For his fourth appearance on The Green Grind, Kory and LeRoy welcome back Sam Gembel, co-owner of Atlas Outdoor, to dive into the strategic side of scaling a landscaping business—with purpose.

Sam shares how focusing on leadership, culture, and communication has transformed both client experiences and team performance. From hiring with intention to creating clear SOPs (standard operating procedures), he explains how structure, consistency, and accountability have propelled Atlas Outdoor to the next level.

If you’re a business owner looking for more than the usual hustle-and-grind narrative, this conversation offers a fresh, sustainable perspective on what real success looks like.

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Kory and Leroy are joined by Derek Lines, CEO of Showtime Homes, to dive into what makes his business—and his leadership—stand out in a crowded market.

From pounding nails on a framing crew to creating a culture-driven custom home building company, Derek breaks down the mindset, mistakes, and momentum that fueled his journey. He shares how emotional intelligence, brand energy, and hard conversations are key to building lasting client relationships and an all-in team.

This episode is packed with leadership gold: how to develop a standout brand, inspire loyalty in employees, own your mistakes, and still love your business years later. Whether you’re in landscaping, construction, or any service industry, Derek's story will give you a blueprint for doing things different—and better.

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In this powerful episode, Kory and Leroy welcome back Jonathan Guinipero, owner of Stateline Landscaping in Massachusetts. After appearing on the show in 2022, Jonathan returns with a raw, honest look at how downsizing his business nearly cost him everything—including his marriage and family time.

Jonathan shares how he went from feeling "comfortable" with just two employees to realizing he was simply stuck in survival mode. He opens up about the emotional toll, the wake-up call that changed everything, and how hiring a business coach helped him rebuild his company and personal life. This is a must-listen for any entrepreneur questioning their path, searching for clarity, or needing motivation to make real change.

If you’re in the trenches, trying to grow a business without losing yourself in the process—this one’s for you.

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In this unscripted and insightful episode of The Green Grind Podcast, hosts Kory Ballard and LeRoy Mains sit down for a candid conversation about business growth, facility upgrades, leadership standards, and long-term planning. LeRoy shares the story behind Brilliant Borders' new facility—why they built it, the impact on team culture, and the operational challenges that came with expansion.

They also dive into the hidden costs of scaling, the power of consistent expectations, and the mindset shifts that help sustain growth. Whether you're in year one or twenty of your business journey, this episode is packed with real talk, lessons learned, and forward-thinking strategies that every green industry entrepreneur can relate to.

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At just 22, Brenden Beal is building something big with Beals Lawn Services in Columbus, OH. From mowing 80 properties solo to running full-time crews and managing HOAs, Brenden shares the real story behind scaling quickly, learning hard lessons, and course-correcting for long-term success.

He talks about pricing mistakes, the challenges of hiring friends, and how discipline, honesty, and leadership have reshaped his business in 2025.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to grow, this one's packed with practical insight.

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In this special episode of The Green Grind, hosts Kory and LeRoy sit down with a very special guest—LeRoy’s wife, Kirstin Mains. Kirstin is more than just a partner at home—she’s the original brains behind Brilliant Borders Landscaping. From a bold decision to buy a weekend curbing business off a neighbor to growing it into a full-scale landscaping operation, Kirstin shares her unique entrepreneurial journey.

You’ll hear how she went from hands-on curb installation to managing crews, balancing family life, and stepping in and out of the business as it evolved. Kirstin opens up about working alongside her husband, the power struggles and personal growth that came with it, and how clearly defined roles—and a whole lot of grit—helped the company thrive.

This episode offers real insight into running a family business, navigating leadership as a couple, and what it truly takes to build something from the ground up. Whether you're a husband-wife team or just building your dream, this one’s packed with honest lessons and inspiration.

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In this episode, Kory and LeRoy sit down with Denver, the founder of Legacy Land Pros in Northeast Ohio. Denver’s journey started with a push mower and a dream—and just a few years later, he’s running a thriving landscape and maintenance company with 25+ employees and a plan for regional expansion.

He breaks down how he scaled fast, why mentorship changed the game, and what it takes to build a business that creates real careers—not just jobs. You’ll hear about the growing pains, mindset shifts, and operational strategies that took Legacy from weekends and worn-out mowers to a year-round, multi-crew powerhouse.

Whether you're cutting your first lawn or managing your first million, this one’s packed with insight, honesty, and hard-earned advice from a guy still in the trenches.

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In Episode 222 of The Green Grind Podcast, hosts Leroy and Kory sit down with Mike Garcia, owner of Electric Lawn Scapes in Kansas City, Missouri. Mike shares how he went from being an A-player at a traditional landscape company to launching his own innovative, all-electric lawn care business. Tune in to hear about the unique challenges and benefits of going electric, how Mike’s vision is shaping sustainable landscaping, and why staying bored was never an option. This is a must-listen for anyone thinking about leveling up their green game!

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Welcome back to The Green Grind Podcast! In this episode of The Green Grind, Kory and LeRoy sit down with Adam Jones, owner of Warren Lawns based in Central Iowa. Adam shares how he transitioned from full-time ministry to launching his lawn care company with a focus on fertilization, weed and pest control. He explains how staying focused, keeping things simple, and delivering exceptional customer experience helped him grow a successful business without getting distracted by every opportunity that came his way.

From building a brand known for top-tier service to navigating the noise of social media advice, Adam delivers real, relatable insight for anyone trying to grow their company with purpose. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale smart, this episode is packed with valuable lessons on focus, execution, and long-term thinking.

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This week on The Green Grind, Kory and LeRoy welcome back Jonas Olson, founder of Turf Badger, for a powerful follow-up to his original episode (#216). Since his last appearance, Jonas has taken Turf Badger to the next level—expanding to 15 corporately owned locations across five states, all without franchising.

Jonas shares why he stepped away from the franchise model, the systems and training programs that fuel his company’s explosive growth, and how building strong internal leaders has allowed him to scale fast while maintaining control. The guys also dig into mental toughness, long-term vision, and the daily discipline required to grow a winning culture.

Whether you’re running a single crew or dreaming of multi-location success, this episode is packed with real talk and actionable advice from a guy who’s walking the walk.

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