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ValleyCrest acquires 2 large Florida companies
CALABASAS, Calif. – ValleyCrest Landscape Companies expanded in the Florida market with the announcement it merged with Nanak’s Landscaping and Raymow Enterprises.
Orlando-based Nanak’s Landscaping, which has five Florida locations, and Tampa-based Raymow Enterprises, which has operations in eight locations, have joined ValleyCrest’s existing network of more than 30 Florida branches.
Combined, the deals will increase the size of ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance nearly 10 percent overall and add substantially to ValleyCrest’s market presence in Florida. ValleyCrest now employs more than 3,100 people in the state and serves more than 2,700 customers in Florida communities. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
“These are two superior landscape firms that have proven track records over an extended period of time for exceeding customer expectations in Florida communities important to ValleyCrest,” said Richard A. Sperber, president and CEO of ValleyCrest.
“While the majority of our growth still comes organically, our 61-year track record of success makes ValleyCrest an ideal company for other landscape firms looking to join forces. We have a unique success rate integrating companies into ours because we work hard to understand what has made these companies successful and leverage these capabilities into our existing operations to make us both better.”
Founded in 1973 by Sampuran Khalsa and Mahan Kalpa Khalsa, Nanak’s Landscaping is ranked as the 34th largest landscape company nationally and one of the largest independent operators in Florida, according to Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list. The company earned its respected position as a landscape leader by building strong partnerships with customers in the central Florida markets of Orlando, Tampa and Sarasota, as well as the northeast markets of Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
Founded by Ray Bradley in 1985 when he was 12 years old, Raymow Enterprises is ranked as the second largest landscape company in the Tampa market behind ValleyCrest, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Raymow’s current service region spans five counties, offering a wide range of landscape services, capabilities and responsive crews.
Davey Tree’s relocation business merges with Environmental Design
KENT, Ohio – The Davey Tree Expert Co. has entered into an agreement to merge its tree relocation business into Environmental Design and enter into a strategic marketing alliance allowing the companies to cross-market in certain areas of the country.
“It involves marketing the service nationwide through the Davey tree and landscape experts, which means our Davey operations across North America will refer business to the new partnership,” said Sandra Reid, manager of corporate communications and marketing at Davey Tree.
Davey’s large tree moving division had 20 Houston-based employees. Several of the employees have been offered other positions within Davey and others will be offered positions within EDI, Reid said.
“We are excited about the possibilities that will be realized by combining our tree relocation activities and look forward to our collaboration with Davey to deliver superior aftercare for our tree relocation projects,” said Tom P. Cox, EDI president.
“We have always respected Environmental Design’s tree relocation expertise and innovation,” said Karl J. Warnke, Davey chairman, president and CEO. “This partnership allows both EDI and Davey to benefit from the combined experience of both companies and the support offered by Davey’s extensive network of tree and landscape experts.”
Davey Tree was ranked fourth in Lawn & Landscape’s 2010 Top 100 list with more than $550 million in 2009 revenue and approximately 7,000 employees.
EDI does not release financial information, but has completed large projects at the San Diego Zoo and Pebble Beach Golf Links. – Brian Horn
CLCA names legislator of the year
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Landscape Contractors Association handed out its first Legislator of the Year Award to Jose Solorio.
Solorio, a California state assemblyman and chairman of the state assembly select committee on regional approaches to addressing the state’s water crisis, was selected for the award based on his commitment to protect the state’s water resources.
“For CLCA and the landscape industry in California, water management is about both supply and stewardship,” said Robert Wade, president, Wade Landscaping based in Newport Beach, and CLCA’s president-elect. “Assemblyman Solorio has established significant and often groundbreaking legislation on water as a matter of public policy – a commitment we believe is the cornerstone to a more sustainable future for all Californians. This year, Jose supported water conservation through his rainwater harvesting initiative and fought for improvements to the state’s water infrastructure through the passing of last year’s water bond.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Legislator of the Year award,” Solorio said. “CLCA’s goals align closely with my own in terms of ensuring that all Californians have access to clean, safe water.”
