Management Update

New Managers in Tree Co., Construction and ALS

Richard Calledare, formerly a supervisor/branch manager for American Lighting & Signalization, Inc. (ALS) in Orlando, Florida, advanced to manager of ALS maintenance operations throughout Florida in October. Vice President Brent Asplundh sponsors the traffic signal and roadway lighting subsidiary.

After receiving an associate’s degree in industrial electricity from New Hampshire Technical College, Richard moved to Florida and joined ALS in 1985 as a journeyman electrician working on roadway lighting maintenance. By the time Asplundh acquired ALS in 1989, Richard had advanced to branch manager in Jacksonville, serving Florida DOT District 2 and District 6 in Miami. In 1992, he relocated to Orlando to set up an ALS office there. As manager of ALS’s maintenance operations, Richard is responsible for contract administration and field operations for all roadway lighting maintenance contracts statewide. His customers include Florida DOT, airports, resorts, utilities and municipals. Richard serves on the the Standards & Specifications Review Committe for the Florida DOT and is a member of IMSA.

James Hardiman, former supervisor/branch manager of American Lighting & Signalization, Inc. (ALS) in Jacksonville, Florida, was promoted in October to manager of ALS construction operations throughout Florida and ALS of North Carolina operations. The traffic signal and roadway lighting subsidiary is sponsored by Vice President Brent Asplundh.

ALS was acquired by Asplundh in 1989 and James came on board then as a general foreman with five years of ALS experience overseeing the construction of street light and traffic signal systems. In 1990, James advanced to supervisor. As a new ALS manager, he oversees traffic signal and lighting construction crews working for the Dept. of Transportation in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, Florida Power & Light Co. and various municipalities and road contractors. James is a member of the International Municipal Signal Association (IMSA) and is secretary of the Electrical Apprenticeship Committee for the Northeast Florida Builders Association.

Brian McBrairty, former supervisor in the Baltimore, Maryland area, has been promoted to manager of tree operations throughout most of the state as of October. The McBrairty Region is sponsored by Matt Asplundh.

Brian started with an Asplundh tree crew in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1990. He transferred to Florida in 1992 and advanced to general foreman there two years later. In 1997, Brian became a corporate safety supervisor for regions in the Southeast and the following year, he was promoted to supervisor in Maryland. Brian’s managerial responsibilities include overseeing tree crew operations for Baltimore Gas & Electric, the Maryland State Highway Administration, Bell Atlantic and various municipal and electric cooperative accounts. Brian earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial and labor relations from Pennsylvania State University and he is an ISA Certified Arborist.

Preston Polk joined Asplundh in November as the new manager of utility line construction operations in Georgia and the Carolinas. Vice President Steven Asplundh sponsors the new region.

Preston brings to the company over 30 years of utility line construction experience, working in 38 states from Maine to California. In his latest position, he was the director of equipment operations for a line construction firm based in Jackson, Mississippi. Preston also worked for several years as a general superintendent of construction and maintenance for a utility in Southern California. His main expertise is in the construction of electric transmission and distribution lines (overhead and underground), as well as fiber optic cable installation. As a new manager for Asplundh, he oversees overhead and underground line construction and replacement operations on the property of Georgia Power Co. and various investor-owned and cooperative utilities. A committee member for lineman apprentice training programs, Preston has also served on the committee for ConExpo 1997-1998 in California.

Dale Rushing, former supervisor in South Florida, was promoted to manager of a newly established Tree Co. region in South Carolina in October. Vice President Steven Asplundh sponsors the new Rushing Region.

A 25-year Asplundh veteran, Dale gained most of his line clearance experience in Louisiana and Texas. He advanced through the ranks to general foreman in 1991 under Vice President Tom Leverentz in Texas and was promoted to supervisor three years later. In 1998, Dale transferred to the Pat White Region in Florida as a supervisor. As a new manager, he is responsible for overseeing Asplundh operations on the property of South Carolina Electric and Gas Company. A 1992 graduate of the Asplundh Supervisory Training Program, Dale is a member of the NAA and UAA and he is an ISA Certified Arborist.

Dick Umbel joined Asplundh in October as the new manager of utility construction operations in Maryland. The new region is sponsored by Vice President Gregg Asplundh.

