April 2025 Edition
Read a message from CEO Randolph Hoover, check out the MVV Recognition Program Quarterly Winners, learn about the new GF School, and view pictures from a recent storm training event.
Annual Storm Training in Georgia
Last month we hosted an incredible 3-day safety event in LaGrange, GA, where 18 utilities—including IOUs, co-ops, and municipalities from Georgia and Alabama—joined more than 60 attendees for hands-on storm-related tree removal training. A big thank you to Regional Manager Craig Faulk and the Safety team for making this event a success and setting the stage for safer storm response efforts this year.
Mission Vision Values Employee Recognition Program Quarterly
Award Winners
After introducing the Mission, Vision, and Values Recognition Program in February, it’s now time to announce our first quarterly award winners! Team members were initially nominated by their Regional Managers. These nominations were then reviewed by an impartial panel of judges who selected an outstanding employee for each of our core values. Here are the winners!
Core Value Trust:
Nathan Sullivan
Kendall Region 4
“Nathan is a trustworthy, all around honest worker. His work habits are above the rest and he gives a 10-hour day every day. When he says a job is completed, you can trust it is done right. Plus, he’s quick to lend a hand when he sees coworkers struggling with their tasks."
Core Value Transparency:
Bobby Brown
Kendall Region 1
“Bobby gives clear and effective direction to his crew members to set the expectations of Kendall and the client. His delivery is professional and non-threatening and he is an effective problem solver. He has also been instrumental in making sure we have the right person on the right job. Perhaps the biggest reason to nominate Bobby for the award of transparency is his honest and humble admission of his own limitations. On a storm project, he refused a tree after assessing the situation. He called the GF and came up with a gameplan, turning the challenge into a training opportunity. By asking for help instead of pushing forward, he eliminated the possibility for a negative outcome, and instead, took direction and became a more valuable employee.”
Core Value Respect:
Ruben Garcia Ruiz
Kendall Region 3
“Ruben excels in all assigned jobs. He’s worked his way from foreman to GF with perfect attendance and a constant focus on crew safety. He makes sure his crews have the proper equipment and keeps up with his paperwork. He rides out his line to make sure there are no go backs, which saves us time and money. The ROW manager at VEC has a lot of respect for his honesty and reliability. Ruben always goes to storm work when asked and is often the last one home. When he’s given a task, it gets done and he has received several compliments for his service to homeowners and customers."
Core Value Unity:
Gabriel Reyes
Kendall Region 1
“Gabriel has been a key contributor to the success of our Cobb and Sawnee projects, and he played a pivotal role in helping Greystone get off to a good start. Currently, he is managing Cobb independently, embodying respect and unity in the workplace. Gabriel consistently demonstrates leadership by training other trimmers and instilling the "Kendall Way" in his colleagues. While everyone has good and bad days, Gabriel stands out for his reliability. He rarely misses work and delivers more good days than bad. I am incredibly grateful to have him on the team and sincerely hope he will continue to be a part of our ongoing success in the future.”
Onboarder Carmen Mazariego working in the field. Carmen was a GF and Safety Officer with TTS and a consulting utility forester.
Roberto Alvarez started as a Groundsperson and is now an Administrative Assistant for Safety.
Tucker Miller, Director of Central Office is a Former GF.
Charting Your Career Path
John Coffren
Senior Director of Human Resources
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Did you know that, in a pinch, the Human Resources (HR) team can help move heavy equipment, operate a bucket truck, or cut branches away from power lines? Sounds crazy, right? The group that helps staff our teams, administer benefits, and deliver training also has three CDL drivers and one trained Aerial Lift Trimmer on our staff! Of course, we are not the only ones. Safety, Central Office, Fleet, and other departments also have members who worked in the field. These people have seized that opportunity and charted a career path that fits their dreams.
What are you going to do with your future? Haven’t we all heard this at some point in our lives? It may be a parent, another relative, or a trusted leader like a coach, teacher, or pastor. The common thread is that it is always from someone who wants to see us learn, grow, and make a better life for ourselves and our loved ones.
It is no different here. Randolph Hoover, our CEO, knows that great companies are only as great as the people who do the work each day. Therefore, he is delivering on his vision of a company with growth opportunities nationwide. He told us that the next CEO may be dragging brush to a chipper in Arkansas, answering a storm call in the Midwest, or climbing a tree in Maine, Washington, or Florida. It is our job to make those paths to your future possible. We are doing that in several ways.
The HR Team is making it feasible for you to learn as much as you desire through our learning management system, now available to every field employee. We will continue to expand and enhance it with new instructional materials.
