I had an incredible conversation with Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping, and it reminded me why I love this industry so much. Justin took his parents' small family business and scaled it from $1.5 million to $20 million in revenue in just nine years. But what really struck me wasn't just the numbers; it was his vision to create generational wealth for his entire team through a potential IPO by 2035. That's the kind of thinking that's going to change the industry forever.

We dove deep into the realities of growing a landscape business in today's market, including why 2025 has been tougher than expected for so many of us. Justin opened up about the adversity he's faced, the importance of leadership mindset, and why he created The Disruptors community to help other contractors accelerate their growth. If you're ready to stop playing small and start building something that outlasts you, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can implement right away.

3:04 - Growing Up in a Family Landscape Business: The Real Story

8:23 - The Turning Point: From $1.5M to $20M in Nine Years

14:19 - Adversity & Leadership: When Your Business Doesn't Love You Back

19:42 - Why 2025 Has Been Challenging for Landscapers Nationwide

26:34 - The Billion-Dollar Vision: Creating Generational Wealth

32:31 - Inside The Disruptors: Building a Community of High Performers

43:08 - Who Thrives in The Disruptors & How to Get Involved

48:07 - Take Action: Set an Unreasonable Goal Before Year-End

Justin White & K&D Landscaping:

• Website: jwhitegroup.com
• LinkedIn & Instagram: @JustinWhiteKNDLandscaping

The Disruptors Community:

• Learn more at jwhitegroup.com

Landscape Business Growth Lab:

• Website: landscapebusinessgrowthlab.com

Everbearing Services:

• Website: everbearingservices.com

Landscape Companies:

• K&D Landscaping - Justin White's company, scaled from $1.5M to $20M in 9 years
• BrightView (formerly ValleyCrest & Brickman merger) - Publicly traded landscape company
• Jensen Landscape - Led by CEO John Vallee, inspiration for Justin's growth vision
• Kachina Landscape - Top landscape company mentioned in industry research

Technology & Software Partners of The Disruptors:

• Aspire - Landscape business management software
• Greenius - Training platform for landscape teams
• Team Engine - Employee engagement and communication tool
• Bob Yard - Landscape business software
• Capsidata - Data and analytics platform
• Cres Software - Landscape management solution

Industry Associations:

• NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals)
• CLCA (California Landscape Contractors Association)
• ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America)
• WALPOLE - Regional landscape association

Other Peer...

Attracting the best talent starts with being the best place to work. In this episode, Chad Knight shares how he transformed a small backflow testing company into a thriving tech-forward irrigation business by focusing on clear organizational values. He emphasizes the importance of hiring people who align with those values and ensuring that they can focus on fantastic work instead of repetitive tasks that automation can handle. Chad's journey highlights the balance between leveraging technology and maintaining a strong company culture, which he believes is essential for sustainable growth. If you want to elevate your landscaping business, understanding the value of your team and creating an environment where they can thrive is key.

The Landscape Growth Lab Podcast EP. 1:

Your Landscaping Business Needs to Be the Best Place to Work | Company Culture = Team Retention

0:00 - Values-Based Hiring Success

0:51 - Landscape Growth Lab Introduction

1:05 - Chad Knight's Background Story

2:55 - Organizational Values Framework

5:52 - Creating Scalable Systems

8:32 - Technology and Automation Impact

11:12 - Counterintuitive Hiring Decisions

14:32 - Premium Service Positioning

17:12 - Deep Green Technology Division

19:12 - Firewise Landscaping Approach

23:42 - Future of Irrigation Business

28:55 - Best Workplace Philosophy

Chad Knight's journey from COO of EarthCruiser to the owner of Deschutes Backflow is a testament to how values shape a business's success. He emphasizes the importance of hiring based on alignment with core values like courage, excellence, growth, and teamwork. By establishing these values, Chad creates a framework that empowers his team to make decisions autonomously, allowing for a scalable and efficient operation. The focus on building a company culture where employees feel valued not only attracts top talent but also drives the organization toward sustainable growth. Chad's insights into automation further highlight his strategy for maintaining quality service without overextending the workforce. He argues that by leveraging technology to handle repetitive tasks, businesses can free skilled workers to focus on providing exceptional service, thus creating a competitive edge in the irrigation industry.

Moreover, Chad discusses the evolving challenges of labor shortages in the landscaping sector and the need for businesses to adapt. He believes that companies must automate processes to thrive amidst increasing demands for efficiency. His commitment to training and developing a small, elite team stands out as a crucial element of his business philosophy. As the conversation unfolds, the idea of integrating deep green technology for water conservation emerges as a defining aspect of Chad's approach, marrying his commitment to environmental stewardship with practical business strategies. This episode ultimately underscores the message that aligning a company's operations with its core values is essential for fostering a resilient and thriving business in today's competitive landscape.

Links referenced in this episode:

• deschutesbackflow.com
• landscapebusinessgrowthlab.com
• everbearingservices.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Everbearing Services
• EarthCruiser Overland Vehicles
• Deschutes Backflow