In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Christian Heaviland to unpack the evolution of a family landscaping business into a major acquisition by BrightView. Christian shares what it was like growing up in the green industry, the behind-the-scenes of selling a company, and how he’s navigating the current wave of private equity interest flooding the market.

They dig into the real challenges facing landscape companies today: labor shortages, tight margins, and the increasing pressure to operate as a low-cost provider. Christian breaks down why design-build services are gaining traction, how to position your business for exit, and why a strong M&A attorney can be your greatest asset.

Whether you're running a growing operation or planning your next strategic move, this episode is full of real-world insight on how to stay lean, stand out, and scale smart.

In this week’s episode of TradesTalk, Justin White shares what’s happening behind the scenes at K&D Landscaping as the company navigates Q3 of 2025. With $20 million in annual revenue, Justin breaks down how his team is aligning for continued growth, investing in people, and doubling down on strategic clarity.

He also previews two major industry events: The Lean Scaper Conference in Charlotte, where he’ll speak on Sweat Equity, and the Lawn & Landscape Tech Conference in Vegas, where the Disruptors will host the Disruptor Social on July 24th atop Old Red with live music, drinks, and a killer view.

Other highlights include:

• A behind-the-scenes look at quarterly planning and company-wide alignment

• Why “Speed over Perfection” is driving key decisions at K&D

• How the Employee Success Team is building internal leaders using tools like Green Yes

• An economic forecast and why Justin’s bullish on Q4 2025 and beyond

• A vision for scalable growth, onboarding excellence, and staying true to what K&D does best

This episode is a must-listen for anyone building a business, leading a team, or planning for long-term growth in the trades.

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Mark Sedgley, CEO of the newly merged LMN and SingleOps, to unpack his unexpected journey from mowing lawns in high school to leading one of the largest software platforms in the green industry.

Mark reflects on a career that spans teaching English in Poland, building a 300-student academy, entering the tech world through startups, and eventually running high-growth companies backed by private equity. Along the way, he’s led multiple acquisitions, prioritized people over process, and scaled culture-first organizations.

They explore what makes the landscape industry so unique: its strong sense of community, opportunity for organic growth, and its massive tech adoption gap. Mark also shares his vision for LMN and SingleOps: a connected ecosystem of tools that helps landscape companies estimate, schedule, invoice, and manage reputation from one platform.

If you’re looking to lead with purpose, embrace growth, and understand what it takes to build real systems that scale, this conversation delivers.

🎙️ Trades Talk Weekly Update #5: Own Your Three – Taking Control & Planning for Success

In this week’s episode of Trades Talk, host Justin White discusses the planning sessions for Quarter Three at K&D Landscaping, emphasizing the importance of setting three key goals, performance indicators, and daily non-negotiables — the foundation of K&D’s quarterly theme: Own Your Three.

Justin reflects on the significance of the 4th of July as a time to celebrate freedom and opportunity, inspiring listeners to take actionable steps toward their goals. He highlights how easy it is today to access the resources and knowledge needed to succeed and encourages everyone to pursue their aspirations with a focus on incremental progress. This episode offers practical strategies and a motivating perspective for anyone ready to stop drifting and start leading their life and business with intention.

Follow Justin:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-white-%E2%98%85-35b7a210b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinwhiteceo/

Disruptors Community: https://www.skool.com/disruptors/about?ref=b2e0b0f99ef04679a485c3753267f34f

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White sits down with Tony Battistella, the new Director of Growth at K & D Landscaping, to talk about how the industry is changing and what still matters most. Tony walks through his journey from park service attendant at 16 to running his own business in New Zealand, and now helping lead one of California’s fastest growing landscape companies. Along the way, he’s worked at nearly every level of the trade and brings a rare, well-rounded perspective to leadership and growth.

The two dive into how AI and automation are beginning to shift the trades, but Tony makes the case that human connection and soft skills will never be replaced. They explore why landscaping is likely to be one of the last industries to fully automate, and what that means for future hiring, training, and growth. Tony also breaks down what great account managers actually do — not just keeping clients happy, but becoming the key link between sales, operations, and long-term retention.

They also talk about the next generation of workers and how to build teams that can adapt, communicate, and thrive in a world where technology is everywhere but authenticity is getting harder to find. With stories from the field, lessons learned from failure, and a mindset rooted in progress over perfection, Tony shares a fresh, grounded vision for what leadership in landscaping should look like.

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin White breaks down why midyear alignment is a non-negotiable for business leaders looking to finish the year strong. He shares a practical framework that includes leadership planning sessions, departmental check-ins, and all-hands meetings designed to align goals, clarify roles, and create momentum across the organization.

Justin also emphasizes the connection between strategic planning and team culture: noting how honest communication, team-building, and goal-setting fuel both business growth and personal fulfillment. From navigating global distractions to resetting metrics and priorities, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a high-performance team.

Whether you're running a company or managing a department, you’ll leave with a roadmap for reigniting focus, communication, and accountability for the back half of the year.

In this episode of TradesTalk, Justin sits down with Eugene Lee, a longtime financial advisor who left a cushy 5-hour workweek to build "Love Your Neighbor"—a startup aiming to revolutionize home repairs.

Inspired by casual “yard beers” with neighbors, Eugene spotted a major gap: when you need a contractor fast, there’s no reliable way to find someone nearby who’s off duty but available. So, he built it. Despite knowing almost nothing about tech, he raised $1.2 million and launched a platform that connects homeowners with local pros for urgent repairs.

What makes Eugene’s story so unique is his willingness to start over. With no coding skills, no tech co-founder, and no playbook, he leaned into community, tapped into his financial network, and stayed committed to solving a real problem. His journey is a powerful example of how trades knowledge and entrepreneurial thinking can collide to create smart, scalable solutions for everyday challenges.

In this forward-looking episode of TradesTalk, Justin White unpacks his recent visit to the Kress Next Summit in Los Angeles, where top landscapers from across the West Coast gathered to see the future of the industry in action.

At the center of the conversation: the Kress Voyager- a fully autonomous, 48-inch zero-turn mower with a 5000-hour lifespan and cutting-edge level 5 autonomy, capable of mowing 5 acres in just 6 hours. With 360-degree obstacle avoidance and no operator required, the Voyager is a bold look at what landscaping will be by 2030.

But this episode is about more than machinery. Justin breaks down his quarterly strategic planning model, where his team sets 5 non-negotiable goals and 5 KPIs every 90 days. He shares why he's considering moving to a 45-day sprint cycle to stay ahead in a fast-moving industry.

Plus, they talk about what it means to lead with transparency, how the Disruptors peer group is helping companies level up, and why embracing change isn't optional; it's essential.

Whether you’re a tech skeptic or an early adopter, this episode is a roadmap for how to plan, adapt, and win in the green industry’s next era.