Tim Johnson Landscaping

NCNLA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Tim Johnson Landscaping Inc.

Statesville, N.C.

President

Tim Johnson II

In business

22 years

NCNLA member

6 years

Number of employees

105

Favorite NCNLA benefits

Networking, education and opportunities to give back to the industry

Five Minutes with

Tim Johnson Landscaping Inc.

How did you get into the business?

I started mowing grass for some neighbors at about age 12. Shortly after, my father began mowing as well. With his background in fertilizer, things evolved pretty quickly, even though we stayed small for many years. After going to college on a baseball scholarship to study engineering, I transferred to major in horticulture after my sophomore year, and the rest is history!

What’s a typical day like for you and your staff?

I’m typically at the office around 6:00 a.m., and crews leave the shop around 7:00 a.m. I’m at a fun point in my career where very few of my days are the same. I can be doing anything from meeting with clients and hauling materials/equipment to a site, to drawing designs and reviewing financials.

Tuesdays are always a big day for us. We have training first thing in the morning, and then I go into meetings with our contract administrator and accounting administrator. On Tuesday afternoons we get all of our managers together for production/scheduling updates, and to make sure everyone has what they need to ensure the success of their crews’ efforts.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

The people—and not just the people we get to do really cool projects for, either. I have become close friends with so many clients over the years. But most rewarding for me is working with our team. I hope Tim Johnson Landscaping is a place where our people not only can have a career with growth potential, but also support and provide for their families in ways they never thought possible. We truly try to operate as one big family.

What is your company best known for?

The slogan on the sides of our trucks— “We Grow the Best Grass!”—catches lots of comments.

We are very well known for our highend residential maintenance, as well as design/build. We also do a significant number of commercial maintenance and enhancement projects.

What issues are you concerned about as a company in the green industry?

As an industry we have to become a primary career path for the next generation of the workforce. There are way too many opportunities in landscaping for us to be satisfied with being a “backup plan” for prospective workers. We have good pay, great people and really cool technology. We need to be marketing that to our students.

What have you gained from your involvement in NCNLA?

You can’t put a value on relationships. The resources I have gained from relationships are almost irreplaceable. I have gotten to know growers I might never have met otherwise, and I have developed relationships with other landscapers who serve as great resources, and with whom I can freely exchange ideas.

What advice do you have for someone interested in or just starting out in the industry?

Our industry is as much about people as it is horticulture—you can’t do it successfully without both aspects of the business, so be careful not to undervalue either one. Also, do what you’re good at, and don’t be afraid to run your business the way YOU see fit. Don’t feel like you have to run your business a certain way or provide a particular service that isn’t part of your core, just because you see someone else doing it.

For younger business owners, take a business class! Whether through a course at your local college, or some of the awesome business classes at the Green and Growin’ education conference, understanding important business concepts is essential if you want to succeed. I see so many people who are great landscapers but not great businesspeople. In today’s marketplace, you have to be both.