Toolbox for the Trades

Success in landscaping isn't just about keeping grass green and hedges trimmed—it's about understanding the business behind the beauty. Yocelin Reynoso-Prado discovered this truth when she transitioned from medical billing to branch management at SouthWest Landscape . Her financial background became an unexpected asset in an industry where operational due diligence often takes a backseat to aesthetics. The landscaping industry has traditionally operated on reactive maintenance models. Property managers call when problems arise, contractors respond, and the cycle repeats. Reynoso-Prado flipped this approach entirely. Her strategy centers on transparent communication and partnership thinking. Instead of waiting for issues to surface, she proactively engages clients with data-driven insights and preventive solutions. This shift from vendor to partner mentality has transformed how SouthWest Landscape operates in the competitive Los Angeles market. Clients receive regular updates, detailed reporting, and strategic recommendations that extend far beyond basic maintenance schedules. The results speak volumes. As a 2025 Lawn & Landscape Employee of the Year finalist, Reynoso-Prado represents a new generation of landscape professionals who understand that sustainable growth requires both horticultural expertise and business acumen. Her journey with artificial intelligence (AI) mirrors her overall approach to innovation. Initial skepticism gave way to strategic implementation when she recognized AI's potential as a "teammate" for reporting and sales analysis. For women entering leadership roles in landscaping, Reynoso-Prado offers straightforward advice about claiming authority while leading with compassion. The trades industry is evolving, and diverse perspectives are driving meaningful change. [3:08] What separates great landscaping leaders from the rest of the field [7:29] How Southwest is using AI in their day-to-day workflows [12:22] Why transparent communication is the key to long-term success [16:20] Advice to women seeking leadership roles in the landscaping industry Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Lawn & Landscape 2025 Employee of the Year Winners Yocelin's Employee of the Year Article You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here .

Exploring what it takes to grow a company without chaos is one of the primary tasks Aspire Software Senior Director of Client Success Travis Wills carries out on a daily basis. Employee #19 at Aspire, he’s seen firsthand how systems, mindset and people share success. Wills says: keeping it simple is the fastest path to scaling; change management matters more than software features; and shedding emotional attachment to old processes can hasten growth. Wills also believes Aspire has a higher calling than dealing with technology. “We don't just provide software,” he says. “We aim to uplift the entire landscaping industry.” Landscaping can be complex, Wills says. “But if we keep track of the big things, the rest of the details come together,” he says. Wills has seen how Aspire can assist both smaller and bigger businesses. Newer businesses need to figure out the lay of the land, he notes. “Aspire allows small business owners to see what is going on, keep control over the business, and empower their teams to be successful,” Wills says. Some bigger or more established businesses may already be using technology but may not have kept up with changes, or need to train team members on the nuances of the platform. “We can give these owners the tools their teams need,” he says. And the personal bonus that can exist for bosses? “We can give an owner their life back,” Wills says. Travis Wills recently joined ServiceTitan’s Jackie Aubel on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Wills’ thoughts on: [2:55] Steady growth from 25 to 84 employees [6:44] Adding a service division [8:43] Applying leadership lessons from social work and understanding your team’s real-life struggles [26:24] Building trust with your customers and working alongside family [28:55] The “why” behind each employee Additional Resources Sign up for Aspire to Greatness here ! Toolbox for the Trades with Tiffany Martin Peters You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , on Spotify , or here .

Taylor Anderson has a passion for learning. The Systems Development and Growth Manager at Sunline Landscapes used her curiosity about the industry to transform her career and an entire organization. In stepping into a new leadership role, Anderson refined processes across departments and gained support from the top. Along the way, she exemplified how patience is the real secret behind meaningful change. “When I'm asking one of my project managers in the field to do something, I know what I'm asking because I know what it's like to be on a job,” Anderson says. That’s where the curiosity paid off, too. She took the time to understand how all the roles in the company work together. “I get to help make people efficient and not be as frustrated with a software system,” Anderson adds. A huge part of getting everybody on the same page is using technology to become a cohesive unit. “If your goal is to be better as a team, your data goals will be met,” Anderson says. She says a key part of making a dream team a reality is to occasionally dive in with both feet into a process you may not be familiar with. “You never know what you’re gonna love,” Anderson says. “So be okay with loving something else – something that you may not have thought you would’ve loved before [you tried it].” It’s hard to go wrong with an open mind and an open heart, she says. Taylor Anderson recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Anderson’s thoughts on: [6:49] How to identify an Aspire super-user inside your company [11:43] Why using Aspire data improves outcomes across departments [15:21] Getting buy-in from leadership [17:53] The cornerstone of a strong SOP and Aspire in the classroom [18:29] Developing your own role in the company Additional Resources Aspire To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to “Toolbox for the Trades” on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

