Thirty-two years in the green industry taught Jeffrey Johns a lot. What surprised him most wasn't about turf or operations or growth strategy. It was about communication and how much it had been quietly costing him.
That distinction matters more than most leaders realize. You can build a values-driven culture, hire disciplined people, and still watch communication silently erode which slows decisions and costs you talent you didn't need to lose. The problem isn't effort, it's language.
This is exactly where Jeffrey, owner of Coastal Greenery, found himself before he brought coaches Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford to his Brunswick, Georgia-based commercial landscape company.
A Realization Far from Home
Jeffrey's turning point didn't happen in office, it happened in Italy, during an ACE Peer Group trip, in a workshop led by Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach Megan Parker. Sitting beside his wife and co-leader, Misty, Jeffrey discovered that the two of them led with almost entirely opposite Strength Domains. After years of working side by side, they were just beginning to understand what made each other tick.
If they were only now seeing this in each other, imagine what their team was missing.
Jeffrey came home with a clear conviction. What followed was a two-year program featuring six workshops, facilitated by Gallup-Certified Strengths Coaches Megan and Tracy. They utilized CliftonStrengths® to inspire, challenge, and help leaders at Coastal Greenery understand each other, communicate better and achieve more.
What a Common Language Actually Looks Like
The results showed up in everyday moments. Drake Clepper, Director of Operations, stopped trying to fix his weakest traits and started doubling down on what he did best. In HR, Bella Ako didn't just ask, "Why is this person struggling?" rather "Is there a better seat for them?" This change in strategy has allowed them to move two people into roles where they're thriving, one of whom is now a top salesperson for Coastal Greenery.
The Ecosystem That Made It Stick
The teambuilding workshops didn't exist in isolation. Jeffrey was simultaneously participating in an ACE Peer Group facilitated by Megan Parker and Vince Torchia, creating a powerful feedback loop between leadership development and day-to-day business operations. Jeffrey's membership gave Megan real-time visibility into the business, with monthly accountability calls and quarterly site visits.
Between Jeffrey’s development, the leadership team’s workshops, and the investment in additional leaders, the learning didn’t stop when the sessions ended. As Tracy put it, “It was quite synergistic… It all worked together.”
What Jeffrey Would Tell Other Owners
Jeffrey Johns is a 32-year industry-vet, and when he reflects on what implementing these workshops earlier would have meant, he’s honest:
"If I'd have looked more into this CliftonStrengths® years ago, I have a feeling I'd already be a 40-million-dollar company."
Your team's culture may already be strong, but the true question is whether they have the language to fully use it.
Interested in bringing CliftonStrengths® to your leadership team?
McFarlin Stanford's teambuilding workshops, featuring Gallup-Certified Strengths Coaches, are designed specifically for landscape companies. Contact us to learn more.