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 | PLANET Trailblazers | | |
 PLANET’s Trailblazers represent an elite group of dedicated professionals who were nominated by their peers for making significant and long-term contributions to the green industry in the areas of Design/Build/Installation, Interior Plantscaping, Landscape Management, and Lawn Care. Direct influences in the green industry, these individuals are committed to helping their peers and the green industry. Each Trailblazer sets aside a full day each year to provide on-site mentoring to another PLANET green industry service provider member. This in-depth, personalized networking and mentoring program is a unique way for emerging and established companies to gain insight and advice on developing and growing their businesses. Trailblazer Requirements - A nominee must be a PLANET member at the time of the company’s Trailblazer approval.
- A nominee should have a minimum of five (5) years in the green industry.
Nomination and Approval Process - Trailblazer nominations are solicited from the members through the PLANET News and PLANET’s Web site.
- PLANET contacts nominees to assess their areas of expertise, level of interest, and confirm qualifications to participate.
- PLANET contacts previous years’ Trailblazers to reconfirm their interest in participating and update needed information. Once they are selected as Trailblazers, they do not need to meet additional on-going requirements to continue in the program.
- Staff submits a dossier on proposed Trailblazers for the coming year for review by the Specialty Groups and the Membership Committee, and subsequent presentation to the Board for approval.
Expectations of the Trailblazer - Agree to be matched with a PLANET member for a day of mentoring.
- Agree to travel to the member’s facility at the cost of the member. The Trailblazer meeting may also take place at the Trailblazer’s place of business, if agreed upon.
- Agree to provide picture and bio for Trailblazer brochure.
- Understand that they may opt out when contacted each year.
- Understand that they will be matched with someone outside of his/her region.
- Agree to provide a report of the experience to PLANET.
Requirements of Hosting Member - Apply for the program in January and list the top three (3) choices from the participating Trailblazers.
- Agree to reimburse the Trailblazer’s travel expenses for the visit.
- Understand that when a match is made, the hosting member communicates with the Trailblazer and sets up the most convenient time and place for the day of mentoring.
- Understand that this is a random drawing, nothing guaranteed. Demand exceeds supply.
- Agree to provide report of the experience to PLANET.
Trailblazer Categories - Design/Build/Installation
- Interior Plantscaping
- Landscape Management
- Lawn Care
If participating in this program interests you, please contact PLANET for more details. Application Nominate A Trailblazer Current Brochure
Design/Build/Installation Trailblazers Edward Bayer
Land Escapes, Inc.
Silver Spring, MD
Pittsburgh, PA
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation
Design and Sales | Charles W. Bowers
Garden Gate Landscaping, Inc.
Silver Spring, MD
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation
Operating systems, goal setting, tracking | Scott Byron
Scott Byron & Company, Inc.
Lake Bluff, IL
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation
Residential design, overseeing construction | Jason Cupp, CLP
Highland Outdoor
Olathe, KS
Years in the Industry
22 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation
High-end design/build, sales, marketing,
HR – hiring, leadership and team building, customer relations | Nicholas DiBenedetto, CLP
N.D. Landscaping, Inc.
Georgetown, MA
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Systems and sales | Rick Doesburg, CCLP
Thornton Landscape, Inc.
Maineville, OH
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Emphasis on sales and marketing | Paul Fields
Lambert Landscape Co.
Dallas, TX
Years in the Industry
19 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Landscape design with focus on the high-end residential client | Judson E. Griggs, CLP
Crawford Landscape Group
Sarasota, FL
Years in the Industry
25 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Residential projects w/emphasis on sales
and business development | Michael Hommel
Designs By Sundown
Englewood, CO
Years in the Industry
23+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Endure the test of time in the high-end residential design/build market; total client satisfaction. | Glenn H. Jacobsen, CLP
Jacobsen Landscape Design & Construction, Inc.
Midland Park, NJ
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Landscape management
| Gary W. Kinman, CLP
Kinman Associates, Inc.
Dublin, OH
Years in the Industry
More than 30 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Comprehensive approach to business, running a successful company, consulting,training and education | Jeff Korhan, CLP
Ture Nature, Inc.®
Naperville, IL
Years in the Industry
20+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Residential sales, marketing, and customer
service | Miles Kuperus, Jr., CLP
Farmside Landscape & Design
Wantage, NJ
Years in the Industry
20 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Residential, operating systems, goal setting, production | Ron Lester
Architerra, Inc.
Indian Creek, IL
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Residential and commercial landscape maintenance, commercial snow removal, and highend boutique build work | Frank Mariani
Mariani Landscape
Lake Bluff, IL
Years in the Industry
25 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Sharing and communicating our company culture with vendors and clients, generating sales via networking | James P. Martin, CLP
James Martin Associates, Inc.
Vernon Hills, IL
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Full service, blending services, systems | Jim McCutcheon, CLP
HighGrove Partners, LLC
Austell, GA
Years in the Industry
More than 20+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Landscape management, leadership development, sales | Michael McShane
Plantique, Inc.
