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.

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.

Spring Kersey

Corporate Administrator

Spring is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of expertise in property management, encompassing both commercial and residential domains. Prior to her career in property management, Spring served as the dedicated office manager of a home health care agency, where she honed her organizational and leadership skills. Embracing change as an opportunity for growth, Spring is now embarking on a new journey, eagerly anticipating fresh challenges and the chance to thrive in the landscaping industry.

Mel McLeod

Corporate Recruiter

Mel is a dedicated professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Spanish from Xavier University. With over five years of experience as a recruiter in the warehouse and manufacturing industries, Mel has honed a deep understanding of human resources practices and a keen eye for identifying top talent. Mel's true passion lies in fostering upward mobility for employees, tirelessly working to create opportunities for career growth and development within organizations. With a strong commitment to enhancing workplace dynamics and promoting the professional advancement of individuals, Mel stands as a catalyst for positive change in the world of HR and talent acquisition.

Chris Hayes

Fleet Manager

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.

Mac Schweitzer

Fleet Mechanic

Mac is a seasoned mechanic with over a decade of hands-on experience in the field. Recognizing the need for growth and innovation, he embarked on an educational journey, returning to school to specialize in diesel mechanics, a decision that has propelled his career in the landscaping industry to new heights. With seven years of dedicated service in landscaping, Mac's expertise extends across the entire spectrum, from fine-tuning 2-cycle engines to tackling heavy equipment with finesse. His unwavering commitment to excellence and constant pursuit of knowledge make him a valuable asset in the world of mechanics and landscaping.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Paul James

Employee Development 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.

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.

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.  

Matt Eveleth

Operations Specialist

Matt started in the landscape industry part time in high school as a Crew Member and Greenhouse Assistant in Michigan in the early 2000's.  Matt moved to Cincinnati in 2009 and began working full time for a large landscape company as a Crew Leader and eventually became an Operations Manager.  Matt recently joined GroundSystems and is excited to be part of a team that takes pride in their work and the landscapes they create for customers.

Mike Graves

Regional Account Manager

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.

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

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.

Kyle Guthrie

Production Manager, Dayton

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.  Kyle's goal is to assist the branch leadership with ensuring the team is positioned to provide the best service to GroundSystems customers and the best experience for GroundSystems employees.

Hunter Lansaw

Business Development Manager, Dayton

Hunter Lansaw, a fresh entrant into the landscaping industry, embarked on his professional journey with a unique background. At the age of 18, he dove into the world of logistics, serving as a Logistics Account Executive for a national freight brokerage. For seven years, Hunter honed his skills in the intricacies of transportation and logistics, navigating the complex web of freight management.  In 2023, he made a bold career move, leaving the freight industry to join GroundSystems. Now, armed with his diverse experience, Hunter brings a unique perspective to his role, contributing fresh ideas and a dynamic approach to his role as a Business Development Manager.

Jim Moore

Operations Manager, Dayton

Jim began his career in the landscape industry in the 1980's. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. He ran is own successful design/build firm in the Dayton market for over 20 years. Jim's design experience and his attention to detail ensures our customers experience a very high quality result.

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.   

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.

Brian Bowermaster

Operations Manager, Dayton

Brian began his career with GroundSystems at the end of 2018. Brian uses his wealth of landscaping knowledge to guide his crews and provide the very best experience for our customers.

Nick Berning

Account 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.

Jim Bishop

Branch Manager, Cincinnati

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, Cincinnati

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.

Michael Furbay

Business Development Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Shawn Leighton

Account Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Joel Scott

Account Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Joe Rucker

Account Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Mitch Hardin

Account Manager, Cincinnati

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.

 

Scott Mullins

Account Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Bruce Flege

Operations Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Austin Bishop

Operations Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Nate Cordrey

Operations Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Patrick Williams

Operations Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Jacob Schroeder

Operations Manager, Cincinnati

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.

Ken Brewer

Branch Manager, Northern Kentucky

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ryan Palmer

Production 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.

Kevin Milliken

Account Manager, Northern Kentucky

Kevin started in the landscape industry in 2006 as a Crew Member. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, he accepted a positions as a Supervisor working for a national landscape company. Kevin has served in a variety of operations and customer service roles within the green industry during his career. His experience gives him the knowledge to work with customers to create the best solution that meets their needs.

Brandon Wood

Operations Manager, Northern Kentucky

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.

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.

Matt Wantz

Operations 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.

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.   

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