Interview with J.T. Price, CEO of Landscape Workshop
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
Release Date: 01/21/2026
Interview with Karen Schakarov, Chief Marketing Officer of Monarch Landscape Companies
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...
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Interview with Richard Sperber, Former Founder and Executive Chairman of Sperber Landscape Companies
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
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Interview with Aaron Kroll, Co-Founder & Partner at Sterling Point Advisors
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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....
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Interview with Eli Zevin, General Manager of Aspire
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
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Interview with Angelique Robb, Founder & Owner of SYNKD Media
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
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Interview with Dustin Walker, Owner and President of Landscape St. Louis
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
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Interview with Justin Bates (CEO) & Melissa Blake (Business Developer) of Bates Landscaping LTD
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
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Interview with James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer of LiveSwitch
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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: Start your free trial: Coupon: Use code "CLP10" for 10% off at checkout! Book a demo: About LiveSwitch: LiveSwitch is a leading communications platform that uses instant...
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Interview with Scott Hutcheon, Founder & CEO of HeyFlora
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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....
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Interview with Will Richardson, Managing Director of Father Nature Landscapes & Architectural Heritage
The Commercial Landscaper Podcast
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...
info_outlineJ. 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.