Me & my mentor Feeding your growth, The Pruning Guru

Feeding your growth

The resources you need to expand your business

by Rick Smith, The Pruning Guru Inc.

Q. "What resources helped you grow your business?"

Growing your business from scratch is always rewarding and challenging.

Rick Upchurch, Nature Scapes • Always very calm and leads by example. 4 When I first started The Pruning Guru Inc. in 2002, I knew how to do the work - which is Ken Thomas, at the time owner of Scapes Group Landscape 4 part of the reward - but learning how to run a • Ken is now the owner of Envisor business was where the challenge came into play. Consulting, along with Ben Gandy. • Later on, I hired Ken to consult with the The first resources I used were other Pruning Guru Inc. His advice really moved professionals and business owners, people us in the right direction. The investment who had been in the industry for a long time was worth every cent. If it were not for and were successful. Before starting my own Envisor Consulting, we would not be where business, I worked with Post Properties for 15 we are today. years, so I knew exactly where I needed to start my quest. Post Properties was a member of MALTA (Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Phil Walters, at the time owner of Piedmont Landscape 4 Association). Where else could you find so many • Being an owner of multiple businesses, he landscape professionals in one room? was a wealth of knowledge. He was always willing to share his successes and downfalls These are the professionals who gave me great to help the one asking for advice. advice:

From 1982 – 1997 Rick Smith worked in specialized landscaping at Post Properties. In 2002 he started The Pruning Guru Inc. and in 2004 became a Georgia and Alabama Certified Landscape Professional, administered through UGA. From 2006 – 2011 he sat on the board of directors for MALTA, serving as president from 2009 - 2010. In 2015 The Pruning Guru's pruning practices on ornamental trees and shrubs was filmed by UGA's Horticulture Department for their Super Crew video series. Currently he does pruning presentations throughout the southeast for horticulture colleges, landscape associations, landscape companies and garden clubs. He also serves as Chairperson for the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional advisory board.

Kevin Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Tree Care • Kevin encouraged me to sit on the Board of 4 MALTA. Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Directive for MALTA/ Georgia Urban Ag Council 4 • Hands down the most inspirational person to be around and always willing to give you a helping hand. Kathy Johnson, Marketing Director of MALTA/Georgia Urban Ag Council 4 • Kathy is always so cheerful to talk to and eager to help when needed. Bodie Pennisi, Professor and UGA Extension Landscape Horticulturalist 4 • Truly knowledgeable with plant science and has always been there for me when needed. The late John Strickland, then Chairman of the GCLP Task Force 4 • Encouraged me and many others to become a Georgia Certified Landscape Professional (GCLP) He is a man that will always be missed but not forgotten. Thank you, John. There are so many more people out there who are willing to help, but the one person that has been with me from the very beginning through thick and thin is my wife, Cheryl Smith. Without her, none of this would have been possible.

If you have not picked up on where I am going with all these names, then let me help. Every person I mentioned (except for my wife) has been or is still involved with MALTA/Georgia Urban Ag Council.

Now, my advice to you is the same as they all gave to me:

Get involved and stay involved in this professional organization because this will benefit you and the industry for years to come.

ugaurbanag.com/certification