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John Munie is a highly accomplished and experienced leader who has been the President of Focal Pointe since its founding over 25 years ago. He has a unique ability to create lasting relationships with clients, employees, and vendors, and his commitment to building trust and loyalty has earned him a reputation as a highly respected and admired leader in the landscape industry.

Established in 1998, Focal Pointe is a distinguished landscape design, installation, and maintenance company that caters to commercial properties in the St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and Springfield/Branson regions. The company's clientele comprises prominent entities in the entertainment, healthcare, retail, education, corporate office, and industrial sectors. In 2022, Focal Pointe was recognized as the 116th largest landscape company in the United States by Landscape Management magazine. The company has also received multiple Top Workplace awards by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and is often on the list of Fastest Growing Companies by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Before founding Focal Pointe, John spent years working in family businesses and was fascinated by how brands connect and identify with their customers. He believed an emotional connection with customers, which can be especially powerful when supported by beautiful landscaping, was largely overlooked throughout the industry. As a result, he built the company’s foundation on a “people first” culture, creating a uniquely warm client experience and lasting relationships.

John's leadership skills extend beyond relationships, as he possesses a deep understanding of all facets of business operations. In addition to his role at Focal Pointe, John has served on the boards of multiple startup companies and nonprofit organizations, including as a charter Board Member of Aspire Software, a Service Titan Company. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Illinois State University and is an avid reader, believing in lifelong learning.

In addition to raising their four children, John and his wife Molly founded the Focal Pointe Family Foundation, which is committed to bringing hope to families navigating a traumatic life event. In his free time, John enjoys spending time outdoors, writing, and making memories with family and friends.

Frank Mariani – Founder and Executive Chairman, Mariani Premier Group

In 1973 Frank Mariani became President of Mariani Landscape at 19 years old following the tragic passing of his father, Vito Mariani, Sr. who had founded the company in 1958.  Under Frank’s leadership, what began as a small residential landscape firm working primarily in Lake Forest and Highland Park has grown into an 800+ employee company that specializes in high-end residential landscape design, construction, and maintenance across the area of Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, and beyond. Under Frank’s leadership, the company has received numerous awards for excellence in all aspects of landscaping.  Now, Frank is leading the creation of the country’s first national, premium residential landscaping platform.  Over the past 3 years, Frank has built the Mariani Premier Group into a family of well over a dozen of the nation’s finest landscaping firms with operations across the country.

Frank has served on the Board of Directors for NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals).  He is also a past President of the NALP Foundation board.  Frank serves on the board of several local businesses and charities. He is a Past President of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association and was honored as Man of the Year in 1994. He has also served as President and Board Member of the Mid-America Horticultural Trade Show for over 10 years.  Frank was a member of the Chicago Chapter of Young Presidents Organization and is currently a member of the World President Organization. In 2009 he was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

Matt Lavin is the CEO of BomData. He started as a Software Engineer, and his interests quickly turned toward developing whole products to solve interesting problems. Over the last couple of years, he's been working closely with Daniel at Greenscape to help landscape companies analyze their labor data. By bringing his engineering mind and his outsider view to the landscape industry, he has been able to build BomData into an innovative solution. His vision for BomData's future goes way beyond  simply visualizing data and aims to dramatically improve the efficiency of landscape businesses.

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Daniel Currin is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and prominent member of the Raleigh, NC community. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Finance and Economics from James Madison University in 2002, and has since dedicated his career to building successful businesses and contributing to the growth and development of the local community.
Currin is the CEO of Greenscape Inc., a leading commercial landscaping services company founded in 1979. Under his leadership, Greenscape has grown into a regional business with over 200 team members offering a wide range of landscape and property services to all segments of the commercial real estate industry. Currin's dedication to sustainability and exceptional work has led Greenscape to win numerous awards.

