It’s always been about you.
To be successful in the commercial landscaping business requires more than just great-looking properties. For us, it’s about developing long-term relationships with our own team and with our customers.
Our management team has been maintaining the landscapes for commercial properties in Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky since the early ’80s. We understand the demands put on you, the property managers, and we know how to alleviate your pain points.
Rachel Rorie
President
As President, Rachel oversees our Sales, Operations and Administrative teams. As a founding member of the GroundSystems team, Rachel helped develop many of the systems and processes our company has in place today. Rachel started her career in the landscape industry with GroundMasters in 2000. Since then she has become very well versed in nearly all aspects of a commercial landscaping business. Rachel's goal is to provide her team with the best resources available in all aspects of the business so that they experience a high level of satisfaction with their career at GroundSystems. She hopes that GroundSystems will be known for outstanding customer service and for being a great place to work.
Steve Barhorst
Vice President of Operations
Steve started as a crew member at GroundMasters in 1996 and worked his way up to branch manager. Now, at GroundSystems, Steve oversees all aspects of performing and managing the day-to-day operations. His goal is to ensure the GroundSystems team is always ready to provide the highest level of service possible.
Kris Marsh
Vice President of Accounting & Administration
Kris manages all aspects of accounting and administration. She has more than 20 years of accounting experience - the last ten in the commercial grounds industry. She served as Controller for a national provider and joined GroundSystems in 2014 as Controller.
Amanda Ionna
Accounting Manager
Amanda has more than 20 years of accounting experience. She is focused on providing GroundSystems with accurate, up-to-date financial information.
Camryn Koszo
Corporate Administrator
Camryn is a dedicated professional with five years of experience in the workforce, known for her strong foundation in administrative tasks and her commitment to providing consistent, high-quality customer service. Having started her career in the service industry, Camryn developed exceptional interpersonal and organizational skills that have proven invaluable in her administrative roles. She brings a proactive approach to her work, always eager to expand her knowledge and grow within the landscape industry.
Mark McClanahan
Corporate Projects Manager
Mark has over 40 years of experience in the landscape industry. He worked for several landscape companies before joining GroundMasters in 1999 as an Account Manager. Mark eventually became a Branch Manager serving in this role in two different locations. Mark joined GroundSystems in 2017 and works with the corporate team on systems and procedures.
Paul James
Regional Manager
Paul began his career in commercial landscape in 2005. Throughout his profession, he has held landscaping roles in three large metropolitan areas, serving in every position from Crew Member to Branch Manager. Paul has been fortunate to work with great mentors in the industry, growing his passion for learning and coaching. Having the opportunity to support, train, and develop industry leaders is what he enjoys most about working for GroundSystems, Inc.
Andrea Noonan
HR Administrator
Andrea began her career in the landscape industry in 1995 as an Administrator/HR Coordinator with GroundMasters. After re-locating out of state for three years, Andrea returned to the area - initially working for a variety of industries in an HR capacity before returning to the GroundSystems team in 2019. Andrea’s focus in her role with GroundSystems is to support her customers, the GroundSystems staff, with all aspects of their day-to-day employment needs to ensure they have the internal support they need to give our clients the high level of quality they expect.
Evelia Huffer-Mendoza
Corporate Recruiter
Evelia holds a bachelor’s degree in World Language Education and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bowling Green State University (Go Falcons!). She has dedicated a decade to teaching Spanish, starting with three years in Cincinnati where she inspired K-8 students, followed by seven years in Williamsburg, where she helped high school students master the language. Evelia's academic background brings a wealth of experience to GroundSystems.
Chris Hayes
Fleet Director
Chris founded Landscape Creations in 1982. In 1998, Landscape Creations was acquired by GroundMasters and Chris assumed the role of VP of Operations. Now at GroundSystems Chris works closely with each of the branch leadership teams to ensure they have necessary resources such as labor, materials and equipment to meet the needs of our valued customers.
Gary Kuykendall
Business Development Manager
Gary identifies and delivers the best services and solutions to our clients as the leader of our sales and client management staff. His 30+ year career started as a Principal of GroundMasters. Since then he has lead and participated in all aspects of the industry, from mowing lawns and performing installation work, to designing GroundMasters’ client management software systems and overseeing their best-in-class customer service standards.
Dylan Addleman
Corporate Estimator
Dylan Began his Landscaping career at Groundsystems in 2020 after completing his education at the University of Cincinnati. As the Corporate Estimator, Dylan works closely with each of the branch teams to handle the inflow of opportunities the company receives. Seeking to produce accurate estimates and concise diagrams for customers, Dylan utilizes his background in digital programs to keep Groundsystems innovative and one step ahead of the industry.
