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DR. DAMON ABDI OUTDOOR ARCHITECTS: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS IN THE GREEN INDUSTRY Dr. Damon Abdi, Ph.D ., Assistant Professor of Landscape Horticulture, LSU AgCenter
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he landscaping industry is ever evolving, shaping our surroundings with innovative ideas that contribute to a greener world. One thing that has not changed is the perpetual need to continue to grow and develop the landscape workforce. Many of us have a unique story about how we entered the industry. Some of us were born into it and some of us developed a love of land stewardship at a later age. One thing that holds true for all of us is that we were all as green to the industry as the plants and properties we work on. My first foray into professional landscaping came as a teenager growing up in central Maryland. I distinctly remember calling landscape companies in search of summer help using my flipphone and printing out directions to locate their offices. As a young person looking to enter the workforce, all I wanted was an opportunity. That opportunity was provided to me by Mark Storch, founder and owner of Outdoor Architects (Elkridge, Maryland). It was through this opportunity that I had the privilege to learn about the landscaping industry. From installing patios, decks, drainage systems, water features and landscape enhancements in residences ranging across the Baltimore/Washington suburbs, I developed the hands-on skills
26 SYNKD South Winter 2023/24
to succeed. I learned how to work on a team to take a design and put it into reality, while installing beautiful features the right way. Constructing landscapes was not the only set of skills I built in my time with Outdoor Architects. Storch’s mentorship extended into several sectors of the industry. From business management to client interactions, balancing budgets to sourcing supplies, managing people and managing projects, I had the opportunity to learn what it takes to become successful in this industry. As my fledgling interest developed to a fully formed desire to make this my career, Storch
enlightened me about the educational options to achieve these goals. Storch graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and suggested that an academic program focusing on landscaping would be a valuable venture in my pursuits. It is through his suggestion (and kind letter of recommendation) that I applied to and was accepted into the Landscape Contracting program at Penn State University. While dedicating my education to landscaping and horticulture was originally intended to be for just a few years in the pursuit of starting my own company, that path obviously changed to a different destination within the green
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