In addition to his role as CEO of Greenscape, Currin has served as the past president of the Raleigh Durham chapter of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and the North Carolina Green Industry Council. Through these positions, he has been a vocal advocate for entrepreneurship and sustainable business practices, working to build strong networks and foster collaboration between businesses in the local community.

Currin is highly regarded for his vision, passion, and commitment to excellence in his work. He leads Greenscape with a focus on providing exceptional service and quality to his clients, while also ensuring a commitment to sustainability. He has built a strong team that shares his values and dedication to customer service. With his leadership and contributions to the community, Currin has established himself as a respected business leader and a driving force for positive change in the Raleigh-Durham area.

Jeff and his team have been praised by The New York Times, Forbes, and the Huffington Post for their work in landscaping at Ole Miss as well as Jeff’s book, Growing Weeders into Leaders, that reveals the secret sauce in the recipe for their success. The PGMS, Newsweek, the Princeton Review, and USA Today all designated the Ole Miss Landscape team worthy of national distinction, naming the Ole Miss campus as the nation’s most beautiful. As noted by Dan Cathy, Chairman of Board for Chick-fil-A, “Jeff reminds us that all leaders can be cultivated with the right pruning and nurturing.”

As the Director of Landscape, Airport and Golf Services at the University of Mississippi by day, a member of the National Speakers Association by night, Jeff has worked with hundreds of leaders and organizations to find the hidden leader within themselves and others. His easy-tofollow Leadership programs motivate participants to lead by example, problem solve and to engage in continuous learning and growing.

Jeff graduated from Auburn University in Horticulture, he is a Professional Certified Grounds Manager, and a Certified Arborist. Jeff knows that great leaders grow great leaders, and as a professional speaker and a member of the National Speaker Association, his message focuses on enriching, entertaining, and inspiring industry leaders looking to grow their team’s performance.

Brothers Kurt and Matt Bland grew up in an entrepreneurial household as the children of Tom and Nancy Bland in Apex, North Carolina. As founders of Bland Landscaping Company (ca. 1976), at an early age Tom and Nancy exposed Kurt and Matt to the successes and the challenges of running a family business. As young men, the boys worked in every aspect of the homegrown business from field work to estimating and financial planning. Through the late 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2000’s industry icons like Frank Ross, Kevin Kehoe, and Bruce Wilson were regular consultants for the Bland family. Exposure to these industry influencers afforded both Kurt and Matt the opportunity to explore new and forward-thinking ideas about the landscaping industry, at a time when industry maturity and consolidation was still spoken about in a future tense.

The Bland family had an agreement that both siblings needed to gain managerial experience following college before returning to the family business, affording them the chance to learn and make a conscious decision to join the company if they chose to. Following his studies in Horticulture and Ag Business Management at North Carolina State University, Kurt moved to Fremont California and worked in management for Del Conte’s Landscaping. Meanwhile, Matt studied Economics, Finance, and Accounting at North Carolina State University before going to work for IBM as a Financial Analyst. The two brothers worked briefly with their parents before Nancy became terminally ill and Tom retired in 2005.

In 2012, the brothers set out on an intentional course they’d plotted as college roommates, with a goal of growing the family’s legacy company into the leading provider of commercial landscaping services in The Carolinas. Their professional journey has taken countless unexpected twists and turns that provide a multitude of stories of their experiences leading this nearly 48-year-old business. What started as a part time endeavor from their parents’ kitchen table is now the country’s 52^nd largest landscaping firm. As partners, the two successfully lead the executive team that is responsible for leading a team of more than 600 commercial landscaping professionals from nine locations around North Carolina. Since recapitalizing with Prospect Partners in 2017, they’ve gained significant experience in Mergers & Acquisitions, including successfully integrating four of North Carolina’s leading commercial landscaping companies into the platform they have built.

Kurt lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife and their Labrador Retrievers. Matt lives in Cary, NC with his wife, their two daughters, a cat, and an Australian Labradoodle. Both brothers have a passion for the outdoors and a lifelong love of boating and water related activities.

