Davey Tree Expert Company: Corporate Communications Internship

By Paige Johnson 

PRSSA’s Influence
Since May 2025, I’ve interned in the corporate communications department at Davey Tree Expert Company, headquartered in Kent, Ohio. I landed this opportunity through PRSSA Kent meetings, which makes it feel even more special and rewarding.

My supervisor, Jill Rebuck, senior project manager and a PR Kent alum, connected my work projects to my coursework. Many of Davey’s initiatives are inspired by PR Kent projects. For example, Jill launched Davey’s Talking Trees with Davey Tree podcast based on a podcasting project in Professor Stefanie Moore’s Digital PR class.

Rise of the SEED Campus
This summer was an exciting time to intern. Davey was preparing for a multi-year, multi-million-dollar project: the SEED Campus (Science, Employee Education and Development). This new training and research center for employees across North America positions Davey as a thought leader in the green industry.

The SEED Campus had its grand opening in August of 2025. Therefore, the preparation began as soon as I started in May. When a company invests so much time and money into a project like this, do you know how much communication is involved? I worked on various PR and communications projects throughout the summer to promote the SEED Campus.

I helped Jill lead media tours, inviting reporters from outlets such as the Record-Courier, Akron Beacon Journal, Properties Magazine, Kent Stater and Landscape Management. I coordinated interviews and created materials, including talking points and fact sheets, applying skills from Professor Michele Ewing’s Media Relations and Publicity class.

Event planning was another major component. We organized a 100-guest event that included SEED collaborators, Kent State leaders, government officials and State Rep. Heidi Workman. I helped manage guest flow and logistics throughout.

We also produced corporate content for the SEED Campus. Jill and I recorded mini-mic interviews for Davey’s social media, asking attendees about their impressions. These videos performed well, inspiring additional mini-series throughout the fall.

Alongside SEED-related work, I maintained weekly responsibilities. I managed Davey’s newsroom, working with Garden Media Group to track national news coverage, and edited and wrote show notes for the Talking Trees with Davey Tree podcast.

Internship to Full-Time Employment
This internship was incredibly fulfilling. I made meaningful connections, gained hands‑on experience and strengthened my passion for public relations. I cannot thank my Davey mentors enough for supporting me every step of the way.

To my excitement, my supervisors offered me a full‑time position on the corporate communications team. My role will expand on my internship duties, with additional focus on corporate content. I’m currently working on Davey’s corporate responsibility report and contributing to B2B communication efforts through trade‑focused content. I’ve already begun writing editorial pieces for publications such as T&D World, a leading outlet in the utility and green industries.
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I’m eager to graduate and begin my full‑time role at Davey, but I will deeply miss my time at Kent State. The opportunities I have today wouldn’t exist without the support of my Kent State family. I’m grateful for the memories, friendships and experiences that shaped my journey, and I wish the very best for my fellow graduates!

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