This episode breaks down one of the most misunderstood growth levers in the landscape industry:

Building careers — not just filling jobs.

Alex sits down with Chris Mace (VP of Construction & Design) and Lisa Riess (HR Leader) from Gelderman Landscape Services to unpack how intentional people strategy drives profitability, retention, and long-term growth.

They dive into:

• Why consistent, guaranteed pay is a competitive advantage in a seasonal industry

• How clear career paths unlock loyalty, performance, and leadership from within

• The real cost of employee turnover — and why most contractors underestimate it

• How training, communication, and culture outperform “quick hires” every time

• What small and mid-sized contractors can realistically implement without a full HR department

If you want to grow a stronger company, execute better work, and stop losing your best people — this episode lays out the blueprint.

🎧 Listen now — because the next generation of great landscape companies will be built by leaders who take care of their people.

🔗 https://events.hardscaper.com/

Learn more about Gelderman Landscape Services:
🌐 https://geldeman.com/

😎 Enjoyed this episode?

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New episodes every month! Got a topic you want us to cover? DM us @hardscaper_ or email podcast@hardscaper.com.

Follow & Subscribe:

📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hardscaper_/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hardscaper
🌐 Website: https://hardscaper.com/

Missed this year’s Hardscaper Showcase? Watch on-demand for expert insights on pools, drainage, outdoor kitchens & more! → Head over to our On-Demand Section to check it out for free!

This episode breaks down the two biggest, simplest, most ignored habits that quietly steal profit from hardscape contractors every year:

1. Building and updating your budget + hourly rate

2. Tracking actual hours on every job.
   If you don’t update your numbers when your costs change — and you don’t verify how long projects really take — you’re guaranteeing profit fade. Fixing these two things solves most of the margin problems contractors face.

😎 Enjoyed this episode? Wes and his team will be joining us at all of our Showcase events in the 2026 tour. Don’t miss the chance to attend and meet them in person.

🔗 https://events.hardscaper.com/

Follow Wes: @Synkedup
📈 Learn more at: https://synkedup.com/
🎧 Listen now—because the next era of landscaping giants is being built today.

New episodes every month! Got a topic you want us to cover? DM us @hardscaper_ or email podcast@hardscaper.com.

Follow & Subscribe:
📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hardscaper_/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hardscaper
🌐 Website: https://hardscaper.com/

Missed this year’s Hardscaper Showcase? Watch on-demand for expert insights on pools, drainage, outdoor kitchens & more! → Head over to our On-Demand Section to check it out for free!

Apple Podcasts Spotify

This episode might be the turning point for your business.

Alex welcomes back industry leader Mark Bradley — now founder of Leanscaper AI — to unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming landscaping. Mark shares real examples of contractors already using AI to:

• Build SOPs and workflows automatically
• Improve sales, marketing, and financial decisions
• Cut waste, reduce mistakes, and scale with confidence

👀 They also reveal a major collaboration for the 2026 Hardscaper Showcase: new Business Builders Workshops focused on helping contractors generate more revenue with a proven sales process.

A must-listen for anyone serious about growth in 2026.

Follow Mark: @leanscaper
📈 Learn more at: https://leanscaper.com/
🎧 Listen now—because the next era of landscaping giants is being built today.

New episodes every month! Got a topic you want us to cover? DM us @hardscaper_ or email podcast@hardscaper.com.

Follow & Subscribe:
📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/hardscaper_/
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hardscaper
🌐 Website: https://hardscaper.com/

Missed this year’s Hardscaper Showcase? Watch on-demand for expert insights on pools, drainage, outdoor kitchens & more! → Head over to our On-Demand Section to check it out for free!

Apple Podcasts Spotify