Douglass Delano is the Managing Partner at Level Green Landscape, a DC based Commercial Landscape Management Company. Doug graduated from college with a degree in Philosophy and taught High School Math and coached football for several years prior to becoming a landscaper. He has been involved in the landscape industry for 37 years, starting as a crewman doing installation and working his way up the ladder to run a Branch for Ruppert Landscape and then TruGreen when Ruppert sold. He left TruGreen and started Level Green Landscape in 2003. He is a MNLA Certified Professional Horticulturalist and a NALP Certified Manager and Technician.

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Bill Hardy is a Partner at Level Green Landscaping, A DC based Commerical Landscape Management Company. He started his Landscaping career in 1983 with Ruppert landscape after attending University of MD majoring in Engineering. Bill quickly moved up the ranks from crewman to area manager in his first year with Ruppert. He continued his advancement to Branch manager with Ruppert then another 5 years with TruGreen when Ruppert sold in 1998

In 2003 he partnered with Doug Delano and together they grew the company to its present size in the greater Maryland /Virgina/Dc area. He is a NALP Certifed Manager

Bryan is a motivated, personable business professional with a forty-year track record of successful business operations and ownership. Highly educated, recognized member of Beta Gamma Sigma! Talent for quickly mastering technology, exceptional focus on innovation and growth strategies, ability to focus and develop corporate goals to achieve company Vision. Bryan has spent over 45 years in the Landscape Industry with a focus in the last 20 years on Technology and the Integration of Business process with that technology.

Paige Tisdale is the Business Developer for Dennis' 7 Dees. With a passion for Biophilic Design, Paige brings creativity and expertise to her role. She combines her deep knowledge of plants with a commitment to sustainability, creating visually stunning and environmentally responsible Interiorscapes. She works closely with Architects and Designers to create spaces the enhance wellness and function. Paige's designs have earned recognition and praise, and she continues to elevate the standard of design through her innovative work. She is also a Registered Trainer with Green Plants for Green Buildings and aims to educate others on the benefits of greenery in our built environment.

Timothy Wingate Jr. is the founder and president of G+F Business & Financial Consulting. He is a licensed Enrolled Agent and construction accountant. In May 2016, he founded G+F, recognizing the need for specialized accounting and tax services for construction companies.

Many construction businesses struggle to bridge the communication gap between their work in the field and their back office. With first-hand knowledge of the construction industry and a deep understanding of taxes and finances, Timothy provides tools, advice and financial guidance to his clients so they better understand their finances and improve their cash flow. 

Timothy is a QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor and was a member of the Intuit Tax Council from 2019 to 2022. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of South Florida. He is also a member of the Construction Financial Management Association.

Timothy worked for many years with his father, a licensed general contractor since 1984, giving him plenty of first-hand knowledge of the construction industry. 

Timothy lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife and three sons. There he also served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer for a long-standing nonprofit.

Meet Arnaldo "Tito" Caceres, a seasoned sales leader, recruiter, and the driving force behind Bloom Partners Talent Solutions. With over a decade of experience, Tito has consistently helped clients attainbusiness success by identifying and implementing effective strategies that increase customer satisfaction and revenue. His genuine relationships with clients are a testament to his commitment and dedication.

As a specialist in the Green Industry, Tito uses his operational and management background to connect the right talent with the right roles seamlessly. He stays on top of industry trends and innovations, employing his wealth of expertise to provide bespoke solutions to clients. Tito excels in executive recruiting and consulting, with a particular emphasis on enhancing customer satisfaction. He implements scalable business systems to address clients' evolving needs and is adept at facilitating custom solutions that work best for them.

Tito's unique ability to connect with people, understand their motivations, and foster enduring relationships ensures a perfect fit for all parties involved. The creation of Bloom Partners Talent Solutions came as a natural progression for Tito, driven by his deep-seated passion for the industry and an unwavering belief in the power of relationships. Tito's values, work ethic, and unrelenting drive to form meaningful connections set him and Bloom Partners Talent Solutions apart in the recruitment landscape. Join us as we continue to build something remarkable with Bloom Partners Talent Solutions.

