Read more about these NALP members and partners in the news.
Landscape Workshop Acquires GreenScape
Landscape Workshop has acquired the landscape operation of GreenScape, Inc. based in Memphis, Tennessee.
GreenScape has an over 80-year history and owner Kathryn Hetzler and her staff will ensure a smooth changeover during the transition. The companies have shared values of providing quality comprehensive landscape services with a proactive management approach.
“We are incredibly excited to join our existing Memphis operations with the operations of GreenScape,” says J.T. Price, CEO of Landscape Workshop. “With the combined resources of LW and GreenScape, we increase our ability to provide top-notch green industry expertise and quality customer service to our clients throughout the Mid-South region. GreenScape has built a notable reputation in the Memphis community and we are fully dedicated to continuing providing the level of customer service that Kathryn and her team have worked so hard to establish.”
GreenScape’s COO Jesse Jay will join the team as general manager for the Memphis install/construction division.
Ruppert Landscape Promotes Several Employees
Ruppert Landscape has promoted Kevin Wetzonis and Brent Kelly.
Wetzonis has been promoted to lead the company’s Durham, North Carolina, location as branch manager. He attended Montgomery College and University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and is a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT). He spent his early career in Maryland in the hospitality industry before joining Ruppert as a crew member in 2003.
He has worked his way up through the company for 18 years working in roles such as enhancement field manager, landscape maintenance area manager and associate branch manager. He has earned the company’s Branch Impact Award twice for his contributions to Ruppert.
“Kevin is not only a long-time, trusted employee, he was integral in helping to get the Durham branch up and running in 2021,” says Sam Wells, region manager in the company’s landscape management division. “He has a thorough understanding of the Ruppert culture and his ability to perpetuate that within his team has enabled us to hit the ground running. His strong leadership will continue to benefit the Durham team in the years to come.”
Kelly has been named the branch manager of Ruppert’s Mableton, Georgia, location. He has over 30 years of industry experience and has worked in several states including Maryland, South Carolina and Louisiana. He joined Ruppert two years ago as an area manager.
“Brent has made a tremendous impact on the Mableton branch in his two years here, and his leadership has led to great success and some large contract renewals this past season,” says Steve Faber, region manager in the company’s landscape management division. “He leads by example in performance and customer service, and we are looking forward to seeing him continue to grow the Mableton team.”
SavATree Merges with Lueders Companies
SavATree has merged with Lueders Environmental and Lueders Tree & Landscape, which expands their presence in Massachusetts. This marks SavATree’s fifth Massachusetts operation as they also have branches in Cape Cod, Lincoln, Middleton and Hanover.
Lueders Companies have been providing high-quality services for almost 40 years. Michael and Connie Lueders along with their team will remain on board with SavATree.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Michael and Connie Lueders who have built their business around a thoughtful approach to the environment and horticulture, while staying on the leading edge of best practices,” says Carmine Schiavone, SavATree CEO. “Lueders Companies, like SavATree, is a customer-centric company, and we look forward to joining forces to service the relationships that Lueders Companies has gained the trust of over the years.”
Project EverGreen Names 2022-23 Officers and Board of Directors
Project EverGreen has announced the appointment of its 2022-23 officers and board of directors. The Project EverGreen board and advisory council work to measurably increase and improve the amount of healthy green spaces in underserved areas across the country.
Kevin Laycock of SiteOne Landscape Supply takes over the reins as president of the national non-profit. Joining him are Scott A. Bills, CSFM of Sports Field Solutions as vice president/president-elect, and Fred Haskett of TrueWinds Consulting returns as secretary/treasurer.
2022-2023 Project EverGreen Executive Board Officers
PRESIDENT
Kevin Laycock – SiteOne Landscape Supply
VICE PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT-ELECT
Scott A. Bills, CSFM – Sports Field Solutions, LLC
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Fred Haskett, CA, CTP, LICM – TrueWinds Consulting, LLC
PAST PRESIDENT
Joe Shooner – Focal Point Communications
2022-23 Board of Directors
- Beth Berry – Advanced Turf Solutions
- Cayla Chamberlin – Rocket Community Fund
- Tim Demerath – PBI-Gordon
- George Furrer – Valley Green Inc.
- Boyd Montgomery – The Toro Company
- Blaine Pinkerton – Nufarm
- Linda Satter – Sipcam-Agro
- Takisha Truss – Glaxo Smith Kline
- Alan White – Turf Systems
- Ashley Williams – TKXS
- Andrew Bray – National Association of Landscape Professionals
- Russ Mitchell – Albaugh
Davey Tree Announces Market Expansion and Promotes Several
The Davey Tree Expert Company is expanding their residential/commercial (R/C) operations in South East Denver.
