Exmark recognizes growing landscaping company

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.

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 – Dealer of the Year, Best Lawn Care or Landscaping Company and Crew Member of the Year.

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.