From mowing lawns with a Jeep Liberty and one truck to running a million-dollar landscaping company in just four years, Jacob Peffer’s journey is one you’ll want to hear.

At only 24, Jacob has grown GreenerConcepts into a thriving business, proving that with the right mindset, mentorship, and strategy, massive growth is possible in a short amount of time.

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes talks with Jacob live from the 2025 SIMA Symposium about:

• How he grew GreenerConcepts from 1 truck to $1M in four years
• The role mentorship and coachability played in his success
• Why hiring an operations manager is the key to his next stage of growth
• What he’s learned about retention, leadership, and building team culture

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to scale a landscaping business fast, this episode delivers real-world insights from someone building it right now.

Show Notes:

Watch the full episode + read the transcript: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ 

Get free marketing resources + beef jerky: https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox

GreenerConcepts: https://www.greenerconceptslcs.com/ 

Connect with Jacob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-peffer-052202197/ 

Join us at an upcoming event: https://landscapersguide.com/events 

Isolation. Burnout. And feeling invisible in a male-dominated industry.

These are just a few of the challenges women face in the snow and landscape world — whether they’re operators, spouses, or business owners themselves.

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, host Jack Jostes interviews Val Lesak, co-founder of Influential Encounters, live from the Ramblin Jackson booth at the SIMA Symposium. Val shares how she’s helping build a nationwide community that supports women in snow, landscape, and construction.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why “snow wives” often feel alone — and how you can help
• How Influential Encounters is creating real connection and support
• The top communication and boundary-setting challenges women face
• Why community is essential for retention, leadership, and long-term success in the trades

👉 This episode isn’t just for women. If someone you know works in or supports this industry, send them this episode. It might be the conversation they’ve been missing.

Show Notes:

Watch the full episode + read the transcript: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast
Get free marketing resources + beef jerky: https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

Learn more about Influential Encounters: https://www.influentialencounters.com
Connect with Val Lesak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val-lesak/ 

Follow Influential Encounters:
Instagram: @influential_encounters
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/influential-encounters/ 

You’re closing deals, working hard, and watching the money come in…

But your bank account still isn’t growing. What gives?

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes interviews Jeff Heller, a Profit First Professional, landscape industry consultant at The Green Executive, and SIMA 2025 Board Member, about why so many snow and landscape companies struggle with cash flow — and how to fix it.

Here’s ONE thing Jeff wants landscapers to know: If your profit is “whatever’s left over,” you’re doing it backwards.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your income statement is lying to you
• The 5 core Profit First accounts (and how to set them up)
• Real strategies to start paying yourself consistently

🎧 Ready to stop wondering where your money is going?

Watch or listen now — and start running your business with clarity.

Show Notes:

📺 Watch + Read the Full Episode:

https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ 

🎁 Get Free Tools + Beef Jerky:

https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

📬 Connect with Jeff Heller:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-heller-csp-pfp-5446217/ 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://thegreenexecutive.com/profit-first/ 

📌 Learn More About SIMA:

SIMA 2025 Board of Directors: https://www.sima.org/board 

Artificial turf is booming—but too many landscapers are cutting corners and losing money.

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes sits down with Steve Rice, the founder of Lawn Kings and Titan Turf Supply. From Hollywood movie sets to thousands of installs across the U.S., Steve shares what it really takes to do turf right.

Here’s one thing Steve wants every landscaper to know:

The base prep is everything. Skip it, and you’ll lose trust—and repeat business.

You’ll hear:

• Why cheap installs are hurting your brand
• The key installation details that most people miss
• How Steve scaled two turf companies with top-tier service

🎧 Want to build a reputation (and business) that lasts?

Watch or listen now—this one’s full of real-world insight.

Show Notes:

🌐 Lawn Kings: lawnkingsinc.com 

📧 Contact: [email protected] | [email protected] 

🌱 Titan Turf Supply: titanturfsupply.com 

📧 Contact: [email protected] 

📺 Watch + Read the Full Episode: landscapersguide.com/podcast 

🎁 Get Free Tools + Beef Jerky: landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

📅 Catch Jack at Upcoming Events: landscapersguide.com/events 

What does it take to lead a multi-state snow and landscape company, when you didn’t grow up in the industry?

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes sits down with Eddy Zakes, CEO of Earth Development, to explore how grit, values, and systems fuel business growth.

Eddy shares:

• What it’s like to acquire and lead a company as an outsider to the industry
• How Earth Development builds long-term partnerships with clients and service providers
• His personal discipline—training for an Ironman while running a growing company
• Why hiring for grit, not just experience, makes all the difference

If you're thinking about leadership, recruiting, or scaling with purpose, this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen in and get inspired to build a business (and life) that aligns with your values.

Show Notes:

📺 Watch the full episode + read the transcript: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast 

🌐 Learn more about Earth Development:
https://earthdevelopmentinc.com 

👤 Connect with Eddy Zakes on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddyzakes 

🎥 Want a video like this for your business?
https://ramblinjackson.com/video 

📅 Catch Jack at upcoming events:
https://landscapersguide.com/events 

For years, Theiss Landscape Works gave away free estimates and paid the price in unqualified leads, sales chaos, and owner burnout.

Then they stopped…

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Monty and Justin Theiss share the bold decisions they made after partnering with Ramblin Jackson—decisions that led to stronger leads, smoother operations, and their biggest December ever.

