July 2025 Edition
Read a message from CEO Randolph Hoover, check out the MVV Recognition Program Quarterly Winners, and learn about our new blogs!
Introducing
A Message from Randolph Hoover
I am pleased to introduce XKIG, our new parent company. You may have seen this name in some of our communications already. XKIG will operate through our subsidiaries—Xylem Tree Experts, Kendall Vegetation Services, and River City Construction, our recently added partner—to safely and professionally support our customers’ delivery of reliable energy to the communities they serve. Together, we maintain and protect vital utility infrastructure, ensuring the lights stay on for millions of Americans.
This is an exciting time in our company's history. We continue to grow both organically and through acquisition, and we continue to take market share from our competition as the customers we serve want a true partner committed to innovation and excellence. And of course, when future natural disasters occur, XKIG’s rapid-response teams will be among the first on the scene, restoring critical services and building community resilience. Driven by an unwavering commitment to the communities in which we live and work, XKIG combines the key strengths of our subsidiaries—as well as advanced technologies, strict safety standards, and top workforce retention—to deliver superior service on a large scale.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome River City Construction, founded in 1975 and based in Washington, North Carolina. The company provides utility infrastructure construction and maintenance in North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia. As one of the fastest-growing infrastructure companies in the Mid-Atlantic states, it has adapted its services to meet evolving regional power, telecommunications, and alternative energy needs. With River City, we are excited to expand into adjacent business lines beyond Xylem and Kendall vegetation management services. Together, all subsidiaries have tremendous opportunities for synergistic growth.
Look for future XKIG announcements, including a new website, in the weeks to come. You can view our landing page now.
In the meantime, you can like and follow our XKIG pages here:
Blog: “A Storm Is Brewing: Readiness & Response” by Chuck Minter, Vice President of Resource Readiness
Whether the weather is forming, storming, or norming, our Central Office team is always ready. Our latest blog highlights the round-the-clock support for our storm response and recovery efforts, which are focused on keeping our field operators safe and our customers well-supported: [A Storm Is Brewing: Readiness & Response - Kendall Vegetation Services]
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June GF School is Complete!
We wrapped up another great GF School session with the following 10 attendees: Harvey Freeman, David Gamble, Anthony Burton, Shawn Potter, Michael Rosario, Jesus Arreguin, Daniel Valdivia, Steve Garrison, Jorge Torres, and Fausto Lopez.
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:
Eduardo Avelar Paz
Kendall Region 4
"He is a trustworthy employee. Any task given, he gets it done safely and efficiently. He is always praised by our OC and always keeps in mind the safety of his brothers and sisters out here in the field. Eduardo has shown great improvement throughout his time with Kendall."
Core Value Transparency:
Steve Harper
Kendall Region 4
"Steve Harper, he has been with the company for almost two years but has lots of experience (30) years, he does the roles of assistant general foreman when another general foreman is out, he also goes out and checks on tickets and talks to customers when need too."
Core Value Respect:
Gonzalo Gamez
Kendall Region 4
"Gonzalo Gamez, productivity. He has lots of experience, very good productive climber he does a lot of production for his crew, very safe when it comes to remove over hangs, he does it safe and efficient, he is also a very good teacher when a new guy comes in."
Core Value Unity:
Wilber Perez Alvarado
Kendall Region 4
“I nominate Wilber for Unity, the employee has stuck with the company through thick and thin, always gets along with any crew he is assigned to and always looks at the positive side of the situation.”
Between the Branches
Congrats to our Newly Licensed Commercial Drivers!
Congratulations to the employees who participated in our most recent training class in Kirksville, MO, and to the following 15 team members who obtained their Commercial Driver’s License last month:
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Class A: Pintle Hook Restriction: Triston Brodeur, Collin Parker, Marvin Guynn, Caleb Stevens, Dylan Taylor, Zach Fretueg, Steve Heiens, Vincent Wilkinson, Michael Trione, Colby Haynes, Tyler Durham, Scott Bruns
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Class B: Dylan Timms, Tony Johnson, Adan Villatoro
We applaud these employees for successfully completing the classroom session, field training course, and skills test to achieve these qualifications!
Our next training sessions will be held in Buffalo, NY, on August 1-2, Chattanooga, TN, on August 15-16, Auroa, MO, on August 15, and Hamlet, NC, on August 29. For more information about the CDL program, contact Tim Haynes at thaynes@xylemtree.com.
Compliments for the Crew
Starla K., a mail carrier in Warrington, MO, called to say she crosses paths almost every day with Garlayn Love, one of our employees. He helped her maneuver her mail truck through the Kendall vehicles the other day. She said that he was so polite and knew that she was trying to do her job just like they were. Starla wanted the team to know how much she appreciated him!
Compliments for the Crew
A resident emailed thanking our crew (James Trotter, Jaimey Williams, Dallas Rappley, and Maurice Byrd) who cleared out hurricane debris from around their power service line. She said they were so overwhelmed with the job. Our crew was a huge blessing and helped them so much. Great work! — Amanda J. Harlem, GA
Compliments for the Crew
"This is a reach out to James Gooing and Michael Shoup to thank them for their work and their friendly way of communicating what they would be doing. In the end, how they cleaned up was above and beyond helpful for us older folks. Larger pieces of wood are difficult, but they made it very manageable, and I so thank them for that." — Jane S., Saint Peters, MO
Compliments for the Crew
Dewey P. from Montezuma, GA, called in to brag on a crew member by the name of Jeff Winkler. He stated that, "Jeff had done an excellent job at his address and believes Jeff needs a raise! Hard workers like Jeff are hard to find."
We Want to Hear from You!
Do you have suggested article ideas or pictures to share? Email us at feedback@wakendall.com!