40 Under 40 Class of 2022: K&D Landscaping's Justin White

40 Under 40 Class of 2022: K&D Landscaping's Justin White

K&D Landscaping’s Justin White is a Silicon Valley Business Journal 2022 40 Under 40 honoree.

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Local landscape company partners with district to liven school entrance

Duncan Holbert special education preschool to receive ground improvements from charitable landscape company

Duncan Holbert SchoolWATSONVILLE, CA — AUGUST 5, 2022 — Duncan Holbert School & Early Start, part of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Watsonville, is scheduled to receive an outdoor enhancement from K&D Landscaping Inc. as part of their Community Beautification program.

Principal Nichole Salles-Cunha expressed, “K&D Landscaping is providing an enormous gift to the community of Duncan Holbert Preschool by volunteering their time and resources to landscape the front of the preschool. The front landscaping, (which until now has been rock and some very hardy weeds), will provide families who are worried about their child and may be nervous about stepping onto our campus for the first time with a welcoming and cheerful first impression of the school and district.”

K&D Landscaping will devote both labor and materials free of charge, with contribution help from several close-relationship vendors: Graniterock, Davey Tree Expert Company and Z-Best Products (Zanker Recycling). Ground improvements to include removal of dead grass and weeds, as well as installation of weed fabric, drought tolerant plants, a tree for shade, decomposed granite, irrigation to new plants and mulch.

Along with other property improvements the school has recently completed, sprucing up of the campus’ entrance is important to its faculty and students. Principal Nichole Salles-Cunha added, “We have hundreds of families bringing their children here to be assessed or to get special services for their children with disabilities. Families also bring their children here to our site for CCS services. A presentable entry area would really be a nice welcome and let them know they matter.”

 

K&D’s Project Manager, Darlene Beal added insight on what makes this project so significant, “Our landscape designer helped design an outdoor learning area with a shade tree for the students. The school will place a picnic table there so the teachers can hold small group activities, story time, outdoor science and movement opportunities.”

K&D’s crew is scheduled to break ground on Friday, August 5th at the school’s campus located at 140 Herman Ave,

Watsonville, CA 95076. In addition to their Enhancements labor team, all of K&D’s office and administrative employees are invited to come out and lend a helping hand on this project. In line with the company’s core values and culture, K&D makes sure that all employees have an opportunity to contribute through this program.

K&D has been recognized for their commitment in giving back with multiple accolades throughout the community. They have received several awards of excellence from the California Landscape Contractors Association, including the Nelson Colvin Humanitarian Award for a previous Community Beautification project. They were honored as the 2020 Business of the Year by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce, were bestowed the Volunteer Center’s Be the Difference Award in 2019 and are on target to create 300 local jobs by 2030!

For additional insight into K&D’s Community Beautification program, visit https://kndlandscaping.com/community-beautification/.

About Duncan HolbertAbout Duncan Holbert & the Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Duncan Holbert serves the youngest students in Pajaro Valley Unified School District and provides services to children ages birth through five with disabilities.

“The Mission of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District is to educate and to support learners in reaching their

highest potential. We prepare students to pursue successful futures and to make positive contributions to the community and global society.” For more information, visit https://selpa-pajaro-ca.schoolloop.com/.

About K&D Landscaping, Inc.

K&D Landscaping has been serving the local area for over three decades. The company started with just one truck and a lawnmower but has since developed into a successful and growing landscaping business on the Central Coast. With the goal of creating functional and beautiful outdoor living areas for both residential and commercial clients, as well as leading the way in water management and technology-driven maintenance, this company is experiencing explosive growth that shows no signs of slowing down. For more information, please visit https://kndlandscaping.com/ or call (831)728-4018.

For media inquiries, contact Lelah White at (831)854-3003; lelah@kndlandscaping.com


Local CEO Justin White honored as Silicon Valley’s “40 Under 40”

SAN JOSE, CA - JULY 2022 – Silicon Valley Business Journal has announced their honorees for this year’s “40 Under 40” awards. Included in this impressive group of rising Bay Area entrepreneurs was Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping, headquartered in Watsonville, CA. These up and coming individuals are paving the way for the future of the Silicon Valley and their course of progress worthy of being watched. Other honorees in the group consist of tech leaders from Google, SAP, San Francisco 49ers and other Bay Area movers.

All 40 honorees will be recognized at this year’s “40 Under 40” in-person event held on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at the Serpentine Pavilion in San Jose. This “venue” is actually a traveling architectural exhibit created by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels. Tickets to the event are available here.

