Meet Claire Goldman, Winner of the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award

By Lindsey Getz

CLAIRE GOLDMAN, PRINCIPAL, AND HEAD OF DESIGN AND

business development for R&R Landscaping in Auburn, Alabama, is the winner of the 2020 Woman Entrepreneur Award of the Year. This award recognizes an NALP member who has demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative, ensured advancement of the landscape industry by actions and endeavors, and serves as a shining example to current and future female entrepreneurs.

One thing that Goldman takes seriously is being a leader, not a boss. She says the most significant thing she’s done to enhance the company’s growth has been stepping back and helping her team develop their strengths.

“I was a designer for many years,” Goldman says. “After hiring an incredible designer, I had to decide whether to stifle him in a role that supported my design work or step out of the way and let him go for it. It was an odd feeling to be unsure of my role and where I fit into the company, but empowering him as a designer has proven to be an excellent decision! I have found that I get more satisfaction from supporting, coaching, and watching our team win together than from doing everything myself.”

We recently caught up with Goldman to find out more about her and what it means to have won this prestigious award.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE?

I grew up in Atlanta and in high school, I took a forestry class, which I loved. Long story short, I received a scholarship to Auburn and started in agronomy and soils. I’ve always loved the outdoors and it was a good fit. I can’t tell you exactly what the shift was from agronomy and soils to horticulture — but it might have had something to do with the cute boy I had my eye on.

WHAT HAVE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES BEEN?

For us and our company, our biggest challenge has been managing growth in a way that is organized and structured. In the past, we have had rapid growth that we didn’t plan for and we’ve had to go back and retrofit systems to make it work. ke

HOW HAVE YOU ADDRESSED THAT GROWTH IN A MEANINGFUL WAY THAT’S MADE IT LESS OF A CHALLENGE? NGE?

I think we’ve done it so much now that we’re not willing to be in a situation where we’re just trying to keep our heads above water. So, if we get into those moments of growth where we feel we can’t keep up, we tend to think about where we can shift. Do we want to accommodate the growth or do we want to shift to more of a specialized niche? Our focus is on having a clear identity as a company that values creative design and sticking to that. We don’t have any maintenance. But we have great relationships with other landscape companies in the area so if people call us and are looking for that kind of work, I have people I’d recommend. If those companies get called looking for high-level design work, they often recommend us, too. We’re all pretty close here in the immediate area — and many of us went to school here. It’s a network. hat o e ink ant we d ar t er if at mhey rea ere.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY?

The people are what I love most about this industry. I’ve missed having our national events this year. Our industry is so open and warm. We encourage one another and root one another on. I have always loved getting to know and supporting others in the industry.

WHAT HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN AS A WOMAN IN THE INDUSTRY? N AS

It can be a challenge at times, but I think the most important thing is choosing not to be bitter about it. It’s a mindset. It does feel easier now than it did when I started, but I think a lot of that might be a shift in my own mindset. As a woman, you often have to work harder to prove yourself but if you choose to just embrace that, and maintain a positive mindset, you can succeed. It may not be fair, but let’s just do it, knowing you’ll be stronger because of it. You have to lean into the challenge.

think g et. It en I t be man, ove me, it’s so humbling. It is encouraging. I’m so appreciative to NALP for recog-r nizing me. It makes me feel as though I’ll have more of an opportunity to have a voice and I want to use this honor tor help better ther industry.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO BE THE NALP WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR?

I was caught off guard — we’re a small company in Alabama. But to be amongst the women who have already won this and those that will ahead of me, it’s so humbling. It is encouraging. I’m so appreciative to NALP for recognizing me. It makes me feel as though I’ll have more of an opportunity to have a voice and I want to use this honor to help better the industry.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST CHANGE WHAT HAST BEENTHE BIGGEST CHANGET YOU’VE WITNESSED IN YOUR TIME IN YOU’VE WITNESSED IN YOURTIME IN THE INDUSTRY? THE INDUSTRY?

We’ve seen a big shift of companies We’ve seen a big shift of companies focusing more on their team and providfocusing more on their teamr and pro rovi id ding an even more meaningful exing an even more meaning gfu ul ex xperience at work. It’s no longer perience at work. . It t’s no lo on nge eg r just “here’s your paycheck.” just “here’s you ur pay yc ch he ec ck k.” It’s, “how can we create a It’s, “how can n we cre rea at te a culture where people culture whe ere pe eo opl ple want to come to want to co ome to work?” As we’re work?” As we e’r re e experiencing experie enci in ng g labor storage labor st tora age eg across the across s the e board, we’re board, we’ ’e re e all looking at all looking g at ways to not only ways to no ot t onl ln y recruit but retain recruit but t ret etai ia n employees. TLPemployees. T

White House Rose Garden Renovation: Bringing a Design into Reality

By Jill Odom

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT

renewal of the White House Rose Garden this summer. The design was a collaboration by two landscape architecture firms, Perry Guillot, Inc. and Oehme, van Sweden & Associates (OvS). Walnut Hill Landscape Company, based in Annapolis, Maryland, was brought on to install the project, thanks to their strong working relationship with OvS.