Our next exciting step is a career path designed in partnership with you. The HR team will act as career counselors, assisting you and your leader in mapping out a plan based on your goals – whether that’s an Operations opportunity or a position on a support team. If you are willing to put in time to learn and make yourself available to go anywhere and do anything, the sky is the limit. We are creating this system today and will have it ready for you later this year. In the meantime, you can reach out now so HR can work with you and your leader today to “clear the path” to your future!
Carmen, Tucker, and Roberto are just a few shining examples of how dedication and growth can lead to career advancement!
What are YOU going to do? For more information, contact Talent Acquisition at 877.418.2999 or jobs@wakendall.com
Introducing Kendall's New Website
A Message from Randolph Hoover
We’re excited to share a new look for Kendall! For the past six months, we have redefined our brand to better represent who we are—an industry leader leveraging technology and data-driven insights to clear a path for a better future.
Our dedication to innovation, leadership, and operational excellence is at the core of this transformation. From the field to the back office, our focus on operational excellence, technological innovation, and exceptional customer service has driven us forward. Now, our brand and digital presence are catching up.
As part of this update, we’ve launched a new Kendall website! With enhanced functionality and dynamic content, the site is designed to make it easier for customers, partners, and employees to find what they need while highlighting our expertise.
Our transformation doesn't stop there. You'll also see our new branding reflected across various touchpoints—email signatures, business cards, letterhead, trade show displays, and a new collection of photography and video content that truly captures who we are and what we do.
This rebrand isn’t just about looking the part—it’s about reinforcing our position as an industry leader and innovator.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We're proud of where we've come from—and even more excited about where we're headed! Explore the new website today!
Elevating Leadership in the Field with the GF School
The Learning & Development Team is excited to announce the launch of our General Foreperson (GF) School—a dynamic new program designed to help GFs strengthen their administrative, leadership, coaching, and team management skills.
This immersive three-and-a-half-day training, held in Norfolk, equips GFs with essential tools to enhance their expertise and gain hands-on experience with the Power BI Program.
Our goal is for every General Foreperson in the organization to complete GF School within the next 12-18 months. Participants are nominated by the Regional Managers.
This initiative underscores our commitment to investing in leadership development and equipping our teams with the knowledge and skills needed for success.
Pictured: Jen Britton, Craig Faulk, David Fiebelkorn, and Michelle Harris
TechAdvantage 2025
Last month, we had a great experience at NRECA’s TechAdvantage conference in Atlanta, GA, where we proudly served as a Signature Sponsor. Our team members had the opportunity to connect with current and prospective customers at one of the industry’s largest conferences. This year, we showcased our new branding and highlighted our impressive growth in the vegetation management sector.
Between the Branches
Congrats to our Newly Licensed Commercial Drivers!
Congratulations to the following three team members who obtained their Class B Commercial Driver’s License last month:
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Daniel Andrews
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Travis Owen
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Ashley Mason
We applaud these three employees for successfully completing the classroom session, field training course, and skills test to achieve these qualifications!
Our next training session will be held in Union, IL on April 18-19. For more information about the CDL program, contact Tim Haynes at thaynes@xylemtree.com.
Key Work Milestones
Congratulations to all Kendall employees who celebrated milestone anniversaries this past quarter, especially Account Manager Stephen Authement, who has been with the organization for 20 years! Thank you for your contributions to our company’s success. Here’s to many more years ahead! Click the button below to learn more about Stephen and see the employees who hit milestone anniversaries.
Congrats to Francis Delk on his Retirement!
Francis Delk recently retired after 38 years of service with Kendall. Click the button below to learn more about his longtime career (he started as a Mechanic) and hobbies (check out his 1956 Chevy Sedan Delivery Big D’s Pie Wagon). You won't want to miss out on learning about an exceptional man!
Compliments for the Crew
A customer named Robin W. called to “brag about the crew” that was working on her street. She stated that the crew was so nice, very respectful and always let them know what was going on. Her husband is disabled, and she said the team made sure to make his pathway as clear as possible. Robin said that the whole crew was amazing, and Ernesto was fabulous.
Compliments for the Crew
An Elkhart, IN resident called in to let us know that Jeremy Santana was “a wonderful employee” and that he was very polite and knowledgeable and it was very clear Jeremy enjoyed his job.
Compliments for the Crew
Daniel P, an Indiana resident, called to let us know what a great job the crew in Stevens County is doing. He owns a farm close to the job site and said the crew always makes eye contact with him, waves, or nods. He stated they are all wearing their safety equipment, cones are out, and they clean as they go. He stated our crew was “on point.”
We Want to Hear from You!
Do you have suggested article ideas or pictures to share? Email us at marketinghelp@wakendall.com!