Growth in Action: Lessons From the 2025 Jeffrey Scott Summer Growth Summit

Industry leaders don’t just talk about growth — they show what it looks like in action. That was the spirit of the 2025 Jeffrey Scott Summer Growth Summit, hosted in Cleveland, Ohio, by Schill Grounds Management in partnership with Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc. 

Over three days, more than 300 professionals from across the country came together to learn, collaborate and see firsthand how a collective brand can scale while keeping the feel of a family-driven business.

Day 1: Setting the Stage for Growth

The Summit opened with a keynote from Jeffrey Scott, president of Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc., who delivered a forward-looking perspective on the state of the landscaping and snow industries. His challenge to attendees was clear: think differently about leadership, scalability and the opportunities in today’s market.

“What stood out most wasn’t their size, but how they’ve scaled while keeping a small-company feel,” Scott said. “They have a true clarity of vision and alignment of their team.”

That alignment was on full display throughout the day, as Jerry Schill, founder and president of Schill Grounds Management, and the leadership team shared insights on building winning teams, gamifying operations and setting performance benchmarks. The message was consistent: growth begins with intentional leadership and a culture of excellence.

Day 2: Seeing Excellence in Action

On the second day, attendees rotated between two Schill facilities for a firsthand look at operations. They saw the systems and processes that deliver consistency, scale and performance across regions.

Seventeen presenters from across Schill's brands shared best practices in account management, design-build, business development, maintenance and snow operations. Highlights included:

• Dave Leff, TLC & Strauser Nature’s Helpers, on coaching and leadership.
• Gary Brester, Elevations, on commercial account management.
• Chris Mace, Gelderman Landscaping, on design-build strategy.
• Steve Hurrell, TLC Landscaping, on installation best practices.
• Jared Winn, BAM Outdoor, on snow operations.

Each presenter brought the unique strengths of their brand to the stage while reinforcing one standard of excellence across the Collective.

“There was no hint of silos or internal competition,” Scott said. “Despite their growth, the company displayed a gritty small-company attitude. That kind of culture comes from intentional leadership and a drive for excellence.”

Day 3: Building the Future Together

The final day brought strategy to the forefront with executive-level sessions on KPIs, talent acquisition and scalable processes.

Aaron Whitaker, chief operating officer of Schill Grounds Management, summed it up during one session: “We are hard on process, soft on people.”

That balance resonated with attendees and with Scott, who praised the Schill executive team for its ability to handle live Q&A with clarity and alignment.

Day 3 underscored what makes Schill and its partners unique: it is not just focused on the present, but on building the foundation for sustainable growth and leadership across North America.

The Power of a Collective Brand

The Summit was more than an event; it was proof that when multiple companies align under one vision, the results are greater than the sum of their parts.

Together, Strauser, Andrews, TLC, BAM, Pinnacle Landscaping, Enviroscapes, Gelderman, Elevations and Schill Grounds Management demonstrated the breadth of knowledge and expertise within the Collective. Each brand contributed its perspective, and together they showcased what it means to operate as one organization with:

• Shared knowledge.
• Consistent standards.
• Relentless focus on client success.

“Every person we met had a strong understanding of what others in the organization do,” Scott said. “More importantly, everyone knew and actively used their systems. This discipline allowed them to grow and maintain customer satisfaction.”

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

A special thank-you to the sponsors who helped make the 2025 Jeffrey Scott Summer Growth Summit such a meaningful experience. Their partnership and support underscore the collaborative spirit that drives growth across our industry:

• Aspire Software
• Compass Creative
• Greenius
• Hyre
• Intrigue Media
• Jeffrey Scott Consulting, Inc.
• Landscape Management
  
• People Solutions Center
• Proven Winners
• Team Engine
  

Looking Ahead

Hosting the Jeffrey Scott Summer Growth Summit was both an opportunity to give back to the industry and a celebration of the great business we are building together.

To every team member, presenter, sponsor and partner brand who made this event a success: thank you. Each of you proved that the future of this industry will be shaped by leaders who collaborate, innovate and raise standards.

At Schill Grounds Management — and across the collective — that is exactly what we intend to do