Member Spotlight: Pro Green, Inc

NCNLA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Pro Green, Inc.

Morganton, NC

President

John Clark

In business

26 years

NCNLA member

10 years

Number of employees

5

Favorite NCNLA benefits

The educational opportunities provided by NCNLA, as well as Green & Growin’ networking and the feeling of being part of an organization that has your back — no matter what type of green industry business you have

Five Minutes with Pro Green

How did you get into the business?

I started working when I was 15, picking river rock (large and small) out of a field for an entire summer! That work was in preparation to establish a bentgrass sod farm, which at the time was the only such farm in North Carolina or the Southeast. I’m not sure if it was my relentless days of harvesting rock, or if the owner felt sorry for my having to work in the heat, but that got me my first job as a sod farmer. I worked in that position through high school and attended Catawba Valley Community College, where I received a degree in turfgrasss management and horticulture. The year I graduated, I had the opportunity to buy into the general partnership of the company. I worked as the general partner for the next seven years, as we provided quality bentgrass sod to the golf course industry.

In 1995, my brother, Barry Clark, and I bought a piece of property and formed what is now known as Pro Green, Inc. We provide quality turfgrass sod, such as bentgrass, fescue, bluegrass and zoysia grass. Our farm also includes a B&B nursery and a container nursery, which we are expanding every year.

What is a typical day like for you and your staff?

Our day begins at 7 a.m. with filling any sod and nursery orders from the day before. Barry manages all sod-related orders, and I concentrate on all nursery stock orders. It sounds good on paper, but no one day is like the day before, as we are usually going in several different directions throughout the day.

What is the most rewarding part of your career?

Working outside, being my own boss and watching plant material grow to maturity. Watching a plant mature to a marketable quality gives me a sense of accomplishment.

What is your company best known for?

Producing high-quality bentgrass sod to high-end golf courses throughout the Southeast, as well as providing high-quality container plant material to landscapers and retail nurseries.

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

Taxes! Government regulation, labor shortages and a potential downturn in the economy, like we all experienced in 2007 and 2008.

What have you gained from your involvement in NCNLA?

As a member of NCNLA, I have gained many new friends, as well as knowledge and advice that would not have been possible otherwise. I have been part of many organizations and served on many boards, but NCNLA gives me a sense of family and friendship you won’t find in any other organization in the green industry.

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

Do your homework! Make sure you have a passion and love for what you are preparing to do for the rest of your life. It doesn’t make a difference what career path you choose — just make sure you are excited about getting up early every morning to go to work. Anything less will result in disappointment and unhappiness.