Roots Of Success

Think running a landscape company with your spouse is a recipe for disaster? Think again. Kerry and Jill Cline are living proof that partnership—at work and at home—can become your biggest business superpower. This candid conversation peels back the curtain on how they built C&S Lawn Service & Landscaping: from passing out flyers as a teenager to scaling up with peer support, adopting game-changing software, and buildi...

Think marketing is just about flashy ads and social media posts? Think again. In this special two-year anniversary episode of Roots of Success, host Tommy Cole sits down with marketing mastermind John Dalton to celebrate the two year anniversary of the show and expose the real secrets behind building a thriving landscape brand. From their own stories of podcast m...

What if the most rewarding part of growing a landscape business isn’t the lush gardens or high-end installs, but something much deeper? On this episode of Roots of Success, Tommy Cole chats with Adam Dukes, founder of GrandScapes, who pulls back the curtain on his journey from a two-person startup in 2008 to a highly respected Charleston landscape company. Adam reveals what it really takes to build a winning leadership...

Are you still running your landscape maintenance crews like it’s 2005—while your competitors leap ahead with data-driven decisions and battery-powered fleets? In this episode, Tommy sits down with Bob Carey, a leader who’s mastered every angle of the business—from gritty field operations to creating scalable systems and jumping into the disruptive world of roboti...

Ever wonder how to maneuver the tricky world of family-owned landscaping businesses? Join us as we dive into the captivating journey of Jake Malone from Malone's Landscaping, exploring how second-generation leadership can evolve a company while overcoming the challenges of family dynamics. Discover how Jake and his team have mastered the art of maintaining high-q...

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Have you ever thought about the challenges of transforming a small two-crew landscaping business into a thriving multi-location success? In this episode of "Roots of Success," Tommy Cole sits down with Chase Mullin of Mullin Landscape to uncover the strategic decisions that fueled his company's impressive growth. From leveraging the aftermath of Hurricane Ida to repositioning business f...

Are you thinking long-term in landscaping, or are you trapped in short-term wins? Transform your approach with insights from Gene Freeman of Complete Landsculpture, as he sits down with our host Tommy Cole. Explore the pivotal changes that propelled Complete Landsculpture into a thriving business with a focus on maintenance and leadership development. Whether you're looking to elevate your landscape company's recurring...

Are you truly embracing change, or is it just "the way we’ve always done it" that’s holding your landscape business back? Join Tommy Cole as he sits down with Mark Sedgley, CEO of LMN and Single Ops, in this episode of the Roots of Success podcast. Mark reveals the dynamics of integrating technology in landscaping, debunking myths about software suitability for d...

What if your toughest challenge became the foundation of your success? Join us on Roots of Success as we explore how Jillian Burns turned financial adversity into a thriving landscape venture. Learn about her unwavering commitment to investing in her team, her innovative strategies in snow and landscaping, and her passion for fostering female leadership. This epi...

Is your landscape business prepared for the unpredictable? From navigating snowless winters that threatened his company's survival to innovating with heavy machinery and fostering rock-solid vendor relationships, Bob Marks shares his blueprint for turning challenges into triumphs. In this episode, host Tommy Cole uncovers actionable strategies that will not only safeguard your landscaping firm but also propel it to new heights. Don...

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Staying in your comfort zone is the enemy of success. On today's Roots of Success, Tommy dives into a revealing conversation with Jason Cromley, who dishes out the hard-learned lessons from growing Hidden Creek Landscape. They've soared from $12 million to $21 million in revenue but hit a ceiling they couldn't crack. Discover how embracing discomfort, making critical personnel shifts, a...

Is your landscaping business thriving, or just surviving? On this episode of "Roots of Success," join Tommy Cole as he uncovers the gameplay behind building and growing a successful landscape company with Ross Day from Oasis Landscape. Learn how meticulous budget management, innovative enhancem...

Ready to Level Up Your Landscaping Company? Here's the Secret: It’s Not a Degree. Join us on "Roots of Success" as Melissa Blake from Bates Landscaping reveals how hands-on experience and continuous learning can catapult your business ahead of the competition. Host Tommy Cole and Melissa engage in a spirited discussion on the value of fieldwork, the importance of charging for design services, and crafting a bulletproof...

Are you overwhelmed by the endless tasks on your to-do list, feeling like true productivity is slipping through your fingers? In this episode of Roots of Success, Tommy Cole sits down with Tanya Dalton, a productivity expert who challenges common misconceptions about work-life balance and time management. Discover why traditional to-do lists may be sabotaging you...

Are you ready to see your landscaping business thrive by stepping back? Join our host Tommy Cole as he sits down with Matt Davis, the innovative mind behind College Fund Landscaping, in this episode of "Roots of Success." Discover how Matt’s journey from a student with a mower to a remote leader living his dream in Crested Butte, Colorado, reveals the transformat...

Does the key to your landscape company's success lie in the talent of seasoned professionals and strategic technology investments? This episode of Roots of Success might just challenge your preconceptions. Join host Tommy Cole as he dives deep with Greg Cole, the mastermind behind Cole Landscaping, who's taken his company from humble beginnings to 7-figure succes...

Could embracing water-conserving technology be the game-changer your landscape business needs? In this episode of "Roots of Success," Tommy Cole and Lex Mason explore how Weathermatic bucked industry norms to revolutionize irrigation with Smartline and Smartlink technology. Uncover the principles behind successful hiring, maintaining a positive company culture, and the incredible efficiency gains that come from investing in remote-...

Could your landscape business be falling short because it’s missing key operational skills? Join Tommy and his exceptional guest, Jason New, as they break down the critical skills that can transform your landscape construction and maintenance teams into finely tuned machines. Learn the inside scoop on the ACE Peer Group Summit in New Orleans—an event designed to mix business with pleasure as you and your guest network with industry...

Can standardized training programs and career ladders transform your landscape company overnight? This episode is packed with groundbreaking insights from guest Rob Shrieve, the owner of Coastal Shores. Rob shares his unique approach to training, leadership, and effective team member engagement. From weekly morning meetings to life skills sessions covering personal improvement and finances, Rob illustrates how a disciplined and str...