Kendall Hines
CEO
Lawn Doctor Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Education
East Kentwood High School
Kentwood, Mich.
Class of 2009
Siena Heights University
Business management
Adrian, Mich.
2009-2011
“I played baseball there for two years, but you’ve got to hang up the cleats at some point.”
Michigan State University
Institute of Agriculture Technology
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2013-2015
“Right now I’m growing the business 150 percent a year without having the (college) degree, but maybe at some point it will make sense to go back and get it.”
Work Experience
Childhood-2009
Lawn Doctor of Grand Rapids
Laborer
Grand Rapids, Mich.
“I’ve been on the lawns with my dad since I was 8 years old. They liked to joke with me and say, ‘We’re not paying you, but you live here for free.’”
2010-2011
On the Border
Line cook
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2011-2012
Home City Ice
Route salesman
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2015-2016
United Hops Brokerage
Director of sales
Grand Rapids, Mich.
“A family friend owns a hop yard. She needed a sales force during the winter when lawn care is slow. It was a great learning experience because I figured out how to sell in a business-to-business environment.”
2013-present
Lawn Doctor of Grand Rapids
Sales, then CEO
Grand Rapids, Mich.
“My parents bought the franchise 17 years ago to hand it down to me and my brothers some day. It was one truck and one machine for 13 years.”
Did you know?
“I do a lot of reading. I’m in a Toastmasters group where I practice public speaking. I want to get great at communicating a vision. I’m 25 years old. This is my prime window to push as hard as I can and grow a business as large as I can.”
Lawn Doctor of Grand Rapids is a family business. Hines is CEO, his 20-year-old twin brothers, Matthew and Jordan, are technicians; his mom, Christi, is the office manager and his father, Michael, heads up training and operations.
“I enjoy family time. We have a cottage up north in the woods where we’ll get away for the weekend.”
Words of Wisdom
“Set your targets high, constantly be reaching up in relationships!”
“Always do the thing you are afraid to do.”
“Most importantly, never take advice from someone who has quit and given up on their dreams.”
Photos: KENDALL HINES; ©istock.com/AVTG/Halfpoint/jgroup
