Backstory: Rudy Larsen

Rudy Larsen

Owner, Lawn Butler
Salt Lake City, Utah

Education

Woods Cross High School
Woods Cross, Utah
Class of 2006

Work Experience

Staffer
Marshall Radio Telemetry
Salt Lake City, Utah
2004-2005

President
Lawn Butler
Salt Lake City, Utah
2006-2010

“I didn’t go to college. A lot of students ask me if they should just drop their college courses and start their own businesses. I told them it doesn’t matter if you learn it in school or in the world of hard knocks. It’s going to cost you. The difference is you’re paying to have someone educate you. I had to pay through losses and failures. The first couple years we weren’t profitable, and they weren’t good years.”

Owner
Lawn Butler of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
2006-present

“My passion is really in business. I’m happier with what I do now, but one thing I miss is interfacing with our customers.”

CEO
Scandia
Salt Lake City, Utah
2011-Present

Larsen calls Scandia an “investment group.” Its 10-company portfolio includes Lawn Butler; Smart Rain, a water technology company; and Rubicon, a general contracting firm.

Board of Directors
Building Owners and Managers Association of Utah
2013-Present

Did you know?

Photo: Rudy Larsen

Watch a video about Larsen being named the National Association of Landscape Professionals’ 2016 Young Entrepreneur of the Year, here.

“Our industry is very large, and there’s a lot of talent out there. So I was really flattered and humbled that I was selected for that honor.”

Photo: Rudy Larsen

Larsen and his wife, Jena, have two sons, ages 5 and 2. His 5 year old often accompanies him on business trips; he’s been to Florida, Idaho, Philadelphia, San Diego, Los Angeles and Hawaii—just to name a few.

Words of Wisdom

“Gandhi said: ‘Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.’ When things don’t go your way, you can say, ‘I’m done. This isn’t for me,’ or you can work to improve your situation, which is where strength comes from.”

“If you love landscaping don’t start your own business because you will be so far away from the landscaping side. Obviously if you want to run a couple crews, you can be very submerged in landscaping, but you’re still going to spend a third of your time doing the business side of it. If you have this dream to be an amazing landscaper, go work for a great organization and be a great landscaper.”

 “Systems and processes are absolutely critical to a growing, successful organization. You’ve got to have a good system for estimating and quantifying the production of those jobs. If you don’t, you’re not going to be successful, and you’re not going to make money.”