A native of Pennsylvania, Dick brings to Asplundh over 30 years of experience in electric line construction for utilities. Starting out on a line crew in West Virginia in 1968, Dick progressed to a supervisor level in 1975 in North Carolina. He advanced to electric operations manager in Pennsylvania in 1987, procuring and overseeing projects for major utilities in several states. Dick’s current managerial responsibilities include overseeing Asplundh underground and overhead line construction operations for Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. and various electric cooperative and telecommunications accounts. Dick earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry with a minor in business management from West Virginia University in Morgantown. Eleven New Tree Co.

Eleven New Tree Co. Supervisors Announced

Mark Contat, former general foreman in Ohio, was promoted in August to supervisor under Vice President Dave Sachs. The Sachs Region, in northern and central Ohio and parts of western Pennsylvania, is sponsored by Vice President Gregg Asplundh.

Born and raised in Ohio, Mark joined an Asplundh tree crew there in 1990. By 1992, he had advanced to foreman and the following year, he was promoted to general foreman under Mike Early who is now a manager in parts of Ohio and Indiana. With the recent expansion of the Sachs Region operations on the property of American Electric Power/Columbus Southern Division, Mark transferred into that region and assumed supervisory responsibilities over the Asplundh crews in the area. Mark is a certified American Red Cross First Aid/CPR Instructor.

Tim Cornett, formerly a general foreman, advanced to supervisor in Indiana under Manager Tom Sharritts in October. The Sharritts Region in Indiana and Ohio is sponsored by Jeff Asplundh.

A 19-year Asplundh veteran, Tim has worked his entire career in Indiana. Starting out on a tree crew in 1980, he advanced to foreman within a year. In 1984, Tim was promoted to general foreman and last year, he began to assume supervisor responsibilities in the Sharritts Region. He currently oversees Asplundh crews working on the properties of Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and Indianapolis Power & Light Co., as well as several rural electric membership corporations and municipal accounts throughout Indiana. A 1985 graduate of the Asplundh Supervisory Training Program (ASTP), Tim is a member of the ISA and the Indiana Arborist Association.

Larry Gauger, Jr., former general foreman in Illinois under Manager Rod Cornett, was promoted to supervisor in September. The Cornett Region is sponsored by Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh.

Larry joined an Asplundh tree crew working for PECO Energy in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1990. He advanced to foreman the following year and served as an assistant general foreman for about a year before his promotion and transfer in 1996 to general foreman in the Chicago, Illinois area. As a supervisor for the newly expanded Asplundh operations on the property of Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd), Larry’s responsibilities include overseeing Asplundh crews working in the Northern Division of ComEd. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and a June 1999 graduate of ASTP.

Phil Hamilton, formerly a general foreman in the Kansas City, Missouri area, advanced to supervisor in September under Manager Rod Cornett in Illinois. Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh sponsors the Cornett Region.

A native of Missouri, Phil started out on an Asplundh tree crew in May 1995 with two years of experience as a municipal forester and a bachelor’s degree in urban forestry from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He advanced to general foreman in 1997 and graduated from the Asplundh Supervisory Training Program in June 1998. With his recent promotion to supervisor and transfer to Illinois, Phil is responsible for overseeing Asplundh crews working in the Northern Division of Commonwealth Edison Company, north of Chicago. He is an ISA Certified Arborist.

Dave Holder, former general foreman in the Detroit, Michigan area, was promoted to supervisor in October under Manager Frank Payne. The Payne Region is sponsored by Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh.

Born and raised in Michigan, Dave joined Asplundh in January 1997 with 23 years of line clearance experience in both a ‘hands-on’ and supervisory capacity. He advanced to general foreman in October 1997 and has worked closely with Detroit Edison Co. to introduce a hand-held, pen-based computer to line clearance operations. His current responsibilities as a supervisor include overseeing Asplundh tree crews working in the northwestern portion of the Detroit Edison service area. A September 1999 ASTP graduate, Dave also studied forestry conservation at Northwestern Michigan Junior College in Traverse City. An ISA Certified Arborist, he is a member of the Michigan Forestry & Parks Association and the ISA.

Martin Jasso, former general foreman in the Houston, Texas area, advanced to supervisor under Manager Eugene Wyatt in September. Matt Asplundh sponsors the Wyatt Region which serves customers in parts of Louisiana and Texas.

