President of Allentuck Landscaping Co., Clarksburg, Md.
Who’s your mentor?
I’d have to say my dad. I’m always better off when I listen to him compared to when I don’t.
How did you get your start?
I’ve always liked working outside. I did this work in high school, like most people in the industry. I started with a couple friends doing yard work for people and then got a degree in landscape design and horticulture from N.C. State. With the encouragement of my dad, I incorporated my junior year, even though I was at school and the business was back here (in Maryland).
Why did you decide to work for yourself?
Everyone in my family had been in business for themselves, going back several generations. I always admired them. That, and I think I was too naïve to realize there were other guys out there I could go work for.
What’s your business best known for?
We’re best known for our residential work. We don’t compete in the top echelon of the market but in the 85 percent to 90 percent market, if you’re looking at home value. We provide very good, solid professional service that’s sometimes lacking in that market.
Any family in the business?
Not at this time, but at one time or another just about everybody has worked here. My mom worked for the company for 14 years. She started as temporary and part time, then she probably worked 50 hours a week for 14 years on the business management side. The only person that never worked here was my wife. She has her own wonderful career.
You’re chairman of the Professional Landcare Network’s (PLANET’s) Renewal & Remembrance event at Arlington National Cemetery. How did you get involved?
We’ve volunteered for R&R for probably the last 10 years. I became involved in helping organize it probably six years ago. And now I’m the chairman. It’s a three-year commitment because of the learning curve involved. There are lot of moving pieces. It’s a yearlong effort to get everything together. Dealing with the government is a challenge. They need things done in a specific away and it’s a lot of paperwork leading up to it. Luckily, we have really great people involved.
We’re local and Arlington is very important to me. I looked around PLANET and saw what I could be involved in, and this one stood out.
What would you say to someone who’s never participated in the event?
I think it’s the most important thing we do in PLANET for pretty obvious reasons—for what Arlington represents and what it is. For what people have given to our country.
Off the clock
Married? Kids?
My wife Nicole and I have three daughters: Heather, 22, Tara, 19, and Nellie, 17.
What took you to N.C. State?
I fell in love with the school when I visited. I started out as a forestry major and it had a great forestry school. Then I transferred into the landscape program. I got a great education there.
You’re an ultra endurance athlete. Tell us about it.
I compete in events from 50-mile runs to Ironmans, Ironswims and multiday adventure races. I was a rugby player in college and then I played for a touring team. A bad injury ended my career and I was looking for something else. I tried marathons, ultramarathons and triathlons and got hooked. I’ve done 73 races.
I’ve competed in the Death Race twice. It’s one of the five hardest events in the world. This fall I have a 420-mile triathlon I’m trying to get ready for. In June I did the Chesapeake Bay swim. My youngest daughter did it with me and beat me badly. It’s been a lot of fun over the years.
Anything else we should know about you?
Not really. I’m a pretty simple guy. As Nicole says, she didn’t marry me for my shoes.
Photos: Bruce Allentuck; Landscape Management
