Q+A with Jon Cundiff, NALP Lifetime Leadership Award

Q+A with Jon Cundiff,

Winner of Lifetime Leadership Award

By Lindsey Getz

EACH YEAR, NALP PRESENTS A MEMBER WITH THE LIFETIME

Leadership Award who had dedicated his or her life to the landscape and lawn care industry. This year, Jon Cundiff, president of Weed Man Kansas City in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is this year’s winner. With more than 30 years in the industry, he is also a past president of NALP. We recently caught up with Cundiff to find out about his time in the landscape industry.

WHAT LED YOU TO THE LANDSCAPE WHAT LEDT YOU TO THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST PLACE? INDUSTRY INY THE FIRST PLACE?T

I got started in high school and college I got startedt in high school and college working on the grounds crew for the working on the grounds crew for ther Kansas City Royals. It got me out on Kansas City Royals. It got met out ont the sports field and growing grass and the sports field and growing grass and seeing how rewarding that can be. I seeing how rewarding that cant be. I realized that I loved being outside. Going realized that It loved being outside. Going through college, I got interested in the through college, I got interestedt in the business end of it. We had to write our business end of it. We had to write our first business plan and I was sold. first businesst plan and I was sold.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST

ABOUT THIS PROFESABOUTTHIST PROFESSION? SION?

There’s nothing better than being able to take care of customers and see a smile on their face when they can come home and can fully enjoy their outdoor space. To know that you were a part of that — and that you took something off their slate — is rewarding. It’s also really fun to turn a property around. The other thing that’s really great is having the chance to create opportunities for employees and help them continue to grow.

There’s nothing better r than being able to take care of customers and see a smile on their face when they can come home and can fully enjoy their outdoorr space. To know that you were a part of that — and that you took something off their slater — is rewarding. It’s also really fun to turn a property around. The other thing that s really great is ha to create opportunitie and help them continu

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST WHAT HAVET BEEN YO CHALLENGES IN BUSINESS? CHALLENGES IN BUSI

The two biggest challenges we’ve The two biggest chal faced are labor and staying on top of faced are labor and s regulations. NALP has been strategic regulations. NALP ha in staying active on the legislative in staying active on th side and having a voice there. From side and having a voi a people management standpoint, a people managemen we are always trying to find the best we are always trying people you can out there. But that can people you can out th be a two-headed monster because be a two-headed mon once you find them, you have to work once you find them, y on developing them, too. That comes on developing them, t down to proper training and giving down to proper trainin them good growth opportunities. them good growth op We’re coaching employees on ways We’re coaching emplo they can grow both personally and they can grow both p professionally. We’re helping them to professionally. We’re understand that their personal life and understand that their their professional life run parallel so their professional life focusing on both is key. focusing on both is k

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU FEEL THAT WHAT IMPACT DOT YO YOU’VE HAD ON THE INDUSTRY? YOU’VE HAD ON THE I

There is really not one thing I feel like I’ve done. But I’ve had the privilege to sit on some really good boards and meet some fantastic people. When you sit on a board and get to be in that position to be a part of a group of people who are really passionate about the industry and what we do, you’re able to make real change. It means finding other people who want to nurture and grow the industry, just like you do, so that we can all make it great for the next people to be part of this. It’s truly a collective effort.

There is really not on I’ve done. But I’ve had sit on some really goo meet some fantastic you sit on a board an that position to be a p people who are really the industry and what able to make real cha

IN YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN?

Without a doubt, the biggest change has been technology. It’s just off the charts from when I started. My wife and I started back in 1987 and have grown from there. But when I look at what we started with and what’s available today, it’s almost unrecognizable.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BE A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY?

I think being a leader is about having a voice. I think God puts us on earth to help others. This industry has been great to our family and the people in our operations and our life in many ways — and we want to keep this industry great for the future leaders. Over the years I’ve seen many types of leadership styles and the one thing they all have in common is a passion for the industry. It’s that passion that we owe to the industry.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO WIN THE NALP LIFETIME LEADERSHIP AWARD?

It’s a humbling experience. You always hear the cliché that it’s great to be nominated and recognized by your peers but it’s very true. When I look at this group that I’ve had the privilege to work with, it’s incredibly humbling to know that they thought of me for this honor. TLP

“When you sit on a board and get to be in that position to be a part of a group of people who are really passionate about the industry and what we do, you’re able to make real change.

It means finding other people who want to nurture and

grow the industry, just like you do, so that we can all make it great for the next people to be part of this. It’s truly a