On this Weekly Update on Trades Talk, Justin White kicks off the year with major updates from K&D Landscaping, showcasing bold moves in robotics, automation, and expansion. He frames 2026 as a defining moment for disruption and urges trade leaders to lean into innovation while staying grounded in fundamentals.

K&D is expanding into San Luis Obispo and San Jose, while investing in futuristic tech like Kress' fully autonomous mower, robotic 3D concrete printers, and partnerships with physical AI pioneers. Justin also outlines how automation can unlock six-figure wages for frontline workers, all while reshaping what a landscaping company can be. The vibe is confident, energized, and tech-forward.

• K&D receives the first autonomous “Voyager” mower in California for real-world testing

• Strategic push into San Luis Obispo and San Jose, with major contracts secured

• Partnering with Reservoir Farms to build a testing ground for landscape robotics

• Vision: Use automation to double wages and halve project timelines

• Upcoming episode: MineCloud’s Jamie Royce on why automations come before AI

Justin closes with a challenge to the trades: don’t wait for a perfect tech test, iterate, and lead the future from the front lines.

This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Angelique Robb, founder of Synkd Magazine and Synkd Live, to trace her journey from oil rigs and deep-well engineering to redefining what collaboration looks like in the landscape industry.

Angelique shares stories from her early career as a petroleum engineer, working offshore by helicopter in her teens, before shifting into project management and later launching a landscape design firm in Scotland. That blend of systems thinking and hands-on operations led her to notice the fragmentation in the U.S. landscape space. Through Synkd, she’s now working to synchronize design, build, and maintain under one roof, while surfacing key technical and business gaps.

Justin and Angelique explore the “missing middle” of landscape project management, the opportunity in specialty subcontractor collaboration, and why small business owners hit a ceiling when they try to do everything alone. The episode also covers how Synkd Live New Orleans is structured differently from traditional trade shows, and what both founders believe is holding the industry back and what’s about to push it forward.

• Angelique’s early career offshore and how project integration shaped her systems lens

• Why most landscape companies get stuck at 4–6 employees and how to scale beyond that

• The problem with the word “landscaper” and why she rebranded to Synkd

• How U.S. firms lag in stormwater design and what Europe’s 20-year lead teaches us

Angelique and Justin close by comparing private equity to “sweat equity” and laying out the ownership mindset that can help small firms scale without selling out. Sign up for The Disruptors Social taking place during SYNKD Live!

On this Weekly Update of Trades Talk, Justin White kicks off 2026 with part one of a powerful new series: The Disruptor’s Advantage. After reflecting on the wild ride of 2025, Justin sets the tone for the year ahead by exploring what it truly means to be a disruptor in the trades. From AI to electrification to mindset, he lays out why this moment is built for bold thinkers ready to challenge the status quo.

He makes a strong case that trades are not just alive and well. they’re thriving. With tech leaders spotlighting skilled labor and facilities requiring landscape design by law, landscapers and builders are positioned to win. Justin draws from Harvard’s Innovator’s Dilemma and his own experience going all-electric to show how innovation, not price, is now the dealbreaker. The episode previews major 2026 bets from K&D and invites listeners to a year of transformation.

• The trades are positioned for massive growth in 2026 and beyond

• AI may threaten office jobs first, but hands-on trades remain essential

• Being different and innovative beats being just better or cheaper

• K&D’s move to all-electric maintenance is already paying off

• Disruptors make bold bets, measure, learn, and evolve

This is the first of a three-part series on the disruptor mindset, with live events and exclusive workshops already on the calendar. Get ready for a year of change and choose to lead it.

This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Scott Hutcheon, founder of Hey Flora, to explore how AI is reshaping the landscape industry. From field crews to business owners, Scott shares how Hey Flora serves as a full operating system, not just a chatbot, designed specifically for the challenges of trades companies.

They dive into what makes landscaping so complex, why traditional tech adoption has been slow, and how AI-powered workflows can transform field communication, training, reporting, and even customer proposals. Scott reveals how property-level “intelligence layers” are being built through voice, photo, and video input—and why early adopters will pull ahead.

