LAYTONSVILLE, Md. – Ruppert Landscape has expanded with a new location in the eastern region of Richmond, Virginia. This branch joins five existing landscape management branches in Virginia, located in Gainesville, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, northern and southern Richmond, and will serve existing customers as well as growth between Richmond and Williamsburg.
“One of our goals has always been to provide our customers and employees with a small company feel,” said Kevin Hazelgrove, region manager. “As the market and the company have grown rapidly in recent years, this can be increasingly difficult. We believe that the addition of this new location will help us meet this goal and provide better service to our customers.”
The Richmond East branch will be led by David Hensel, who has recently been promoted to branch manager.
Hensel began his career at age thirteen working at a large retail garden center in Richmond. He graduated from Virginia Tech in 2009 with a degree in horticulture and landscape contracting and began working at a high-end residential landscape company in Sterling, Virginia, overseeing all facets of landscape management operations.
He joined Ruppert in early 2017 as an area manager in Richmond, where he took on the management of the branch’s second-largest portfolio and led the team in sales in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, in 2018, he was recognized with the company’s Branch Impact Award for his dedication and contributions to the team. He was promoted to associate branch manager in July of 2019, where he trained with leadership in preparation for the next opportunity to come in the Richmond market. He is a Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association certified horticulturist, landscape industry certified technician and an Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute certified hardscape installer.
“Dave’s competitive spirit, strong leadership and recruiting skills, and industry and market knowledge made him a clear choice for this position,” Hazelgrove said. “I have every confidence in his ability to lead and grow this promising new team.”
As branch manager, Hensel will be responsible for the overall welfare of the branch, including the safety and development of his team, strategic planning and budgeting, training and day-to-day operations.