Allentown, PA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Finance and marketing, growing a successful design/build and landscape management company | Steve R. Pattie, CLP
The Pattie Group, Inc.
Novelty, OH
Years in the Industry
40+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
People skills, finding the right person for the job, team building, motivation, and sales | J. Landon Reeve IV, CCLP
Chapel Valley Landscape Company
Woodbine, MD
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Implementation of projects, problem solving and team building | Jeffrey Scott
Landscape Success Systems
Trumbull, CT
Years in the Industry
23 years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Sales, marketing, branding, strategy, goal setting, organizational developement, personal effectiveness, selling/servicing affluent homeowners | Joe Skelton
Joe Skelton & Company
Roswell, GA
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
Business management, organizational development, financial management, Total Quality Management (TQM) and team building | John & Barbara Stropko
New Desert Gallery, Inc.
Tucson, AZ
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Design/Build/Installation,
High-end residential, hardscapes, swimming pools and custom amenites |
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Interior Plantscaping Trailblazers McRae Anderson, CLP
McCaren Designs, Inc.
Saint Paul, MN
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Sales, marketing, presentations | William Braid, CLP
Plant Designs, Ltd.
Herefordshire, England
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Emphasis on interior maintenance | Joe Cialone, Jr.
Tropical Computers
Boynton Beach, FL
Years in the Industry
More than 35 years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Computer imaging, training technicians | Jim Engledow
Engledow Group
Carmel, IN
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Finance and operations | Barbara Helfman, CLP
TOPsiders, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Pricing, selling, holiday decorating | Connie Hom, CLP
Buckingham Greenery, Inc.
Buckingham, VA
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Marketing and team building | Carole Horowitz, CCLP
Plantscape, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Focus on diversified services and training for
both interior and exterior services | David A. Korstad
Sedgefield Interior Landscapes
Marietta, GA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Organization, pricing, management | Gerry Leider, CCLP
Ambius
Riverwoods, IL
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Financial management | Paul R. Levy
Rolling Greens, Inc.
Clinton, MD
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Creating an interior space from design concept
from budget to construction to move in | Michael K. Lewis, CLP
Foliage Design Systems
Orlando, FL
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Sales and marketing | Bill Lyden
Farm Life Tropical Foliage
Homestead, FL
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Business, financial management, administration
| Gary Mangum, CLP
Premier Plantscapes, Inc.
Burtonsville, MD
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Sales, marketing, positioning | John Mini, CCLP
John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, Ltd.
Congers, NY
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Focus on large projects, new challenges,
state-of-the-art systems | Dick Ott, CCLP
National Interiorscape Network
Knoxville, TN
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Sales, sales and service management,
best business practices | Joel Pesapane, CCLP
Theresa Pesapane
Growing Green, Inc.
St. Louis, MO
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Pricing and technical expertise, communication,
sales and marketing | Cynthia Peterson, CCLP
McCaren Designs, Inc.
Saint Paul, MN
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Sales and marketing, producing proposals | Michael Senneff, CLP
Karin Senneff
Plant Interscapes, Inc.
San Antonio, TX
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Interior Plantscaping
Holiday design, product acquisition, assembly,
sales, installation, human resources
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Landscape Management Trailblazers Rodney L. Bailey, CCLP
Alder Springs Enterprises, LLC
Duvall, WA
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Focus on financial management and long-range
and strategic planning | Michael Bellantoni Sr., CLT
New York State Turf & Landscape Association
White Plains, NY
Years in the Industry
50+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
D/B/I, landscape management, blending services to
provide complete landscape solutions | Eric P. Cross, CLP, CLT
Duke’s Landscape Management, Inc.
Hackettstown, NJ
Years in the Industry
22 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Full service for large commercial, multi-family,
and industrial properties | Ronald R. Damgaard
Lakewood Landscape Partners
Kaneville, IL
Years in the Industry
58 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Finance, business growth, diversification | Maurice Dowell, CLP
Dowco Enterprises, Inc.
Chesterfield, MO
Years in the Industry
20+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Emphasis on full service, systems development | Dale Elkins, CLP
Davey Commercial Landscape Services, a Division of the Davey Tree Expert company
Orlando, FL
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Sales, training, operation | Dan Foley, CLP
D. Foley Landscape, Inc.
South Walpole, MA
Years in the Industry
23 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Financial stability, open-book management | John P. Gachina, CCLP, CLT
Gachina Landscape Management
Menlo Park, CA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Landscape construction, irrigation, management
and analysis, environmental considerations | George M. Gaumer, CLP
Davey Commercial Grounds Management, a Division of The Davey Tree Expert Company
Kent, OH
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Tree care | Steven C. Glover, CLP
Steven Glover Consulting, LLC
Draper, UT
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Team building | William Gordon, CLP
Signature Landscape, Inc.