Born in Mexico, Martin started with the company in Texas in 1985 as a climber with two years of prior line clearance experience. He became a foreman four years later and was promoted to general foreman in 1993. He has overseen Asplundh outsourcing crews in several states from California to Maryland. Martin’s responsibilities as a supervisor include overseeing Asplundh tree crews working on the property of Entergy-Southwest in East Texas. A 1993 graduate of the Asplundh Supervisory Training Program, Martin has also studied computer science at San Jacinto College in Pasadena. He is a licensed herbicide specialist in Texas.

Pat Pinelli, formerly a general foreman in Pennsylvania, was promoted to supervisor in the Rod Cornett Region in northern Illinois in October. The Cornett Region is sponsored by Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh. Pat first joined an Asplundh tree crew in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1979. In 1989, he became Asplundh’s first training crew foreman on the property of PECO Energy. He was promoted to general foreman in 1991 and briefly worked in the Steve Miller Region in Delaware. Pat was back to work in the Doug Gober Region in Pennsylvania before his recent promotion to supervisor and move to Illinois. He is responsible for supervising Asplundh tree crews working in the Rock River Division of Commonwealth Edison, which is located in the northwestern portion of its service area. A 1992 ASTP graduate, Pat is a certified CPR/First Aid Instructor and is studying to be an ISA Certified Arborist.

Mark Sanders, former general foreman in southern Illinois, advanced to supervisor under Manager Rod Cornett in northern Illinois in September. Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh sponsors the Cornett Region.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mark joined an Asplundh tree crew in Illinois in 1986 with nine years of prior line clearance experience. Within a year, he was promoted to general foreman. Earlier this year Mark transferred into the Bill Pieske Region in southern Illinois, but with the recent expansion of Asplundh operations on the property of Commonwealth Edison, he was promoted to supervisor and transferred back to the northern part of the state. His supervisory responsibilities now include overseeing Asplundh crews working in the Southern Division of Commonwealth Edison. An ISA Certified Arborist, Mark is a member of the ISA, UAA and Illinois Arborist Association.

Dan Stahl, formerly a general foreman in Texas, was promoted in October to supervisor under Manager Dave Sanders in central Pennsylvania. Vice President Keith Asplundh sponsors the Sanders Region.

A native of western Pennsylvania, Dan started out with an Asplundh tree crew in Texas 17 years ago. He brought to the company four years of prior experience in right-of-way clearing and by 1983, he had advanced to general foreman. With his recent promotion to supervisor, Dan returned to Pennsylvania where he is currently responsible for supervising Asplundh tree crews working on the properties of GPU Energy and various electric cooperatives. A 1988 graduate of ASTP, Dan is an ISA Certified Arborist and American Red Cross First Aid/CPR Instructor.

Ryan Swier, former general foreman in the Chicago, Illinois area, advanced to supervisor under Manager Rod Cornett in September. The Cornett Region is sponsored by Executive Vice President Scott Asplundh.

Ryan first came to work on an Asplundh tree crew in his home state of Pennsylvania in 1991. He worked on the property of PECO Energy during summer breaks from Kutztown University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education mathematics. In January 1994, Ryan came to work for Asplundh full-time and three years later, transferred to Illinois as a foreman. He was promoted to general foreman in 1998 and as a new supervisor, he is responsible for overseeing Asplundh tree crews working on the property of Commonwealth Edison Co. in the city of Chicago. Ryan is an ISA Certified Arborist and a member of the UAA.

Mike Wolford, formerly a general foreman in West Virginia, was promoted to supervisor in October under Vice President Dave Puckett. The Puckett Region serves parts of West Virginia and Ohio and is sponsored by Vice President Brent Asplundh.

A native of West Virginia, Mike first joined Asplundh to work on a spray crew in 1984. By 1986, he had advanced to tree crew foreman, but he left in 1988 for a supervisory job with a tire company. Mike returned to the Puckett Region in 1991 and was promoted to general foreman later that year. As a supervisor, he is responsible for overseeing Asplundh crews working on the property of Allegheny Power. Mike attended Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia and graduated from ASTP in 1998. He holds West Virginia Regulatory Pesticide Business and Commercial Applicator’s Licenses and is studying for the ISA Certified Arborist exam.

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