Lawn Doctor acquired
 Bob Magda, co-founder and senior adviser at Lawn Doctor, designed this tractor combine in his basement more than 40 years ago. |
LOS ANGELES – Lawn Doctor, a nationwide network of more than 460 independently-owned franchise locations, has been acquired by private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. Lawn Doctor is the first investment from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners SBIC Fund, a $225 million private equity fund.
"Lawn Doctor is an iconic brand with a long history of growth and innovation," said Lauren Leichtman, co-founder and CEO of LLCP. "It offers a differentiated and personalized approach to lawn care and leads the industry in customer satisfaction and retention."
Russell Frith, former CEO, and Bob Magda, company co-founder, will each make significant investments in the company and will remain engaged with Lawn Doctor through their new roles as senior advisers.
| Charting a course Since Bob Magda invented a tractor combine in his basement more than 40 years ago, Lawn Doctor has stayed true to innovation and technology. Read how Lawn Doctor has grown and created a tech-friendly culture by visiting www.lawnandlandscape.com and searching “Lawn Doctor.” |
As a part of the transition, Scott Frith will take over as CEO. "The transaction allowed the company to access new forms of growth capital in order to continue to fund key strategic initiatives, ensuring the long-term viability of an organization that is well positioned to seize an opportunity in the marketplace," Scott Frith said in an interview with Lawn & Landscape.
"While geographic expansion is part of our long-term growth plan, we have a significant opportunity in the near term to increase our presence within our current footprints," he added.
The Holmdel, N.J.-based company ranked No. 10 on Lawn & Landscape's 2010 Top 100 list with $83 million in revenue.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois irrigation contractors are fighting the repeal of a law that would require them to obtain a plumbing license. If repealed, every person on an irrigation job site, whether designing, maintaining, installing or supervising, would need to be a licensed plumber or a licensed apprentice plumber. Unless acted upon by legislators, the repeal of the Irrigation Registration Law will automatically go into effect Jan. 1, 2013. "Less than 1 percent of the irrigation contractors in Illinois are licensed plumbers employing only licensed plumbers," said Dean Goodenough, president of Illinois Green Industry Association. Since the mid-90s irrigation contractors have been able to operate without a plumbing license, Goodenough said. If repealed, though, the law will send the state's irrigation industry in a flux. "The bulk of the contractors in the state are small mom and pop organizations and it will basically put those people out of business," he said. To become a licensed plumber in Illinois, you need to be sponsored by a licensed plumber and complete a four-year apprenticeship before taking the test to get licensed, Goodenough said. If the law is repealed, those operating without a plumbing license can be kicked off of a job site and individually fined $5,000. "There is a strong possibility that the law will be repealed due to lack of contractor input," Goodenough said. "A recent bill to eliminate upgrading backflow devices to RPZs failed due to lack of contractor support." Because the current law for irrigation contractors to be registered with the state is not highly enforced, Goodenough says contractors don't think the repeal of the law is a big deal. But he points to the recent bill that failed and the fact that because of state budget cuts, if the law is repealed, irrigation contractors would be lumped in with plumbing contractors, thus one more state program could be cut. – Carolyn LaWell TruGreen names new president MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After months of leadership change both within the company and its parent company, ServiceMaster, TruGreen has named long-time Terminix leader Tom Brackett president. Commercial market. TruGreen's growth goals will center on expanding its number of commercial clients, Brackett said. While he couldn't give specifics on how much TruGreen hopes to grow commercial work in the future, he said there will be an increased focus on the market segment. "Due to our scale, that properly positioned with highly trained people, we can really get after the opportunities that are in the commercial segment," he said. Enhance technology. Brackett said he would like to add tools to better enhance the customer experience. That includes adding and upgrading contact centers and routing and scheduling technology. "They allowed Terminix to excel not only in margin enhancement, customer satisfaction and problem resolution, but all the key metrics," he said. "As we've introduced new technology, we've been able to leverage that and the bottom line – post it to the overall financial performance." Standardized processes. "In branch-based businesses it's important to have really strong standardization and documented standardization around modeling, productivity standards, staffing standards, expectations," he said. "In my prior life, I've seen that work very, very well, and I think that we'll be a lot more focused if we have those roles and responsibilities and standardization laid out on the front end. Then it's a matter of execution, which is where we need to excel, actually just executing in the marketplace." – Carolyn LaWell BEATRICE, Neb. – Growing your business from five customers to 150 is quite a feat, especially when you are only 22 years old. But that's what Zak Matouka has done with his company, The Yard Men Snow & Lawn Services in Warren, Mich. The Yard Men Snow & Lawn Services will receive a new Exmark Lazer Z mower, plus $1,000. All three winners received a trip and personal tour of the Exmark plant in Beatrice, Neb. This is the first time Exmark has given out the awards and it gathered 102,036 votes for all three categories. Matouka said he attributes his success to competitive pricing, solid marketing, but most importantly, customer service. "I feel I communicate better with my customers," he said. "We know every customer's first and last name. If they are out, I'll have conversations with them, and I tell my employees to do the same. It's not just 'hi and bye.'" Steve and Teri Gegner, owners of D&J Equipment in Longwood, Fla., won $5,000 for being Dealer of the Year. The duo attributes their success to going above and beyond for the customer. "You have to listen to the customers and their needs, and I think that you have to build up a rapport with them where they trust you," Teri said. "And you have to be the type of person that deserves that trust. Customer service is what it is all about." The Brickman Group's Eden Guerra of The Woodlands, Texas, won Crew Member of the Year and was awarded a trip for two to Hawaii plus $1,000. "It's not what he has done with our clients that will be everlasting, even though impressive. It's the impact he has made with our teams," said Jeff Rupp, Eden's co-worker and nominator. – Brian Horn GREENSBORO, N.C. – Project EverGreen, Nature's Select Premium Turf Services and Syngenta employees joined faculty and student volunteers donating their time and services to enhance and improve the grounds at the Penn-Griffin Arts Magnet School in High Point. Willard reached out to Steve Dorer, local territory manager at Syngenta, for help to upgrade landscaping on the campus and replace old, outdated plants with newer, native plants that would be more drought-resistant to reduce water usage. "The generosity of Nature's Select and Project EverGreen to fund the project, along with our faculty and student volunteers and Syngenta employees involved in this landscape installation, helps us to beautify our outdoor environment and make it a more pleasant and inviting place to learn and to visit," Willard said. Nature's Select Premium Turf Services in Winston-Salem volunteered its professional staff's time and labor to plan and supervise the installation, as well as donated nursery stock and mulch needed for the landscape renovation. Syngenta, a corporate sponsor of Project EverGreen, had members of its Lawn & Garden's Greensboro-based staff assist Nature's Select in the improvement of the school grounds. "Our company's mission is to preserve and enhance our community green spaces, and facilitating the Penn-Griffin School landscape renovation is one way we're glad to help sustain a healthy, green environment for current and future students at Penn-Griffin," said Gene Queen, owner of Nature's Select Premium Turf Services. COLUMBUS, Ohio –OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals – and the American Nursery & Landscape Association are joining together to better handle the industry's changing landscape. The two national organizations will expand on previous collaborations and share resources including staff and the ability to advocate for the industry's interests before government and the general public. While the joint venture is not a merger, in several years, if both organizations see value in becoming one organization, members will talk about further collaboration, Michael McCabe, OFA president, said in a letter to members. He cited dramatic industry changes – economic strains, changing interest in the need for gardening and landscape products, government activity and financial uncertainty – as what brought the organizations to this point. "Our volunteer leaders have been considering how to best address these issues," he said. "In light of future opportunities and threats in this quickly changing environment, one solution is for trade associations to work together to build the capacity and governance structures to properly serve their members and the industry." THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Those looking to speak at or plan green industry events, now have a new forum to help with the coordination. Green Industry Speakers Bureau is a new one-stop shop to provide speakers for turf associations, landscape contractor associations, green industry expos and trade show events. "In the past, meeting planners had to spend hours collecting dozens of applications to find the perfect speaker and topic for their event," said Robin Westmiller, founder of the company. "Speakers, in turn, needed to spend hours submitting applications, making follow-up phone calls and negotiating fees. Now, both can find exactly what they need at our new website. We do all the rest." The bureau offers professional speakers access to more than 100 state and national green industry association events. With bureau representation, speakers have an opportunity to increase their speaking engagements without sacrificing time away from their companies. Dozens of topics are addressed by the initial roster of speakers, including business management, development, outdoor lighting, sales techniques, sustainable resources and more. Among the initial speakers under contract are Jody Shilan, Jason Cupp, Chris Heiler, Brad Groff, Mark Simmons, Steve Windhager, Tony Bass and Paul Gosselin. ALBANY, N.Y. – Fertilizer provisions in the NYS Dishwasher Detergent and Nutrient Runoff Law went into effect Jan. 1. Under the law, use of fertilizer that contains more than 0.67 percent phosphorus is restricted, unless being used on a new lawn that is being established or a soil test indicates that it is necessary. Other key restrictions of the law include application of any fertilizer to