“Through our collaborations, they are familiar with our philosophy of ‘Whatever it takes,’ and were confident in our ability to successfully handle a project of this stature,” says Michael Prokopchak, president of Walnut Hill.

The White House Rose Garden was first redesigned by Bunny Mellon, during the Kennedy Administration in 1962. Since then it has experienced decades of uses and changes. The renewal uses Mellon’s original footprint to guide the design while improving infrastructure, drainage and creating a healthier environment for the plantings.

“One thing many people may not realize is that the 2020 renovation restored many aspects to Ms. Mellon’s plan for JFK that had been lost over the years,” Prokopchak says. “Oehme, van Sweden did many hours of historical research, including interviews with individuals who were responsible for the 1962 installation, to honor the space.”

In order to work on the property, all of Walnut Hill’s team members and delivery drivers went through a background check. All large trucks and deliveries were sent to an off-site facility for screening and then escorted into the facility. The company was allowed to have five small trucks on the grounds, which went through an inspection at the White House before entering.

“Daily conference calls were held during the two weeks prior to the beginning of the project,” Prokopchak says. “Once we began work, we were in constant communication with all parties involved.”

From start to finish, Walnut Hill’s portion of the job took three weeks. Prokopchak says the biggest challenge was juggling the many moving parts of the installation.

“At one point there were at least nine different companies working on the site, all with their own piece of the puzzle to complete,” he says. “As you can imagine, it required some careful choreography to allow each team to successfully complete their portion without stepping on the feet of the others while working in the same space.”

At the start of construction, the Saucer Magnolias were the only part of Mellon’s original installation that remained and were treated with reverence, as they serve as the literal and figurative corner pieces of the design.

“Their sculptural beauty is highlighted in the final design, and they really have been able to shine,” Prokopchak says. “Prior to the renovation, there were only 12 rose bushes remaining in the Rose Garden. After completion of the renovation, there are over 250.”

A selection of hybrid tea-roses were installed, including JFK roses, Peace Roses, Mr. Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth. An existing, historic Pope John Paul II rose was preserved as well.

“Some of the roses are classic heirloom varieties and not readily available in commercial quantities,” Prokopchak says. “We searched and were able to source them from nurseries across multiple states with the help of Perry Guillot. In some cases, all that could be procured were smaller plants than were needed, so we needed to cultivate and nurture them under ideal conditions

The completion of First Lady Melania Trump’s historic restoration to the Rose Garden as seen Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, at the White House. This project marks the first time in 60 years that the Rose Garden has been renewed.

Photos: Official White House Photos by Andrea Hanks

for six weeks prior to installation to get them ready for their big reveal.”

The 12 existing crab apple trees were transplanted to another location on the grounds of the White House as these trees were shading the roses. Limestone walkways were added around the perimeter of the lawn panel and the existing flagstone walkways were replaced with limestone. Low-voltage lighting was also added to the entire garden.

Many of the existing boxwoods were infected with boxwood blight, so the blight-resistant variety NewGen Independence was chosen for the predominant portion of the design.

Screen rows of Holly Osmanthus were planted, along with Vinca and Dwarf Mondo Grass serving as groundcovers. In addition, a rotating selection of seasonally appropriate annuals and perennials will provide changing color and texture to the space. The initial seasonal planting consisted of white Cleome (Cleome hassleriana), Agastache (Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’) and Wax Begonia (Begonia x hybrida).

“Walnut Hill Landscape’s impact on the aesthetics of final design derived from our responsibility to provide attractive, premium-quality plant and landscape materials, and installing them to the highest industry standards,” Prokopchak says. “This ensures that the beauty of the design is fully realized and that the Rose Garden will thrive for many years.”

In the spring, the historic Saucer Magnolias will show off their magenta pink blossoms, while the boxwood lattice with have fresh, green growth. The roses will have matured and filled out and be covered in buds. The National Park Service, which is responsible for maintaining the site, will have planted a vibrant display of spring bulbs.

“The most rewarding part of the project was simply being a part of the nation’s history,” Prokopchak says. “To think about the people that have been in the garden previously and who will be there in the future is a great feeling.” TLP