Ruppert Landscape, a provider of commercial landscaping services for nearly 50 years based in Laytonsville, Md., and 2024 No. 12 on the LM150 list, made two high profile additions to the team with Richard Kang joining as president and chief operating officer (COO) and Bob Jones being promoted to chief sales officer (CSO).
Richard Kang
In his new role, Kang will oversee both the North and South Divisions and become a key member of the company’s executive team. His focus will be on enhancing operational excellence, driving growth and nurturing talent across the organization.
According to the company, Kang brings a wealth of experience from Republic Services, where he most recently served as senior vice president of operations. Throughout his career at Republic, he held leadership roles in finance, business development and operations, giving him plenty of perspective and experience on scaling businesses. The company said Kang is a collaborative leader who values working with engaged teams and has a strong commitment to developing talent. His focus on customer service, communication, safety, empowerment and community involvement closely aligns with Ruppert’s values.
Rich holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Virginia and received an Executive Education in Leadership and Strategic Impact from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. In 2020, he received WASTE360’s 40 under 40 award, recognizing his significant contributions to the waste and recycling industry.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rich to the team,” said Phil Key, CEO. “His people-focused leadership style, strong alignment with our company culture and extensive experience in scaling service-based businesses make him an invaluable addition to our organization.”
Bob Jones
In his new position, Jones will oversee business development efforts across the company’s North and South Divisions, driving growth in both landscape installation and maintenance operations. As a key member of the executive team, he will also continue to influence strategy and financial oversight and support Ruppert’s strategic acquisition initiatives, according to the company.
Jones has served as president of Ruppert’s Landscape Construction Division for the past 11 years, overseeing the operations of 11 branches and a workforce of more than 600 employees. His leadership encompassed strategic planning, branch development, national sales, employee growth and customer relations. The company said his transition reflects his desire to step back from running the division while allowing the company to continue benefiting from his more than 40 years of industry experience.
“I wanted to continue contributing to a company I care deeply about while playing a key role in the transition and development of our future leadership team,” said Jones. “Having the opportunity to do that while leading our sales efforts and assisting in M&A is truly exciting.”
The company said Jones has been instrumental in expanding the services offered by our construction division throughout his more than 29 years with the company, and his efforts have strengthened our national footprint and enabled us to tackle more complex projects.
“Bob has been a key driver of our success, and we look forward to leveraging his expertise and extensive industry network to enhance our sales efforts,” said Key.
Jones earned his degree from Ohio State University and served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Throughout his tenure at Ruppert, he has held multiple leadership positions and was honored in 2005 with the Clyde Vadner Merit Award, the company’s highest recognition for exceptional service and dedication.
Envu adds two key account managers to its lawn and golf divisions
Envu Turf and Ornamentals added Karlee Kitchel and Lindsey Hoffman Chappell, Ph.D., to its team. According to the company, Kitchel brings a wealth of experience from her previous role at Corteva Agriscience as a supply chain planner and crop protection territory manager. Hoffman Chappell, who has been with Envu for the past three years, has been promoted to this new role, bringing her extensive background in sales and scientific research to the position.
“Karlee and Lindsey both excel in ensuring that the customer is at the heart of everything they do,” said Stephanie McKay, head of key account management, Turf and Ornamentals, Envu U.S. “Karlee’s expertise in supply chain management and territory sales will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to drive growth and innovation. Lindsey has already demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication in her previous roles, and we are excited to see her apply her extensive knowledge to this new position. Together, they will enhance our ability to deliver outstanding service and solutions to our key accounts.”
Kitchel has a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture sales and marketing with a minor in communications from Purdue University. In her free time, Kitchel enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing pickleball, golfing and relaxing on the lake.
Hoffman Chappell, Ph.D., recently served as an area sales manager reporting into the Turf & Ornamentals West Division and a field development scientist prior to that. She received her Ph.D. in plant and soil sciences from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent a culmination of 10 years teaching at a variety of schools, including University of Massachusetts Amherst, Rutgers and the University of Minnesota. Hoffman Chappel enjoys golfing, hunting and spending quality time with her husband and their dogs.
SpringGreen makes two key changes in Minnesota and South Carolina
SpringGreen, No. 32 on the 2024 LM150 list and a provider of lawn, pest and tree care headquartered in Plainfield, Ill., made two key additions with Ben Mullen officially taking over ownership of the SpringGreen franchise in Minneapolis, Minn., and Dustin Pease becoming the newest franchise owner in Charleston, S.C.
Mullen steps into his new role after working side by side with his father, who started the local SpringGreen franchise in 2006. The business has remained in the family since its inception, and this transition marks a new chapter in continuing the legacy of exceptional lawn care services in the community, according to the company.
Mullen has been a familiar face to the franchise’s loyal customers for nearly two decades as he starting helping his father with the business as a teenager before moving on to study criminal justice for a while.
“I’ve always had a love for being outdoors and working on lawns,” Mullen said. “Even when I was in college and working elsewhere, I found myself returning to help with the business every summer. It was only a matter of time before I made the decision to carry on what my dad started.”
The company said the transition is not just a business move; it is the continuation of a family tradition, as many of the customers Mullen serviced as a kid are still with the franchise today.
