Meet Christopher and Andrew Duncan of Central Mass Landscapes in Worcester

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher and Andrew Duncan.

Chris, Andrew – please share your story with us.
Central Mass Landscapes was started as an owner-operated company back in 2007 by Chris. A Worcester native, Chris grew up working in his parents’ yard which then led to working around the neighborhood, eventually turning into a full-fledged business. Over the next few years, Chris grew the business as well as pursued different industry specific educational opportunities and certifications. In 2011, Central Mass Landscapes acquired a smaller company based in Westford that serviced the Westford, Concord, Lexington area. As the company continued to grow, the scope of services and service area has increased. Central Mass Landscapes now services nearly all of central Massachusetts and Metrowest and has even provided commercial landscaping services across the entire state as well as Connecticut and Rhode Island. Our services include everything from landscape maintenance services to hardscape design/install, hydro seeding, and tree work. In 2015, Chris’ brother Andrew started full time after graduating with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He has worked nearly every position in the company from general laborer to hardscape foreman and is now the lead salesman and designer for hardscape and landscape install projects. The focus of the company is on quality and professionalism and we achieve that by having only the best employees. We feel that a property owner should be able to rely on and trust their landscaper as well as be able to come to them with any questions or concerns and get a knowledgeable answer. Between all of our employee, we have many years of experience from multiple backgrounds and that is the key to delivering the caliber of work our customers expect. At C.M.L we like to say “We autograph our work with quality!”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have faced a lot of challenges along the way and continue to face challenges every day. From turns in the economy to large commercial contracts changing hands, we have seen it all! The main reason we have been successful is the fact that we never lose our focus, providing top notch service and being reliable and knowledgeable. We have made it a point not to grow too fast and leave our quality behind. This has allowed us to take on large projects and contract opportunities because we have never put ourselves in a position where we are overwhelmed. Like many other businesses in our industry and in similar industries, finding good skilled labor is tough. We have been lucky to have hired some of the most incredible employees in the area and try to provide opportunities for them to grow within the company instead of hiring outside of the company. Aside from offering higher pay than most surrounding companies, we also offer promotions and bonuses for pursuing industry specific educational opportunities and certifications. We also make it a point to not only look at the experience a potential candidate has but also their character and leadership potential. A prime example is our head hardscape foreman Mike, who came to us with no experience in the field but was hardworking, polite, and wanted to learn. Over the years he has learned the in’s and out’s of every trade at the company and is now the go to employee when it comes to large wall projects or intricate patio designs.

Central Mass Landscapes – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Our business specializes in being outdoor experts. To us, that means being able to find answers for any of your outdoor questions. Whether that means telling you the best way to eliminate Zoysia grass from your lawn or explaining which structural retaining wall system will work along your lakeside, we are able to give you a permanent solution. For our residential customers we focus on full service, from mowing, pruning, mulching, and lawn treatment all the way up to patio design and tree removal. Commercially, we try to give our customers a one stop shop for all of their needs whether it be maintenance, snow removal or improvement/emergency services. We pride ourselves in being professional, reliable, and knowledgeable. Whether you are a homeowner, property manager, or somewhere in between, you can expect us to be courteous, detail oriented, and consistent.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
It is tough to pinpoint what a proudest moment for our company is. A major milestone for us was being able to take over a national contract across 90 locations in New England, another was being able to purchase our own property as a headquarters for our operation, I still remember the pride in laying the final paver in one of the largest patios we ever built. For us, I’m not sure there is a proudest moment but we have moments of pride every day. Every time I show up to a job site and see the final product I am proud because I know the effort that our employees put in every day. Every time I see an employee taking a picture of the work they just completed I am proud because I know that they take pride in their work. Whenever I see our trucks driving or at a jobsite while I’m out and about I am proud because it is a testament to or brand. My most proud moments though are when I get compliments from our customers because that is the most meaningful part of our day. Just the other day we got to speak with the president of a private school that we work for. Hearing how excited he is, the board of directors are, and even the parents of students are about how good the grounds and sports fields look makes every long day, extra hour in the office, and sacrifice worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.CentralMassLandscapes.com
• Phone: 508-740-2398
• Email: Info@CentralMassLandscapes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centralmasslandscapes/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentralMassLandscapes/

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