About Justin White

Justin WhiteJustin White is the CEO of K&D Landscaping, a full-service construction, water management and maintenance company located in Santa Cruz county, California. Taking over the family business in 2015, White has focused on sustainable growth with increased profitability. Expanding upon a solid foundation his parents built over 30 years ago, White took K&D from a small, $1 million mom-and-pop operation to a humming $12 million, technology-driven company in just the last 6 years.

White is an active member of the community; sitting on multiple non-profit boards and leading many community beautification projects to fruition. He donates his time and knowledge through guest appearances on informational webinars and business podcasts, speaking at local schools and national conferences, and mentoring other hopeful second-generation CEOs.

White has embraced technology and focuses on being a leader in the industry with his innovative strategies. With momentum on their side, K&D is poised to continue their aggressive growth trajectory with a goal of $30 million by 2030.

About Silicon Valley Business Journal

Is a publication “where you'll find the latest breaking business news, updated throughout the day, this week's top stories from the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and other popular features from the print edition. Email products include daily business news updates, dozens of popular topics from around the nation, and the latest networking and marketing alerts.” Additional information located at Familybusinessmagazine.com.

SVBJ’s parent company, American City Business Journals “is a multi-platform media company providing in-depth coverage of local business communities and breaking news. Through print, digital products and face-to-face events, ACBJ offers business leaders many avenues for making connections and gives them a competitive edge locally, regionally and nationally. ACBJ is the premier media solutions platform for companies that target business decision-makers.

For information visit acbj.com.

About K&D Landscaping, Inc.

K&D Landscaping has been serving the local area for over 35 years. The company started with just one truck and a lawnmower but has since developed into a successful and growing landscaping business on the Central Coast. With the goal of creating functional and beautiful outdoor living areas for both residential and commercial clients, as well as leading the way in water management and technology-driven maintenance, this company is experiencing explosive growth that shows no signs of slowing down. For more information, please visit https://kndlandscaping.com/ or call (831)728-4018.

For media inquiries, contact Lelah White at (831)854-3003; lelah@kndlandscaping.com


Key adjustments to make to overcome current supply chain issues

Initially published - July 18, 2022 - LandscapeManagement.net

Troy Oster, senior category manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, is nearing the 20-year mark in his career. He looks back at the last 18-plus months as some of the most challenging, yet rewarding, of his career.

“Every day is different; every new day is a new challenge,” he says. “I love hopefully being able to solve some of those challenges to help our customers get work and get that work done.”

Oster says supply chain challenges in the irrigation industry have been quite the curveball for him and his customers. He cites a general shortage of components, longer delivery times, increased freight costs and high demand as the perfect storm that has created this supply chain drama.

But he stresses that this is not an industry that makes excuses, it is an industry that gets it done.

“The people are the bedrock of the industry; these people have a get-it-done attitude,” Oster says. “Everyone is dealing with these challenges. Look at the last few years, there have been a number of challenges. But business has been good. That speaks to (the industry) figuring it out and getting it done — the suppliers, the manufacturers, the installers, everyone.”

Landscape Management spoke with Oster, Justin White of K&D Landscape in Santa Cruz, Calif., and Andrew Moberly at Yellowstone Landscape in Nashville about what their current supply chain challenges are and what they’re doing to overcome the obstacles.

Products in need

K&D Landscape is a full-service company that operates in the Bay area of California. Justin White, CEO, says there are a number of products that used to be readily available that now are challenging to obtain. He lists plastics, backflows, stone, hardscaping materials, small equipment and vehicles as all having some form of challenges associated with obtaining them.

“We’re looking into the future a lot more than we used to when it comes to material procurement,” White says. “If we don’t, we either find ourselves changing the product we spec’d on the fly — that doesn’t go over well with the client — or we change the schedule. And that also doesn’t go well with the client.”

Andrew Moberly, irrigation manager at Yellowstone, says backflows and MP rotators are on his shortlist of products that have been harder to get in recent months. Unexpected delays in the supply chain could force companies to reschedule jobs. (Photo: SiteOne Landscape Supply)

“There are a lot of issues with getting the necessary supplies,” Moberly says. “The day-to-day products can run out. Our local distributors are always looking out for us. They might say, ‘X product is scarce, you need to look at this alternative.’ You never want to be surprised. We use SiteOne, and they take the surprise out.”

Lessons learned

White says K&D Landscape has made a commitment to staying on top of the supply chain drama by creating a weekly meeting they call “three-month lookouts.”