lawns or non-agricultural turf between Dec.1-Apri 1 and application of any fertilizer on lawns or non-agricultural turf within 20 feet of a water body or on paved surfaces. Retailers also must display phosphorus fertilizers separately from phosphorus-free fertilizers and must post signs notifying customers of the terms of the law. Similar fertilizer-reduction programs have been adopted in New Jersey, Minnesota, Maine, Wisconsin and Florida. International Equipment Solutions named Stephen Andrews CEO. IES's business units include Paladin and Crenlo. Andrew was previously president and CEO of Pettibone LLC, the parent company of 14 diversified global industrial businesses. Weed Man expanded its corporate staff team dedicated to U.S. operations. Roman Skrypuch was named director of franchise development; Dan Mongeon, franchise development coordinate; and RJ Navia, social media and web coordinator. Also, Chris Lemcke, former technical coordinator for the company's Canadian operations, will join Weed Man's U.S. operations as technical director. TruGreen LandCare appointed Vidu Kulkarni CEO, upon Mac McIlvried leaving the company to pursue outside interests. Kulkarni joins TruGreen LandCare with more than 20 years of professional experience in the commercial and industrial sector, most recently serving as senior executive at United Technologies Corp, a publicly traded Fortune 50 company. Study confirms U.S. Latinos importance to industry A recent study has shown the vital role that the landscape and lawn care industry play in providing entrepreneurial opportunity, jobs and income to U.S. Latinos. The study, entitled "The Economic Impact of the Landscaping and Lawn Care Services Industry on U.S. Latinos" was conducted for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce by the Inter-University Program on Latino Research. The study underscores the importance of Hispanic-Americans to the industry and the importance of the industry to U.S. Hispanics across the country, said Ralph Egües, executive director of the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance. "The study helps to fill a data void and brings into better focus the very significant presence of U.S. Hispanics in our industry," he said. "The real value of the report lies in knowing exactly how far reaching and relevant this demographic is to the future of the industry." Among the study's key findings are: – L&L staff COATESVILLE, Ind. – Magic Circle Corp., Dixie Chopper's parent company, named Simon Wilson president and CEO to replace Gary Morgan, who resigned to pursue other interests. Wilson was most recently the company's CFO and vice president of operations. "Simon did a great job as our chief financial officer and VP of operations since joining us two-and-a-half years ago, and I expect he'll do even better job as our president and CEO," said Magic Circle Chairman Arthur L. Evans. "His knowledge and relevant experience will well suit our needs as a company." Wilson was also reconfirmed to Magic Circle's board of directors. "I believe Dixie Chopper's strategy of solid, American-built, lawn care equipment through an established independent dealer organization will enable Dixie Chopper to take on the competition head on," Wilson said. "We are just beginning our growth. We have some exciting new products we have just announced and more coming shortly. I'm excited to be a part of the most innovative outdoor power equipment company in the industry."
Law to force contractors to earn plumbing license
The Illinois Green Industry Association is asking contractors to contact their legislators. It’s also collecting money to donate to the cause. For more information or to contribute, visit www.ina-online.org or call (217) 525-6222.
Since May, Brackett had served as interim president of TruGreen while maintaining his role as president and COO of Terminix, a company he helped become the first in the pest control industry to surpass $1 billion in revenues. After receiving his new title in December, Brackett spoke with Lawn & Landscape about some of the changes he plans to make to help TruGreen improve performance.
Exmark recognizes growing landscaping company 
Matouka recently won the Mark Award for Lawn Care/Landscaping Company of the Year presented by Exmark. The awards were created to recognize the best within the landscape industry in three categories – Dealers of the Year, Best Lawn Care or Landscaping Company and Crew Member of the Year.
Suppliers team with Project EverGreen to enhance school landscape 
William Penn-Alfred J. Griffin School for the Arts is a 120 year-old, public arts magnet school situated in a historic locality and now a designated part of a new National Historic District. "The grounds around the school have been sadly neglected over the years, which has had an effect on our campus," said Linda Willard, administrative assistant at Penn-Griffin.
Snow fighters needed
Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops is looking for volunteers to provide free snow removal services for military families. Now in its second year, Project EverGreen hopes to double its number of participants during the 2011-12 snow season. For more ways to help, visit www.lawnandlandscape.com and search “SnowCare for Troops.”
OFA, ANLA announce joint venture
Speakers bureau founded
N.Y. phosphorus restrictions start
Climbing the ladder: Hires and promotions
"In terms of affecting the industry, hopefully (the study) will serve as a tool to help company executives – landscaping, power equipment manufacturers, human resources, etc. – realize the importance of properly investing in Hispanics and their long term growth in order to help the company grow and remain competitive," Egües said.
Dixie Chopper names Wilson new CEO
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