The Ultimate Landscape CEO - Jeffrey Scott

Jim and I discuss his history and background in the landscape industry, and his career extensions into property development and consulting. We discuss his “visionary” appraoch to consulting and the impact it had on his business and life. We discuss his latest book, “The Depressed Motivational Speaker”, and his own struggles with depression and how he overcame them. This podcast is a di...

Ted Carter, is President of Pinehurst Landscape Company in Glen Arm, Maryland. They focus 85%  on residential landscape design, build, and maintenance. The company employs around 40 people during peak season and aims to surpass $6 million in revenue this year. Pinehurst was founded by Carter’s father in 1964. Initially a lawn mowing business, it evolved into a landscaping company. Ted Carter...

My guests on this podcast are the real deal:  Nag Murty  is an aerospace engineer turned serial tech entrepreneur.   Jarrett Herold is co-founder and COO of VC-backed startup  Electric Sheep , the first large-scale outdoor maintenance company powered by artificial intelligence and robotics.   This company is acquiring traditional outdoor service providers and progressively transforming operations...

Chad Simmons is owner of Playrite, a small but powerful $2M profitable artificial turf company in Knoxville, TN Regarding artificial turf, we discuss his proactive hiring strategy, how he uses competition to drive his business, and how his vendor relationships give him a strategic advantage. Chad is also a BBQ expert, and shares some tips and tricks. You will enjoy our business and personal conver...

Larry Ryan is founder and owner of Ryan Lawn & Tree, based near Kansas City, KS, a 37 yr old company. Larry and his team have grown their firm organically and through acquisition to approx $75M with more growth planned this year. Jeffrey and Larry discuss the 5 most valuable growth strategies that Ryan undertakes, plus many more facets of the business that everyone can learn from. Ryan Lawn &a...

Greg Crabtree is an author and financial expert, and has built a CPA firm focused solely on the needs of entrepreneurs.  Greg works with entrepreneurs all over the country in a broad range of industries. He is the author of “Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits” and “Simple Numbers 2.0: Rules for Smart Scaling.” He has also contributed to Verne Harnish’s book, “Scaling Up.” Jeffrey and Greg...

Dennise J. Vidosh owns two Michigan companies, Green Acres Tree farm and RE-TREE, where she has developed five separate divisions serving the tree care space. Dennise is an innovator in the green industry, and a trailblazer in the field of mature tree preservation. Over the course of thirteen years leading Green Acres Tree Farm, Dennise observed a troubling trend in the industry. Magnificent, matu...

Ted Ventre is the sole owner of Hively Landscapes in south central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. It services high end residential with revenue mix of 33% hardscape, 26% landscape and 41% maintenance. Ted is experienced in both commercial and residential and enjoys serving picky comprehensive wealthy clients the most. We dive into how he came to buy this current business, his approach to dele...

In reflection of the roller coaster year of 2023, Jeffrey Scott highlights seven lessons that significantly impacted the industry. He also shares 10 predictions for you to pay attention to in  2024. The 7 lessons are based on all the coaching and consulting work he does with companies across the US and Canada. Here is a summary of his seven lessons; he dives into important details on all seven.  ...

Tim Johnson is co owner of Tim Johnson Landscaping, a two branch, 10+M mixed-services landscape business situated in Statesville and Charlotte, NC Tim has experienced all the growing pains, including ’not being on the same page’ with another owner, carrying everything on his shoulders without a strong leadership team, operating reactively, and being overly focused on the top line. You will learn a...

Marc Nissim is the owner of Harmony Design Group in Westfield, NJ. It’s 18 years old and does $5million in mostly DB business, with 10% maintenance. Marc shares how he overcame Dyslexia, found his true passion in the visual arts, and opened up a design business. He then pivoted from a design only to design-project mgmt, to design-build that relies on sub contractors, and now he it taking it furthe...

Jeffrey Scott, author, investor and founder of Jeffrey Scott Consulting, talks about “giving back” to charities and the community, from five unique angles.   1. The true meaning of Thanksgiving, and how you can live it every day. 2. How we pledged to raise money for charity from our Summer Growth Summit, and the results of that pledge. 3. Why giving back is good for you personally and your busines...

Wade and Dustin Vugteveen are owners of DeHamer Landscaping, a 10M+ firm in Grandville, MI. They do a mix of snow, maintenance, landscape and irrigation. We discuss their history of startups, first with a baseball training business and then in retail. We discuss how hard it was for them early on, and how difficult it is to grow a business as an entrepreneur. These two have taken a series of risks...

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 gr...

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 a...

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 lead...

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...

 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 Conne...

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...

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...

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,...

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 wo...

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...

The economic winds are changing in different sectors and geographic areas around the country. Even if the economy remains strong in your neck of the woods, you will appreciate the savvy ideas that Jeffrey shares to tighten down your systems and approach. Jeffrey Scott (founder, Jeffrey Scott Consulting) discusses what he is seeing and shares specific advice that he has given to his coaching client...

Chris O’Bryan is co-owner and President of Limbwalker Tree Service & Lawn Care, based in Louisville, KY.  It’s a 20 year-old, 5M business that is 60% Tree service, with the rest spread over lawn services, PHC and mosquito control.  Chris is a true visionary and thinks outside the box. You will get inspired by the management ideas he has implemented in his firm. Jeffrey and Chris discuss his 20...