“Dolphin Landscape was a perfect fit for our company,” said Edward Schatz, Jr., president of Austin Outdoor. “We were drawn to the enthusiasm of Dolphin’s leadership and their impeccable landscape care practices and their long-term client relationships. They truly understand and have a passion for the aesthetic beauty they provide in the communities they serve.”
Dolphin Landscape has been led by Kenny Lopez throughout the past 27 years. Lopez has developed the company mainly through word of mouth, which has grown to include 150 employees with offices in Loxahatchee, Palm City and Port St. Lucie. The merger allows Lopez to pursue his strength of relationship building by taking on the role of business development professional with Austin Outdoor.
“I feel honored that Dolphin Landscape is now part of Austin Outdoor. This strategic decision provides my clients with expanded services, resources, expertise and efficiency. Austin Outdoor is the type of company I was looking for with their local, focused Florida presence. I look forward to this endeavor with Austin Outdoor,” said Lopez.
With this merger, Austin Outdoor now serves 12 Florida counties with a combined 500 employees throughout the east central, northeast, central and southeast regions. In January 2009, Austin Outdoor merged with the Yellowstone Landscape Group, one of the largest full service and environmentally focused landscape providers in the United States.
About Austin Outdoor
Austin Outdoor, established in 1994, is a horticultural organization dedicated to creating, building and maintaining sustainable landscapes. The organization provides landscape architecture, landscape construction and landscape management for premier properties and is dedicated to offering a wide range of services that enhance clients’ investments and improve the quality of life. Austin Outdoor operates from its Florida offices in Bunnell/Flagler County (headquarters), Jacksonville, Orlando, Port St. Lucie and newly-acquired West Palm Beach location as well as its out-of-state office in Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas. For more information about Austin Outdoor visit the Web site at http://www.austinoutdoor.net.
About Yellowstone Landscape Group
Yellowstone Landscape Company was founded by Gridiron Capital, LLC, a private equity firm based in New Canaan, CT. Yellowstone, headquartered in Dallas, is a national leader led by a team of dedicated professionals with years of experience in all service lines of landscape architecture, maintenance and construction. Yellowstone serves the growing demands of the commercial, municipal, resort, multi-family, HOA and sports markets by offering services with an emphasis on protecting, enhancing and increasing property values.
In addition to Austin Outdoor, the Yellowstone Landscape Group presently includes Atlanta-based Piedmont Landscape and Houston-based Bio Landscape and Maintenance.
Yellowstone serves customers in Texas, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and the Bahamas with plans for geographic expansion. Visit www.yellowstonelandscape.com and www.gridironcapital.com for more information.
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