Olathe, KS
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Commercial landscape management | Bob Grover, CLP, CLT
Pacific Landscape Management
Hillsboro, OR
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Commercial landscape management, operations | Phil Harwood, CLP
Pro-Motion Marketing, LLC
Farmington, MI
Years in the Industry
23 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Emphasis on improving market performance
and profitability | Tom Heaviland, CLP, CLT
Heaviland Enterprises, Inc.
Vista, CA
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Strategic planning, leadership development,
corporate culture | Bill Horn, CLP, CLT
American Civil Constructors, Inc.
Martinez, CA
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | Kurt Kluznik, CCLP
Yardmaster, Inc.
Painesville, OH
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Commercial landscape management, residential
D/B, snow removal | Chris Kujawa, CCLP
Kujawa Enterprises, Inc.
Oak Creek, WI
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | Ron Kujawa, CCLP
Kujawa Enterprises, Inc.
Oak Creek, WI
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Emphasis on vision and how to realize the vision | Bill Leidecker, CLP
Five Seasons Landscape Management, Inc.
Reynoldsburg, OH
Years in the Industry
20 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | David Minor
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | Bruce T. Moore, Sr., CCLP
Eastern Land Management, Inc.
Stamford, CT
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Commercial landscape and site management | Michael Pezza, CLP
Ground Pros, Inc.
Itasca, IL
Years in the Industry
20+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Operations | Wayne Richards, CCLP
Cagwin & Dorward
Novato, CA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Operations | Michael Rorie
BRICKMAN
Cincinnati, OH
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | Matthew Triplett, CLP, CLT
Willamette Landscape Services, Inc.
Tualatin, OR
Years in the Industry
19 years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management | Bruce Wilson
Wilson-Oyler Group
Thousand Oaks, CA
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Landscape Management
Emphasis on how to build a business
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Lawn Care Trailblazers Jim Campanella
The Lawn Dawg
Nashua, NH
Years in the Industry
25 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Emphasis on sales, leadership, financial
management, operating systems | Gary Clayton, CTP
Community Lawn Care
Kennesaw, GA
Years in the Industry
38 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Technical training, agronomic programming,
field operations, regulatory compliance
standards, business metrics | Jon Cundiff
Weed Man
Lee’s Summit, MO
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Marketing, management, motivation,
operational efficiency | Harold Enger, COLP, CTP
Spring-Green Lawn Care Corporation
Plainfield, IL
Years in the Industry
35+ years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Turf management, customer service,
management, development, training | Phil Fogarty
Weed Man/Lake County
Cleveland, OH
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Residential and commercial | John Gibson, CLT
Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care
Denver, CO
Years in the Industry
20 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Management structure, strategic planning,
company and personal growth, technology
selection and improvement | Gerald J. Grossi
Arborlawn, Inc.
Lansing, MI
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Business development, systems processes,
irrigation | Fred Haskett, CTP
U.S. Lawns/West St. Louis
Defiance, MO
Years in the Industry
35 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Landscape management, certified arborist | William Hildebolt, Ph.D., CTP, CTP-CSL
Nature's Select Premium Turf Service, Inc.
Winston Salem, NC
Years in the Industry
15 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Agronomics and biologically enhanced fertility
programs, production equipment design | Matthew Jesson
Green Lawn Fertilizing, Inc.
West Chester, PA
Years in the Industry
5 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Sales, marketing, and business planning | Louis Kobus, CLP
Fox Run Nurseries, Inc.
Alexandria, VA
Years in the Industry
20 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Landscape design, installation, and
maintenance | Michael Kravitsky IV, CTP-CSL
Grasshopper Lawns, Inc.
Larksville, PA
Years in the Industry
30 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Family business, blending work with home
life, technology | Terry Kurth
Weed Man/Madison
Middleton, WI
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care | Bill Leuenberger
Chalet Landscape Company
Wilmette, IL
Years in the Industry
33 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Customer relations | Robert Ottley
Weed Man/One Step Tree & Lawn Care
North Chili, NY
Years in the Industry
30+ years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Lawn care, tree/shrub care, arboriculture,
landscape management, and landscape
installation | Tom Shotzbarger, CLP, CLT, COLP, CTP, CTP-CSL, BCMA, CTE, PCH
Tomlinson Bomberger Lawn Care & Landscape, Inc.
Lancaster, PA
Years in the Industry
35 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Lawn/tree/shrub care, arboriculture, landscape
management, and installation | Tom Tolkacz
Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care
Denver, CO
Years in the Industry
25+ years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Working ON your business, not IN your business | Robert Windish
Fairway Green, Inc.
Hillsborough, NJ
Years in the Industry
24 years
Specialty Area
Lawn Care
Agronomic specialty, operating systems, sales |
Retired from the Trailblazer ProgramTerry Anderson, CLP
Eldon Dyk, CCLP
Allen L. Keesen, CLP
Tom Lied, CCLP
Don Horowitz, CCLP (deceased)
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