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Q+A with Jon Cundiff, Winner of Lifetime Leadership Award


EACH YEAR, NALP PRESENTS A MEMBER WITH THE LIFETIME Leadership Award who had dedicated his or her life to the landscape and lawn care industry. This year, Jon Cundiff, president of Weed Man Kansas City in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is this year’s winner. With more than 30 years in the industry, he is also a past president of NALP. We recently caught up with Cundiff to find out about his time in the landscape industry.


WHAT LED YOU T


WHAT LEDYOUTOTHE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRYINTHE FIRST


THE FIRST PLACE?


I got startedtI got started in high scin high school and college working on the grounds crew for the Kansas City Royals. It got me out on the sports field and growing grass and seeing how rewarding that can be. I realized that I loved being outside. Going through college, I got interested in thet business end of it. We had to write our first business plan and I was sold.t


working on the grounds crew for ther Kansas City Royals. It gotmet


the sports field and growing grass and seeing how rewarding that cant


in the


business end of it. We had to write our first business


plan and I was sold.


WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOS ABOUT THIS PROFES- SION?


OU LIKE MOST TTHIS PROFES-


SION? There’s nothing better thanr


There’s nothing better than being being


enjoy their outdoor space. To know that you were a part of that — and that you took something off their slate — is rewarding. It’s also really fun to turn a property around. The other


able to take care of customers and see a smile on their face when they can come home and can fully enjoy their outdoorr space. To know


able to take care of customers and see a smile on their face when they can come home and can fully


that you were a part of that — and that you took something off their slater


— is


rewarding. It’s also really fun to turn a property around. The other


thing thing


hool and college out ont be. I


realized that It loved being outside. Going through college, I got interested


LANDSCAPE


that s really great is ha to create opportunitie and help them continu


that’s really great is having the chance to create opportunities for employees and help them continue to grow.


WHAT HAVE BEEN YOVE BEEN OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN BUSI CHALLENGES IN BUSINESS? The two biggest chal


in staying active on the legislative side and having a voi


The two biggest challenges we’ve faced are labor and s


By Lindsey Getz


finding other people who want to nurture and grow the industry, just like you do, so that we can all make it great for the next people to be part of this. It’s truly a collective effort.


faced are labor and staying on top of regulations. NALP ha


side and having a voice there. From a people managemen


a people management standpoint, we are always trying


we are always trying to find the best people you can out th


be a two-headed monster because once you find them, y


down to proper training and giving them good growth op


them good growth opportunities. We’re coaching emplo


people you can out there. But that can be a two-headed mon


once you find them, you have to work on developing them, t on developing them, too. That comes down to proper trainin


e’re coaching employees on ways they can grow both p prof


they can grow both personally and professionally. We’re. We’re helping them to understand that their


their professional life run parallel so focusing on both is k


WHAT IMPACT DO YO YOU’VE HAD ON THE I There is really not on


OU FEEL THAT VE HAD ON THE INDUSTRY?


There is really not one thing I feel like I’ve done. But I’ve had


I’ve done. But I’ve had the privilege to sit on some really goo


sit on some really good boards and meet some fantastic


meet some fantastic people. When you sit on a board an


you sit on a board and get to be in that position to be a p


that position to be a part of a group of people who are really


people who are really passionate about the industry and what the industry and what we do, you’re able to make real cha able to make real change. It means


IN YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN? Without a doubt, the biggest change has been technology. It’s just off the charts from when I started. My wife and I started back in 1987 and have grown from there. But when I look at what we started with and what’s available today, it’s almost unrecognizable.


regulations. NALP has been strategic in staying active on th


understand that their personal life and their professional life focusing on both is key.


WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BE A LEADER IN THE INDUSTRY? I think being a leader is about having a voice. I think God puts us on earth to help others. This industry has been great to our family and the people in our operations and our life in many ways — and we want to keep this industry great for the future leaders. Over the years I’ve seen many types of leadership styles and the one thing they all have in common is a passion for the industry. It’s that passion that we owe to the industry.


WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO WIN THE NALP LIFETIME LEADERSHIP AWARD?


It’s a humbling experience. You always hear the cliché that it’s great to be nominated and recognized by your peers but it’s very true. When I look at this group that I’ve had the privilege to work with, it’s incredibly humbling to know that they thought of me for this honor. TLP


“When you sit on a board and get to be in that position to be a part of a group of people who are really passionate about the industry and what we do, you’re able to make real change. It means finding other people who want to nurture and grow the industry, just like you do, so that we can all make it great for the next people to be part of this. It’s truly a collective effort.” - Jon Cundiff, president of Weed Man Kansas City


34 The Landscape Professional //November/December 2020


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