Posted by Jeff Sebert on January 28, 2019

As a landscape professional, sometimes we work in conditions that don’t do justice to our training and skill. For me, that is far from reality. I have had the opportunity not only to talk the talk but also walk the walk.

It was my love for nature that inspired me to start my business in 1985. As a kid, I spent a lot of time at a pond near my home in Wood Dale, IL. I played around this pond all summer and in the winter. The cold weather didn’t deter me; I would use the pond as an ice skating rink.

Growing a Willow, Growing a Business

When I was 13, I spotted a willow tree during my walk home. I dug it up, moved it to the pond and took care of it — and it grew to be more than 100 feet tall.

Fast forward to 25 years later: I drove past the same pond with my wife and two boys, and my willow tree was still there. I took a cutting from the tree and eventually planted a sapling near the pond back at my home in Marengo. That tree today is more than 65 feet tall.

My love for the outdoors really inspired my career. But my first job out of high school helped to dictate what direction I would take. I worked for a local landscaping company for five years, several of those years as a crew foreman. I asked the owner if I could take on other job responsibilities; he said there were none. In other words, I had no place or opportunity to grow. I vowed from that day on that if I ever owned a company, creating opportunities for my employees would take top priority.

Becoming a Business Owner

My path to becoming a business owner started with working on Saturdays and picking up odd jobs. As the demand for my services grew, I bartered landscaping for the use of a garage. By 1985, I opened my own business location in Itasca and worked out of that location for four years.

From there, I purchased the property in Bartlett that now is home of our corporate headquarters. For three decades, I made a concerted effort to grow my company so that I could offer opportunities for my employees.

Back in 2009, I was fortunate enough to create a platform to demonstrate who we are and what we do. We built a LEED Gold certified building with 14,000 square feet of office space and 14,000 square feet of shop space. Our building features a green roof, solar panels, and high-efficiency cooling and lighting systems. We also have a 5,000-gallon water feature that works in concert with a rain garden and permeable pavers to help detain storm water.

Looking To The Future

Moving to the next generation: This business and industry is about bringing in the younger people. I want to continue to offer opportunities to those who have a similar passion as me — and I’m continually working on building a company that inspires the younger generation to be part of the landscape industry.

Jeff is founder and president of Sebert Landscaping