THE LEADING EDGE
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
HEALTHY OUTLOOK
As we wrap up the second quarter, it’s important to acknowledge the hard work happening across Michael Hatcher & Associates From the offices to the jobsites, this Team continues to show up with focus and follow-through, even as we work around excessive rain, extreme heat, and the normal ups and downs of the growing season
Across all branches and roles, I’ve seen consistent examples of people stepping up (Do the Next Right Thing), taking ownership (Own Your Outcomes), and working together (Positive, Can-Do Attitude). You also Tell the Truth; Love, Respect, and Protect; believe in the mindset of Coach and Be Coached; Celebrate and Have Fun; Expect to Win; and Deliver on Commitments for our customers and one another
Our nine Winning Behaviors are what set us apart. They reflect the Core Values on which this company was built – Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence – and the kind of culture we want to protect as we grow
You may have heard that we once again appeared on Landscape Management magazine’s LM150 a list of the top landscape companies based on revenue Yes, numbers are important, but we ’ ve also made healthy progress this quarter in areas that don’t always show up on a spreadsheet: stronger communication among teams, more attention to safety, and a heightened sense of personal responsibility for the work in front of us
CONTACT US
THE LEADING EDGE
8365 Center Hill Road Olive Branch, MS 38654
901-755-3207, ext. 300 hatcherlandscape.com
EDITOR
GINNY SHIKLE
Marketing and Communications Specialist 901-664-8720 ginnys@hatcherlandscape.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Will Comstock Eddie Evans Davey Hooper NALP
Russ Sneed
FOLLOW US
I know it’s not always easy The demands of what we do are real, and the weather doesn't always cooperate But the way this Team shows up makes a difference. Thank you for consistently bringing that outlook to the job every day Let’s keep it going into the second half of the year
Expect to Win!
RUSS SNEED Chief Executive Officer
@hatcherlandscapememphis
@hatchlandscape mem @hatcherlandscapehsv @hatchlandscape hsv
(Formerly Twitter)
@hatchlandscape
linkedin com/michaelhatcher-&-associates
ON THE COVER
Misael Sanchez Luna of Commercial Maintenance at the Memphis Branch mows the grass at Life Church in Collierville, Tennessee PHOTO BY MATT WYATT/MATT WYATT MEDIA
SAFETY BEHAVIORS
PPE the last line of defense to protect from hazards
BY EDDIE EVANS GUEST WRITER
Editor’s Note: Eddie Evans is Business Development Manager for the Southeast Division of Contractor Service and Fabrication Inc A Certified Safety Professional and OSHAauthorized instructor, he served as a safety director for over 25 years in the construction and oil industries Eddie was the guest speaker at the Huntsville Branch’s Q1 Show Up For Safety event on April 11 Excerpts from his presentation are shared here
When we ’ re talking about hazards and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the first thing we should discuss is how to control those hazards The best way to not have a hazard be a problem is to get rid of it, and if we can’t get rid of it, then we have to figure out how we re going to deal with it
Elimination, substitution, engineering controls, and administrative controls are also part of OSHA s hierarchy of identifying and ranking safeguards to protect workers from hazards
If we can eliminate it, great If we can’t eliminate it, we have administrative controls For example breathing cement dust is dangerous One way to fix that is to cut it wet We didn’t remove the hazard; we just dealt with it in a way that didn’t hurt If we can’t eliminate it, and we can’t change how we work with it, then we can also use engineering controls An example of that might be changing a tool to a safer tool, or changing the way that tool works so
that it cannot hurt us If we can’t do any of that, then the last thing to do is to put you into Personal Protective Equipment The last line of defense to protect you from a hazard is going to be PPE, like safety glasses, high-visibility vests, safety boots, and gloves
SAFETY GLASSES
When it comes to safety glasses, they must have a rating of Z87 from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and side shields What I see a lot in the summertime is people wearing sunglasses This is not a safety glass, so if you get hit with something, the glass will break, and it won t offer you
According to safety expert Eddie Evans, safety glasses with side shields and a Z87 rating from the American National Standards Institute are designed to protect the wearer from flying debris.
