Heather Monahan was out of her comfort zone recently speaking to attendees at Landscape Management Network's Landscape Mastermind Summit — and that’s exactly what she wanted.

Earlier in the week, Monahan delivered a keynote for a media company. As someone who worked in media for several decades, she knew their pain points, she knew the people and she felt particularly confident.

While Monahan clarified that she was excited to talk in front of familiar faces, it didn’t do much for her.

“Did that build more confidence for me? No,” she says. “If we want to go for more…we’ve got to do things differently.”

Instead, speaking in front of folks in the green industry for the first time built up her confidence even more. Monahan says this is the first trick anybody — including landscapers — should know.

“Everybody needs more confidence in their life, and you want to know why?” she says. “Confidence is directly tied to revenue. People buy from confident people.”

Monahan insists that she wasn’t always confident. She remembers running into people who believed she grew up rich, but she grew up living with a single mother who cared for four children. They lived in a trailer in Massachusetts and bought groceries on food stamps.

Monahan used to project this persona that wasn’t her, especially back then, but she was attracting the wrong opportunities for her because of that. “The more you can show up as the vulnerable you… the more confident you become,” she says, adding that people rally around that behavior and emulate it. “When we start doing that, we create bonds with people that are unbreakable.”

She also talked about how a previous employer fired her, detailing how scary it initially was because she had lots of bills to pay. Monahan also worried about whether she’d be perceived as a failure, but instead, she reframed it as being in good company. She Google searched: “Has anyone successful ever been fired?” From there, she found plenty of examples like Steve Jobs and J.K. Rowling. So, she took to LinkedIn and posted something her friends and family felt was too vulnerable, asking for help from anyone who she had ever helped before.

That vulnerability led her post to reach viral numbers, so much so that Elvis Duran — a radio show with 10 million daily listeners — asked her to join the show for an interview. From there, Monahan launched two books, delivered a Ted Talk and is a renowned keynote speaker. In March, she delivered a talk in front of 170,000 people in Saudi Arabia.

“If I don’t step into fear, things are not going to change,” she says.

As for turning some of that discomfort into confidence — and then into measurable revenue — Monahan recommends starting with a written goal. She told attendees that people are 90% more likely to achieve something if they physically write it down. It’s why people write grocery lists — that way, they won’t forget what it is they need to achieve, or buy, at the store.

From there, she recommends finding an accountability partner. She asked attendees if they’d ask their peers at their tables to serve those roles.

“You are in the room with like-minded people with similar goals,” she says. “People don’t win alone — we win in teams.”

ELM acquires Holmes Landscape Company

Larry Holmes founded the company in 1974, which provides commercial landscape maintenance and tree care services to the Oceanside, California, area.

Enhanced Landscape Management, a subsidiary of Landscape Development, acquired Holmes Landscape Company in Oceanside, California in March.

Holmes Landscape Company was founded by Larry Holmes in 1974 and provides commercial landscape maintenance and tree care services.

“There were many factors I had to consider after deciding to sell my company. My team of valued employees and the clients we have served for many years needed to be left in good hands,” Holmes says. “As we came to know ELM and how they operate and conduct business, I decided that they were the right fit to give myself, my employees and clients peace of mind, now and in the future.”

“An opportunity such as this does not come along very often. Holmes has an outstanding reputation, a 50-year legacy and over 130 talented landscape professionals that we added to our organization. Our company cultures, values and ways of doing business align,” says ELM President Ron Reitz. “We also open a new market for us in the San Diego area, which has been a goal of ours for quite some time. This creates tremendous opportunities for all our team members as we continue to grow.”

“Holmes Landscape Company built an excellent reputation in the San Diego Market and, like LDI, is committed to providing its clients peace of mind,” says Mark Crutcher, LDI’s president and CEO. “Holmes is known for high quality work, extraordinary responsiveness to its clients’ needs, and a strong employee team. We are very excited to welcome the Holmes management team and field workforce of over 130 employees with the experience and knowledge they bring into the LDI family.”

“This is an excellent addition to our maintenance business,” says Gary Horton, LDI founder and executive board chairman. “We expand our reach of landscape maintenance and tree care services into the San Diego region as we continue to deliver our full suite of services to our ever-expanding client base. ELM continues to pursue acquisition opportunities throughout California and the Western States as we execute our maintenance segment growth strategy.”

