Read more about these NALP members and partners in the news.
Focal Pointe Acquires Three Landscape Companies
Focal Pointe Holdings, LLC, based in Caseyville, Illinois, has acquired three landscape companies: Landworks in Kansas City, Kansas; Rite-A-Way Lawn Care in Cottleville, Missouri; and Signature Landscape in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
These acquisitions are expected to contribute 39% to Focal Pointe’s revenue for the 2023 fiscal year. They’ve also added 220 employees across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The companies also represent a combined client portfolio in excess of $17 million.
“Putting people first, whether it’s our employees, customers, or the people in our communities, is central to who we are,” says John Munie, CEO and founder of Focal Pointe. “When visiting with team members throughout the company, I’d ask, ‘If we could design the best company on earth to work for, what would that look like?’ They said it would be a company that they could help build and where they could all grow.”
All three firms will be integrated into the Focal Pointe family of companies. Signature will retain its name and Signature’s CEO Brett Gordon will become Focal Pointe’s new COO. Landworks will be rebranded as Focal Pointe and its owners, Jeff and Courtney Welch, joined the Focal Pointe team.
Rite-A-Way CEO Brad Striker will retain their firm’s large tree business with Focal Pointe acquiring Rite-A-Way’s snow and landscape operations.
LandCare Promotes Scott Watson to Divisional Vice President
LandCare has promoted Scott Watson to the newly formed Southeast Division as the divisional vice president. He will oversee regions in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida.
Watson joined LandCare in 2019 and has created a thriving environment in his branches. He empowered team members, encouraged autonomy and meaningful customer experiences.
“Scott has demonstrated outstanding leadership, driving remarkable growth in Atlanta and Nashville,” says Mark Hopkins, executive VP. “He has truly embraced our culture and I look forward to seeing the success he will foster in the branches under his guidance.”
PBI-Gordon Adds Sales Representative
Bert Lopez has joined PBI-Gordon as a sales representative for golf course, sports turf, lawn care and landscape maintenance customers in Arizona, California, Guam, and Nevada.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the horticulture, landscape, nursery, and golf industries. Before joining the company, he was an industry turf manager for Veseris. He has a Bachelor of Science in agricultural biology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
“Bert has deep experience and a proven track record of problem-solving, building trusting relationships with customers, and ultimately driving business growth,” says Dan Dumler, regional sales manager for PBI-Gordon. “He will be a valuable member of the PBI-Gordon team and our customers will benefit greatly from his expertise.”
Ewing Acquires Stone Gardens, Opens Third Location in Northwest Arkansas
Ewing Outdoor Supply has acquired Stone Gardens, LLC, a bulk hardscape material yard in Lowell, Arkansas.
It is the company’s first bulk material yard and third location in Northwest Arkansas. Situated on five acres, this location stocks hardscape materials like bulk rock and mulch, topsoil, pea gravel, boulders, natural stone and Belgard manufactured products.
“We’re excited to grow our presence in Arkansas and expand our offerings in this market to include hardscape materials,” says Sean Wimble, Ewing central territory president. “Ewing has served the green industry for more than 100 years, and we are committed to being the best supplier and partner to our customers for at least 100 more.”
Jamie Lopez of Stone Gardens has stayed on with Ewing to help serve customers.
Davey Tree Awards $154,000 in Scholarships
This year, The Davey Tree Expert Company has awarded $154,000 in scholarships to support employees and their families through The Davey Tree Expert Company Employee Educational Scholarship Fund and the Davey Tree Family Scholarship.
The Employee Educational Scholarship Fund has aided employees’ higher education pursuits for the past few years. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 per academic year. $42,000 was awarded to 10 Davey employees in 2023 through this fund.
“This program is an example of how we are walking the walk related to our values,” says Erika Schoenberger, vice president and general counsel for Davey. “We hope that investing in our employees through these scholarships will empower our employees to take charge of their development and make Davey a place they want to stay and build their careers. It’s always going to be worth it in the long run to us because our differentiator as a company is and always will be our people, and if we invest in our people, we can retain and grow the best and brightest.”
Meanwhile, the Family Scholarship helps families of Davey employees and ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. This year, 32 recipients were awarded $112,000 through the Family Scholarship. Recipients must be a child or dependent of an active employee of Davey or one of its subsidiaries and plan to attend an accredited two- or four-year undergraduate institution or an accredited trade, vocational, technical or career college, university or institution.
The scholarship programs are made possible through the Davey Fund, which is a fund set aside for scholarship and employee assistance programs and corporate giving.
