The Ultimate Landscape CEO - Jeffrey Scott

Ted Lucia is majority owner and President of the $13M Lucia Landscaping Inc., headquartered in Roseville, Michigan. Lucia Landscaping began as a small business in Metro Detroit and has rapidly expanded over the last 20+ years. Among other methods, this rapid expansion is attributed to diversification, making external acquisitions, and remaining dedicated to company culture and a clear vision of growth and profitability.  Jeffrey and Ted explore how he overcame significant challenges as a youth, and how he uses those lessons to drive his growth.  We dive into strategies around recruiting, acquisitions, and his “one team” approach to culture building.  Ted is a fan of technology, processes and becoming best in class, and this all comes through on the podcast. The post Drive and Compassion with Ted Lucia appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Steve Griggs is the founder and owner of Steve Griggs Design, based in Baluvelt, NY. He is author of the best-selling book, “Straight Dirt”. Steve is the original OG (“old guard”) and very direct, and shares the straight dirt on contracting and how to work with high-end clientele. Jeffrey and Steve dive into his journey from contractor to design/project manage only. Steve is not your average designer; he has decades in the business as a contractor and is now focused on his design to transform ordinary outdoor spaces into extraordinary masterpieces. With decades of experience and a discerning eye for detail, Steve has become one of New York’s premier landscape designers. Steve and Jeff also discuss his coffee table book, Straight Dirt, and how he uses that in his marketing and sales process. The post The Straight Dirt from the original OG, Steve Griggs appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Scott Lamon owns the 17 yr. old firm, Tynic Landscaping in Southwick, MA. His firm revenues 3.5M with almost 50 people at peak including PT help; they do 60% commercial and 40% residential. Jeffrey and Scott discuss all the different jobs he had before he got into the green industry: fishing lobster, selling insurance, building spec homes. Scott then dives into the journey of how he built his leadership team and added stability with 4 key hires. Scott shares with us his financial journey, figuring out how where and to make money in this Industry, including getting his team on board with open book management. The post Building a team and a profitable business with Scott Lamon appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Matt Hunter is the owner of New Garden Landscaping & Nursery in Greensboro, NC. Matt and his teams run a 12+M highly diversified business with three locations. Jeffrey and Matt discuss Matt’s rise from laborer to salesperson to branch manager to General Manager to Owner. You will learn about personal growth, making big business decisions, company succession, and much more. Lots of inspiration in this discussion! The post From GM to Owner with Matt Hunter appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

