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Knowledge is power, and for one commercial landscaping company, it’s also resulted in growth and a team of empowered employees.
That intentional investment in expertise helped Xquisite Landscaping reach No. 67 on the 2025 LM150 list. One way it implements that is by hiring skilled union labor and growing their regional knowledge across their project management and operational teams, says Victor Romeiro, co-president of Xquisite Landscaping, based in Stoughton, Mass.
“Union expertise reduces risk, improves installation quality and delivers better long-term performance — outcomes that matter to the owners, developers and institutions we work with,” Romeiro says.
Adding new layers of leadership has also helped the company scale responsibly and better support teams in the field.
“This approach has reinforced a sustainable growth model that is resilient to market shifts and aligned with the long-term needs of our clients,” Romeiro says.
Invest in people
Xquisite’s employees are at the heart of the company’s success, making employee retention especially critical. It invests in its teams by providing competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and long-term career support, Romeiro says.
“The result is stronger execution, higher client satisfaction and work our teams are proud to stand behind, which in turn fuels repeat business and sustainable growth,” Romeiro says.
In an industry where having the right people makes all the difference, the company’s team will continue to play an important role in its growth going forward, says Keith Riquinha, vice president of production and operations.
“When we invest in key people, those key people deliver and allow us to expand on our capabilities,” Riquinha says. “As our capabilities expand, the opportunities to showcase them will too.”
Think green
With a growing demand for native and climate-forward landscapes, Xquisite has worked to deepen its team’s plant expertise and sourcing capabilities. The company increased its dedicated plant buyer knowledge to better focus on the highly sensitive nature of plant procurement and source materials that are well suited to Northeast conditions. That’s secured more complex and high-profile projects, including work pursuing LEED certification.
“The teams we’ve built contribute directly to securing landmark projects like the new South Station Tower and have reinforced our reputation as a contractor capable of executing sophisticated commercial landscapes at the highest level,” Romeiro says.
Xquisite has also expanded into new sectors and regions, including schools, health care facilities and projects in other states like Rhode Island.
“As corporate and residential high-rise development became more susceptible to interest rate changes and supply chain disruptions, we intentionally focused on steadier sectors like schools and health care, which offer longer planning horizons and more consistent demand,” he says.
Adapt to change
To address market fluctuations and supply chain issues, Xquisite strengthened its supplier relationships, improved internal processes, invested in technology and took proactive steps to adapt to industry changes.
The company’s vendor relationships have helped it keep a close eye on products, and the vendors also give it plenty of notice if any of the materials might be volatile, Riquinha says.
“Looking ahead, procurement and fulfillment initiatives will be essential to our success,” Riquinha says.
Romeiro prioritizes intentional growth over speed to maintain quality, leveraging union labor, green technologies and top talent.
“Xquisite Landscaping is two decades old, and we have increased the scale and complexity of our projects gradually, ensuring that our systems, teams and expertise evolved alongside that growth,” Romeiro says. “That focus on quality has allowed us to earn the trust of leading contractors throughout the Northeast and build a strong reputation within the landscape development industry.”
