Pat Covey believes just about everyone who works at the Davey Tree Expert Company has seen the photograph.

Covey joined the company in 1991 and is now the team’s chairman, president and CEO. In front of dozens of employees and invited guests in March, Covey celebrated the company’s completed renovations of its corporate headquarters in Kent, Ohio.

But first, Covey contemplated the crossroads it took to reach this point. He says he often wonders what would’ve happened if John Davey hadn’t moved to Kent in 1880 to become what the company calls “the Father of Tree Surgery.” What would’ve happened if Covey had never found a small ad in the Akron Beacon Journal promoting Davey Tree?

But Covey talked most about the crossroads depicted in the photograph. It’s a picture of Jim Pohl, Jack Joy and Doug Cowan, members of the employee ownership committee, signing the deal in March 1979 with attorneys looking on. The Davey family was in its third generation and couldn’t find someone who wanted to run the company. There were shareholders who wanted to cash out. That’s when private equity companies in New York came knocking.

“They were headed well down the path of becoming private equity owned or being owned by someone else outside the family,” Covey says. “109 employees pooled together their money, whatever they could come up, and offered the Davey Company away to sell it back to the employees.”

It was a big moment for the company, which ranked No. 2 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list this year. It now employs over 12,000 people and pulled in $1.6 billion dollars in revenue in 2023. On the heels of the 45th anniversary of that signing, Covey says Davey Tree is on the right trajectory to surpass $2 billion or more in the next five years.

The newest company crossroads? A completely updated corporate headquarters and development of its nearby Science, Employee Education and Development campus, which will open in Summer 2025. Davey Tree added a third wing spanning 38,4000 square feet to its corporate headquarters, which first opened in 1984. Construction started in 2020 and wrapped up in November 2022, which is when Lawn & Landscape last had a look at the Davey Tree campus.

The company also just completed renovations on its existing North and South wings to match the updates in the third wing, placing an emphasis on features like soft seating collaborative areas, environmentally friendly lighting and modernized work stations with desks that adjust heights at the push of a button. The company also redid its meeting rooms and company café area, plus it constructed a sizable gym with a full locker room.

In all, the company’s headquarters includes spaces for 370 workstations. The third wing made room for 70 more jobs at Davey Tree.

Davey Tree’s SEED Campus is currently being built across the street. Once completed, the 170-acre property will house educational classrooms, a 10,700-square-foot indoor climbing center, laboratories, greenhouses and multiple research plots with over 500 species. It’s also on schedule to receive LEED certification.

“Kent, Ohio, has been an integral part of Davey Tree for over 140 years,” Covey says. “Davey continues to show our unwavering support to the Kent community and Northeast Ohio, and the completion of our corporate office renovations is an example of our commitment.”

Schill Grounds Management has acquired Strauser Nature’s Helpers to expand in eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New York and New Jersey.

Locally owned and operated by Founder Zech Strauser since 1998, Strauser Nature’s Helpers specializes in landscaping, lawn care and snow removal for commercial clients including multi-family complexes, retail, hospitality, government, student housing and resort properties in the Poconos, Lehigh Valley and Lancaster among other areas.

Combining with Strauser extends Schill’s reach further east into Pennsylvania around the Philadelphia area, as well as parts of northwestern New York and New Jersey. Strauser has about 75 employees who are joining Schill.

“We have been longtime admirers of Zech’s work in growing Strauser Nature’s Helpers into a premier provider of landscape services and snow and ice removal in Eastern Pennsylvania and beyond,” says Jerry Schill, CEO of Schill Grounds Management and founder of the company.

Adding Strauser Nature’s Helpers to the Schill brand, along with the recent acquisition of BAM Outdoor, brings the company to about 1,200 employees as Schill has grown to become one of the largest landscape management and snow and ice removal companies in the country.

Schill continues to grow organically throughout the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions, as well as through acquisitions. Since 2020, Schill has made 12 acquisitions.

“We are thrilled to partner with Schill and become part of an organization that also prioritizes growing careers, sustainability, responsible resource management and superior customer service,” Strauser says. “Joining the Schill family delivers greater value for customers. I also believe we will advance our mission to help the Strauser team meet their personal and professional goals well into the future.”

Mariani Premier Group has acquired Lifescape Colorado, a residential landscape firm founded in 1976 by Charles Randolph.

Mariani ranks No. 7 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list, while Lifescape Colorado earned No. 93. The move marks the 19th acquisition by the group.