 Discover the Life-Changing Benefits of a Peer Group for Landscape Business Owners Do you want a community that supports, guides, and inspires you to achieve your best life? The power of belonging to and being an active member of a peer group can be transformative. Let’s delve into how peer groups can significantly impact your business and personal life. Association with Diverse Individuals Connecting with diverse individuals in a peer group leads to significant personal and professional growth. By collaborating and solving problems together, you gain invaluable insights and perspectives that can elevate your business strategies. The power of this collaboration brings increased clarity and substantial business growth.  More about Sean Baxter here. Seizing Unique Opportunities Belonging to a peer group brings unique opportunities, even during challenging times. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, one member chose to take a two-year break to travel with his family. His business thrived in his absence, underscoring the effectiveness of his team and systems. This highlights the importance of work-life balance and the support of a peer group in making bold decisions that benefit both the business and personal well-being. Clarity and Business Growth Thinking outside the box and having a system of accountability are crucial for business growth. A peer group provides a supportive environment and guidance from peers, which is instrumental in driving significant actions in your landscape business. This support keeps you committed to your goals and helps you achieve them. Embracing Transformational Growth Peer groups foster personal and business transformation by offering behind-the-scenes tours, sharing experiences, and best practices. For instance, visiting another member’s facility can provide inspiration and spark transformational growth in your own business. Exposure to different businesses and methodologies leads to tangible and relevant learning experiences. Joining a Peer Group Many landscape business owners face issues like feeling overworked, underpaid, experiencing slow growth, loneliness at the top, and general frustration. Our Leader’s Edge peer group community addresses these pain points by offering a range of benefits, from gaining clarity to participating in behind-the-scenes tours and sharing best practices. Taking the Next Step If you are looking for a better work-life structure, transformational business growth, and the opportunity to build relationships with like-minded peers, joining a peer group may be the next step in your journey to success. We have a comprehensive system and a community of support to address your pain points and facilitate growth. You can find more information here and apply through a simple two-step process, including a free consultation to discuss business opportunities and find the right peer group to join. The life-changing power of a peer group goes beyond business success—it encompasses personal growth, work-life harmony, and the opportunity to thrive in a supportive, collaborative community. If you’re ready to experience the profound impact of a peer group on your life and business, consider taking the next step towards joining a supportive and growth-oriented community. The post The Life-Changing Power of a Peer Group with Sean Baxter appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Justin Queen is owner and founder of Sales Engine, a marketing firm for the home services markets. He has 10 employees and is located in Wilmington, NC Jeffrey and Justin discuss how the old marketing model is broken, and how it needs to be addressed with a “results first” approach. Justin explains how he scientifically develops his clients marketing budget, and how he helps landscape contractors to maximize their sales from an overarching arc of “inquiry to invoice.” Jusin explains that the biggest marketing oppportunity is actually taking advantage of lost sales opportunities and he explains how he goes about this. Jeffrey and Justin are both old marketing hands, and have a lot of fun disecting the industry and discussing predictions for the future. The post Improving Your Marketing Impact with Justin Queen appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Brodie Brunner is the Executive Vice President (and co-owner) of Weathermatic. They are the “World’s leader in smart water technology.” Weathermatic was founded in 1945 and is located in Dallas, TX. They have 150 employees and revenues slightly under $50M. Jeffrey and Brodie discuss how the irrigation industry has changed dramatically over the past couple decades, and how Weathermatic has proactively planned for and driven that change, going from old-school manufacturing to cutting-edge integrated hardware and software.  Brodie shares how Weathermatic changed their business model again after the crash of 2008/2009. They discuss irrigation hourly rates, good irrigation margins, how to turn irrigation into an enhancement division, and their business model for giving away irrigation controllers to the end user. They share with you their predictions for the future of the green industry, and the role of technology in those predictions. There is a lot to learn here that you can apply to your business in this niche-specific podcast. The post The Future of Irrigation with Brodie Bruner appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Kevin & Tim join Jeffrey to discuss how they are growing their companies by selling pools and/or being part of the pool sale.  Kevin Werbrich is owner of Werbrich’s Landscaping in Cincinnati, OH. Tim O’Connor is head of Design/Build at LCI Landscapes in Columbus, MN We discuss all aspects of being in the pool business and how these two firms have used pools to drive the growth of their market, and even save their business in down times. The post The Pool Market with Kevin Werbrich and Tim O’Connor appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Jeffrey talks with Loriena Harrington (Beautiful Blooms Landscapes, WI) and Shanna Scordo (Earthcraft Landscaping, PA),  about the future of women in the landscape industry. We cover 3 topics. Turning points in Loriena’s and Shanna’s careers, sharing negative and positive experiences. Barriers to attracting and retaining more women into our industry. What you can do to make your firm more women-friendly. Plus surprise topics on recruiting, predictions, and seconds-in-command. The post Strong Women in Lawn & Landscaping, with Loriena Harrington and Shanna Scordo appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.

Chris DiStefano is the CEO of DiStefano Landscaping in Burlington, VT. Founded in 2004, his 65% design/bid-build company has grown to 7M with 55-60 employees. Chris and I explore his company’s steady growth process, starting with his dad and mom impacting his love of landscape as a child. From the time he could walk, he helped out at his family’s ornamental tree nursery and landscape business. We dive into his triathlon competition and how that is reflected in his business with his love of metrics and big goal setting.  We discuss how he has team built over the years, promoting vs hiring.  Finally we discuss his recent sports accidents and how his team really took over when he was sidelined.   The post Setting Annual Goals with Chris DiStefano appeared first on Jeffrey Scott.