• Hey Flora offers bilingual, voice-first AI agents to support field crews and streamline operations

• Property-specific “graphs” compile notes, photos, and chat history to power proactive reminders

• Flora generates client-facing proposals and reports from daily crew inputs automatically

• Flora Docs and Vibe Scaping tools speed up design-build timelines and elevate sales

• LEAF framework ensures AI outputs meet OSHA and industry standards for safety and compliance

• Future tools may include AI safety glasses, digital twins, and procurement via simple chat

AI won’t replace leaders, but those who adopt it early will outpace those who don’t. If you're not building AI into your workflows, you're already falling behind.

This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Eric Triplett, better known as The Pond Digger, to talk about the power of podcasting, AI, community, and leadership. With decades of experience in the trades, Eric shares how his cancer diagnosis, personality awareness, and content creation journey transformed his life and business.

They dive into how AI is already reshaping the contractor experience from property walkthroughs to client-ready reports in minutes, and why podcasting built trust, saved time, and created national exposure. Eric opens up about leading through grief, burnout, and what happens when you really know yourself, and your team.

• How Eric launched his podcast after a chance moment with his son

• Why AI walkthroughs are helping him close deals faster and deliver more value

• What personality tools like Enneagram and DISC unlocked in his leadership

• How he ended up working with Gary V

• Lessons from cancer, reinvention, and building a second act on a ranch

Eric’s story is raw, bold, and deeply human. You’ll walk away inspired to lead with more clarity, care, and confidence.

On this Weekly Update on Trades Talk, Justin White breaks down how K&D is planning for 2026, and why he believes AI agents will soon change everything about how landscaping companies sell, fulfill, and scale.

He shares insights from a two-day strategy session, his investment lens on early-stage AI companies, and answers hot-seat questions on revenue growth and hiring from Brian Fullerton’s peer group. It’s tactical, future-focused, and packed with real lessons from the front lines of building a billion-dollar business.

• How AI agents will reshape sales and proposals in the trades

• The four-part strategic planning framework K&D is using for 2026

• A three-part system for scaling revenue beyond the owner

• Why structured hiring beats gut instinct every time

• Why now is the perfect time to lean into AI, even if it’s still early

If you're serious about growth, tech adoption, or building a team that lasts, this one’s a blueprint. Attending SYNKD Live in New Orleans? Come to our Disruptor Social!

This week on Trades Talk, Justin White sits down with Jeremy Talboy, founder of North Georgia Landscape Management, to talk growth, leadership, and the systems behind a $20 million leap. Jeremy shares how authenticity, clear strategy, and a people-first culture have helped shape one of the Southeast’s standout landscape companies.

From doubling revenue with smarter systems to avoiding the pitfalls of private equity, Jeremy unpacks the practical moves and mindset shifts that made a big impact.

In this episode, Jeremy shares:

• Why switching from EOS to Lean Scaper better aligned with his team and goals

• How dedicated pruning crews helped fix a common HOA complaint and protect reputation

• Why investing in Greenius and Jobber streamlined training, ops, and customer experience

• The power of authenticity and showing up, on social and in person, to build influence and trust

If you're scaling fast or just trying to stay grounded while growing, this episode brings a real-world look at what works, what breaks, and how to stay ahead.

On this weekly update on TradesTalk, Justin White reflects on a high-stakes win and the mindset spiral that followed.

After attending the first-ever FutureScapes USA event in Los Angeles, K&D took home the Residential Project Over $500K award and earning a spot at the global finals in Saudi Arabia. But with growth came self-doubt. Justin opens up about hitting a wall of imposter syndrome just days after the celebration.

This episode is a deep dive into the real emotional journey of leading a company aiming to scale fast and what it takes to steady yourself in the middle of the ride.

• Major win at FutureScapes and what it means for K&D’s global stage

• Why imposter syndrome shows up even when things are going well

• Leadership feedback as a sign of a healthy culture, not failure

• Mindset shifts to overcome doubt and show up stronger

• Tools that work: cold plunges, meditation, and reflection through TradesTalk

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re the right person to lead your business to the next level; this one’s for you.