Five Minutes with Freeman Landscape Inc.

How did you get into the business?

Jim (North Carolina State University 1974) grew up in the family nursery business, which was started by Jim’s dad, mother, and grandfather (NCSU 1915) in 1949. Unfortunately, tornadoes destroyed the business in 1984, and Jim turned to landscaping full time after that. We formed our own company, which is certified as a Women Business Enterprise, around the time we met and married in the early 1990s.

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

Our managers get our four divisions — landscape install, irrigation install, nursery and maintenance — going at 6:45 AM each morning. I typically work from 9 AM-6 PM. My focus is on the business as a whole, and I manage our accounting department, along with two assistants. I also work closely with our managers every day to ensure the departments are running smoothly. Jim handles most of the design and take-offs for projects. James Freeman (NCSU 2016) oversees the installation departments.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career?

Working with a great base of employees, many of whom have been with us 15 years or more, has been wonderful. We strive to create and maintain a family atmosphere for our employees. Seeing the company grow over a 30-year period and building its stature and respect among general contractors has also been very fulfilling. Seeing the respect our oldest son, James, he has garnered among our clients, has been especially rewarding.

What is your company best known for?

We are very well respected by many of the largest general contractors, and we are known for having the resources and desire to finish large projects on time with a high degree of quality.

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

We constantly fight the labor issues, and I would say that is the most challenging aspect of our business. We are also very concerned about the push from outside factions to control what types of plants may be used in landscaping.

What have you gained from your involvement in NCNLA?

Insight into the industry outside our dayto-day operations.

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

Take advantage of the many opportunities to learn how to organize and streamline your business. Set up accounting properly and get some type of platform to keep track of your profits and losses. Price your work appropriately, do quality work and ensure that your integrity is beyond reproach.