Brian Smith
Assistant Estimator
Brian is new to the industry but comes to us with 20+ years of Quality Assurance and Project Management experience. As an Assistant Estimator, Brian works alongside the estimating team as well as each branch sales team to assure customer specific requests are met with absolute accuracy.
Ken Brewer
Design-Build Manager
Kenny began his green industry career over 30 years ago. He worked for several landscape companies prior to joining GroundMasters in 1996 as a landscape designer. Over the years, Kenny held many positions at GroundMasters, including Regional Manager. At GroundSystems, he oversees daily operations to ensure that our team works together to deliver exceptional results to our customers.
Kyle Guthrie
Operations Specialist
Kyle started his journey in the landscape industry 17 years ago as a summer helper for a maintenance company. Since then, he has been in multiple production roles in the landscape and construction trades from Install Foreman to Operations Manager to General Manager of a large company in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kyle joined GroundSystems in 2013 as their first production employee. After re-locating to Utah and coming back to Dayton, Kyle rejoined the team in 2021 as a Production Manager. Now, he is focusing on the crucial task of training and developing future Production Managers, a role that will shape the future of our operations.
Mike Rorie
Board Member
Mike has worked in the commercial grounds industry for over three decades. He started his first company, GroundMasters, with one truck, and grew it to a five-city, regional platform serving 1,200 customers before selling it to a national provider in 2006. As a Board Member, Mike resources the GroundSystems team and provides valuable insight and direction.
Tim Saluga
IT Manager
Tim is a seasoned IT professional with a career that spans over three decades. With a diverse background that includes stints in both the government and software industry, as well as extensive experience in the healthcare sector, Tim has consistently demonstrated his adaptability and expertise in navigating the complex landscapes of IT. Throughout his career, Tim has successfully led both large and small IT teams, showcasing his leadership and managerial skills. Tim's primary goal is to assist the GroundSystems team on a daily basis by making sure they have the technology they need to take the company to the next level.
Jim Bishop
Branch Manager, Tri-County
Jim started his landscaping career over 30 years ago with GroundMasters. He has served in multiple roles and was promoted to Branch Manager. At GroundSystems, Jim oversees the daily operations in the Cincinnati market. He assures excellent customer service and quality product is being delivered daily. Jim enjoys building long-lasting partnerships with customers and his team members.
Joni Adams
Branch Administrator, Tri-County
Joni began her landscape career over 25 years ago as a field employee with a small landscape company, quickly moving into the Office Manager role. When the company closed, she joined the GroundMasters team in 2005 as an Administrator. Her focus at GroundSystems is to provide internal support to the accounting and management teams. Joni also works with our vendors and customers to make sure that no detail is overlooked.
Joel Scott
Account Manager, Tri-County
Joel began his career in in the landscape industry in 1997, and earned his degree in horticulture from Cincinnati State in 2001. After spending two years supervising and installing residential landscapes, he joined the GroundMasters team in 2004 as a Landscape Installation Foreman. Throughout his career, Joel has served in various roles in operations and customer service. Joel is Landscape Industry Certified through NALP, and acts as a judge to candidates for certification. His passion and understanding of how a landscape is presented allows him to help our customers enhance their image.
Mitch Hardin
Account Manager, Tri-County
Mitch began his career in the landscape industry in 2011 as a landscape maintenance crew member. Mitch has held various roles in the landscape industry, from landscape foreman to production manager to account manager. Mitch has found he most enjoys building relationships with customers and fulfilling their landscaping needs. Mitch's progression through the landscape industry has given him a unique attention to detail and the ability to identify customer's needs and deliver quality solutions.
Tim Wood
Account Manager, Tri-County
Tim began his career in the landscape industry in March 2005, working with Cincinnati's premier landscape companies. Over the years, he has managed some of the largest client portfolios, gaining extensive experience in all aspects of grounds maintenance. Tim has held key roles such as Client Manager, Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, and General Manager, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the field. Known for his leadership in recruiting and employee development, he has also played a pivotal role in organizing and facilitating safety and policy training meetings, ensuring team preparedness and operational excellence across his projects.