Byron is an accomplished entrepreneur, advisor, and speaker who has made a significant impact in the world of business. With his expertise in guiding entrepreneurs on selling a business to management and maximizing the value of their enterprises, he has become a trusted source for strategic advice and practical solutions.

Throughout his career, Byron has helped entrepreneurs unlock the full potential of their businesses and navigate the intricate process of selling to management. With his invaluable insights and proven methodologies, he has enabled entrepreneurs to not only secure lucrative deals but also ensure that they get paid fairly for their hard work and dedication. Byron's ability to simplify complex concepts and provide direct, plain-spoken guidance has earned him a reputation for being a true expert in his field.

Byron's impact goes beyond individual businesses. As a member of the prestigious Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) and a former board member for the Nebraska chapter, he has actively contributed to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial community. Byron's dedication to sharing his knowledge and empowering others has led him to be a sought-after speaker at conferences for business owners. Through his engaging presentations, he has inspired countless entrepreneurs to aim higher and achieve
their business goals.

Born into a small business family, Byron developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by business owners from an early age. Growing up in the environment of his parents' small construction company, he witnessed firsthand the trials and tribulations that come with running a business. This experience instilled in him a strong sense of empathy and a genuine desire to help entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and achieve success.

Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Byron served in the United States Marine Corps, where he honed his discipline, leadership skills, and unwavering commitment to excellence. These qualities have become integral to his approach as a business advisor, allowing him to provide steadfast support to his clients.

When he's not immersed in the world of business, you can find Byron indulging in his passions for fly fishing and motorcycle riding. Standing in cool, clear mountain streams, casting a fly to rising trout, or cruising along two-lane highways on his antique road king, Byron finds solace and inspiration in the great outdoors.

As the Founder and Managing Member of The McFarland Group, a renowned business advisory firm specializing in management buyouts and equity compensation, Byron continues to make a profound impact in the entrepreneurial landscape. Having guided over a billion dollars in business value, his expertise and track record speak volumes about his ability to drive tangible results.
With his wealth of experience, dedication to simplifying complexities, and passion for empowering entrepreneurs, Byron McFarland is a true authority in the realm of selling businesses to management and leveraging business value to win the war for talent. 

Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Brian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Horticulture from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. His career includes core competencies across industry segments and operations, including wholesale nursery and botanical garden management, design-build, residential and commercial landscape services, and senior management. In his new role, Brian will support Wilson clients as a productivity advisor and training consultant, specializing in performance improvements, and work flow and value stream mapping.

Specializing in the construction industry, Frank Ross is one of the country's most highly regarded consultants. His in-depth work on several national industry financial studies along with years of hands-on experience with hundreds of the most successful companies in the country gives him unparalleled knowledge of what construction industry firms do to become profitable and what steps they must take to make money.

Actively serving on several Boards of Directors in the construction and financial communities, he is widely respected as an astute construction economist and financial consultant ,and is nationally known for his innovative techniques in the areas of strategic planning, job pricing and cash flow management.

An engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, Frank has performed postgraduate study in the fields of tax law, psychology and applied mathematics. Certified by the Institute of Management Consultants, chosen for membership in the ANLA Hall of Fame, and recognized for his many contributions in WHO's WHO IN AMENCA, he began his consulting work in the mid-sixties and, in the early seventies, was named President of the Chicago-based firm of Ross-Payne & Associates, Inc.
Frank's considerable knowledge of how to adapt proven management techniques to the peculiarities of the construction industry coupled with his energized delivery make him higHy sought after as a speaker. In addition to his consulting and speaking engagements, Frank is frequently featured in industry publications concerning pertinent topics dealing with the management of construction companies in today's competitive marketplace.

