Archives

Step behind the scenes with McFarlin Stanford as Jim Cali, Jason New, and newly-appointed CEO Scott Wallingford share the story of a pivotal leadership transition. Discover how long-standing friendships, trust, and a forward-thinking approach are driving growth and innovation at McFarlin Stanford. Hear firsthand how Scott’s expertise will help the team scale, serve clients better, and lead the green…

On this episode of Roots of Success, Chris Psencik welcomes Lex Mason from Weathermatic for a candid conversation on the systems, strategies, and tech elevating the landscape industry. Discover the secret to hitting the coveted 20% revenue mark for irrigation repairs, streamline your inspection processes, and learn direct-from-the-trenches tips to boost productivity and retain top…

If you’ve ever considered adding robot mowers and battery powered equipment to your operations tune in to this episode of Roots of Success, as host Kevin Keim from McFarlin Stanford sits down with Bob Carey of Kress Outdoor to talk electrification and autonomous mowing in the landscape industry. They bust common myths on power and reliability, break down the business drivers behind electrification, and reveal practical steps for piloting new…

Budgeting doesn’t have to be a mystery—or a misery! On this episode of Roots of Success, host Kevin Keim sits down with Liz Helton and Steve Alley from McFarlin Stanford to walk through how budgeting can transform your landscaping business. The trio shares actionable strategies for starting a budget from scratch, using your company’s historic data, and adapting budgets as realities change. They explain…

Join host Chris Psencik as he sits down with Matt Crinklaw, founder of Greenius, for his view of the evolution of training in the landscape industry. From humble beginnings and funny translation mishaps to technological innovation and culture transformation, Matt Crinklaw shares how Greenius is helping thousands of contractors build efficient, happy teams and combat high turnover. Explore the power of prioritizing training, the lessons learned from…

Ever wondered how the partnership between McFarlin Stanford and The Grow Group got its start? On this roundtable episode of Roots of Success, Jason New, Chris Psencik and Jim Cali of McFarlin Stanford sit down with Marty Grunder and Vince Torchia of The Grow Group to recall how ACE Peer Groups began and how it has grown through over 10 years of collaboration. You’ll hear the candid, behind-the-scenes tales of how a simple idea—born…

How do you landscape a luxury island resort in the blazing heat of the UAE? On this episode of Roots of Success, Simon Smith, Director of Horticulture and Landscape for Wynn Resort, reveals the relentless pace and monumental scale of his latest project: an integrated resort requiring 500,000 plants, 7,000 trees, and an elite team…

In this episode of Roots of Success, host, Barrett Chow, welcomes Tom Tessmer, founder of QLVR (Clever), for a frank conversation on the power of employee engagement surveys and the real impact of culture in the workplace. Tom draws on 20 years of Human Resources experience to break down how data-driven insights can transform teams,…

In this episode of Roots of Success, Chris Psencik sits down with Jeff Margulies, owner of Good Earth Landscape in Colorado’s breathtaking Roaring Fork Valley. Jeff shares his journey from a finance career in Boston to building one of the region’s powerhouse landscape companies — despite daunting challenges like high costs, seasonal constraints, and retaining…

Ever thought about selling your landscape business—but figured it was years down the road? What if the perfect opportunity landed in your lap, sooner than expected? In this episode of Roots of Success, host Jason New of McFarland Stanford sits down with Andrew Gabries, who built not one, but two thriving companies—Andrew’s Lawn and Landscaping…