Michael Hupf has been at the helm at Lifescape Colorado for the past 18 years, leading the company from a boutique local firm to a company ranking in the Top 100. Headquartered in Denver, Lifescape Colorado offers landscape architecture, construction and property care services.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lifescape Colorado into the Mariani Premier Group family,” says Mariani Premier Group Chairman Frank Mariani. “The addition of Lifescape further strengthens our position in the Colorado market and underscores our commitment to providing unparalleled service and expertise to our clients across the country.”

“We look forward to leveraging Lifescape Colorado’s exceptional talent, resources and use of technology as we continue to drive innovation and excellence in the landscaping industry.” — Bryan Christiansen, CEO of Mariani Premier Group

“We look forward to leveraging Lifescape Colorado’s exceptional talent, resources and use of technology as we continue to drive innovation and excellence in the landscaping industry," says Bryan Christiansen, CEO of Mariani Premier Group.

“Joining forces with the Mariani Premier Group presents the next chapter for Lifescape Colorado and is an incredible opportunity for us to expand our reach both locally and nationally," Hupf says. "This partnership will enable us to continue to build on our passion of delivering the highest standards of service and craftsmanship to our clients while fostering growth and innovation within our organization.”

Landscape Workshop has acquired Liberty Land Management Group, expanding its footprint into a new territory, the Southwest region of Florida.

Liberty was first founded by Bob and Teresa Keating.

“Our reputation for delivering exceptional results has been cultivated by fostering growth and development within our team. We prioritize our relationships with our clients and our employees,” Bob Keating says. “That’s where Landscape Workshop aligns perfectly with our values — they not only acknowledge the worth of our dedicated professionals but also promise avenues for their continuous advancement.”

Bob and Teresa will be supporting transition efforts as consultants with Landscape Workshop.

Landscape Workshop ranks No. 27 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list this year. The company is a full-service grounds management firm since 1984. Serving 26 Southeastern markets, Landscape Workshop operates in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. Landscape Workshop is backed by Carousel Capital and McKinney Capital.

“We are pleased to announce our expansion into the Southwest Florida market through the acquisition of Liberty Land Management Group,” says J.T. Price, CEO at Landscape Workshop. “This represents a culmination of diligent planning and the well-established success of Liberty. We are thrilled to integrate the Liberty team into the LW family, further solidifying our presence in Florida.”

KeyServ Company has acquired Landmark Landscape Group, expanding its presence in the Birmingham market. This acquisition is strategically positioned to bolster KeyServ’s landscape services in the Southeastern U.S.

Landmark Landscape Group was founded by Guy Roemen and Randy Williams in 2011 to do commercial landscape work. Today, it provides full-service landscape installation and maintenance services to an expanding base of residential and commercial clients in the region.

“This is a big win for Landmark Landscape Group and for all our employees. I am very excited to join the KeyServ team and look forward to growing an already stellar company.” — Guy Roemen, co-founder, Landmark Landscape Group

While Williams retired in 2019, Roemen will continue to run Landmark as a resource within KeyServ Company.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to partner with Landmark Landscape Group; the acquisition complements our current Alabama operations with Quality Creative Landscaping in Birmingham and Huntsville,” says Jeff Domenick, CEO of KeyServ Company. “Our team values Landmark’s commitment to their people and customers, track record of success and solid position for growth. With the addition of Landmark Landscape Group, KeyServ continues to build a great company around our associates and customers in an amazing industry.”

“This is a big win for Landmark Landscape Group and for all our employees,” Roemen says. “I am very excited to join the KeyServ team and look forward to growing an already stellar company.”

Bartlett Tree Experts has acquired Joshua Tree in Wilmington, North Carolina.

“We are excited to expand in the Cape Fear region with the acquisition of Joshua Tree of Wilmington, LLC; a quality company that shares our passion for trees,” says Jim Ingram, Bartlett Tree Experts president and chief operating officer.

“Bartlett is a family business that has been a leader in the industry for 117 years and is well-known for its scientific approach to tree care. With Bartlett, our customers can rely on local attention from highly skilled arborists with a commitment to service and safety.” — Joshua Shields, founder, Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree was founded by Joshua Shields in 2017. He has joined Bartlett in its new Wilmington office as an arborist representative along with members of his production arborist team.

“Bartlett is a family business that has been a leader in the industry for 117 years and is well-known for its scientific approach to tree care. With Bartlett, our customers can rely on local attention from highly skilled arborists with a commitment to service and safety,” Shields says.

Steve Johnston, vice president of Bartlett Tree Experts operations in the Southeastern U.S., says the acquisition offered the right fit, while advancing Bartlett’s strategy of growth through acquisition in key markets.