“I thank all our leadership and entire staff who, working collaboratively, have made our rapid growth both possible and profitable,” Horton adds.

Larry Holmes will remain with the company through the integration process and HLC Vice President, Lee Frank, will continue to oversee the local operations as part of the ELM management team. Gary Horton founded LDI in 1983. The company currently operates from 13 regional offices throughout California and Southern Nevada and employs over 1,300.

Senske Services acquires Turf Doctor in Maine

As Turf Doctor joins Senske Services, they will now operate under the Blades of Green division with Brad Leahy, COO of Blades of Green.

Senske Services, which provides lawn care, pest control and home services, has acquired Turf Doctor, a provider of professional lawn care and pest control services in Augusta, Maine.

Turf Doctor was founded by Michael Russo in 1997. Senske Services ranked No. 45 on Lawn & Landscape's Top 100 list last year.

"I am confident that Senske is the ideal partner to carry on the legacy of Turf Doctor," Russo says. "Their commitment to customer service and environmental responsibility aligns perfectly with the values that have defined our company.”

"We are thrilled to welcome Turf Doctor into the Senske Family of Companies," says Casey Taylor, Senske Services CEO. Michael Russo and his team have built an outstanding organization, and we look forward to continuing their tradition of excellence in lawn care and pest control services.”

As Turf Doctor joins Senske Services, they will now operate under the Blades of Green division with Brad Leahy, COO of Blades of Green, overseeing both operations.

"We are proud of the team we have built at Blades of Green, and we are excited to welcome our new colleagues to the company,” Leahy says. “We look forward to continuing to grow and add more states in the Northeast.”

Grasshopper Lawn acquires ForBetter Green Tree & Lawn

Grasshopper is backed by HCI Equity Partners.

Grasshopper Lawns in Larksville, Pa., acquired ForBetter Green Tree & Lawn, headquartered in Lehigh Valley, Pa.

Grasshopper Lawns is backed by HCI Equity Partners, a private equity firm partnering with lawn care providers in the region. The transaction was completed in March 2024.

Marty Sukley, owner and founder of ForBetter Green, established the business in 2014. Sukley embarked on his career in 1986 at HydroLawn in Conshohocken, Pa., swiftly advancing to the Lehigh Valley office before the company was acquired by TruGreen.

Following his tenure as a sales manager, Sukley redirected his focus to tree care at Valley Arborists in Center Valley, Pa. He also helped expand Forever Green Landscape and Tree, which later merged with Plantique.

Grasshopper Lawns provides weed control, fertilizing and other lawn services to customers in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Allentown, Pa. metro areas. HCI Equity Partners, a private equity firm partnering with lawn care providers in the region, has partnered with Custom Lawn Care (Butler, Pa.), Delaware Valley Turf (Broomhall, Pa.), and Brookside Lawn Service (Medina, Ohio) in addition to Grasshopper Lawns.

“I’ve known Marty for over 30 years,” says Bob Williamson, Pest & Lawn Director at Cetane Associates. “He’s a great guy and he built a wonderful company. It was a pleasure working with him and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

Ethoscapes acquires Houston Landscapes Unlimited

The acquisition expands Ethoscapes’ greater Houston footprint in commercial landscaping.

Ethoscapes has acquired Houston Landscapes Unlimited, one of Houston’s commercial landscape and irrigation contractors.

HLU joins Ethoscapes’ family of brands, which include Westco Grounds Maintenance, Champions Hydro-Lawn, Outdoor Development and Tree60. Their personnel now includes over 700 employees and serves over 600 commercial, municipal and residential clients in the Houston metropolitan area.

Houston Landscapes Unlimited was founded in 1983 by Dean Carpenter. Over the years, HLU continues to serve customers including NRG Park, University of Houston Athletics Department, Space Cowboys Stadium, various retail and office parks and established communities including First Colony, Riverstone, Telfair, Imperial, Aliana, Cinco Ranch and Meridiana Community.

“We are delighted to welcome HLU to the Ethoscapes family. Their stellar reputation and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our values and vision for the future. This acquisition strengthens our position in the market and enhances our ability to provide comprehensive landscaping solutions to customers,” says Manny González, CEO of Ethoscapes.

