Read more about these NALP members and partners in the news.
Aspire Announces Intent to Acquire Go iLawn and LandOne
Aspire Software, a ServiceTitan company, has announced it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Go iLawn, an online property measurement tool and LandOne Software, a cloud-based digital takeoff and design tool.
“The addition of Go iLawn and LandOne will help meet Aspire’s goal of providing end-to-end services and solutions to the landscaping industry,” says Mark Tipton, CEO of Aspire Software. “By adding online tools for property measurement and design, we’re one step closer to that goal. Our plans to integrate both solutions with Aspire’s business management software will give landscapers yet another reason to switch to Aspire as their core operating system.”
These new tools will allow Aspire users to measure, design, estimate and bid on new jobs and enhancements.
Go iLawn was founded in 2009 and acquired by Mike Rorie in 2010. It enables users to get precise property measurements with aerial and satellite imagery.
LandOne Software was founded in 2018 and allows customers to bid, manage and complete thousands of takeoff, irrigation design and landscape enhancement projects each month.
Following the acquisitions, all Go iLawn and LandOne employees will join the Aspire team. Both will continue to be sold as stand-alone solutions, powered by additional product investment from Aspire and ServiceTitan.
Massey Promotes Bill Cohn
Massey Services has promoted Bill Cohn to the position of director of quality assurance for the company’s GreenUP Landscape Services Division. GreenUP provides environmentally responsible landscape services to homeowners across Florida, Louisiana and parts of Georgia
Cohn has been with Massey since 1998 when he joined as a lawn specialist and has held a number of operations, technical and training roles with increasing responsibility over the past 20 years. His most recent role was serving as technical and training director for the company. He also played a leadership role in partnering with the Orlando Utilities Commission to update and redesign the landscaping around the OnePULSE foundation’s headquarters in downtown Orlando.
“Bill’s knowledge and experience in the landscape business have played an integral role in the growth of our irrigation division,” says Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services. “His passion for ongoing development and team member training has made him a critical asset to our company.”
In his new role, Cohn will oversee the field training managers and technical and training directors for Massey’s irrigation and landscape service lines.
RC Mowers Expands Its Network to the West Coast
RC Mowers, makers of remote-operated robotic mowers, has recently added several new dealers to its network.
Owen Equipment for Washington and Oregon, Jet Vac Environmental for Illinois and Red Equipment for Kansas and Missouri, have joined the 23 other dealer around the U.S., Canada, and Australia that represent RC Mowers.
RC Mowers’ dealers are carefully selected and provided extensive training and support by RC Mowers during the entire sales and post-sales process.
“Our dealers are an integral part of our business, and we ensure they receive superb training,” says Tim Kubista, VP of sales and marketing for RC Mowers. “We are excited to now have dealers to represent our popular remote-operated robotic mowers on the West Coast so that organizations there can more easily purchase them and enjoy the ROI of having them in their fleets.”
RC Mowers offers three tracked mowers, and they work in sun, rain and snow, as well as in muddy conditions. They can help commercial landscapers minimize safety liabilities when mowing steep slopes and hazardous terrain.
All mowers offered by RC Mowers are 100 percent manufactured and serviced in the USA, have a 30-day buy-back guarantee and come with a 72-hour parts shipping guarantee.
Davey Tree Partners with NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and Acquires Antler Services Inc.
The Davey Tree Expert Company has partnered with the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers for a new multi-year agreement through the league-wide “Trees for Threes” program.
The two Northeast Ohio-based organizations have made a mutual pledge to plant one tree in their home region for every three-pointer made in the upcoming 2021-2022 season.
“We couldn’t be happier to find such an organic and parallel-minded partner in Davey Tree for such an impactful community initiative,” says Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group President and COO. “‘Trees for Threes’ is a platform that has had a lasting and significant impact on our region over the years and we’re excited to keep the tradition going this upcoming season and beyond alongside our partners at Davey.”
More than 2,100 trees have been planted in Northeast Ohio by the Cavaliers and their partners since the “Trees for Threes” program started in 2015. This number will continue to grow this season and over the span of the multi-year partnership.
Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada, Limited has acquired Antler Services Inc, based in Ontario, Canada.
Antler Services has provided comprehensive landscape, lawn care, snow removal, equipment maintenance and pest control services for over 40 years. The addition of Antler is Davey Canada’s entry into the commercial landscape services (CLS) sector.
“Like Davey, Antler has always been committed to providing unmatched client satisfaction to residential and commercial clients,” says Dan Antler, co-founder of Antler Services Inc. “Joining Davey will help us to broaden our efforts of maintaining healthy, well-cared-for trees that are a staple and asset to our clients’ properties, the community and environment.”
Mike Nash, vice president and general manager of residential operations for Davey Canada, says this acquisition has answered Davey’s clients’ desires for extended services.
“Antler employees will also benefit from Davey’s extensive training and educational resources, as well as additional opportunities for promotion,” Nash says. “Antler clients will continue to interact with the same team members, but now those team members will have access to the Davey Institute, which houses our diagnostic laboratory and team of scientists.”
Ruppert Landscape Promotes Sam Wells and Hires Director of Tax and Compliance
Ruppert Landscape has recently promoted Sam Wells to the position of regional manager in the company’s landscape management division. He will oversee operation in the company’s three North Carolina landscape management branches, in Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte.
He has a bachelor’s degree in applied horticulture from SUNY Cobleskill and is a landscape industry certified technician (CLT).
Wells started his career with Ruppert in 1994 as an intern. He worked his way up to field manager and then area manager. When the company was sold he held branch manager positions with some of the largest companies in the industry before rejoining Ruppert in 2017 as a branch manager in Raleigh.
In 2019, he earned the Achievement Award, which is one of the company’s top honors. Earlier in 2021, he helped facilitate the opening of the Durham branch and served as branch manager in its inaugural year.
“Sam has a proven track record of success; he led the Raleigh team for four years and, based on their strong financial performance and growth in the market, we were able to split the branch and create our new Durham location earlier this year,” says Fred Key, regional vice president in Ruppert’s landscape management division. “We look forward to the continued growth and leadership that Sam will bring to the region and the branches he will be working with.”
Ruppert has also recently hired Grant McCarthy as the director of tax and compliance. He will be responsible for the income tax and compliance process and related financial oversight for all Ruppert Companies’ entities.
McCarthy has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a Certified Public Accountant. He has eight years of accounting and tax experience, most recently serving as a tax manager for CohnReznick LLP.
“Grant has been very involved in our strategic tax planning for the last two years in his prior capacity, so he not only comes with tax expertise but a good knowledge of the Ruppert organization and our culture,” says Donna Nichols, vice president of finance for Ruppert Companies. “We are confident that he will be a good fit and are excited to have him on the Ruppert team.”
