Cortese Tree joins Davey Tree

KENT, Oh. —The Davey Tree Expert Company announced the acquisition of Cortese Tree Specialists. This follows the company’s most recent acquisitions of Maier Forest and Tree in Rochester, Minn., and Superior NW Tree & Shrub Care, Inc., in Seattle, Wash., in January.

With the acquisition of Cortese, Davey increases its presence in the Knoxville, Tenn., area, where its Wolf Tree subsidiary already operates. Pat Covey, chief operating officer for U.S. operations, said 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. Our intent is always to choose talented, safety-conscious employees intent on providing high-level customer service,” says Covey.

Cortese has offered many aspects of residential tree care to the Knoxville area for more than 35 years, including tree preservation, fertilization, consultation and diagnosis. Owner and founder Jim Cortese said he chose Davey because he liked the additional career and arboricultural training opportunities that Davey offered his employees.

In a letter to his clients, Cortese stressed that, for them, many things would remain the same.  “I know first-hand that Davey shares our values and our commitment to client satisfaction,” Cortese said. “We will retain our highly skilled people, rely on the best science, and use the best equipment available.”

“We are excited to welcome this company and its talented team into the Davey family,” says Covey. “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.”