“Denver has had an exponential amount of growth the past handful of years, and the need for more tree and landscape services in the area keeps growing,” says Kevin Marks, Colorado-Omaha market manager, South Central operating group, R/C services. “The addition of the South East office will allow the Denver area to meet the growing demand in the Denver Metro area, ultimately benefiting our clients’ growing needs.”
As part of this expansion, Davey has promoted Michael Sundberg to district manager for the new South East Denver office and Jay Judd to district manager of the East Denver office.
Sundberg joined Davey in 2013 as a plant health care technician in the West Denver office. He has been promoted several times and graduated from Davey Institute of Tree Sciences in 2019. He is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental horticulture from Colorado State University.
“Michael has always gone above and beyond with exceeding client expectations and has been instrumental in growing the Denver market, which showed his leadership skills early on,” Marks says. “I’m excited to watch Michael’s growth with his new expansion office and feel he is the perfect leader to take this on.”
Judd has been with Davey since 2009, starting as a trimmer trainee in the West Denver office. He was promoted to foreman in 2011 and was most recently assistant district manager. He also graduated from the Davey Institute of Tree Sciences and is an ISA Certified Arborist.
Davey also recently promoted Scott Hyland to vice president of marketing. Hyland joined Davey in 2003 on the corporate communications team. Prior to working for Davey, he worked in sports marketing and professional athlete representation for multiple firms.
“During his tenure as director of marketing, Scott has excelled at building a cohesive team committed to marketing analysis, strategy development and the implementation of programs to increase and promote the Davey brand and our array of services,” says Pat Covey, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Davey Tree. “The company has benefited immensely from Scott’s analytical and team-first approach over the years, and we will continue to find leadership opportunities for him as he assumes his new role as vice president of marketing.”
Advanced Turf Solutions Acquires Assets of Valley Green, Inc.
Advanced Turf Solutions’ transaction with George Furrer and Charles Dooley will form a new company and acquire the assets of Valley Green, Inc. Furrer has been named the president of the new New England-based distributor known as Valley Green.
“Consistency has been a priority of ours throughout this process,” Furrer says. “Our customers will have the same reliable experience they’ve always had with Valley Green, and we’ll continue to support them with what they need to be successful. With the current supply chain challenges, we are specifically focused on making sure customers have the right products at the right time. Our goal is simple: give people what they want and be easy to do business with. We just don’t think there’s any other way to operate.”
Furrer has served as the CEO of United Turf Alliance and vice president of specialty business at Sipcam Agro USA. The Valley Green sales and support staff will stay on to serve their New England customers.
Dooley founded Valley Green in 1990 and is confident about the company’s future under Furrer.
“Our employees’ commitment to customer service has made this company what it is today,” Dooley says. “I know that George shares that value and will ensure that it continues to be the priority in everything Valley Green does.”
Schill Grounds Management Acquires Enviroscapes
Schill Grounds Management recently acquired Enviroscapes, a family-owned landscape that serves customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Based in Louisville, Ohio, Enviroscapes offers landscape maintenance, snow and ice removal services, design-build services and public utility clearing and mowing. The company has a team of 200 employees who will be joining Schill’s staff of 400 professionals.
“I have enormous respect for what Todd and the Enviroscapes team have built and the reputation they have earned in the industry,” says Jerry Schill, founder and CEO of Schill Grounds Management. “I’m excited that, after many years of professional collaboration, we can finally come together as partners in building a best-in-class company serving customers well beyond our Ohio roots.”
This is Schill’s largest acquisition so far and their fifth acquisition in the last 18 months as the company continues their purposeful expansion throughout the Midwest. Enviroscapes founder & CEO Todd Pugh will have an ownership stake in the combined company and will serve as Schill’s market president in Akron/Canton. Schill will continue to operate under the Enviroscapes brand in the Akron/Canton and western Pennsylvania markets.
“The team and I are excited to formalize the partnership with Schill that has existed for many years,” Pugh says. “I look forward to working alongside Jerry to create new opportunities across the region. Jerry’s energy and passion for the industry are contagious, and I’m confident our combined platform will have incredible opportunities for growth.”
LEI Ground Groomers Receives Award
LEI Grounds Groomers has always worked to find innovative ways to serve their communities, since getting started in 1992. The company was named the best company to work with for Houston Homeowners Associations by the Greater Houston Chapter Community Associations Institute.