K&D Landscaping CEO Justin White, who’s also the host of the Trades Talk podcast, says it’s clear that in 2026 trade industry companies will have to raise their bar or risk getting left behind. “If we keep doing the same things that made us successful in the past, it doesn't guarantee success in the future with such a changing market,” White says. “Technology is playing more and more of a pivotal factor around your ability to grow and your ability to grow profitably in 2026 and beyond.” White’s company found itself falling back on its laurels not long ago. The result was a client retention slump. He and the team regrouped, and client retention soared back up to 96%. “For every single person that calls our company, our goal is to change their day for the better,” he says. White examined the three primary reasons a customer leaves: 1. Lack of communication. 2. Quality of workmanship. 3. Price increases. Communication and prices go hand in hand, White says. If you’re going to raise prices, let clients know when and why it’s going to happen. As for quality of workmanship, he says when you hire new employees they need to be trained on company standards. Standards can never be lowered, rather, quality needs to increase for a business to stay competitive. White dives into the Commercial Landscaping Industry Report to focus on next year’s important issues, including client retention battles, pricing pressures, the tech surge sweeping the industry and the power of experimentation. White’s highly focused on experimentation and believes that’s how you raise the bar. “All companies should be [run] in a way where your business is the type of business that everyone wants to buy and you never want to sell,” he says. Justin White recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included White’s thoughts on: [2:45] Always experimenting [7:52] The three biggest reasons clients leave their landscaping partners [17:27] The biggest hiring mistake White made…twice [30:46] Why technology is a competitive edge, but only if you use it right [43:01] The 30-minute exercise that sparks innovation Additional Resources Trades Talk podcast Aspire Elevate Fans First by Jesse Cole To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

As a kid, Tim Johnson realized he had to mix his passion for playing baseball with time spent earning money for things he wanted to buy. He did spend a brief period of time playing in the minors, in the Colorado Rockies organization, but really scored when he became president of Tim Johnson Landscaping . Johnson’s childhood mowing operation was the basis for that company. Johnson and his father created a period of rapid growth and expansion right from the start of the business. However, he decided the growth was unsustainable. He decided to pump the brakes for two years and do a proper restructuring of the company. “[Your] budget has to be realistic,” Johnson says. “The budget can't be a dream. It has to be something you can hold your team accountable to. In turn, if [it’s] going to be realistic, you have to build the org chart for the team that you want, not the team that you have.” To accomplish that, Johnson stepped up his game as a leader. “A leader serves,” he says. “A leader facilitates. A leader teaches. A leader works side by side with their team. They make people better. They don't just take that position of authority and say, ‘Do this because I said so.’” Pumping the brakes and becoming a strong leader paid off. Tim Johnson Landscaping shifted from “order taking” to having a more tactical sales focus. He largely credits leveraging technology for the business success. “The technology allows us to scale and to build without having to add the headcount that doesn't produce revenue,” Johnson says. “We [have] the same number of office staff at $9-plus million that we had when we went to Aspire at $4.5 to $5 million.” That’s called stepping up to the plate and delivering a home run. Tim Johnson recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Johnson’s thoughts on: [5:11] When Tim realized he needed a proper org chart for sustainable growth [10:23] Rebuilding momentum after a two-year pause in rapid growth to implement scalable systems [17:30] Leveraging tools like Aspire to build frameworks for problem-solving and data visibility [20:54] Shifting from order taking to a tactical sales focus [35:37] Reinforcing team morale Additional Resources Aspire Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to “Toolbox for the Trades” on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

Tom Heaviland was part of a family-owned landscaping business in Southern California for 35 years before he realized it was time to sell the company his dad had started. Heaviland Landscape Management was acquired by BrightView Landscape and today Heaviland is CEO of Verde Property Services . He identifies other commercial maintenance contractors, similar to him, who are looking for an exit. Since he’s been on both sides of the mergers-and-acquisitions table, Heaviland has the best perspective on how to enter into a deal. “Don't try to sell your business by yourself,” he says. “It is a huge lift. Make sure you've got some good support through the process.” Also, be prepared to be flexible. “After you sell your business, you’re not calling the shots,” Heaviland says. “That can be a hard adjustment.” He stresses that being transparent throughout the process will help make the transaction go smoothly. “If you've got anything that the buyer needs to know, share it up front and share it quickly,” Heaviland says. “Trust is very important.” His final two pieces of advice apply to any business owner looking to sell or not. “If you're not leveraging technology to run your operations and improve your business, you're going to get left behind and you're going to lose value on your company,” Heaviland says. And finally: “ Focus on your people and culture first. If you do that, everything else will fall into place.” Tom Heaviland recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Heaviland’s thoughts on: [6:06] The differences between public and private equity acquisitions [10:40] What buyers look for in a thriving business and common misconceptions [17:52] Managing the emotions that come with selling [18:56] The role of technology in valuation and operations [33:09] Focusing on people and culture first Additional Resources BrightView Aspire Boss LMN Elevate 2025 Lawn & Landscape Technology Conference 2026 To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