protection for your eyes If you don’t have the side shields, then you can have stuff coming in the side A lawnmower can throw debris out at a hundred miles an hour A chunk of rock comes flying out the side without the protection on and hits somebody, somebody’s going to get hurt That’s why we wear the gear
SAFETY-TOED BOOTS
How much weight can a safety-toed boot protect you from? 2 500 pounds is what the ANSI rating is, and 2,500 pounds is a lot of weight! I heard of an accident last year where a guy actually had a skid-steer roll up on top of his
Lawn Care celebrates the season
BY DAVEY HOOPER SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER LAWN CARE
April 8 marked our Master Lawn 2025 Spring Kickoff and we had a very productive half day in the field as our team wrapped up the L2 (Early Spring Pre-Emerge) application alongside various Spring enhancement services
As our technicians returned to the shop, we conducted a thorough truck inventory for our entire fleet, ensuring that each vehicle is equipped with the new or updated equipment necessary for delivering exceptional service throughout the growing season In addition we loaded fresh pallets of fertilizer onto every truck and transitioned our tank mixes to align with our Spring and Summer applications.
To celebrate our achievements in Q1 and foster team spirit, we enjoyed a delicious taco bar courtesy of Maria's Cantina After indulging in the taco feast, our friends from Funky Monkey Frozen Treats provided a
delightful treat with snow cones, milkshakes and sundaes
To further engage our team we divided everyone into groups and played trivia for some exciting prizes, creating a fun atmosphere after our meal We concluded the day with training sessions aimed at preparing our growing team for the upcoming fertilizer round, ensuring we are ready to kick off our customers’ growing season with enthusiasm and make their neighbors envious of their lush lawns
At Master Lawn, we believe in celebrating our team and fostering a culture that aligns with our core values Together we strive for excellence teamwork, and customer satisfaction
Here’s to a successful Spring season ahead!
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Lawn Care GM Chris Bruno left addresses the Master Lawn team at their 2025 Spring Kickoff
Senior Operations Manager Davey Hooper engages the team during trivia.
Master Lawn team members enjoyed a taco bar from Maria’s Cantina
The Master Lawn technicians stand ready to serve
5 Angie Olive, from left, Denise May, Brooke Johnson, and Caleb Crawford enjoy the Spring Kickoff
H-2B PROGRAM
When the busy season hits the green industry, landscape companies often find themselves with more work than people to do it That’s where the H-2B visa program comes in
“Hiring H-2B workers allows us to meet the seasonal demand with a reliable skilled workforce ” said Hayden Walsh a Senior Field Operations Manager in Commercial Maintenance at our Memphis Branch “It ensures we can complete projects on time and maintain high-quality service for our clients
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s website, the H-2B temporary non-agricultural program is for nonagricultural industries with short-term labor needs
“The employer must establish that its need for non-agricultural services or labor is temporary in nature regardless of whether the underlying job is permanent or temporary,” the site states
This year, we received 104 H-2Bs to work in Commercial Construction and
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Commercial Maintenance, 58 of whom were assigned to the Memphis Branch The first of three groups arrived on April 16, with additional groups getting here at the end of April and late June The Huntsville Branch received 46 H-2Bs, with four groups arriving in May and the final group arriving in June
All of the guest workers will return home in November
–
Ginny Shikle Marketing and Communications Specialist
The Huntsville Branch received 46 workers through the H-2B visa program including this group pictured with HR Coordinator Yulisa Gorostieta
Three groups of H-2Bs with a total of 58 workers were assigned to the Memphis Branch This group arrived in April 1 2
PEACHY FUN
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When the Georgia Peach Connection made its rounds through Mississippi, one of its stops was at The Landscape Center on June 20 Tiffany Burse far left bags peaches for Memphis Branch and Master Lawn employees.