“Joining forces with Ethoscapes presents exciting opportunities for our team and our customers. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise and resources to set new standards of excellence in the landscaping industry. We are eager to collaborate with Ethoscapes and contribute to their continued success,” says Dean Carpenter, president of HLU.

Ethoscapes is a portfolio company of Evolution Strategy Partners.

“This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in Ethoscapes’ expansion efforts and underscores its commitment to partnering with companies who deliver unparalleled quality and service,” says Stenning Schueppert, managing partner of Evolution. “I have no doubt that HLU will provide the same level of top-tier landscaping services backed by a team of skilled professionals as all of Ethoscapes’ landscaping brands.”

McHale Landscape Design acquires Musgrave Lawn & Landscape

This marks family-owned McHale’s fourth acquisition in five years.

McHale Landscape Design has acquired Musgrave Lawn & Landscape. This marks family-owned McHale’s fourth acquisition in five years.

This acquisition will fortify McHale’s presence in the Gibson Island/Millersville/Severna Park/Annapolis markets. McHale ranked No. 64 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list last year.

“Our commitment to excellence extends to strengthening our foothold in the Gibson Island — Severna Park market,” says Steve McHale. “The latest initiatives underscore our dedication to providing quality services in this thriving community.”

Keith Bowman, McHale’s president of horticultural services and business development, highlights the positive impact on our Annapolis-based Maintenance Team.

“This development marks a significant addition to our Annapolis team, enhancing our capabilities to deliver exceptional maintenance services. We are excited about the positive effect this will have on our operations,” Bowman says.

“These strategic moves bring added design build resources to our team, reinforcing our ability to serve our clients more effectively,” says Founder Ryan Musgrave. “We are confident that this will result in an even more robust experience for our valued clients.”

Schill Grounds Management acquires BAM Outdoor

The company provides commercial landscaping, lawn care and snow removal services near Indianapolis.

Schill Grounds Management is expanding westward into the Indianapolis area with the acquisition of BAM Outdoor, a locally owned and operated company that provides commercial landscaping, lawn care and snow removal services.

BAM serves the Indianapolis market, including the suburbs of Westfield, Carmel, Fishers and Noblesville, and plans to expand service across the entire Indianapolis metro area. BAM’s clients include numerous multi-family complexes, homeowner associations, logistics and distribution facilities and other commercial customers. BAM’s service area is adjacent to Schill’s territory in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and extends Schill’s reach deeper into Indiana.

Like Schill, BAM provides year-round comprehensive commercial landscape management services that include lawn maintenance, lawn care, and snow and ice removal services.

BAM’s owners — Jeff Kontor, Jared Winn and Michael Linton — will help oversee the integration into Schill and will continue to have active leadership roles in growing the business across Indianapolis. The trio were employees of BAM Outdoor for many years and bought the business from a previous owner in 2019.

“Jeff, Jared and Mike brought an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mentality to BAM that we admire and respect, and we are delighted to add them and their employees to the Schill family,” says Jerry Schill, who founded Schill Grounds Management 30 years ago and serves as its CEO. “BAM has a terrific culture that aligns with our values, and we look forward to growing the business together.”

After partnering with BAM, Schill has about 1,100 employees and continues to grow organically as well as through acquisitions. Revenue numbers were not disclosed, but BAM has roughly 150 employees, all of whom will be retained.

Schill plans to retain the BAM name and branding in the Indianapolis market, and BAM plans to make additional acquisitions in Indiana and beyond.

BAM is Schill’s 12th acquisition since 2020. Schill ranked No. 33 on Lawn & Landscape’s Top 100 list last year, jumping all the way from No. 82 from the year prior.

Virginia Green acquires L.S.L. Lawn Service in Maryland

This marks the company’s first acquisition outside of Virginia.

Virginia Green, a provider of lawn care and exterior pest control, landed its first acquisition outside of Virginia with the purchase of L.S.L. Lawn Service in Maryland. This move marks a milestone in the company’s growth and opens doors to serving new customers in a new market.