“Taking over the business from my dad has been such a natural step. I know the customers, and they know me. It’s rewarding to be serving the same community I grew up in and to continue providing the same quality of service,” Mullen said. “My dad taught me the importance of customer care, and I intend to uphold those values as we grow the business.”
Pease said he’s eager to provide the local community with high-quality lawn, pest and tree care services through his newly launched SpringGreen franchise.
Pease’s journey into business ownership is driven by his desire to create a successful, customer-centric lawn care operation. After more than a decade of working in leadership roles within the steel industry, he recognized the opportunity to transition into entrepreneurship and pursue his passion for delivering exceptional service. Pease’s extensive experience in managing teams, making critical decisions and operating under pressure will serve him well as he builds his SpringGreen franchise from the ground up.
The decision to join SpringGreen came after a referral from a longtime friend and high-performing SpringGreen franchise owner, Ryan Meinika.
“I’ve watched Ryan’s success over the years, and seeing how well he has done with his SpringGreen franchise really opened my eyes to the potential in this business,” Pease said.
Pease looks forward to making his mark in Charleston by creating beautiful, healthy outdoor spaces for his clients while delivering the kind of personalized service that sets SpringGreen apart. His goal is to establish a business rooted in trust and quality, with a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
All-America Selections selects 2024 Breeders’ Cup Award winner
All-America Selections (AAS) is delighted selected Mitch Hanes, retired flower breeder from Syngenta Flowers, as the recipient of the 2024 AAS Breeders’ Cup Award winner. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to horticulture through their plant breeding innovations.
The AAS Breeders’ Cup Award was established in 2004 to honor breeders whose groundbreaking work has led to the development of new cultivars that have had a profound impact on the industry. According to the company, Hanes’ career exemplifies the dedication and expertise required to create exceptional plants that have captivated gardeners, landscapers and consumers alike.
Mitch spent over four decades at Syngenta Flowers, formerly Goldsmith Seeds, where he played a pivotal role in breeding a variety of innovative flower cultivars. His contributions to the field of horticulture include the development of interspecific geraniums, such as the Calliope, Caliente and Mojo series. In addition, Calliope Medium Dark Red is a 2017 All-America Selections winner.
The AAS Judges, a group of experienced horticulturists, honored Mitch with the Breeders’ Cup Award at a special meeting. Todd Perkins, a fellow breeder from Syngenta Flowers, presented a tribute to Mitch’s career, highlighting his exceptional achievements and dedication to the industry.
The company said All-America Selections, its breeders, judges, board of directors and the companies they represent extend their heartfelt congratulations to Hanes, as his efforts and innovative spirit have had a lasting impact on the world of horticulture.
Hood Design Studio founder receives Vincent Scully Prize from the National Building Museum
Walter Hood got started with landscape and architectural designs when he was a student at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. After reluctantly taking a National Park Service co-op in Asheville that he feared would delay his graduation, he got the necessary experience to lead him to his first job with the NPS in Washington, D.C., setting in motion a notable career as a landscape designer, artist and educator.
Hood returned to Washington on Oct. 4 to receive his latest award: the Vincent Scully Prize, presented by the National Building Museum. Named for the late Yale University art historian and architecture critic, this award recognizes excellence in practice, scholarship or criticism in architecture, historic preservation and urban design. The museum praised Hood for creating ecologically sustainable spaces that connect and empower marginalized and urban communities and for uncovering and strengthening layers of meaning in his designs.
“I’ve spent my career trying not to isolate myself within a particular profession because I enjoy a breadth of work,” Hood said. “Every project is different, and every project creatively demands that I have a respect for that context. I think my work fits the parameters of the Scully Prize because I’ve embraced history as a major component of my work even when it wasn’t mainstream to do so.”
Hood, a past recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, was also the first speaker in the landscape architecture program’s Charles Fountain Memorial Lecture Series, a partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, where Hood is a faculty member.
Since graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (A&T) in 1981, Hood has traveled along two professional tracks. In 1992, he founded Hood Design Studio, a social art and design practice based in Oakland, Calif., that has created landscapes, art, exhibitions and urban designs for parks, gardens, museums, communities and public spaces across the globe. He also is chair and professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at University of California, Berkeley.
Recent notable projects completed by Hood include the landscape design for the Intuit Dome — the new home of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers — and the creation of a park and 30-foot aluminum sculpture in Arlington, Va., that commemorates a former settlement founded by former free and enslaved persons after the Civil War. Works in progress include the redesign of an historic park in Houston and the revitalization of a park adjacent to New York City’s Lincoln Center.
Hood’s most notable recent work is the highly acclaimed International African American Museum that opened in 2023 in Charleston, S.C. Located at the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, the entry point to the U.S. to nearly half of enslaved Africans, the museum building itself floats on pillars above the site’s hallowed ground.
The awards ceremony gave Hood a moment to reflect on his A&T experience, which gave him a strong sense of identity and self.
“The first 20 years of my career was just me with my head down making work,” he said. “The last few years have been bountiful. It has been great to be recognized now not by a particular profession, but with broader societal awards. I’ve been really blessed.”
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