Archive for the ‘Economy’ Category

A Labor Day Thank You!

Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

The much anticipated cold front that finally made it down to Oklahoma has been a welcome relief to all. We can all finally go outside and enjoy it, rather than just enduring it. It could not have come at a better time than the Labor Day weekend.

As a small business owner, Labor Day is more than just a 3-day holiday. I remember in the earlier years while building the business it wasn’t even that, since I was often working on that Saturday and even on the Monday. But now with a mature business, I’m able to actually take off and enjoy a 3-day weekend, and for that I am very grateful.

Labor Day should be a time when we all are grateful that we have a job, or a business, or a mission in life. We all know the situation we are in now as a country with unemplyement, and with so many good folks without work of any kind. (more…)

Helping the Communities we Serve

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

City budgets are strained these days with the current economic situation.  For example, the city of Tulsa is eliminating city police officers, shutting down valuable services, and having to take other painful measures to save money.

Part of our LawnAmerica crew preparing to work at Braden Park

Part of our LawnAmerica crew preparing to work at Braden Park

We’re doing our part at LawnAmerica to help out.   This past spring, we began treating over 28 acres of turf for free at several city parks.  Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, and Sand Springs parks have all been the benefactors of our lawncare servces.  We have committed to service eight of these community parks for free, through 2010.  The annual value of these services if we charged would be about $28,000, so this is the amount of money these cities are saving with our donation.

Braden Park near 11th & Yale.  I grew up playing baseball and fishing at this city park.

Braden Park near 11th & Yale. I grew up playing baseball and fishing at this city park.

Giving back to the communities we serve is part of what we do at LawnAmerica.  Our business has been blessed this year, and for the past 11 years, so we’re glad to be able to give back.  We love what we do in caring for lawns and landscapes, and feel it’s an important part of our world in many respects.  We also love to give, as it helps provide even more meaning and satisfaction from our work. 

As we enter the Thanksgiving month of November, I’m indeed thankful for our business, employees, and our cutomers.  So if you’re a LawnAmerica customer–Thank You for the opportunity to do what we do.  And if you are not a LawnAmerica customer–Why Not?  Not only will you save money, compared to doing your own lawncare, your lawn will look better.  And if you use a competitor, you will not find a better group of professionals to care for your lawn.  And, you’ll be helping to support this comminity we all share, as no other lawncare company comes close to giving back to others as LawnAmerica.

Going to the Capital!

Friday, July 17th, 2009
The Marine Monument at Arlington National Cemetary

The Marine Monument at Arlington National Cemetary

My wife and I just returned from a visit to our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. I went representing Oklahoma lawncare operators (the only one there) who are members of the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Every summer hundreds of members travel to Washington D.C. to volunteer their time in helping to care for Arlington National Cemetery with aerations, applications of lime and fertilizer, and tree care. I was on the core aeration crew, along with about 12 other guys. It was a neat experience to help in a small way in caring for the grounds at the National Cemetery. With my oldest son serving as a new Marine, it was especially meaningful and made one proud to be an American and gracious for the service of so many over the years.

I also was able to meet with both of our Oklahoma Senators, Senators Inhoff and Coburn. Both were very gracious and in agreement of our views as small business owners  in the lawncare industry. The last time I was in Washington D.C. was when Ronald Reagan was President. Things have been somewhat quiet since then, but the climate has sure changed now! Although we are highly regulated by the E.P.A. and State Dept. of Agriculture, some folks just think that it’s not enough. The E.P.A. is even considering language in their new ”Water Sense” program that dictates that no more than 40% of a landscape can be in turf! It seems that healthy turf, one of the best environmental things a homeowner can grow at their home, does not get the respect it deserves.  (more…)