Kinsella Landscape wins New Holland challenge
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Beating out firms from across the country, Greg Semmer and Kinsella Landscape took home a brand new skid-steer loader at the 2010 Landscaper’s Challenge awards.
The contest, which was sponsored by New Holland Construction, sought to recognize the best design/build projects in the country.
Kinsella Landscape was chosen from the field of six semi-finalists by Lawn & Landscape’s panel of industry judges on the merits of its design, overall appeal, material selection and workmanship.
“Our entire team at Kinsella feels very grateful and hon1ored to be receiving the grand prize for The 2010 Landscaper’s Challenge-sponsored by New Holland. It was a total team effort from the designer to the production team,” said Greg Semmer, Kinsella Landscape president. “In these hard times, it’s crucial for everyone to keep striving for quality and use of better practices in the green industry. For us, winning this skid-steer validates the belief that quality and service are still the most important values of a company.” – Chuck Bowen
Ohio Turfgrass Conference draws more than 2,000 people
COLUMBUS, Ohio. – Approximately 2,400 turfgrass professionals visited the Ohio Turfgrass Conference and Show in Columbus in early December. Professionals could attend numerous educational sessions, along with the trade show, which featured more than 100 companies spread across 25,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The conference featured educational sessions on adding snow service to your business and increasing your profits by selling enhancements.
Robert Smart, Rich Arlington & Associates, said those adding a snow removal service, or those currently providing it, get in trouble because they don’t know how much to charge. Smart said to look into setting up a production rate pricing system to help establish what you have to charge to make a profit.
You also need to integrate contracts into your business if you want to succeed, he said. But, give customers a number of contract-types to choose from, so they don’t feel that the contract is being forced on them.
Representatives from TruGreen, The Brickman Group and Grasshopper Property Maintenance in Ohio told attendees that getting face-to-face meetings with customers is the best way to sell them additional services.
They said to find out what is important to the customer because a service disliked by one customer, might be loved by another. In addition, you have to follow-up with customers to build a solid relationship because the proactive approach takes the onus off the customer. If the customer wasn’t happy with the service, they have to make the phone call, which could be a nasty one, and that is a situation you want to avoid.
Other highlights of the annual event included:
Mark Grunkemeyer, Buckeye EcoCare, received the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation (OTF) 2010 Professional of the Year Award.
Todd Voss, Double Eagle Club, received an OTF 2010 Professional Excellence Award.
Former state Sen. Sue Morano, received an OTF 2010 President’s Special Recognition Award.
OTF presented $20,500 in scholarships to 14 students from turf and landscape programs at colleges around Ohio and Kentucky.
Clark Kellogg, TV color analyst, gave the conference Keynote Address: Be a Difference Maker.
More than 100 hours of educational programming offered topics on golf turf, golf course management, sports turf, lawn and landscape, irrigation, sod production, environmental issues, mechanics and more. — Brian Horn
SavATree merges with Chicago-based Autumn Tree Care Experts
BEDFORD, N.Y. – SavATree, a provider of tree and shrub care services, has merged with Autumn Tree Care Experts.
“We share many similarities in culture, in particular our dedication to providing exceptional customer service and expertise. It’s a natural fit,” said Dan Klindera, president of Autumn.
Founded by Matthew and Veronica Dziedzic in 1979, Autumn Tree Care Experts offers tree pruning and fertilization, disease diagnosis and treatment, pest management, cabling/bracing and pre/post construction consultations.
SavATree is ranked 17th on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list, with 2009 revenue of $49 million and 430 employees.
“We are thrilled to partner with a company who, like us, strives to sustain the environment. Both organizations have been at the forefront of environmental awareness for over two decades,” said Daniel van Starrenburg, president of SavATree.
New Hires:
Tim Baskerville has returned to Ruppert Landscape as branch manager for the North Carolina Landscape Construction Branch.
Rick Whitman has accepted the position of operations manager for Ruppert Landscape’s Maryland Landscape Construction Branch.
Chad Forcey was hired by the Irrigation Association as state affairs director.
Randy Ratcliff was hired to SynaTek’s technical sales team.
Warren Clark was hired by Jacobsen as director of new product development.
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