Kelly Finnell, president of Executive Financial Services, an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) consulting firm, has centered his entire career on ESOPs and succession strategies. With more than 25 years of experience, Finnell has implemented the plan in small- to mid-size businesses nationwide, including setting up one for Michael Hatcher, president of Michael Hatcher & Associates, who is featured in... read more
Retired senior vice president of government affairs and industry relations for TruGreen Who’s your mentor? A guy by the name of Charlie Hromada. He was a senior vice president at Terminix. He passed away about 6 years ago. When he retired, I took over his responsibilities in 1997. He was an entomologist and I learned from him a great deal.... read more
A decade ago Chris Lee went out on a limb when he decided to bring all tree services in-house for EarthWorks, located in Lillian, Texas. Now, garnering $75,000 in annual revenue from the add-on, the president of the $13 million company has no further reservations. Plus, the stump grinding facet of the service is one of EarthWorks’ most-desired services. Clients value... read more
Brian Marcus started his career as a biology teacher. So it’s no surprise the owner of Morning Glory Lawncare & Design in Holbrook, N.Y., considers educating clients one of the most important parts of business, an approach that has helped the company expand from eight clients to nearly 150 in just three seasons—which also may account for its $100,000 in... read more
Relationship building: The driving force behind Michael Lancaster’s success as a businessman in the Green Industry. “Everybody can mow grass,” says Michael Lancaster, president of Florida Landscape Consultants (FLC). That’s why he stresses the importance of building relationships. Lancaster, 54, has worked as a sales representative, business owner and consultant for nearly 30 years in the Green Industry. During that... read more
A Texas irrigation company makes water conservation its top priority. The drought that hit Texas in 2006 was a wake-up call for Patty Sipe, co-owner of Heads Up Sprinkler Co. in Plano. It was time to look at some aspects of her irrigation business differently. That drought and the ones that have ensued almost every year since have been catalysts... read more