Megan Mooney, from left, Katie Thomas-Merritt, and Jo Banks help prepare bags of fresh peaches for distribution to team members
PHOTOBYWILLIESHEPHERD
Q1 SUFS WINNERS
Congratulations to all team members who were recognized at our Q1 Show Up For Safety events in April!
Fifty-nine crew members and technicians were named Rising Stars for the first quarter, and 27 earned Safety Awards They each received Bonusly points for following our Show Up For Safety criteria
We congratulate all the winners and want to acknowledge our sponsors for the Safety Rodeo at our Memphis Branch: Bartlett Small Engines, M&M Promotions, Stateline Turf & Tractor, and Thompson Tractor
Bartlett Small Engines also raffled off some nice door prizes We also appreciate presenters Andy Milligan of BWI, Ryan Montgomery of Empower, Kelly McQuage of White Cap, and JP Smith of Lawless A huge shoutout to Banquetes Jalisco for making sure everyone was well-fed!
Our Huntsville Branch also held a successful Q1 SUFS event Thank you to guest speaker Eddie Evans of Contractor Service and Fabrication Inc for his PPE presentation, and props to Carlos Soto and his family for their excellent food!
– Ginny Shikle Marketing and Communications Specialist
Huntsville Branch team members line up for food prepared by Carlos Soto at the Q1 Show Up For Safety event
Bryan Fullilove of Commercial Maintenance in Memphis tries out a new backpack blower at the Safety Rodeo
Commercial Construction crew members discuss how to safely operate a trencher
Webb, Chris Thomas, Fisher Wills, and Lewis Jenkins demonstrated Master Lawn s equipment at the Spring Safety Rodeo at the Memphis Branch
HR Compliance Coordinator Sofia Ponce, from left, Customer Relations Manager Josh Wilder, and Executive Assistant to the CEO Jo Banks work the erving line at the Memphis Branch s Q1 SUFS event The food was prepared by Banquetes Jalisco
SUBMITTEDPHOTO
As part of his Leadership DeSoto project, Account Manager Jarret Fowlkes volunteered at the Olive Branch Food Pantry in April
Michael Hatcher & Associates was the official food sponsor for the Southaven Chamber of Commerce’s annual Golf & Games Tournament on May 5 Pictured from left are volunteers Ron Bobal Rick Tarr Josh Wilder Megan Mooney Ginny Shikle Nick Gardner Jarret Fowlkes and Jason Luckett
Head of Commercial Accounts John-Paul Tortorigi, from left, Business Developer Frank Tortorigi, Annemarie Tortorigi, and Account Manager Rachel Green stand in front of the Mama Zelda sculpture at the Huntsville Botanical Garden The Mother Earth Troll Garden exhibit officially opened on April 1
The Huntsville Branch partnered with SiteOne Landscape Supply and the Beta Club from Stevenson Elementary to plant a tree for Earth Day
The company was a sponsor for the 21st Annual Mudbug Bash on April 12 in Hernando Attending the fundraiser for the Palmer Home for Children were from left CFO Chris Hoshell and his wife Alyssa along with Procurement Supervisor Edgar Valdovinos and his wife, Aley.
