Sage Advice
Laying the Foundation for Tree Care’s Bright Future After a 49-year career with Bartlett Tree Experts, Greg Daniels isn’t slowing down By Millicent Skiles
Greg says that managing these ac- quisitions provided many owner-op- erators with the relief of a clear exit strategy, especially if they were not passing the business on to family or employees. “It opens up more of an opportuni- ty to set up a retirement strategy,” he says. “Many have worked 40, 50 years in the business, and they have something of value that can be passed on.” He also points to growing competi- tion in the acquisitions market. “There’s been an awful lot of private equity money flowing into tree care companies, and Bartlett has had to compete with that,” says Greg. Greg became chairman of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) in 2005 and was awarded the Award of Merit in 2011, the organization’s highest honor to recognize those who have had a positive influence on the practice of arboriculture. “At that point, it was time to let the next generation take over the oper- ational side of the business,” Greg
Greg Daniels may’ve retired as Bart- lett Tree Experts’ president and chief operating officer in early 2013, but the venerable company wasn’t quite ready to completely let him go. Today, Greg continues to serve as the organization’s head of acquisi- tions and has shepherded more than 100 purchases. With a 49-year ca- reer at Bartlett, Greg is woven into the tapestry of much of the compa- ny’s 117-year history. And when he reflects on his experiences, it’s the people he's worked with who have le the biggest impression. “Bringing along individuals and seeing their careers grow — people I’ve recruited. To see them grow and prosper in the company is my num- ber one personal feeling,” says Greg. “I can remember when they started as a ground person on a crew and worked their way up.” DEEP ROOTS Greg started his career in tree care shortly aer college. Unhappy with the direction his career was heading, he accepted a job at his father-in- law's tree care company in 1967. He
Greg Daniels
worked there for eight years before he was recruited by Bartlett in 1975 as a local manager in the company’s Chicago office. He was soon promoted to division manager and relocated to Connecti- cut in 1980 to oversee the Con- necticut, New York, and New Jersey region. He went on to develop the West Coast market and oversee util- ity operations in the New England region before that division was sold in 2001. In 1994, Greg was tasked with overseeing the company’s ex- pansion into England and Ireland.
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