“Once a week we look and see what products we’ll need,” White says. “And we have one person, our chief operations officer, making sure everyone is doing these look-aheads … because it’s easy to let them fade off the schedule after a few weeks.”

White adds another adjustment they’ve made is carrying a larger supply of products. He notes that K&D also works with SiteOne, which gives them more control of their inventory.

Moberly says he’s learned that he needs to be more flexible when it comes to trying different brands.

“I know myself, and I know I get stuck in my ways,” he says. “I only use X product. Well, there are a ton of great products, not just two. I’ve learned to try them.”

Oster says the main lesson he’s learned is how important it is to keep communication lines open with everyone involved in the process.

“Communicate that this is real,” Oster says. “The time is going to take longer, and the prices have gone up. Try to get everyone to grasp this. Open the dialogue that there are challenges and a need to be flexible with alternative products.”

Looking ahead

How much longer will these supply chain challenges be the norm? Opinions differ.Troy Oster, senior category manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, says communicating with everyone involved on a project is as important as ever with supply chain challenges. (Photo: SiteOne Landscape Supply)

“I think the general sentiment is that there is some optimism,” Oster says. “We are by no means out of the woods, but we see some improvements upcoming.”

Moberly was not optimistic.

“My gut says it’s not getting better any time soon,” he says.

White, meanwhile, doesn’t see it in black and white, but in gray.

“I expect us to see an increase in supply in the next 12 to 18 months,” White says. “I see manufacturing ramping up. Barring any COVID-related shutdowns, I think in quarter two or quarter three of 2023, we’re done. What I don’t see? I don’t see the prices stalling or coming down for a few years.”


Wild in the West

Initially Published 7/22 - LawnandLandscape.com

Alternative water conservation methods like drip irrigation and xeriscaping have long been a way of life in the west, but in California, landscapers are ramping up efforts to keep pace with rapidly changing restrictions.

As all 58 counties in the state are under a drought emergency proclamation, lawmakers are quickly imposing several rules to reduce water usage. For Justin White, it’s reminiscent of the early COVID-19 days, where essential business distinctions and social distancing rules varied from spot to spot.

“Like those laws in 2020, they’re putting the buggy before the horse here because they don’t have a clear enforcement plan,” says White, the CEO at K&D Landscaping.

Of course, there are some obvious tells that someone might be watering more than permitted — if their grass is bright green, it’s a clear indication that they’ve continued to water abundantly. But enforcing watering limitations — and punishment for those who don’t play by the rules — is a little trickier.

“It’s kind of like the pandemic. There’s not really a set guideline yet,” says David Price, the executive director at American Landscape. “Each county has their own interpretation of it at this point, so we’re trying to simplify it for ourselves at this point.”

THE WILD WEST

Navigating the plethora of watering rules is tough because companies that operate in several counties might have different guidelines they must follow. Price says he’s found the statewide laws to be the most restrictive, so while each part of California may interpret those rules differently, he’s trying his best to abide by the statewide viewpoint.

In some parts of Southern California, lawmakers recently determined that individuals may only water their lawns once a week. In other areas of the state, most counties or municipalities are down to just two days a week, but some are restricted in that they can’t water until two days after rain. Some are limited strictly by just how much water they can use in total.

There are also some bans on watering decorative lawn areas in general. “Any lawn that is not where people gather, sports field or a park, has to stop being irrigated for the time being, which is significant,” White says. “We’re talking thousands and thousands and thousands of acres that are now going to go brown. We’ve advocated against this because we feel there are other restrictions that can go into place.”

For Price, he’s seen that some folks who use weather-based controllers are getting more wiggle room in their restrictions. The controllers are managing the water effectively if the technology is working appropriately anyway.

With that in mind, he hopes agencies start funding or roll out rebates to help kickstart widespread weather-based controller adoption.

For a period of time years ago, Price remembers when agencies would cover 80% of projects to do turf reduction, implementing drip irrigation or installing more native plants. The clients or municipalities would cover the remaining 20%. With this financial backing, they were even able to start using more high-density polyethylene piping rather than the more traditional copper piping, which is less prone to leaks.

But all that funding has dried up, so it’s been more difficult to ramp up the water-saving tactics necessary during the drought. And as California goes, so too does the rest of the West.

“California has been very much on the forefront of it,” Price says.

PLAYING BY THE RULES

Part of the strict restrictions are because homeowners, HOAs corporations and , yes, landscapers , weren’t able to abide by the early iterations of restrictions in the first place.