“We are thrilled to welcome L.S.L. Lawn Service and its dedicated team to the Virginia Green family,” says Gil Grattan, CEO of Virginia Green. “Their longstanding commitment to customer satisfaction and their deep understanding of the Maryland landscape perfectly align with our values. This acquisition allows us to not only expand our reach, but also offer L.S.L. customers access to our comprehensive suite of services, designed to make their outdoor spaces more enjoyable.”

“We are excited to join forces with Virginia Green and offer our customers an even wider range of high-quality lawn care solutions,” says Larry Lawrence, former owner of L.S.L. Lawn Service. “Together, we share a commitment to sustainability, customer satisfaction and building strong relationships within the communities we serve.”

Massey Services restructures Northeast and West Florida regions

The regions will both be divided by two service types: Consumer (Pest and Termite) and Landscape Care.

Massey Services has restructured its Northeast and West Florida regions in efforts to optimize its service.

The northeast region, which includes the Jacksonville market, and the west region, which includes the Tampa market, will both be divided by two service types: Consumer (Pest and Termite) and Landscape Care.

Under the restructuring, Marcelo Aponte and Philip Chatham will assume leadership roles as newly appointed regional managers in the Northeast region. The west region will be managed by Frank Oliva and Rick Block, who have both served as regional managers for the last several years.

Marcelo Aponte joined the Massey Services team in 2016 as a general manager in training. Most recently, he held the role of division manager for the three service centers involved in the acquisition of Peninsular Pest Control in downtown Jacksonville. In this capacity, Marcelo helped integrate and foster relationships with new team members and expanding Massey’s customer base. Aponte will now serve as the regional manager of Consumer Northeast.

Philip Chatham joined Massey in January 2013 as a sales inspector. Most recently, he served as the general manager of Massey’s Clermont service center and was just recognized as a 2023 General Manager of the Year for the company. Under Chatham’s promotion, he will take on the role of regional manager of Landscape Northeast.

Frank Oliva has served as the regional manager of the West Florida Region since January 2021. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, Oliva will transition into the role of regional manager of the Consumer West Region. In this new position, he will continue to spearhead the Pest/Termite Service Centers in the West Florida Market.

Rick Block, who joined Massey in December 2011 as a general manager in training, has served various roles in operations. Most recently, Block served as the regional manager of the Northeast Florida Region. In his new role, he will take on the position of regional manager of the Landscape West Region.

“We have seen tremendous growth in both the Northeast and West Florida markets, and we saw an opportunity to further enhance our service excellence by creating these new regions,” says Tony Massey, president and CEO of Massey Services. “These four regional managers have exhibited exemplary leadership and commitment to our company’s mission, and we are confident that under their guidance, these regions will continue to thrive and our team members will continue to provide exceptional service to our customers.”

NALP launches educational Roblox game

Landscape Design Empire is intended to teach young players through an immersive virtual learning experience while they design, install and maintain landscapes.

The National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation has just released its Landscape Design Empire learning experience on the virtual platform Roblox, one of the largest virtual platforms in the world with millions of users.

Designed in collaboration with Epic Reach, Landscape Design Empire offers young players an immersive virtual and interactive learning experience while they design, install and maintain landscapes.

“We are so excited about the opportunity to reach tens of millions of players on Roblox and teach them about the benefits of caring for the landscapes around them,” says Jenn Myers, executive director of the NALP Foundation.

Landscape Design Empire is meant to be played with friends who can share their landscape designs with each other. They can also create landscapes for clients and gain reputation with them. They’ll maintain the landscapes they’ve built, unlock new skills and jobs, and collect and use landscape tools. New features will be added regularly.

The foundation launched Landscape Design Empire to ensure that young players develop a foundational understanding of managed landscapes that may inspire environmental stewardship and foster a curiosity about landscape careers.

“As an industry, it’s crucial to adapt to new mediums to reach and educate younger demographics. Landscape Design Empire represents a creative approach to fostering an interest in landscaping from an early age,” says Chris Joyce, the foundation president.

The virtual platform also allows for collaboration with industry brands that can incorporate their equipment into the playing experience.

For more information about Landscape Design Empire or to support the work of the Foundation, visit its website or contact Jennifer Myers.

Users can experience Landscape Design Empire on Roblox.com and using any device including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon devices, Xbox consoles and Meta Quest VR.