Bruce Flege
Operations Manager, Tri-County
Bruce began his landscape career in 1991 at a local design/build firm. He transitioned to working for a national provider starting as a Supervisor and moving up to an Operations Manager position. In 2018 Bruce joined GroundSystems as a Landscape Operations Manager. Bruce is Landscape Industry Certified by NALP and participates annually as a judge for NALP to help others become certified. His attention to detail helps ensure that we exceed customer expectations.
Brian Bowermaster
Production Manager, Tri-County
Brian has been an invaluable member of our organization for the past six seasons, serving as Operations Manager for the Dayton branch. During his time with GroundSystems, Brian has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, a solid commitment to operational excellence, and a deep understanding of our business processes. His contributions have been instrumental in achieving our goals and driving the success of GroundSystems.
Patrick Williams
Operations Manager, Tri-County
Patrick started his passion for landscaping in 2013 working for himself part-time. He later joined a residential and commercial company as a crew leader in 2019. Patrick joined our Ground Systems team as a crew leader in 2022 and was quickly promoted to an Operations Manager where he continues delivering top notch service to our customers.
Nate Cordrey
Operations Manager, Tri-County
Nate began his landscape career in 2011 as a crew member for a company specializing in residential properties. After a few years, he took a position at another landscaping company where he was promoted to Crew Leader. In 2020, Nate joined GroundSystems as a Crew Leader and then received a promotion to become an Operations Manager in 2023. As an Operations Manager, Nate confidently works alongside individuals of the GroundSystems team and leads his crews to provide exceptional service and results to all customers.
Matt Eveleth
Branch Manager, Blue Ash
Anna Leen
Branch Administrator, Blue Ash
Anna is a seasoned professional with over ten years of experience in business management and administrative functions. Her diverse background has provided her with extensive expertise in collaborating with support offices, regional operations teams, and leadership. Throughout her career, Anna has excelled in handling a wide range of responsibilities, including HR, payroll, accounting, and various administrative tasks. Transitioning to the landscaping industry, her strong ability to manage complex workflows make her a valuable addition to GroundSystems.
Michael Furbay
Business Development Manager, Blue Ash
Michael began his career in the landscape industry in 1998. He has held numerous positions ranging from Crew Member to Landscape Manager to Account Manager. His passion for the industry compelled him to earn a degree in Horticulture Science in 2014. Michael works with the Cincinnati team to ensure excellent customer service and quality product are delivered every day. He believes trust, honesty, and communication are the keys to creating long lasting relationships.
Scott Mullins
Account Manager, Blue Ash
Scott started in landscaping in 1993 as a crew member with a small landscaping company and knew then this would be his career path. Scott has over three decades of experience in the industry and has held various roles in different landscaping companies. Scott believes that great customer communication, great service, honesty, integrity and trust are the keys to success. Scott enjoys building partnerships with customers and team members. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, family and friends.
Joe Rucker
Account Manager, Blue Ash
Joe brings a wealth of knowledge to our team from his diverse background, which includes forestry, turf management, and irrigation installation and design. Joe joined GroundMasters in 1999 as an Account Manager. In his current position at GroundSystems, he understands it’s quality and customer service first that makes the difference. Joe’s goal is to provide a level of service that exceeds customer expectations.
Shawn Leighton
Account Manager, Blue Ash
Shawn's career in the landscape industry began in 1997 during his high school years when he joined his father's landscaping business. With eight dedicated years at the family-owned company, Shawn honed his skills and developed a passion for the green industry. In 2005, he served as a regional manager for a landscaping company for an impressive nine years. Undeterred, Shawn redirected his expertise towards the equipment side of the industry, spending five years as a Branch Manager at an equipment dealership. In this role, he focused on driving new sales of a diverse range of equipment, from farming machinery to lawn mowers, 2-cycle equipment, and skid steers. Returning to his roots a few years ago, Shawn took on the role of Operations Manager/Account Manager for a Northern Kentucky-based landscaping company. Shawn brings his wealth of experience and Account Management skills to GroundSystems.
Brandon Wood
Production Manager, Blue Ash
Brandon started with GroundSystems in May 2023. He started in the landscape industry when he was 16 and has been in the field for almost 15 years. Brandon has been a crew leader in the landscape field and prior to his position as Operations Manager, he was a foreman in the construction industry working with underground fiber optics. Brandon has a degree from Ivy Tech Community College and brings a wealth of experience to GroundSystems.
Austin Bishop
Operations Manager, Blue Ash
Austin began his landscape career in 2012 at a commercial landscaping company as a crew member before moving into a crew leader role. After a few years he worked road construction where he gathered knowledge of equipment before returning to the green industry in 2021. He joined GroundSystems as a crew leader and in 2022, Austin was promoted to Operations Manager working alongside his team and crews to ensure excellent service is provided to customers.
