Hartney Greymont joins Davey Tree Expert Company

KENT, Ohio -- The Davey Tree Expert Company has acquired Hartney Greymont. Hartney Greymont is based in Needham, Mass., and was the Boston Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in 2008.

Hartney Greymont provides tree, landscape and lawn services and will continue to operate under its existing name as a division of The Davey Company. Jim McGuire, Hartney Greymont president, will continue in his leadership role as general manager of the division.

Hartney Greymont was established in 1938, when Mike Hartney started Hartney Tree Surgeons. In 1976, Hartney Tree merged with Greymont Tree Specialists to form Hartney Greymont. In 1988, the ownership of Hartney Greymont passed from Robert Greymont to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

“This will strengthen Davey’s presence in the Northeast and will bring additional regional business expertise, talented arborists and employee owners to our organization,” said Karl J. Warnke, Davey chairman, president and CEO.  “Both Hartney Greymont and Davey are actively involved in efforts to preserve and improve the health and beauty of our environment and are committed to supporting the highest professional standards, particularly through programs that educate current and future arborists.”

Mark Tobin, Hartney Greymont chairman and CEO, is a former chairman of The Tree Care Industry Association and a past recipient of TCIA’s award of merit, the organization’s highest honor.

“We were attracted to Davey because of the company’s commitment to employee ownership,” said Tobin. “Hartney Greymont’s success has been based on core values that are central to achieving our mission: honesty, quality, dedication, safety, respect and accountability. We believe The Davey Company shares these values.”

This transaction is Davey’s ninth in the past three years. It follows Davey’s June 2008 merger with The Care of Trees, and March 2008 acquisition of Wolf Tree Experts.