EDITORIAL In Search of Future Leaders

For nearly two decades, Lawn & Landscape magazine has been bringing its readers stories on the faces, companies and unique characteristics of the people who drive the professional lawn and landscape industry.
 
Through our in-depth cover profiles – totaling more than 150 different businesses – we’ve introduced you to firms representing every niche of the marketplace. You’re familiar with them: Mom-and-pop shops, half-million dollar firms, million dollar and growing firms and the multi-million dollar businesses that make this dynamic industry as multi-faceted, unique and captivating as it is.

Cindy Code

No doubt about it. People shape the industry. We annually spotlight contractor achievements in our Top 100 landscape company list. We provide benchmarking financial data and analysis so that you can compare your company to your peers across the country. Contractor roundtables hosted by Lawn & Landscape magazine reveal critical thinking on timely issues. Up-selling opportunities are illustrated monthly in our Business Opportunities column.
  
Quite simply, people drive the industry. People talk to people. People attract people. Attracting the best and the brightest individuals is top of mind for all businesses. It’s not only a measure of an industry’s vitality, it’s also critical to a company’s creative culture. Young people bring fresh approaches and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
 
Following this tradition, we’ve spent several months searching the industry for its young leaders. Whether business owners, crew leaders or employees, we sought to identify those individuals who are on a career path toward growth and success. These up-and-coming professionals represent the next generation of innovative thinkers. They affect change. They shape the future.
 
The outcome of our search is the basis of a new Lawn & Landscape feature. Through “35 Under 35” we’ve profiled the emerging leaders in the landscape profession.
 
True to the nature of the marketplace, a common thread throughout our profiles is a genuine love for the outdoors. And to no surprise, many started in the business as teenagers looking for a way to make an honest buck. Once they figured out they were earning good money and having fun, they made a career of it. Others inherited the passion and dynamics of a family business and have been actively involved since childhood.
 
While this industry’s roots have evolved from those whose first love was the outdoors, the next leaders have a notion to advance the business side of landscaping. Technology, business training, the customer’s need for immediacy all contribute to the enhanced business systems and models often found in today’s up-and-coming businesses. Even subcontracting is playing a bigger role for some folks.
 
We had a lot of fun putting together our first “35 Under 35” feature through industry nominations and interviews. Their stories are both compelling and motivating.