Frank, his wife, Barb and family split their time between Chicago and Sarasota, Florida. He enjoys golf, skeet shooting international travel, fine wines and great food.

Mark heads up our Landscape sector at Rainbow Ecoscience. He has over 39 years of green industry experience. He’s worked with Chapel Valley as the Process Improvement Manager. He also worked with Brickman/Brightview for over 30 years in various roles including National Account Manager, Branch Manager, and Tree Manager. Mark is dedicated to providing training, technical support, client service, and education to Landscape professionals across the country. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Environmental Conservation.  Mark serves on our ESOP Board of Directors.

Though he grew up around the industry—his father and uncle started R.M. Landscape, a western New York landscape company—Brett Lemcke says he was never pushed into it. But he loved it. After earning a horticulture degree at the State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill—and completing an internship at Gachina Landscape Management in California—Lemcke returned to the family business, of which he is now CEO.

Lemcke and his wife, Denise, have three kids: 5-year-old Anna and 2-year-old twins Brooks and Tessa.

Joel is President of Fine Earth Landscape located in Poolesville MD.  Fine Earth performs high end design build work and maintenance in the residential market in the Washington DC metro area.  He is a landscape industry certified technician and manager and is a certified professional horticulturalist.  Joel is a veteran serving in the Army Honor Guard, has served as President of the Landscape Contractor’s Association of MD/VA/DC and chaired the International Certification Council for NALP.  He and his wife, Irene, have 4 children: JC, Jacob, Brandon, and Lauren.

Mark Bradley co-founded LMN in 2009 based on his company’s need for landscape software that didn’t exist. Now the industry’s best business management software, he credits LMN as a catalyst for helping him scale TBG Landscape from backyard business into one of the Top 100 landscape contractors in North America. Since his first lawn care customer in 1999, Mark has been passionate about educating the industry on best practices for building better businesses.

Now a sought-after speaker and business coach, he regularly shares his insight at events including GIE+Expo, Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), and Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, to name a few. Having recently completed the transition from landscape business owner to tech entrepreneur, Mark is committed to transforming talented landscape professionals into better business owners through industry-leading software and learning opportunities.

Lex Mason, President of Weathermatic, led Weathermatic to become the world leader in Landscape Irrigation connected devices. Ten years ago, Mason came into the family business primarily focused at the time on plastic injection molding and transitioned the company into the Connected Devices and Software space. SmartLink and its suite of professional services was built to automate manual irrigation tasks, so landscape companies can grow billable hours. Mason is married to his High School sweetheart Cassie, #GirlDad to 3 amazing daughters, a car enthusiast, and obsessive entrepreneur.

Connect with Lex Mason on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexmason 

Chase Mullin leads Mullin’s executive team, focusing on strategy, vision, and alignment, as the CEO. After founding the company in 2007, Chase has experience in most every position in the company.

Learning the business from the “ground up” has proven to be invaluable to Chase, and he often utilizes his experience in the field and middle management roles to empathize with Mullin’s team members and to truly serve the team. Chase’s vision for growth, not just for the company but also for the people within it, has proven to be one of the keys to Mullin’s continued success.

As founder and CEO of Aspire Software, Mark Tipton leads one of the top business management SaaS platforms. Aspire Software has earned consistent recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America with inclusion on the Inc. 5000, Deloitte Technology’s Fast 500, and the St. Louis Business Journal Fast 50 lists. Since co-founding Aspire Software in 2013, Mark has assembled a best-in-class team of experts to develop, build, and scale the Aspire platform into a truly end-to-end enterprise system that leverages software, services, and education to transform the way lawn care and landscape companies manage their businesses. In January 2021, Mark led the acquisition of scheduling software application Crew Control, which extends the company's reach to green-industry businesses of all sizes. Mark is a service-oriented and open leader focused on driving rapid growth while cultivating a positive, engaged company culture that enables high-performing teams to develop key capabilities, execute value-driven solutions, and deliver exceptional user experiences