INFORM
Let ’s Hear it From
LESLIE HERNDON GREENSCAPE, INC.
LESLIE HERNDON IS PRESIDENT OF GREENSCAPE, INC. IN HOLLY SPRINGS, NORTH CAROLINA AS WELL AS PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION
How did you get into the industry? I got into horticulture in high school. My mom was into plants and my great uncle owned a nursery. I was able to take horticulture classes and was part of the FFA. I went to NC State and got a degree in horticulture. I worked after school and summers in a garden center, in a wholesale nursery, and the extension service part-time. I also participated in the ag fraternities and on competition teams that are now part of the NALP.
How long have you been with Greenscape? I’ve been here for 19 years and just became president a year ago after serving as vice president of operations. How many employees do you have? In peak season we can have 160 or 180, depending upon what’s going on. What kind of clients do you serve? We are strictly commercial. We handle HOAs, hospitals, shopping centers, retail,
office buildings, industrial, municipal, apartment complexes, etc. How much of your business is maintenance? Seventy-five percent. What are the advantages of doing maintenance as well as design-build? When we went through the recession of 2008-09, we really saw the benefit of being in the maintenance market in a big way.
COMMERCIAL MAINTENANCE IS A MUCH MORE STABLE INCOME DURING TIMES OF VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET Commercial maintenance is a much more stable income during times of volatility in the market. These commercial sites have to be maintained no matter what is happening, as do municipals and HOAs. They are all set up in
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Pro Landscaper USA South May/June 2021
south.prolandscaperusa.com
