Brian Smith, President of NatureScape, a full-service landscape company that primarily services commercial and homeowner association (HOA) customers.

The NatureScape core team (from left to right): Adam Crowe, Construction Field Manager; Chris Rhine, Maintenance Director; Erik Houston, Operations Director; Mike Williams, Construction Division Director; Brian Smith, President; and Tim York, Landscape Enhancement and Arbor Care Division Director.

Brian Smith has a natural affinity for landscaping, both as an art and a science.

He has spent his entire career, 20+ years, helping commercial and residential customers create and maintain some of the most beautiful, natural and sustainable landscapes in the Valley of the Sun and surrounding areas. Yet it wasn’t until 2007 that he was able to put all of his skills, experience and passion into a single endeavor that today provides him the most professional pride and purpose.

That’s when he founded NatureScape, a full-service landscape company that primarily services commercial and homeowner association (HOA) customers. He’s the first to say that the journey has been one of education, relationships and a lot of hard work.

Digging Deep

After earning a degree in business, Smith started his first residential landscape maintenance company in 1997. He built a good business with a steady client base, then sold the company to Creative Environments in 2001. At the same time, he had returned to school to earn a degree in urban horticulture from Mesa Community College. Creative Environments later brought him on as a partner to run its newly formed Maintenance Services Division, which focused on high-end residential yard maintenance. He helped grow that division to $5 million in annual revenue over the course of five years. As the company morphed into more of an HOA maintenance operation, Smith sought a new career direction.

He sold his portion of Creative Environments, a large landscaping operation, in 2006, and started NatureScape soon after with an eye on delivering grounds maintenance, water management and tree care services for a wide variety of customers, including HOAs, property managers, commercial sites, general contractors and development companies.

With two large HOA communities already under his care, Smith launched his Maintenance Services Division. Due to his focus on balancing science and creativity, along with a strong work ethic and inherent professionalism, he was able to partner with more communities seeking his services. His hard work and growing list of satisfied customers set the stage for more opportunities as the country began to emerge from difficult economic times.

Beyond the Flora

In 2010, NatureScape’s customers, particularly HOAs, started to look beyond the maintenance aspects of their surroundings.

Smith adds, “Once the economy picked up, my customers had the money to take on large enhancement projects that had been deferred. While many of the projects still required the removal and replacement of trees, shrubs and flowers—sometimes thousands at a time—there was also considerable need for hardscape installation, repair and replacement. My existing clients asked if I could handle those projects.”

Requested projects included stone or concrete walkways, retaining walls, patios, water features and other outdoor design elements.

With limited experience in hardscapes, Smith looked for a partner to help ensure that he had the right tools and techniques to provide the best quality. He hired Henry Davis Jr., a proficient estimator, construction manager and project engineer, as his Director of Landscape Development. Smith credits Davis, who left the company in summer 2017 to move home to the Northeast, with helping to firmly establish the company’s Construction Division.

One of Davis’ first hires was Adam Crowe, a talented construction professional who has grown with the company. He currently runs the field operations within NatureScape’s Construction Division.

NatureScape’s Landscape Enhancement and Arbor Care Division is run by Tim York, who joined the team in early 2016. With a background in all facets of landscape management, including running his own company, York continues to add value for clients while actively seeking out new opportunities and challenges.

“Our business philosophy isn’t tricky; it’s just a reliance on old-fashioned values.” Brian Smith, President, NatureScape

Education & Safety Are Imperative

One of the company’s first landscape/hardscape clients was Dutch Bros, the drive-through coffee chain. Smith still remembers the exact bid for the project ($15,000) in which he, Davis and their small crew installed the landscaping and irrigation system for the restaurant in just three days—two days faster than the time allotted.

“That was just the beginning. In one year, we grew that side of the company from zero to $2 million in annual revenue, effectively equaling the revenue we were generating from enhancement work,” says Smith.

Erik Houston joined the company in May 2014. With over 20 years of experience in landscape maintenance, construction and operations, he took over full responsibility for NatureScape’s in-house maintenance training program as Director of Landscape Maintenance.

Smith emphasizes, “We believe training is vital to our quality services. We have our own classroom in our office building where Houston teaches our employees proper planting, tree staking, pruning and irrigation techniques. He also teaches how to follow a structured water management program and how to adhere to proper safety practices.”

The comprehensive training program allows Smith and his team to hire people that fit into their culture, even if they don’t have all the skills needed. He adds, “We can train someone to do the job; it’s more important to get the right people with the same work ethic and focus on quality performance.”

With the company’s continued growth, Smith and his team have reorganized a bit more. Houston shifted to become Director of Operations and Smith hired Chris Rhine as his new Director of Maintenance. Rhine’s experience in maintaining some of the largest and most beautiful master-planned communities in Arizona will be a key factor in the planned growth of the maintenance division in the years ahead.

In 2017, Smith hired Mike Williams, a former Land Development Manager with a leading home builder, to direct the Construction Division. He has considerable experience in landscaping, land development and utilities, including regulatory requirements for public and private clients. Smith explains, “Mike provides the knowledge and experience we need to take on larger projects, such as hotels, high-end residential complexes and large commercial facilities. With his experience, we have implemented the best management practices in the field of landscape construction.”

Condos to Common Areas

Today, NatureScape handles everything from grounds maintenance and water management to seasonal color and tree care. The company establishes and maintains hotel grounds, athletic fields, community common areas and facility landscapes.

About 60 percent of the business is with commercial clients and general contractors, and most are repeat customers. One of the most visible NatureScape projects was the high-profile, Class A, mixed-use Scottsdale Quarter project. NatureScape self-performed the landscape and irrigation installation, including over 4,000 plants, 27- to 48-inch box trees, decorative precast concrete pots, a two-wire drip irrigation system and weather sensors.

The company has also begun construction on its largest project to date, Avilla Deer Valley, a gated, 100+ unit condo community with upgraded amenities, including a dog park. Other projects include the new Cambria hotel at Chandler Fashion Center and the Valor on Eighth project in Tempe, Arizona, a Gorman & Co. development focused on affordable housing for veterans.

Old-Fashioned Values

Currently, NatureScape employs about 100 people. The company doubled its revenue in 2017, thanks to repeat customers and referrals, and expects to grow by another 50 percent in 2018. Williams adds, “Every division—maintenance, enhancement and construction—works as a team, communicating throughout a workday about projects and sharing resources. Our culture is all about teamwork, and every one of us believes in Brian’s philosophy to treat people right, provide education as needed and work hard.”

As a further reinforcement to the teamwork concept, Smith decorates the NatureScape offices with autographed memorabilia from some of his personal sports heroes, including Nolan Ryan, Hall of Fame pitcher, and Larry Fitzgerald, NFL wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Smith says, “I’m a big fan of elite athletes who have a strong work ethic and are respectful and humble. That’s how we strive to live, both personally and professionally.”

Along with a strong work ethic, Smith attributes his decade of success with NatureScape to proactivity and good communication, adding, “We do what we say. Our business philosophy isn’t tricky; it’s just a reliance on old-fashioned values. We partner with our clients and help them execute their visions. When they call, we answer the phone. I’m extraordinarily proud of my team, their skills, experience and passion. We’re firmly planted in our roots and I’m excited to see how we continue to grow for the next decade and beyond.”