Talking with Titans Archives - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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Talking with Titans

Talking with Titans: Kurt Bland

Kurt Bland is the CEO and president of Bland Landscaping Company, based in Apex, North Carolina. Bland started working for his family’s business when he was 14 during the summers. He earned degrees in agriculture business management and horticulture science from North Carolina State University before he and his brother, Matt, took over the business […]

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Mindset Shifts Industry Titans Have Made Over the Years

How often have you changed your mind about a belief you’ve held? Sometimes, an outlook that may have gotten you to where you are today no longer serves you or could even be holding you back. Below are some of the thought processes that industry leaders admit they’ve had to outgrow as they’ve scaled their […]

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Talking with Titans: Jerry Schill

Jerry Schill is the president and CEO of Schill Grounds Management, based in Westlake, Ohio. Schill started the company with his brother, Joe, in 1993. They developed a reputation for high-end design/build landscape construction and maintenance services. In the 2010s, the company shifted its focus to commercial landscape maintenance. Then in 2020, Schill Grounds Management […]

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The Titans’ Playbook: Five Tips To Growing Your Business

While there isn’t one simple formula for growing a successful lawn or landscape business, there are some common pieces of advice that leaders in the industry have found to play a major factor in the growth of their companies. NALP’s Titans share their guidance with others looking to scale their business up to the next […]

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Talking with Titans: Chris Senske

Chris Senske is the acquisition ambassador for the Senske Family of Companies. He started out in the industry at a young age, working for his father, Bill. After his father had built up Senske Services’ reputation, he passed the reins to Chris in the 1980s. Over the years, Senske grew the Kennewick, Washington-based business to […]

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Where Should the Industry Focus According to the People Shaping It

An industry that refuses to evolve is one that dies. Thankfully, the landscape industry is not one of these and has changed rapidly even in the past few decades. For instance, in the past, bids were written with pen and paper. Now there is software that can measure properties and send estimates in minutes. Businesses […]

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Talking with Titans: Pat Covey

Pat Covey is the chairman, president and CEO of The Davey Tree Expert Company, based in Kent, Ohio. Covey joined Davey in 1991 and has held various roles throughout the company over the years. He became president and CEO in 2017 and was elected chairman of the board in 2020. Covey has a Bachelor of […]

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Talking with Titans: Larry Ryan

Larry Ryan is the founder and executive chairman of Ryan Lawn & Tree, based in Merriam, Kansas. He earned a degree in forestry from the University of Montana and started his company in 1987. Ryan converted his company to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 1998. He is passionate about developing a great place […]

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Talking with Titans: Bob Grover

Bob Grover is the founder and chairman of Pacific Landscape Management, based in Hillsboro, Oregon. He has been working in the landscape industry since 1985 and has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Oregon State University. Pacific Landscape Management was acquired by Southfield Capital in 2021. With 40 years of experience in the industry, what […]

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Talking with Titans: Kurt Kane

Kurt Kane is the president and CEO of TruGreen, a national lawn care company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Kane stepped into this role in 2023 with more than 20 years of experience driving increased employee engagement and customer satisfaction. Prior to joining TruGreen, he served as president, U.S., and Chief Commercial Officer at The Wendy’s […]

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