Paul Broxterman
Enhancement Manager, Blue Ash
Paul has been an invaluable team member for the past four years, serving as an Enhancement Crew Leader with dedication and exemplary performance. Paul brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked in the Golf Course and Parks and Recreation sectors. His strong leadership skills and deep understanding of our operations make him exceptionally qualified to take on this Enhancement Manager role.
Sal Mendoza
Operations Manager, Blue Ash
Jacob Schroeder
Operations Manager, Blue Ash
Jacob started his landscaping career in 2014 working as a crew member for a small, residential company. After working for several landscaping companies, Jacob joined GroundSystems and spent three years leading a crew. Jacob was promoted to the Operations Manager role where he will continue to work with our team to deliver excellent service for our customers.
Jeff Fox
Branch Manager, Dayton
Jeff manages our Dayton branch and strives to provide customers with the highest quality service in the industry. His career in the green industry began in 1992 as a residential landscape contractor. He transitioned to commercial grounds management in 2010 and joined the GroundSystems team in 2014.
Ian Robinson
Regional Administrator, Dayton
Ian began his career in the green industry over 17 years ago with one of the nation's largest lawn care providers , eventually moving into a regional supervisory role. With that, Ian learned a vast amount about the green industry and the various roles and responsibilities that help make a green industry company successful. Ian believes in delivering superb customer service and delivering consistent results.
Mike Graves
Regional Account Manager, Dayton
Mike has been working in the industry since the early 80s, joining the GroundMasters team in 1999. Mike has served in nearly every position a grounds management company has to offer, from crew foreman to account manager. Starting out as a crew foreman and most recently as a regional account manager. He believes trust, honesty and quality are the foundations of a great working relationship and uses these principles to deliver excellent results to our clients.
Jason Edwards
Account Manager, Dayton
Jason has been working in the landscape industry since 2002. He founded his own landscape company in 2007. After many years in the industry, he joined a local company in 2014 as an Account Manager. He has held many roles, from crew member to sales person to Account Manager. Jason joined the GroundSystems team in 2018. He is dedicated to creating long lasting relationships with our customers by providing them with the highest quality service.
Steve Pfau
Account Manager, Dayton
Steve has spent his career in the landscape industry, owning and operating a business while excelling in roles such as Operations and Account Management across the Cincinnati and Dayton markets. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise in our industry, making him a valuable addition to our team.
Nick Berning
Production Manager, Dayton
Nick began his career as a commercial property manager before starting his own lawn and landscaping company in 2013. After the sale of his business in 2019, Nick continued his career in the green industry as Crew Leader for a nationwide tree and grounds management company. He joined GroundSystems in 2022 as Crew Leader and was promoted to Account Manager later that year. Nick holds an associates degree in Real Estate Technology, a Landscape Management Certificate from the National Association of Landscape Professionals, and a Certificate in Sports Turf Management from The Ohio State University. His industry experience and enthusiasm for building long-term relationships with his co-workers and customers make him a valuable member of our team.
Armando Cabrera
Operations Manager, Dayton
Armando started his journey with the company in February 2014 as GroundSystems’ first crew leader. The skills and leadership Armando has demonstrated over the years have proven invaluable. Since the company's inception, he has directly impacted the training and development of nearly every member of the Dayton production team.
Justin Fisher
Enhancement Manager, Dayton
Justin joined the company in 2016 and has been providing quality service for our customers as a Crew Leader on Dayton’s enhancement team and serving in various roles in our snow operations. Beyond his time with our organization, Justin has spent the last thirteen years in the industry developing his skills and leadership abilities. He attended Clark State Community College where he earned an Associate Degree in Landscape Design. He looks forward to growing and leading the Enhancement Department for the Dayton branch.
Juan Navarro
Operations Manager, Dayton
As an H2B Crew Leader, Juan began his journey with our organization in 2016. After delivering great service and quality in the field for six years, he has taken the next step in his career with GroundSystems.
Juan Cabrera
Operations Manager, Dayton
Juan strives to maximize productivity and deliver excellent customer service. He started his career in landscaping in 2014, as a crew member of GroundSystems. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources. Juan worked as a supervisor for DHL Supply Chain before returning to GroundSystems as an Operations Manager in 2017.
