Schill Grounds Management has purchased and partnered with Pinnacle Landscaping to expand operations in Columbus, Ohio, after recently opening a location in nearby Greenfield.
Schill ranked No. 28 on Lawn & Landscape's Top 100 list in 2024.
Partnering with Pinnacle gives Schill greater density and reach across Ohio and adjacent markets, from its headquarters in Cleveland through the Columbus corridor down through Cincinnati. Earlier this year, Schill opened a facility in the Blacklick area just east of Columbus to serve that market. Schill now has central Ohio operations in Blacklick, Marion, Nashport, Polaris and other markets in that region.
Established in 2005, Pinnacle has been owned and operated by Brett Obenauf, principal and chief financial officer, and Rob McDevitt, principal and chief operating officer. They will continue to oversee the business in Columbus. About 75 Pinnacle employees will join Schill, which has a total headcount of around 1,200.
Pinnacle provides commercial landscape maintenance, snow and ice removal, and parking lot sweeping services to office, retail, hospitality, mixed-use, multi-family, and other commercial customers throughout the Columbus region.
“Together, Schill and Pinnacle can provide an expanded level of service to our customers across Columbus and central Ohio with a comprehensive suite of landscaping management, snow and ice removal, and other property enhancement services,” says Jerry Schill, founder and CEO of Schill Grounds Management. “We strive to be a single source provider to our customers to make grounds management even easier.”
Partnering with Schill gives Pinnacle enhanced operational, financial, sales and marketing strength, plus a network of 27 locations across the upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions for customers who have multiple locations.
“When we started Pinnacle, it was our goal to become one of the largest landscape maintenance companies in central Ohio. We succeeded in building a solid foundation to a well-respected company, and the partnership, leadership, and resources from Schill will push us to the next level much faster,” Obenauf says.
“We admire the core values of Schill, and how they align with what we believe,” McDevitt says. “The Pinnacle team will benefit by from being part of a company that views employees as a very valuable piece of the overall operation. They will have more opportunities for growth and advancement within a larger organization. Customers will continue to receive the same top level service because Schill also provides service at the highest standard.
Schill has completed 13 acquisitions since 2020 as it leads consolidation in a fragmented industry by leveraging its “owner’s network” that keeps former owners involved in operating the business. Recent acquisitions include Strauser Nature's Helpers and BAM Outdoor, both made in 2024.
