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Breaking into the big easy

Mullin Landscape Associates began as a modest design/build outfit working on projects as New Orleans slowly recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Today, the full-service firm has the reputation and resources to make an even bigger impact.

When other parts of the country were slogging through the recession and clients who typically spent dollars on landscape enhancements were gripping their wallets, Mullin Landscape Associates was a small upstart in post-Katrina New Orleans – small enough, nimble enough and connected enough to become part of The Big Easy’s rehabilitation.

Chase Mullin, right, who grew up working summers for a family friend’s homebuilding business, was looking to carve a niche for himself and grow a career of some kind. “I didn’t want to be a home builder,” he says. “I didn’t want to be a subcontractor.”

Visit bit.ly/llmullin to read the rest of the story.

When ya gotta go...

We have a lot of weird conversations around the L&L office, but sometimes these talks actually turn into stories. In this case, we wanted to know where your crews go to the bathroom. Yes, it’s a silly topic, but one we’ve heard a few different responses to over the years. So, we want to know from you. Email Managing Editor Brian Horn at bhorn@gie.net, and if we get some good responses, we’ll publish them anonymously.

Summer labor lessons

When it comes to managing crews during the summer season, making sure jobs are staffed by quality employees is priority No. 1.

The last thing a landscaping contractor wants to deal with during the height of the summer is an employee who doesn’t show up for work or who quits in the middle of a job. What’s a business owner to do when a labor issue arises in the midst of the industry’s busiest season? At bit.ly/summerlabor, the leaders of two landscaping companies share their secrets for bridging labor gaps as well as finding the right employees and keeping them around all summer long.

For tips on how to keep your crews safe while working in the extreme heat, turn to page 8.
 

Protect yourself
When an employee leaves your company, they could be taking some of your business with them. Jason Cupp, former business owner and now growth consultant, discusses some of the ways to keep your clients.
bit.ly/protectcupp

Blast from the past
If you missed an issue of L&L, visit our website and click the “current issue” tab on the left, and you’ll have access to years of back issues. Or just click bit.ly/LLbackissues.