Advertise on podcast: The Commercial Landscaper Podcast

Karen Schakarov joined Monarch in January 2024. As Chief Marketing Officer, Karen is responsible for leading strategic marketing initiatives and enhancing the Monarch brand to drive growth and value for all stakeholders. Prior to joining Monarch, Karen was President and founder of ES&SY Group, where for two decades she drove growth and innovation for clients such as Toyota, JFK International Airport, JetBlue, and Sony. She led the development of a corporate culture program for JFK's $2.5 billion expansion and created philanthropic initiatives for Toyota/Lexus.  Her strategic programs have also increased brand awareness for non-profits like City of Hope and the Tiger Woods Foundation. Prior to ES&SY Group, Karen was Vice President of Marketing at Caesarstone US, where she transformed the brand into a market leader. Under her guidance, Caesarstone's brand awareness increased by 40% year-over-year, and company revenue grew by 500%. She managed high-profile celebrity partnerships and secured extensive media coverage, achieving 1.7 billion media impressions in 2015. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration from New York University.

Richard Sperber is a veteran landscape industry entrepreneur best known for leading the family legacy behind ValleyCrest Landscape Companies and later founding Sperber Landscape Companies. He began his career at ValleyCrest, the business started by his father, Burt Sperber, and went on to take leadership of the company in 2001, helping expand it to more than 100 locations worldwide. In 2014, he led ValleyCrest's merger with The Brickman Group to create BrightView, which became the industry's largest landscape company.  After stepping away for a short period, he returned in 2019 to launch Sperber Landscape Companies, building the business around trust, strong local brands, and a people-first operating philosophy. In his own telling, Sperber's leadership has been shaped by a belief that lasting success comes from doing right by employees, customers, and partners, preserving company culture through growth, and creating opportunity for the next generation. Company messaging has likewise emphasized training, safety, career development, craftsmanship, and long-term stewardship as central to the Sperber identity.  Industry reporting in March 2026 said Sperber had parted ways with Sperber Landscape Companies, while also indicating he did not view that departure as retirement from the industry. Connect with Richard Sperber!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sperber-16375b6b/ Connect with Wilson360! https://wilson-360.com/ W360 Scotland Trip! https://event.wilson-360.com/wilson360-scotland-trip  

Aaron is the Co-Founder of Sterling Point Advisors, a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm focusing on guiding privately held companies through the strategic challenges of exiting their businesses. He has successfully completed 70+ transactions since founding Sterling Point in 2018. Aaron earned a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron in addition to a Master of Business Administration, summa cum laude, in Finance. He also received an executive leadership certificate from Cornell University. Aaron received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Business Management from Virginia Tech. Outside of work Aaron enjoys spending time at the lake with his family.

Eli Zevin is the General Manager of Aspire, the leading business management platform for commercial landscaping companies, operating under ServiceTitan. He leads the Aspire business and is responsible for its growth, customer success, and product direction. Eli came to Aspire after nearly a decade at ServiceTitan, where he built and led implementation teams serving contractors across the residential skilled trades, from small emerging businesses to large enterprise clients. He became known for transforming how customers get onboarded and set up for long-term success, which is a thread that runs through everything he does today. Since stepping into the GM role, Eli has focused on deepening Aspire's roots in the landscaping industry, driving meaningful product innovation, and building the kind of customer relationships that make software companies worth sticking with. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and the trades, and believes the best software companies don't just build tools, they become true business partners.

Angelique Robb, a certified landscape designer and owner of award-winning Papillon Designs and Landscaping in Scotland, UK, launched the idea for SYNKD in January 2021. Built upon Angelique's passion for the profession and helping it "raise the bar," today SYNKD media and the SYNKD Live events unite landscape professionals across architecture, construction, and horticulture to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and shape a more sustainable planet - one smart solution at a time. Angelique's mindset is one of constant growth. Initially launching SYNKD as the magazine brand Pro Landscaper and the event FutureScape USA, she is constantly evolving and crystallizing goals for the landscape industry—just as she did with her design-build company. In 2008, after qualifying as a landscape designer, she launched Papillon and built the company into a national award-winning design + build + maintain practice. Angelique graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Petroleum Engineering, and worked in the oil industry for many years in the USA and UK. She has now returned to her hometown in Lafayette, LA.