Senior Operations Manager Davey Hooper and Service Manager Elijah Cato joined WREG’s Kontji Anthony’s Live at 9:00 broadcast during the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to promote Master Lawn s services
Michael Hatcher & Associates co-sponsored the DeSoto County Schools college fair on March 18 Sofia Ponce, from left, Nick Koehler, and Yulisa Gorostieta attended the event
COMMUNITY
Commercial Maintenance Customer Relations Manager Josh Wilder, left, looks on as local students plant trees for Earth Day The project was in partnership with Tanger
Michael Hatcher & Associates donated a collection of books to the Community-Based Classroom and the Library at Center Hill High School, our adopted school Ginny Shikle, McKenzie Neergaard, and Ron Bobal are pictured with the CBC students and staff on April 30
ENGAGEMENT
On April 23, seven MHA and Master Lawn team members attended the Women in Business Luncheon at the Landers Center Pictured, from left, are Jo Banks, Katie Thomas-Merritt, Deanne Marshall, Angie Olive, Ginny Shikle, Brooke Johnson, and Fallion Wade
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COACH AND BE COACHED
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SUBMITTEDPHOTO
Benefits Specialist Tiffany Burse, left, and Director of
HR Shared Services Lana Brown attended the SHRMMemphis Legal Conference on April 22
HR Coordinator Yulisa Gorostieta, left, and Payroll
Specialist Fallion Wade also attended the SHRMMemphis Legal Conference on April 22
HR Coordinator Yulisa Gorostieta attended the Association for Talent Development s New Employee Onboarding Certificate program in May
SUBMITTEDPHOTO
MHA and Master Lawn had 16 state-certified representatives, including Founder Michael Hatcher, in attendance at BWI s All Points meeting on May 29
Commercial Maintenance Account Manager Jarret Fowlkes graduated in May from the Leadership DeSoto Class of 2025
TECH UPDATE
Body cams set M
BY DAVEY HOOPER SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER LAWN CARE DIVISION
We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with The Vestige View, making Master Lawn one of the first residential and commercial lawn spray companies in our market to integrate body cameras into our technicians’ daily workflow!
This initiative has been a dream of mine for quite some time, and I couldn t be more grateful to work for a company that prioritizes innovation and invests in cuttingedge technology to elevate our service standards This integration is not about monitoring our team – it’s about empowering them and enhancing our customer experience
By implementing body cameras, we aim to:
Ensure Transparency: Customers will have access to recorded proof of service, providing peace of mind and clarity about the work that has been performed
Enhance Training: Our technicians will benefit from real-time feedback, allowing us to continuously improve service quality and operational efficiency
Build Trust: With every job, we aim to recreate a world-class service experience for our customers, ensuring consistent excellence every time
Like his teammates, Lawn Technician Kanyen Bell was skeptical at first about wearing the body cameras
I worried about privacy and the practicality of wearing a camera while doing my job ” Kanyen said “However, on my very first day using it, the camera proved its worth A customer claimed I hadn’t treated her back
lawn, but the footage showed otherwise We sent her the video, and she was completely satisfied From that moment, I was a believer in Turf Vision ”
The cameras have also been a game changer in quickly resolving disputes and verifying property conditions, thereby avoiding false claims about damage Clear video evidence can confirm the condition of property items at the time of our visit Recordings are also used for training, ensuring every team member provides consistent excellent service to our customers
In rare cases, customers have raised privacy concerns of their own, but we address those by ensuring all footage is used responsibly and securely
All in all, I am incredibly excited about the possibilities this technology brings to our rapidly growing business. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey and how Master Lawn is committed to setting a new standard in lawn care!
said the technology has proved its worth 1
A close-up of the Turf Vision body camera worn by Lawn Technicians 2 3
The body cameras are charged
Lawn Technician Kanyen Bell was initially skeptical about wearing a body camera, but he
foot The actual toe compartment protected his toes, but behind the toes, where that skid-steer got on it, it squished his foot a little bit and he ended up having to sit in a chair for five weeks
GLOVES
Things are hot You’ve got combustion engines going
The gloves will protect you from the heat Being careful where you put your hands is really important also, so even if you ’ ve got gloves on and you stick it down in the blades, you re going to get cut!
HEARING PROTECTION
Now, let’s talk about your ears
Everything y ’all are doing out there has got a combustion engine running, and if you have any noise level over 85 decibels you ’ re supposed to have hearing protection in
If you ’ re running a lawn mower, you might hit 105 decibels If you have 105 decibels of exposure for eight hours, and you do that multiple times, you could have permanent hearing
Weed eaters can be 110 decibels, hedge trimmers can hit 90, chainsaws can hit 110, edgers can hit 110 decibels, and even a blower can get over 85 decibels
Have you ever been around somebody who can’t hear?