💥 If your sales process feels messy, manual, or totally dependent on you as the owner... this is your sign to fix it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why charging for consultations didn’t scare clients—it pre-qualified them
• How they replaced the owner in sales with a branded, scalable system
• The real results: better-fit leads, happier staff, and serious momentum toward $10M

🎧 Ready to stop wasting time on bad leads—and finally build a sales process that works?

Hit play now.

Show Notes:

📺 Watch the full episode + read the transcript:
 https://landscapersguide.com/podcast

🎁 Tell us where to send your beef jerky:
 https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox

🌱 Connect with Theiss Landscape Works:
 https://theisslandscapeworks.com

📞 Book a 15-Minute Marketing Brainstorm Call:
 https://landscapersguide.com/brainstorm

📅 Catch Jack at upcoming events:
 https://landscapersguide.com/events

You’re not BrightView. You don’t have a $100 million budget, a fleet of trucks, or an army of marketers. But guess what? You don’t need it.

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes shares how small, family-owned landscape companies are outranking national giants — with one simple thing most businesses still overlook.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Google reviews give small businesses a real edge over big brands
• What Google’s 2025 SEO leak revealed — and what to do about it
• Why most AI content falls flat, and how to make it actually sound like you

👀 Tired of chasing the wrong leads? Want to close more of your Hell Yes Customers?

Listen now and start doing this one thing better — today.

Show Notes:

📺 Watch the full episode + read the transcript: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast 

🎁 Get free tools + beef jerky: https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

📅 Catch Jack at upcoming events: https://landscapersguide.com/events 

🎤 Book Jack to speak at your event: http://landscapersguide.com/speaking 

If you own or manage a snow and landscape company, you're probably already hearing a lot about AI. But are you actually using ChatGPT to coach your team, lead more effectively, and grow your business?

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes shares how he’s using ChatGPT at Ramblin Jackson to streamline management, improve communication, and lead with more confidence. Whether it’s running a 30-day check-in, preparing for a tough feedback conversation, or coaching based on DISC profiles—Jack shows how AI can be your behind-the-scenes assistant for people management.

This episode is full of real-world examples from a growing landscape marketing agency—and it's especially relevant for owners and managers in the green industry who want to stay ahead of the curve.

In this episode, we learn:

• 📋 How to use ChatGPT to prep for team check-ins, 1:1s, and leadership meetings
• 💬 Prompts for praising employees, correcting behavior, and improving accountability
• 🤖 Why AI is a valuable tool (not a replacement) for snow and landscape business managers

If you’re serious about growing your landscape or snow company (and leading a team that actually thrives), don’t miss this conversation.

Show Notes: 

📺 Watch the full episode + see the transcript: https://landscapersguide.com/podcast/ 

🥓 Tell us where to send your beef jerky sampler: https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

📞 Want to talk strategy for your landscape company? Book a brainstorm call: https://landscapersguide.com/brainstorm 

What if better landscaping sales started with empathy?

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes sits down with Todd Brown from Southern Classic Landscape Management. After nearly 40 years in business, Todd shares what he’s learned about running a high-touch company rooted in trust, clear communication, and treating clients like family—even when things go wrong.

From handling a stolen magnolia tree and $50 underpayment with grace, to training his kids and team to lead with respect, Todd’s philosophy is simple but powerful: do good work, return calls, and listen first.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

•  Why empathy is Todd’s first step in any tough conversation
•  How clear documentation and follow-through prevent client friction
• The sales mindset that keeps clients happy—and coming back
•  What it’s like running a family business with his son and daughter

Whether you’re running a large crew or selling your first job, this episode is packed with leadership lessons and real-world strategies you won’t want to miss.

Show Notes:

🔗 Watch the full episode + transcript:

https://landscapersguide.com/landscaping-with-empathy-how-todd-brown-builds-trust-family-and-long-term-clients 

🌐 Southern Classic Landscape Management:

https://www.southernclassiclandscape.com 

🧰 Get your Landscaper’s Marketing Toolbox + Jerky:

https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

🎯 Book a Free 15-Minute Marketing Brainstorm:

https://landscapersguide.com/brainstorm 

What if your kid knew how to handle cyberbullying before it started?

In this episode of The Landscaper’s Guide, Jack Jostes interviews Ashley Parker, a high school author, illustrator, and founder of the nonprofit Click With Kindness. After facing online harassment herself, Ashley took action—writing and illustrating Sasha Goes to Cyberspace, a children's book designed to help elementary-aged students understand the risks of digital life and how to navigate them with empathy and confidence.

This conversation is for parents raising kids in a digital world—and for leaders who believe in empowering the next generation with courage, clarity, and purpose.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 📱 What parents should know before giving their kids a smartphone
• 📘 How Ashley wrote, illustrated, and published her own book
• 🌐 Why we need to teach digital kindness earlier than we think
• 💡 How “done beats perfect” applies to parenting, business, and leadership

All proceeds from Ashley’s book support her nonprofit, Click With Kindness, and The Cybersmile Foundation.

Show Notes:

🔗 Watch the full episode + transcript:
https://landscapersguide.com/protecting-your-kids-online-lessons-from-a-high-school-author-fighting-cyberbullying#video

📘 Get Ashley’s book:
https://ashleybparker.com 

💡 Support her nonprofit:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/click-with-kindness-raising-awareness-to-end-cyberbullying 

🧰 Get your Landscaper’s Marketing Toolbox + Jerky:
https://landscapersguide.com/toolbox 

🎯 Book a Free 15-Minute Marketing Brainstorm:
https://landscapersguide.com/brainstorm