Family-Owned, Future-Focused: Justin White Drives K&D Landscaping’s Vision and Growth
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n 1986, Kendel White was a young chef working early mornings at a resort in Monterey, California. Looking to earn extra money for his growing family, Kendel began mowing lawns after his shifts. Quickly, one lawn led to four, then eight, setting the stage for a business that would become a Monterey Bay area institution: K&D Landscaping, Inc. Today, under the leadership of CEO Justin White—Kendel and Dawn White’s son—K&D Landscaping has grown from its
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humble beginnings into a thriving enterprise employing approximately 140 people and generating $20 million annually, with ambitious plans to reach $30 million by 2030. “My father decided at age 23 to leave his chef career and dive fully into landscaping,” Justin said. “My mother joined him full-time soon after, managing the administrative side, while he focused on fieldwork.” Through the 1990s, the company steadily grew, expanding significantly into commercial projects.
Justin, who started full-time at 16 and took over as CEO in 2015 at just 25 years old, credits youthful optimism and energy for helping him navigate early business challenges. “Being ignorant about how tough business really is turned out to be my biggest advantage,” he explained. “I had a vision, and that drove me and our team forward.” Justin’s tenure marked rapid growth, with revenues increasing from around $2 million to $5 million by 2018, doubling again to $10 C alL an d s c ape r.com