None of us wants to be like that and a lot of times those guys, as they get up in age and they’ve lost hearing, sometimes those people are grumpy and not very friendly to be around, and that is because they’re not involved in the conversation. They don’t hear what’s going on
I see a lot of young guys in this room Now is the time that you have to put this protection in all the time to keep yourself from having hearing damage
Safety people do not make up rules of Personal Protective Equipment just to make your life miserable The reason Personal Protective Equipment is used is because it is needed to protect you from a hazard
To me, the incentive is to go home with both my eyes, all my fingers, my toes
SOURCE:OSHA.GOV
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Equipment with combustion engines creates a noise level over 85 decibels requiring the operator to wear hearing protection
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According to OSHA’s Hierarchy of Controls, PPE is less effective than elimination substitution engineering controls and administrative controls.
FROM THE NALP SAFETY TAILGATE TRAINING MANUAL
WHAT CLOTHING AND PPE SHOULD YOU WEAR DURING ANY LANDSCAPING TASK?
A long-sleeve shirt, pants, gloves, steeltoed boots, and eye protection
HOW CAN YOU KNOW WHAT OTHER PPE TO WEAR AND WHEN?
• Your employee handbook and your company ’ s safety policy define circumstances under which each type of PPE must be worn If you are working
with chemicals, wear all the PPE prescribed by the product label If you ’ re ever unsure about what type of PPE is needed for a task, ask your crew leader or supervisor
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD DO BEFORE PUTTING ON PPE?
• Examine PPE prior to each use If tears, holes or other defects are present ask your crew leader for replacement equipment
Let your crew leader know if your PPE does not fit properly
HOW SHOULD YOU CARE FOR AND STORE PPE?
• Clean and disinfect PPE regularly, according to our company ’ s guidelines and manufacturers recommendations
• Store gear in clean containers where it won’t be crushed or subjected to extreme temperatures
EXCELLENCE
Promotions, new roles announced
Tiffany Burse, who has worked part-time for Michael Hatcher & Associates since November 2023, first in Admin and most recently as Benefits Coordinator, is now our fulltime Benefits Specialist
TIFFANY BURSE She administers all company benefits, including medical, dental, vision, group life insurance, and supplemental insurance plans
She also manages employee leave requests, PTO, and Show Up For Safety Bonusly points
Congratulations Tiffany!
Enrique Gomez Vargas, a Foreman in Commercial Construction for the past 10 years was promoted to Landscape Supervisor in April.
Throughout his time with us, Enrique has consistently
ENRIQUE VARGAS
In a leadership update that reflects our company ’ s continued growth, Adam Crawford, formerly our Chief
demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and professionalism in landscape construction and hardscape installation He has
become a master of paver installation, and his precision and craftsmanship have set a high standard for quality in the field Enrique has also been recognized over the years for his unwavering positive attitude strong work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond, rain or shine.
Congratulations, Enrique!
When you show up, step up, and follow through, people take notice That’s how Brett Harden’s well-earned next step came to be at our Huntsville Branch, where he has been promoted from Foreman to Landscape Supervisor The change was effective June 30
ADAM CRAWFORD
Financial Officer, recently assumed the newly created role of Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations In this position he
will focus on strategic planning efforts value creation initiatives (e g new greenfield locations, playbooks, etc ), and oversee acquisition integration Adam will also partner with all functional leaders to deliver on our TEAM goals
He joined the company in February 2023 as Vice President of Finance and was promoted to CFO in May 2024, Adam has been a key leader and has played a critical role in strengthening our financial operations
Congratulations Adam!
Yulisa Gorostieta has been promoted to HR Coordinator
Yulisa was hired in October 2024 as our Onboarding Coordinator In this position she played a key role in welcoming new team members and supporting a smooth start to their employment.