Balancing cutting-edge technology while being mindful of high-touch service for clients was the key to Stephens Landscaping Professionals becoming a $22-million-dollar business after starting up as a high school project by two brothers. The tech side includes data-driven job costing, custom trucks and GPS-guided excavators. “Don't be scared of [data],” says Stephens Landscaping Professionals COO Mark Stephens. “Once [your business reaches] a certain size, you have to be very cautious of going with your gut for decisions. Trust the data.” Stephens says structures and systems ensure every client gets a personal connection, and that growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of relationships. “Our goal is to provide [our clients] with a high level of service that takes the least amount of their time to manage us,” he says. Stephens believes it's important to listen to feedback – from clients and from staff. “We're very frontline focused,” he says. “We want to support our staff, we want them to be heard. If they give feedback, we act on it.” When it comes to being successful, Stephens has two overlapping philosophies: “Don't be afraid to fail. I have failed many times. I have made many mistakes. But one thing I will say is: learn from your mistakes.” “Success doesn't come without grit. Put your head down and fight through the hard times.” Those are business principles you might learn in college. Or, as is the case for Stephens and so many other home-services business owners and thought leaders, they’re lessons you might teach yourself right out of high school. Mark Stephens recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Stephens’ thoughts on: [6:14] Why 99% of business decisions should be data-driven [10:44] How to attract talent through technology and innovation [17:33] Getting employees excited about tech [23:56] The toughest challenge: how to scale without losing your DNA [27:37] Client experience being your top concern Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Aspire Trimble To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

It’s an exciting time to be on the technological front lines of the landscaping industry. The Aspire platform, as well as the landscapers who depend on it, are leveling up like never before. Aspire General Manager Eli Levin is pleased to report landscaping is such a growth industry. He says Aspire is growing to meet the moment with plans to scale smarter, serve better and bring cutting-edge technology into the fields. It’s an honor for Levin to work with both multi-million-dollar operations and bootstrapping up-and-comers in the field. “Aspire is thoroughly invested in the success of all landscape contractors,” Zevin says. “A lot of the businesses that are growing fastest in the landscaping industry are on Aspire.” It’s a win-win situation for both Aspire and its customer base, he says. Both the platform and the companies that use Aspire are in the process of scaling. “We’re continuing to evolve,” Zevin says. “Just as our [customers] are ready for that scale and growth in the industry, we need to make sure we’re able to match them and support them all the time.” He points with pride to the great work that his success team and his CSMs have been accomplishing with customers of all sizes, who might call at all hours of the day. The aspect that makes the job both challenging and rewarding: things like omnipresent AI technology. Zevin says a basic key to working with new tech is keeping yourself from being overwhelmed. “Take a couple of deep breaths before you start,” he says. “It helps calm you down. If you’ve got a lot of chaotic things coming at you and a situation you're trying to manage through, you have to breathe through it.” After that, your preparation will kick in, Zevin says. Eli Zevin recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Zevin’s thoughts on: [4:42] Aspire’s goals for industry-wide growth and scalability [8:31] Scaling efforts [12:17] Advice for businesses nervous about making the switch [16:22] How Eli’s experience as a camp director influenced his leadership style [23:27] Hiring practices for landscaping business owners To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to Toolbox for the Trades on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.

A former semi-pro rugby player and Ironman participant, Robert Clinkenbeard believes good advice in sports also fits in the home services industry. “Sometimes we feel as though we know everything,” says Clinkenbeard, CEO of landscaping company Wilson360. “That’s a detriment. Lean on experts and people around you. Ask for their advice.” He says all the advice and tips you hear won’t necessarily be correct. “But if you’re listening to different opinions you’ll learn from it all,” Clinkenbeard says. “You will improve your game.” Wilson360’s game certainly improved. In 15 years, company sales went from zero to $20 million. Clinkenbeard, who’s also host of the Commercial Landscaper Podcast, is a big believer in predictive analysis, for setting future goals and to make your processes more efficient. “Predictive analysis is really just taking the data and looking for patterns,” he says. “Then you use those patterns to predict and plan.” To stay ahead of the game, business owners can’t be afraid of AI, Clinkenbeard says. “That train is quickly coming down the tunnel,” he says. “My best recommendation is to embrace it quickly and figure out how you can start adopting it into your company.” To that end, Clinkenbeard says companies need to keep an eye on finding a younger workforce that’s tech savvy. “They live on this data,” he says. “Right there, that’s game changing.” Robert Clinkenbeard recently joined ServiceTitan’s Amanda Salvatore on the “Toolbox for the Trades” podcast, which included Clinkenbeard’s thoughts on: [4:18] Why companies shouldn’t overrely on legacy practices and recruiting from outside the industry [12:44] Recruiting talent from outside your industry [12:53] How predictive analytics and AI tools can help you scale efficiently [16:12] The future of landscaping technology and effectively leveraging your team [22:41] Addressing general fears and concerns about AI replacing people Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Pantheon 2025 To hear more stories from the trades, subscribe to “Toolbox for the Trades” on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Google , or anywhere you get podcasts.