Dustin Walker is the Owner and President of Landscape St. Louis, a high-end residential landscape design, build firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. After building leadership experience outside the green industry, Dustin made the intentional leap into landscape ownership, acquiring Landscape St. Louis and stepping into the challenge of leading an established company through transition and growth. In his first year as owner, Dustin focused on learning the business from the ground up—working closely with crews, designers, and operations leaders to understand the realities of production, job costing, horticulture, and client expectations. That first year was defined by balancing respect for the company's legacy with the need to improve systems, clarify roles, and build a foundation for scalable growth. Dusty brings a disciplined, process-driven mindset to the landscape industry, with a strong emphasis on people, intentionality, and craftsmanship. What drives him most is building a company where talented professionals can do their best work and where clients feel confident trusting their homes and properties to the team.

Justin Bates Justin Bates is the CEO of Bates Landscaping, a fast-growing landscape contractor based in the Northeast that specializes in HOA and community work, snow operations, and high-end design-build projects. With a mission to be the best company to work with and for, Justin has scaled Bates from a family-run operation to a multimillion-dollar business built on strong systems, a people-first culture, and relentless focus on client experience. Beyond landscaping, he's passionate about using AI and lean processes to cut down on human error, increase efficiency, and build a business that creates long-term opportunities for both his team and his clients. Melissa Blake Melissa is the Business Developer at Bates Landscaping, where she focuses on commercial snow removal and landscape maintenance for HOAs, senior living communities, and high-end apartments. She's helped Bates earn (2) NALP Awards of Excellence, grow sales year after year, and build a standout brand in a crowded market. Melissa also teaches as an adjunct professor at Williamson Trade School, sharing her industry know-how with future landscape leaders. Known for her quick wit, fast pace, and creative approach, she's the kind of person people always remember — usually because she makes them laugh while solving their toughest problems. And she likes Dad jokes 🙂

James is the Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch, a global technology company that serves the trades and other businesses. As an industry thought leader and expert in sales, leadership and business innovation, he has extensive experience working with entrepreneurs, small businesses and Fortune 500 enterprises. James is also an entrepreneur who founded a painting and power washing company. Website: https://www.liveswitch.com/ Start your free trial: https://www.liveswitch.com/contact-signup Coupon: Use code "CLP10" for 10% off at checkout! Book a demo: https://book-a-demo.referral-factory.com/uXYAPcUO About LiveSwitch: LiveSwitch is a leading communications platform that uses instant video to transform how people work and scale their business. Home service companies trust LiveSwitch to provide virtual estimates, document job progress, and streamline operations, all in real-time.  

Scott Hutcheon is a landscape architect, entrepreneur, and technology innovator with more than 25 years in design/build construction, green infrastructure, and landscape systems engineering. After founding one of Southern California's leading design/build firms and later pioneering the AquaFelt™ living-wall system for large commercial projects, Scott went on to build ShrubHub, which became the largest online landscape-design platform in the U.S. Across these ventures, Scott developed deep expertise in automation, data organization, and scalable workflows — long before modern AI emerged. Drawing from his architectural mindset and real-world field experience, he founded HeyFlora, the AI operating system for landscape management. HeyFlora unifies decades of landscape knowledge, comprehensive data sets, and company workflows into one intelligent platform that helps crews, managers, and executives operate with clarity and confidence. Scott's mission is to modernize the $150B landscape industry by transforming fragmented operations into unified intelligence — a category he calls Artificial Grounds Intelligence™.

