In this special episode of The UVM Podcast, Stephen Cieslewicz and Nick Ferguson sit down with Jack McCabe, Vice President and General Manager at Davey Resource Group, for a wide-ranging conversation about the history, culture, and future of one of the most influential companies in Utility Vegetation Management. Jack shares how he entered the UVM industry, the evolution of Davey Tree from a family-owned tree care company founded in 1880 into one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, and how Davey continues investing in leadership development, technology, safety, and the next generation of arborists. The discussion also explores major advancements in UVM technology, including ResourceKeeper software, remote sensing, LiDAR, drones, GIS integration, and how utilities are increasingly using data-driven systems to improve reliability, wildfire mitigation, and operational efficiency.

The second half of the episode launches the very first "Things We Like" giveaway segment, featuring three Davey-green Seiko watches selected with Davey Tree and discussed in classic UVM Podcast fashion. Steve, Nick, and Jack dive into the history and unique character of the Seiko Alpinist, Presage Cocktail Time "Mojito," and the legendary King Turtle diver, connecting the watches to field work, craftsmanship, military history, movies, and even vintage Davey retirement Rolexes from the 1960s. The episode also includes giveaway details, Davey "mystery" swag bags, and special support from Exquisite Timepieces and Mirage Luxury Travel, making this one of the most unique episodes the podcast has produced to date.

About the Guest

Jack McCabe is Vice President and General Manager of Utility Vegetation Management at Davey Resource Group, the environmental consulting and engineering subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company. He joined Davey in 1999 as a supervising consulting utility forester, after four years in the industry with a competitor and an earlier career as a city planner working on natural resource planning, hillside preservation, and riparian corridor management. He holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA Certified Utility Specialist. He is a former director of the Utility Arborist Association, a former board president of the California Urban Forests Council, and a six-time Tour des Trees rider. Davey Tree, founded in 1880, employs more than 12,000 people across the United States and Canada.

Things We Like Segment – Watches!

The "Things We Like" segment is a new experimental feature on The UVM Podcast that we are testing to see whether listeners enjoy this different style of episode and want us to continue doing more of them in the future. The concept is simple: Steve and Nick sit down and talk about products, gear, tools, technology, watches, books, and other items they genuinely find interesting, useful, well made, historically significant, or simply enjoyable to own and use. Many of the items naturally connect to the culture and realities of the Utility Vegetation Management industry, field work, travel, and the lifestyles of the people who work in and around the utility world. Some episodes may focus on rugged field gear, others on craftsmanship, innovation, history, or just things that make people smile when they use them. This first episode featuring Davey Tree and the three green Seiko watches is our way of testing the concept and seeing what listeners think.

To Enter the drawing:

For this first "Things We Like" giveaway episode, listeners can enter to win one of the three featured Davey green Seiko watches along with additional prizes and swag. See descriptions, photos, videos, and links below.

To enter, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and then send one email to podcast@utilityvegetationmanagement.com with your contact information and clearly list the three watches in the order you would prefer to receive them (first choice, second choice, and third choice). The first winner drawn will receive their first-choice watch. The second winner drawn will receive either their first or second choice depending on availability, and the third winner will receive the remaining watch. Winners will be selected randomly approximately three weeks after the episode release date. The winners' names will be posted on the web and the winners will also be contacted directly after the drawing. All shipping and handling for the watches will be provided by Exquisite Timepieces. Note, depending on the country or location of the winner, separate VAT charges, import duties, taxes, customs fees, or related charges may apply, and those costs will be the sole responsibility of the winner.

We would like to thank Davey Tree for helping select the three watches featured in this giveaway and for generously purchasing the watches for our listeners. Thanks to Davey Tree, each of the 3 winners will also receive "mystery" Davey swag bags. And finally, each winner will receive a watch travel case, embossed with "The UVM Podcast" logo, from our friends at Mirage Luxury Travel.

Links from This Episode

The three watches

Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB121 — green sunray dial, 200m water resistance, 70-hour power reserve, internal compass bezel Seiko Presage Cocktail Time Mojito SRPE45 — green textured dial, 38.5mm, 41-hour power reserve, brown leather with deployment clasp Seiko Prospex King Turtle SRPE05 — green dial, 200m water resistance, ceramic bezel, cushion case with crown at four o'clock

Also mentioned

Davey Technology and Software Solutions for Utilities ResourceKeeper The Davey SEED Campus Exquisite Timepieces — authorized dealer, handling watch logistics and shipping Mirage Luxury Travel — watch cases for the three winners Tour des Trees, TREE Fund — annual charity cycle ride

Sponsor

This episode of The UVM Podcast is made possible by our commercial sponsor, Davey:

Davey Resource Group is a premier provider of environmental consulting, utility vegetation management, and utility asset management services. As a subsidiary of The Davey Tree Expert Company, they leverage the strength of more than 12,000 professionals to deliver sustainable, technology-driven solutions across North America. Backed by their parent company's respected legacy in arboriculture and long-standing commitment to safety, research, and innovation, Davey Resource Group offers specialized services including remote sensing, GIS integration, work management software, reliability services, infrastructure engineering, and comprehensive environmental planning. To learn more about their utility-focused capabilities, please visit their Davey Utility Solutions page.

We appreciate their continued support of industry education and conversation.

Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) are available for this episode

Navigate to the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) website and fill out the quiz to claim you CEUs ---> https://member.gotouaa.org/surveys/default.asp?id=ISA-26-924