“The acquisition of Joshua Tree expands Bartlett’s scientific tree care services for more of the Wilmington area’s residential and commercial property owners, as well as broadening our services to the Hanover, Brunswick and Pender areas. This will go a long way toward improving the health and beauty of their trees and landscapes,” Johnston says.

Juniper Landscaping has acquired Rip’s Professional Lawn Care and Elegant Landscape & Design, two landscaping maintenance and installation providers based in Panama City and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., respectively. The addition of Rip’s and Elegant expands Juniper’s footprint to 28 branch locations across Florida and Texas.

Juniper has also finalized a major installation design/build and maintenance contract with the Tyndall Air Force base in Panama City.

“After several years working through concept and construction plans, Juniper is excited to announce an agreement to be the landscape contractor for the Tyndall Air Force Base. This project will take approximately three years to complete and will provide a strong foundation for further growth in the panhandle,” says Dan deMont, Juniper’s chief revenue officer.

“This is a market that we are prioritizing for heavy investment given our recent selection as the lead landscape installation and maintenance provider for the nearby Tyndall Air Force Base, and so our new partnership with Rip’s could not have been better timed.” — Brandon Duke, CEO, Juniper

Juniper’s partnership with Rip’s facilitates the company’s expansion into the Florida panhandle market, one of only a few major markets in the state where Juniper has not already established a position. Rip’s President, James “Rip” Thompson, will continue to lead the branch with support from Juniper’s corporate team.

“Rip has an excellent reputation for providing premium service in the Panama City and neighboring markets,” says Brandon Duke, CEO of Juniper. “This is a market that we are prioritizing for heavy investment given our recent selection as the lead landscape installation and maintenance provider for the nearby Tyndall Air Force Base, and so our new partnership with Rip’s could not have been better timed. Whether an HOA, institution, or government entity, Juniper is actively looking for new partnerships in Panama City and surrounding areas and we have the capacity to service a project of any size.”

Juniper’s partnership with Elegant further expands its presence in the Palm Beach market.

Founded in 2015, Elegant has had successful results serving the upscale communities of Palm Beach. Elegant’s Co-owner, Joe Morello, will continue to manage the branch with support from the Juniper team.

Senske Services has expanded in the Kansas City area with the acquisition of Weber Lawn Care.

Established in 1996 by owner Troy Weber, Weber Lawn Care provides residential lawn care across the Kansas City area. Weber is transitioning into retirement.

“Casey and the team at Senske promised to help grow Pro Turf, I just didn’t realize how quickly it would happen. “We’ve been part of the Senske family for a few weeks, and we are already welcoming acquired customers.” — Scott Doss, COO, Pro Turf & Pro Pest Solutions

Weber Lawn Care’s customers will now be served by the Pro Turf team. “Pro Turf & Pro Pest Solutions delivers outstanding lawn care and pest control services across the Midwest and we’re excited to add more customers in the great city of Kansas City,” says Casey Taylor, CEO of Senske Services

“Casey and the team at Senske promised to help grow Pro Turf, I just didn’t realize how quickly it would happen,” says Scott Doss, COO of Pro Turf & Pro Pest Solutions. “We’ve been part of the Senske family for a few weeks, and we are already welcoming acquired customers.”

This deal represents the second acquisition for Senske in the Midwest and the third overall in 2024. Senske Services ranks No. 23 on Lawn & Landscape’s 2024 Top 100 list.

Verde Equity Partners acquires Green-Tech Landcare

Green-Tech Landcare founder Tom Bjorstrom will continue to support the company, which offers commercial landscaping services in Southern California.

Verde Equity Partners, a San Diego-based private equity firm, has acquired Green-Tech Landcare, which offers commercial landscaping services in Southern California.

The acquisition of Green-Tech Landcare marks the third transaction in a planned vertical roll-up strategy focused on commercial landscaping companies.

“Having known both the investment managers and operating partner for a number of years, I am excited that we were able to find an opportunity to work together.” — Tom Bjorstrom, founder, Green-Tech Landcare

“We are excited to be working with the Green-Tech team,” says Tom Heaviland, Verde’s operating partner and CEO. “Green-Tech’s premier customer relationships, longevity in the community and strong brand make it a natural fit for our family of companies and we continue to growth quickly.”

Verde Equity Partners continues to actively pursue investment opportunities with the support of its investors while continuing its planned acquisitions of additional commercial landscaping companies located in and around the Southwest states with at least two more planned acquisitions slated for this fiscal quarter.