Will Richardson serves as the Managing Director of Father Nature Landscapes, a Birmingham-based design-build firm creating thoughtful and lasting outdoor spaces. Father Nature exists to "connect life and land", with a focus on serving clients well, developing leaders, and pursuing excellence in everything they do. Since joining the team, Will has guided the company through significant growth, while keeping its mission and culture at the center. He's passionate about building strong teams, and helping others discover their calling through the work they do each day. For Father Nature, the best is yet to come.

Joe Iafigliola is President of Process-Smart, a business process outsourcing firm dedicated to helping landscaping companies operate more efficiently and profitably. Process-Smart manages critical back-office and operational functions such as estimating, payroll, invoicing, customer service and CRM management, allowing landscapers to focus on revenue growth, client satisfaction and team development. Under Joe's leadership, Process-Smart has become a trusted partner in the green industry by combining trained offshore talent with in-house subject matter experts and centers of excellence. The company's deep expertise with platforms like Aspire and LMN ensures seamless integration into existing workflows and delivers measurable improvements in speed, cost efficiency and service quality. With more than twenty years of experience in finance, operations and process optimization, Joe is committed to helping landscaping businesses scale profitably through disciplined processes, data-driven decision-making and talent development. His guidance enables Process-Smart to provide solutions that empower landscape business owners to concentrate on growth and build resilient, future-ready organizations.

Clay Martin is the founder of Isla Talent and former owner of MRC, two firms focused on connecting U.S. companies with skilled talent from Puerto Rico. He consults on how to recruit from Puerto Rico. His journey began with four years in the Peace Corps, living among Indigenous communities in Latin America, an experience that shaped not just his personality and crave for adventure and connecting with people, but also his passion for ethical recruiting and cross-cultural workforce solutions.

Travis Luther is a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and business coach who has built and sold multiple successful companies across industries ranging from legal technology to consumer products. He is the founder of MOSO Pillow, a performance sleep brand featured in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and the former owner of Queen Anne Pillow and TrialLine. Over the past two decades, Travis has led teams in marketing, brand strategy, and product development, helping businesses scale through a mix of creative storytelling and data-driven growth. He also served as President of Entrepreneurs' Organization Colorado and remains a trusted voice in the entrepreneurial community. Today, Travis shares the hard-won lessons of his journey with audiences worldwide, blending insights from his research in sociology with practical tools for business and personal growth. Through his writing, keynote talks, and coaching, he helps leaders confront limiting beliefs, build resilient companies, and create more meaningful lives. Listeners can learn more about his work, books, and coaching programs at travisluther.com.

J. T. Price is the CEO of Landscape Workshop, one of the leading commercial landscape maintenance firms in the Southern United States. Since taking the helm in 2014, J. T. has led the company through explosive growth—driving a 65X increase in equity value and growing the team to nearly 2,000 employees. With a background that includes time at McKinsey & Company, roles in private equity, and extensive operational leadership, J. T. brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and practical execution. He's deeply committed to making Landscape Workshop the premier destination in the Green Industry for high performers, while delivering consistent, professional service to clients. J. T. holds degrees from the University of Richmond and Harvard Law School, and currently serves on several boards, including the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (as Chair), and the Altamont School. He lives in Alabama with his wife, their two children (ages 13 and 11), and their dogs, Chewie and Oreo.  

Ed Jensen has dedicated more than 44 years to the landscape industry, building a career that spans hands-on fieldwork, high-level management, and nationwide consulting. He began as a landscape contractor, later moving into a management role with a real estate company before joining OLM, Inc., where he has spent over 36 years. At OLM, Ed has played a vital role in developing comprehensive landscape maintenance specifications, overseeing the competitive bidding process for landscape contracts, and conducting monthly quality-control site inspections. His expertise extends across diverse regions—including the South, Mid-Atlantic, and Western United States—giving him a deep understanding of regional variations in landscape management and maintenance practices. Throughout his career, Ed has combined technical knowledge and practical experience to help clients achieve and maintain high-quality landscape environments.