Ryan Palmer
Branch Manager, Northern Kentucky
Ryan began his career in the green industry in 2004 maintaining golf courses in Lexington, KY. After relocating to the Tri-State area in 2014, Ryan started as an Operations Manager with a large commercial landscaping outfit. He served this role for nearly five years before transitioning to an Account Manager. Ryan joined GroundSystems in the spring of 2021. His current role of Production Manager focuses on employee recruiting and development, fleet and subcontractor management, material procurement, driving best practices, as well as supporting all daily operations within the branch. Ryan focuses on customers and employees to ensure delivery of safe, consistent, and exceptional service.
Sheila Dean
Branch Administrator, Northern Kentucky
Sheila began her experience as an office administrator in 1999. She joined the landscape industry in 2016 with a large landscape company in Northern Kentucky. She became a part of the GroundSystems’ team through an acquisition and is currently managing the administrative responsibilities for the Northern Kentucky branch.
Eric Edwards
Business Development Manager, Northern Kentucky
Eric developed a passion for the landscaping profession over two decades ago while working as a sales associate for a local nursery. In the spring of 1998, he founded Perfection Landscaping & Design, Inc. Perfection remained in operation until the fall of 2017 when he joined forces with GroundSystems, Inc. He now focuses on building lasting relationships and ensuring our customers receive the impeccable quality and service they have come to expect from the GroundSystems team.
Rory Tormey
Account Manager, Northern Kentucky
Rory began his career in the green industry in 2002 working for GroundMasters. He started as a Crew Member, grew into a Crew Leader, and then began managing landscape departments as an Operations Manager. He is landscape industry certified through NALP and is very knowledgeable in landscape and irrigation installation. Rory's decades of industry experience make him a vital member of the GroundSystems team.
Brian Scott
Account Manager, Northern Kentucky
Brian has worked in the landscape industry for over 20 years. He began working as a crew member and was promoted several times to various roles within management. Brian first came to GroundSystems as an Operations Manager overseeing our landscape installation department. Brian's industry experience and positive attitude make him a great fit for the Account Manager position at GroundSystems.
Victoria Baldwin
Account Manager, Northern Kentucky
Victoria brings over a decade of experience in the industry, with a strong background in exterior and interior installation for commercial and residential projects. Her expertise is further supported by her degrees in Landscape Design and Horticulture from Cincinnati State.
Matt Wantz
Account Manager, Northern Kentucky
Matt began his service at GroundSystems in November of 2021 and was promoted to Maintenance Operations Manager in August of 2022. Matt gained extensive Grounds Management experience by serving 15 plus years at two of the largest cemeteries/arboretums in the United States. At these two institutions, he learned the various facets of grounds and equipment operations as well as the importance of serving customers with top quality care. Matt is a graduate of Erskine College in South Carolina.
Matt Klein
Production Manager, Northern Kentucky
With eighteen years of experience in golf and landscape leadership, Matt brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of excellence in turf and landscape management. An interesting fact about Matt is his passion for professional golf tournament management, having participated in fourteen Masters Tournaments, two Wells Fargo Championships, and the 2008 Ryder Cup.
Zack Getz
Operations Manager, Northern Kentucky
Zack started in the landscape industry in 2001. He has experience in landscape installations, landscape maintenance, sports turf maintenance, and hardscape installations. Zack joined GroundSystems in 2017 as a Landscape Crew Leader and was promoted to Operations Manager. Zack's vast experience, his technical knowledge, and his relationships with his co-workers make him a great fit for the Operations Manager position.
Mike Schmitz
Operations Manager, Northern Kentucky
Mike started in the industry as a technician and salesman for a local power equipment dealership. Since then he has worked in many roles within the landscape industry including crew member and crew leader. Mike joined the GroundSystems team in 2017 as the result of an acquisition. Mike's knowledge of equipment and industry practices make him a great fit for the Operations Manager position.
Shaun Gierach
Operations Manager, Northern Kentucky
Shaun has been an integral part of our GroundSystems team since May 2018, and has consistently demonstrated his dedication, hard work, and expertise. With his extensive experience in landscape installation and management, irrigation systems, and snow removal, Shaun is the right person to lead Northern Kentucky's maintenance teams.
Josh Schoenherr
Operations Manager, Northern Kentucky
Since joining the GroundSystems Blue Ash team in May of 2023, Josh has consistently demonstrated outstanding dedication, initiative, and leadership qualities. As a Crew Leader and now Operations Manager, he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth execution of Enhancements, exhibiting remarkable aptitude and ambition in all his endeavors.