On February 17, 2026, Sandee Reid will return to the Tap Talks stage to tell the story of the newly-completed Davey Tree SEED Campus. Sandee, executive vice president of corporate communications and strategic planning at The Davey Tree Expert Company, first spoke at Tap Talks in September 2023 with a preview of the specialized training and research tacility on State Route 43 just north of Kent. The 200+ acre property that formerly housed the Oak Knolls golf course and Franklin Elementary School is now the home of the spectacular, state-of-the-art SEED (Science, Employee Education, and Development) Campus. It was designed to ensure that Davey continues to attract and retain the most qualified, well-trained and engaged employees possible.

The campus includes a 25,000-square-foot training center, associated offices, a 10,700-square-foot indoor climbing center, multiple spans of non-energized utility right-of-way, laboratories and greenhouses, a container nursery, and multiple research plots and fields.

According to Reid, “The campus has already hosted more than 100 Davey research and training events, with more planned for this summer. For example, the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences is currently in session, with more than 50 employees from across North America living and learning in Kent,” she said. “In May, we will welcome more than 100 climbers, support staff and volunteers for the International Society of Arboriculture’s North American Tree Climbing Championship. These are just two examples of how the SEED campus is shaping Davey’s approach to training and research —and how it Will continue to positively impact the Portage County community and local economy.”

Tap Talks is sponsored by Kent Historical Society.

It was initiated by Don Schjeldahl, the creator of North Water Brewing, as a way to bring the community together for conversation about life in Kent, Kent’s history, and issues of the day that impact us all. It’s also a chance to enjoy an array of locally-brewed artisan ales and beers. Tap Talks are scheduled monthly at 7 pm at North Water Brewing, 101 Crain Avenue in Kent.

Those who attend will have an opportunity to meet Sandee Reid and others from Davey Tree and find out more about how Davey history is intertwined with Kent and Portage County history.