In her new role, she will take on broader responsibilities within the Human Resources department as the company
continues to grow, including employee engagement and serving as the HR liaison to managers and supervisors
Congratulations, Yulisa!
A 12-year industry veteran, Brett joined MHA in May 2024 as one of the Huntsville Branch’s first hires
He has built a reputation as a skilled foreman and a trusted mentor who takes the time to cultivate talent and help others grow in their roles. Brett is
also passionate about creating enjoyable environments that people can truly appreciate with notable projects including Brio Parc RANA Medical Center and LTAC
Congratulations, Brett!
Hired in July 2024 as our Recruiting Coordinator Sofia Magallanes Ponce has been promoted to HR Compliance Coordinator In addition to helping us stay on track as Michael Hatcher & Associates continues to grow, Sofia will manage Bonusly and be in charge of job descriptions and status changes.
Sofia has proven herself as a dependable and hardworking part of the recruiting team but enjoys compliance work even more She streamlined the
onboarding process when she first arrived and also played a major part in our H-2B program,
Congratulations, Sofia!
Hayden Walsh has been promoted to Senior Field Operations Manager in Commercial Maintenance at our Memphis Branch He started as a Crew Member/Driver for Commercial Construction and then became a Field Operations Manager for Commercial Maintenance
A graduate of Mississippi State University where he majored in Landscape Contracting and Management, Hayden has earned a reputation for getting things done and exemplifying our Core Values: Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence He has been praised for his work ethic, attitude, and willingness to help others, which are a reflection of and in alignment with our core values, and he was recognized for enthusiastically taking ownership of his FOM role and any additional duties that he has been assigned
Congratulations, Hayden!
– Ginny Shikle Marketing and Communications Specialist
HAYDEN WALSH
BRETT HARDEN
SOFIA PONCE
YULISA GOROSTIETA
EXPECT TO WIN
Michael Hatcher & Associates a landscape industry leader for nearly 40 years has again been named to the LM150 list an esteemed ranking of the top 150 landscape companies in the United States
The LM150, compiled by Landscape Management magazine, is an annual ranking based on revenue and showcases the industry's highest-performing companies Based on 2024 revenue of $32 6M, MHA was ranked No 118 In June 2024, based on 2023 revenue of $26,750,000, the company appeared on the LM150 at No 121
According to the magazine’s June 2025 issue Editor-in-Chief Scott Hollister wrote that this year ’ s list was a milestone
“For the first time ever, the combined revenues of the landscape and lawn care companies represented on the LM150 list have topped the $20 billion threshold, Hollister wrote “The total of $21,101,241,223 in 2024 represents an increase of nearly 14 percent over last year ’ s figure of $18,592,575,311 ”
– Ginny Shikle Marketing and Communications Specialist
Monitors display real-time operations updates
BY WILL COMSTOCK SENIOR OPERATIONS MANAGER COMMERCIAL MAINTENANCE
We are really excited about having the monitors added to the Wow Wall at the Memphis Branch It allows for our prelaunch morning huddles with the FOMs to go over plans for the day and to make any final schedule adjustments
Having these monitors will allow for visibility for everyone to see both our construction and maintenance schedules on a real-time basis Anyone should be able to see where a crew is working at any point throughout the day as well as how each team is performing from a productivity standpoint
The monitors allow for us to
Commercial Maintenance Senior Operations Manager Will Comstock, left, and Jacob Waltz, CEO of Intraframe, discuss the bank of monitors that will allow for visibility of construction and maintenance schedules in real time.
display our dashboard with our various metrics from budgeted vs actual labor hours per day/week/month as well as our costs associated with each We have also rolled out enhancement revenue
tracking by the week and month for our irrigation techs to know how they are faring on their production goals.
Having the monitors has been a tremendous addition that
aids in our daily decisionmaking processes I look forward to seeing the progression with this as everyone gains more experience with Aspire