Smart Irrigation Month Q&A: K&D Landscaping

Smart Irrigation Month Q&A: K&D Landscaping

Smart irrigation is only made possible due to the companies, providers, manufacturers and individuals that push the envelope daily when it comes to efficient water use. To celebrate this year’s Smart Irrigation Month sponsored by HydroPoint, Irrigation & Lighting magazine sought to highlight these sustainability champions through a series of Q&As spanning through July.

Forrest Wallace, CLT, CLIA, QCM, irrigation manager at K&D Landscaping Inc., Watsonville, California, breaks down K&D’s unique smart irrigation involvement, what it means to them as a company and how they’ll push for an even better future of irrigation.

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drought tolerant landscaping

Landscape company hosts Central Coast Water Summit in efforts to educate and rally community

With water restrictions and drought concerns on the rise, K&D Landscaping’s Water Management Department presented its first annual Central Coast Water Summit.   

APTOS, CA --- MARCH 31, 2022 --- On the wake of the driest “wet season” in our county’s history, K&D Water Management hosted a proactive and educational Water Summit for its community, held at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos.

The main objective of the summit was to drive awareness of the severe drought situation and open up discussion on how to make an impact through proper irrigation management. A common opinion was formed that some progress has been made, but there is still room to improve in areas of water conservation.

This groundbreaking event brought together the most preeminent and engaged group of water management and irrigation professionals the central coast had yet to see. The all-day summit delivered education and knowledge about what water management is as it relates to the landscape industry and how the community can use it to better businesses/properties, while staying compliant with ever-increasing conservation restrictions.

Attendees soaked up powerful presentations from speakers such as, Jim Borneman (Vice President, Ewing Irrigation), Bob Costa (Owner, Pacific Water Management), Michael Johnson (Horticulturist, Educator, Water Management Specialist) and Justin White (CEO, K&D Landscaping).

Six, local water districts were also a part of the day with a panel discussion regarding water rates, water restrictions, rebates and to take questions from the audience:  California American Water, City of Santa Cruz Water Department, City of Watsonville Water Division, Marina Coast Water District, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, and Soquel Creek Water District.

A second panel was also held of industry-leading manufacturers who answered questions about new technology and how attendees could utilize free resources to educate themselves and their teams. The sold out attendance included landscape contractors, property managers, HOA board members, municipality employees/managers, landscape architects, designers, suppliers, technicians, students and multiple other professionals connected to the landscape industry.

The Summit’s impeccable timing followed Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent executive order on March 28, 2022, calling for “the Water Board to consider a ban on watering of decorative grass around commercial, industrial and institutional buildings”. The order declares for “local water suppliers to move into the Level 2 Water Shortage Contingency Plans which require locally-appropriate actions that will conserve water across all sectors, and directing the State Water Resources Control Board to consider a ban on the watering of decorative grass at businesses and institutions.” More information and a copy of the executive order can be found here.

About the K&D Water Management Department

The K&D Landscaping family has been hard at work developing a water management service that will revolutionize how the industry handles irrigation and water use. With their technology-centric, proactive approach to managing the irrigation water applied to a property’s landscape, they are able to save their clients water and money, all without compromising the health of the landscape in the process, staying within budget and following local restrictions.

About K&D Landscaping, Inc.

K&D has been recognized for their commitment in giving back with multiple accolades throughout the community. They have received several awards of excellence from the California Landscape Contractors Association, including the Nelson Colvin Humanitarian Award for a previous Community Beautification project. They were honored as the 2020 Business of the Year by the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce, were bestowed the Volunteer Center's Be the Difference Award in 2019 and are on target to create 300 local jobs by 2030!

K&D Landscaping has been serving the local area for over three decades. The company started with just one truck and a lawnmower but has since developed into a successful and growing landscaping business on the Central Coast. With the goal of creating functional and beautiful outdoor living areas for both residential and commercial clients, this company is experiencing explosive growth that shows no signs of slowing down. For more information, please visit https://kndlandscaping.com/ or call (831)728-4018.

 

For media inquiries, contact Lelah Welfring at (831)854-3003; lelah@kndlandscaping.com


Lawn & Landscape Article: An Average Day with Justin White

Justin White

Email and phone management is big for Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping near Santa Cruz, Calif. He was getting 60 unscheduled calls a day, so he stopped answering them and is down to two or three a day.

“The other ritual I have is email management,” he says. “I think it’s important to not be married to your email. I block out time to respond to emails and that is typically at 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.”

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