Green-Tech Landcare founder Tom Bjorstrom will continue to support the company as it is integrated into Verde’s operating portfolio of companies.

“Having known both the investment managers and operating partner for a number of years, I am excited that we were able to find an opportunity to work together,” he says. “I know the team will be a great custodian of what the Green-Tech team has built over the last decade.”

Arbor Masters acquires JCB Tree Service, merges with Walker Tree Service

JCB and Walker Tree Service have been part of the tree care industry for 22 years and 27 years, respectively.

Arbor Masters has acquired JCB Tree Service, a tree care company with 22 years of industry expertise. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Arbor Masters’ expansion of services in the Midwest.

Founded in 2002, JCB Tree Service has established itself under the leadership of owner Brian Beach, a certified arborist.

“We are excited to welcome JCB into the Arbor Masters family. Brian and his team have built an impressive legacy and their commitment to excellence mirrors our own values. This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our efforts to strengthen our position as a leader in the markets we serve,” says Owner Ron Keith.

JCB Tree Service will continue to operate under its established brand as an Arbor Masters Company.

“I am excited to be part of Arbor Masters and I’m looking forward to offering more services to our customers. I’m here to stay and be a valuable part of the team, building on the strong service and customer relationships Arbor Masters is famous for,” Beach says.

Additionally, Arbor Masters has merged with Walker Tree Service, a family-owned business with 27 years of dedicated service.

John Walker, founder of Walker Tree Service, and wife, Denise Walker, expressed their enthusiasm for the merger.

“The core of Arbor Masters is trees. Our cultures and values align, and they care more about the people than just the numbers,” says the couple.

In describing his approach to business, John shares his motto, “never stop,” emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement and growth. This philosophy resonates strongly with Arbor Masters’ dedication to growth and innovation in the tree care industry.

A key aspect of the merger is the continuation of the Walker family’s involvement in the business. Both John Walker and his son, Johnathon Walker, will remain integral members of the Arbor Masters team.

Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance merges with Shore Property Maintenance

The location will now operate under the Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance name.

Shore Property Maintenance and Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance have merged and will operate under Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance.

Shore Property Maintenance was founded in the early 1980s after owner Ted Nowakowski was involved in a construction accident. As a lifelong resident of Rehoboth Beach with an entrepreneurial family who had owned many businesses in the area, Nowakowski started with a Jeep and a trailer doing yard maintenance and other landscape jobs that were available at the time. Nowakowski used his contacts with local developers and business owners to expand the business over the years, aided by his family who provided labor and their opinions on how to better serve his customers. As the area grew, so did Shore Property Maintenance.

Founded in 1988 by John & Laura Sullivan, the company is now carried by the second generation, Colby and Joel Sullivan. Over the years, Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance successfully expanded within their hometown of Milford, along with their first big expansion in 2021 when they opened their Selbyville branch to service Southern Delaware.

Sullivan’s has long searched for a location in Millboro, the mid-point between their two existing locations.

“Being able to connect two large scale, family-owned businesses into one, with no private equity and no out-of-state controlling interest allows every current and future customer of the newly merged Sullivan’s Landscaping & Maintenance to continue to enjoy the service and experience of true local business,” according to the company’s press release.

Great Lakes Grounds Management has landed its third-ever and largest acquisition since 2018.

In a recent carved out acquisition, Amherst, Ohio-based Great Lakes Grounds Management obtained the commercial landscape maintenance division of Evergreen Tree & Lawncare.

This acquisition comes as Great Lakes Grounds Management continues to forge an expansion of its service footprint in Ohio.

Evergreen Tree & Lawncare is a family-owned and operated landscaping company based in Elyria, Ohio. As part of the recent acquisition, Great Lakes Grounds Management has assumed all of Evergreen Tree & Lawncare’s commercial customer accounts, and the team at Evergreen Tree & Lawncare will continue to service their residential fertilizer accounts.

As part of the acquisition, Great Lakes Grounds Management has also attained equipment and employees.

“We are pleased to have navigated this unique acquisition in a way that yields a successful outcome for both companies involved. The Great Lakes Grounds Management is thrilled to serve the commercial clients who’ve entrusted Evergreen Tree & Lawncare, Inc., with an exceptional level of service at every turn,” says a spokesperson for Great Lakes Grounds Management.

This is the third and largest acquisition to date by Great Lakes Grounds Management since 2018, when the company acquired Rowland’s Lawncare. In 2023, Great Lakes Grounds Management acquired Raymond’s Landscaping.