Small business owners demonstrate hard work, ingenuity and dedication daily. Often, they are striving to become industry leaders while facing failures and wins along the way.
“I believe it’s important to celebrate the wins,” says Patrick Wells, president of Piedmont Landscape Management, based in Augusta, Georgia. “Too often, we focus on the setbacks.”
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes business owners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam with state Small Business Person of the Year awards.
This year, one of those award winners includes Wells. As Georgia’s Small Business Person of the Year, he traveled to Washington, D.C., and was honored at the National Small Business Week award ceremony on May 5.
Rick McMurtrey with the Small Business Development Center in Georgia nominated Wells for the honor. Wells says McMurtrey has served as an advisor since 2016, and his assistance in acquisitions, cash flow projections and advice has helped them move forward.
“The award means more to me that someone in my inner circle saw the hard work that the entire team has been doing at Piedmont and decided to nominate us,” Wells says.
To be considered for the award, Wells had to share a financial summary, biography, how he contributes money, time or resources to the community or charitable causes, as well as the organizations or clubs that his company supports or serves in the community.
“This award is a recognition of all the hard work that I, and more importantly, our team, have put in,” Wells says. “It’s proof that people are noticing, and there’s a genuine excitement around our progress. The sky’s the limit. If we stay on track, we’ll continue to build long-term relationships and be here for another 40+ years.”
Piedmont produces $3.8 million in annual revenue and recently acquired Christmas Décor of Augusta. During the peak season, the company staffs up to around 47 employees. Wells’s current goal is to reach $10 million by 2030.
“Success for us is measured by the long-term relationships we build, both with employees and clients,” Wells says. “It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, and where we can continuously deliver high-quality service to our clients. Success is also ensuring that the company remains sustainable and adaptable for the future.”
Taking The Reins
From a young age, Wells helped his parents at their high-end residential landscape company in Florida. When he left for college, he told himself he was done laying pine straw and pursued a pharmacy major. However, he soon learned science wasn’t his strong suit.
He visited with a college counselor and took a survey that suggested careers based on his interests.
“The survey asked if I enjoyed being outdoors and designing spaces for people to visit — and my answer was a resounding yes!” Wells says. “It then suggested landscape architecture. In that moment, I thought to myself, ‘I guess I’m going back to the pine straw world!’ So, I enrolled in the landscape architecture program at the University of Georgia and never looked back.”
After graduating, Wells joined T. Lake Environmental in Macon, Georgia, for three years. Under Tim Lake’s tutelage, he not only learned about landscaping but the business side as well.
When his wife received an opportunity in Augusta, he ended up working for Piedmont Landscape Management.
The commercial landscape management company was founded in 1977 as a part-time job for two firefighters. Wells started out as an account manager with the organization in 2015 and became president and owner in 2019.
“Owning my own business wasn’t something I initially expected, but once I started learning the business side of things, I became energized,” Wells says. “I began to see the landscape industry as a true profession, recognizing all the intricate technologies and the vastness of the field we’re part of.”
Wells says being a business owner allows him to achieve his own goals as well as enables those around him to reach their full potential.
One of the major challenges he’s faced as an owner is managing debt.
“To purchase an existing business, we had to take on debt, and maintaining positive cash flow has been critical,” Wells says. “While 2019 was an outstanding year for us, 2020 brought an entirely new set of challenges with COVID — something I had never experienced before.”
He says implementing Traction in 2020 has helped the team see a common goal to work toward. They also narrowed their focus in 2021.
“While we’ve always specialized in commercial maintenance, we had been offering landscape installation services for residential clients,” Wells says. “To better serve our maintenance clients, we decided to shut down the residential side of the business.”
Wells says this prioritization of their maintenance clients allows them to continue to build long-term relationships.
Differentiating Themselves and Impacting the Community
Despite the changes, Wells says one thing that has remained constant with the company is their mission statement: “To grow and sustain long-term relationships through team members committed to a culture of excellence.”
Some of the ways Piedmont strives to set themselves apart is through proactive management of properties, setting the standard and working to exceed expectations with a dedicated relationship manager.
Wells says they also support their community through job creation, supporting local charities, and active involvement in many local organizations.
“Our goal is to be active, engaged members of these groups,” Wells says. “It’s important to see the impact we’re making and to be part of the positive change needed in our community. Change doesn’t just happen — it’s driven by people and businesses committed to making a difference.”
For instance, during COVID, many Rotary members formed an accountability group that met every Thursday. Each week, they would create action plans and deadlines for execution.
Wells isn’t just focused on providing employment for people but seeks to support families with meaningful careers.
“We couldn’t have reached this milestone without our dedicated employees — some of whom have been with us for over 30 years, and many others for 15+ years,” Wells says. “This longevity is a true testament to the relationships we’ve built over time.”
Keys to Success
Wells says their dedication and culture of excellence, long-term relationships with clients and employees and continued support from advisors and mentors have all played a key part in the business’s growth and success.
He says one of the biggest advantages of acquiring an established company is their strong foundation of long-term employees and loyal clients who have supported them along the way.
“We’re like a family and having them embrace our vision was essential in helping us all grow and navigate through the tough times,” Well says.
One of those tough times was during the pandemic as they struggled to find employees. In response, they launched Piedmont Academy, which created a clear pathway for onboarding and future growth, showing employees a route to success.
“The Piedmont Academy was inspired by the resources available through NALP,” Wells says. “The support and tools they provide to members are incredible, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without NALP. Additionally, taking future leaders to ELEVATE is crucial for showing them the true scale of the landscape industry.”
As the company has grown, Wells has relied on numerous mentors through the Small Business Development Center, University of Georgia, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Wilson 360 peer group to develop him as a leader.
“I had always heard that it’s lonely at the top, but the peer group has proven to be a tremendous support system,” Wells says. “It allows business owners to connect with others facing similar challenges. They’re there to help, and Wilson-360 has the resources to connect you with people who can offer assistance or insight. We can easily get stuck in our own bubble, but peer groups give you the chance to think outside the box and find creative solutions.”
Wells says mentorship has played a crucial role in getting him to where he is today.
“From my parents, Tim Lake, and the SBDC to Wilson-360 and many others, these individuals have helped me reach new heights and constantly push myself,” Wells says. “My ultimate goal is to retire and give back by mentoring others.”
