Ryan Lawn & Tree, No. 49 on the 2024 LM150 list, is entering a new chapter in its history with a change in leadership, including Larry Ryan, founder and president, who is stepping down from his role after 38 years.
Derek Osburn and Chuck Monico joined Ryan Lawn & Tree as the new vice president of revenue generation and CEO, respectively. Larry Ryan will continue to serve the company as the executive chairman of the board of directors.
Under Ryan’s leadership, Ryan Lawn & Tree grew into one of the nation’s top revenue-generating lawn, tree and landscaping companies. As president, Ryan grew the company from his garage to a company with six branches in major cities, more than 500 associates and $80 million in annual revenue.
“Because of you, working together, we have built a wonderful legacy,” Ryan said in a message to employees, “Our greatness of Ryan is in each of you. Continue to build your great legacy.”
“We have a large duty to carry on Larry’s legacy. It is a significant shift for Ryan Lawn & Tree, and we have a responsibility to our employee-owners to carry on that legacy,“ Phillip Fisher, the company’s chief operating officer who worked with Larry for 23 years, said.
Chuck Monico
Monico brings more than three decades of industry experience, strong business acumen and values-based leadership.
“Larry and his wife Kathy have demonstrated that faith and work are meant to live harmoniously,” Monico said, of Ryan’s legacy. “They have shown us that honoring God in all that we do will set us on a firm foundation and that our workplace is a mission field where we encourage each other to be better than we were the day before. Larry and Kathy have always and tirelessly put others first. Their legacy will live on through the service and generosity to Ryan associates and the communities we serve.”
Before this promotion, Monico served as senior director of Ryan Lawn & Tree’s Omaha (Neb.) branch, formerly CM’s Outdoor Solutions Group. He founded CM’s in 1993 and led the company for more than 25 years, growing it from a team of three to 55 associates and increasing annual revenue from $130,000 to $7.5 million. Since its acquisition by Ryan Lawn & Tree in 2022, Monico has fostered mentorship and professional development, emphasizing a faith-based approach to leadership.
“We are really pleased because Chuck comes from a company that we acquired three years ago. Chuck brings a unique vision into the future that is going to be so important for growing our employee-owned company,“ Ryan said.
Reflecting on his new role, Monico said, “Larry envisioned and built a company founded on honoring God and serving each other and the communities where we live and work. We have work to do, but the foundation is strong. I will work tirelessly to ensure Larry’s mission and foundation for this company remains strong. My goal is that when I pass the torch to the next leader, that they will be able to say the same.”
Derek Osburn
Osburn brings more than 18 years of experience in sales and marketing and brings expertise in consumer research and data analysis. He has held key roles at brands such as Milwaukee Tool and Bushnell.
In his new role at Ryan, Osburn will focus on driving alignment and a shared strategic vision between marketing, sales and branch operations. His work will aim to enhance growth and strengthen the Ryan Lawn & Tree brand in existing and emerging markets. This includes leveraging brand marketing and advancing sales strategies to fuel success.
Before joining Ryan Lawn & Tree, Osburn served as global product lane director for Bushnell’s Optics division. Within that division, he was responsible for overall product strategy, as well as leadership of marketing, product development, and Engineering. He spearheaded initiatives to increase focus on digital efforts based on consumer data, drove product innovation through consumer research, and streamlined product lines to deliver impactful, focused marketing communications.
“Because of our growth mindset, we are taking it to the next level, with a leader to align both the sales and marketing moving forward as we expand across the nation. Derek brings a unique skillset of having done both sales and marketing. He understands our adding value sales process, what the customer needs, and how it aligns with the premium services and products that Ryan offers,“ Fisher said.
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