and public-speaking initiatives.  Previously vice president and general manager of The Davey Institute, Funk will continue as a vice president, but will relinquish daily responsibility for management of the Institute.
 
Funk earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, a master’s in ornamental horticulture and a Ph.D. in plant physiology from West Virginia University. He joined Davey in 1973. He received The National Arbor Day Foundation's highest honor, the J. Sterling Morton Award. He also was the recipient of Davey Tree’s prestigious John Davey award.
 
Greg Ina has been promoted to general manager of The Davey Institute and will be responsible for all Institute functions. Reporting to Greg will be research and laboratories, technical services, education and training, environmental programs, and the new ventures/development group.
 
Ina holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Kent State University where he specialized in geographic information systems. He began his Davey career in 1995 as a GIS intern and previously was manager of GIS/IT for Davey Resource Group.

Greg Ina

Ina has most recently been involved with a number of projects with United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and spearheaded Davey’s involvement in an industry-wide urban forestry initiative following Hurricane Katrina.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Cowan hailed the changes as further evidence of Davey’s technical excellence.

“Roger’s new role means that his knowledge, intellect and services will be available to the company,” Cowan says. “Greg’s recent work with emerging technologies helps us retain our reputation as the technical leader within the green industry.”

President and Chief Operating Officer Karl Warnke says the transition is of great importance.

“Part of what differentiates us in the green industry is our technical excellence,” he says. “Merging Greg’s innovative skill set with Roger’s research background will result in a Davey Institute that is poised to not only seize opportunities as they become available, but to create new opportunities.”

The Davey Tree Expert Company 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 6,000 employees.