for M.J. Design Associates is the passion, integrity and creativity that is at the heart of the company’s culture. “Though we are running a business and want to be successful, the bottom line is not the driving force in who we are as a company,” he says. The biggest challenge Davie has faced in the industry is not seeing representa- tion of many African American-owned companies or workers. “There is a large space for Caucasian,
Hispanic and now the larger push for women workers in the industry,” he says. “I would like to see the industry push for more African American members of this community. Representation matters to me and especially to the younger gen- eration. If they were to see other people like them doing this type of work, they would be more apt to take an interest in the work we are doing and become a part of the next wave of landscape professionals.” As for where he sees himself in the
next five years, he sees himself still ad- vocating for this industry as a viable and respectful career path.
“I would like to change the stigma that landscapers are just ‘hole diggers’ and ‘grass cutters,’” Davie says. “With so many different career paths in this industry, we need to find a way to let people know what is available to them. In most cases, I have found it is more important to let students’ parents know what opportuni- ties are available to and for their child.” He plans to stay involved in landscape associations and looks to sit on several boards. He says he’s also interested in becoming a part owner of M.J. Design Associates and continuing their track record of quality work and excellent customer service. “One thing I would like to change about the industry are companies who don’t do the right thing by their custom- er and are only concerned about the dollars,” Davie says. “Bad planting practic- es, bad planting designs, price gouging, faulty craftsmanship. These practices don’t do any good for the industry as a whole and put a bad stigma on the companies who consistently do the right thing by their clients and employees.” Davie says the most important thing
“Bad planting practices, bad planting designs, price gouging, faulty craftsmanship. These practices don’t do any good for the industry as a whole and put a bad stigma on the companies who consistently do the right thing by their clients and employees.” - Michael Davie, M.J. Design Associates
he has learned on his career path is if you don’t love what you’re doing, find some- thing else that you’re passionate about. He says he would tell his younger self to explore more options, from careers to financial opportunities. “Don’t settle and always follow your
dreams no matter how crazy they may seem,” Davie says. “This is what the mean- ing of life means to me now.” He says his favorite thing about the landscape industry is the people, as he has been able to build lasting relation- ships that allow him to learn from others. “The awesome thing about this indus-
try is the willingness to share information and help each other when and wherever possible,” Davie says. “We aren’t just an industry; we are a community.” TE
GAIN AN ADVANTAGE WITH A DEDUCTIBLE WORK COMP PROGRAM
Contact Drew Garcia to get started:
drewgarcia@ranchomesa.com 619-937-0200 National Association o Landscape Professionals National Association of Landscape Professionals 11
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