INFORM
Let ’s Hear it From
JIM M CUTCHEON C
HIGHGROVE PARTNERS
D
isaster, recovery, growth; the timeline we’ve followed since the COVID-19 pandemic crawled across the globe. The impact of the pandemic, and a handful of other world-altering events, changed the way millions live, and many of us are still working to adjust. The year 2022 brings the opportunity to step into the growth phase of the decade, and it is time to build a game plan. Jim McCutcheon is the leader of HighGrove Partners, a $20 million landscape company in Atlanta, Georgia. They design, build and maintain hundreds of properties throughout the area. Roughly $5 million of their revenue comes from design, build and enhancement
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projects for maintenance clients. Jim launched HighGrove in 2001 and helped grow it to what it is today. He credits his success to his ability to take a unique approach to his work with an incredible team. “I used to do a series of talks called ‘Stop Thinking Like a Landscaper,’” says Jim. “It’s about this idea that, yes, we have to do good landscaping work, but what business is really about is finding out how to solve our clients’ real problems. That is how we turn into strong businesses and not just a lifestyle company.” The HighGrove team approaches their work by finding why the client needs landscape work. They ask questions about their life, their business and their goals. Jim says a growing
trend lately is the need to meet “ESG goals.” The acronym stands for environmental, social and governance rights and is a regulation that many public companies are now required to incorporate into their business. The environmental aspect concerns sustainability and similar issues, the social piece topics like diversity, and governance relates to a company’s transparency. ESG reports will likely be a top priority in most real estate companies within the next few years, especially for banks and other investors. Jim believes the landscape is key for a company to achieve their ESG goals and build the value of a property. Another, more timely need for HighGrove clients, is attracting employees back to the
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