When Brian Outten interviewed for a job as shop manager at Level Green Landscaping, co-owner Bill Hardy told him he wouldn’t have to worry about Brian showing up late for work.
Brian served in the U.S. Army, where being punctual is a way of life.
That's just one of the traits Brian brings to his landscaping work, as a military veteran.
“There are a lot of things you learn in the service that you can roll into this industry,” says Brian, who enlisted after high school graduation and was a light wheel mechanic, changing oil and replacing tires on military vehicles.
“The biggest things you bring are teamwork and accountability,” he says. “In landscaping you have to be on time, be precise, be technical, be detail oriented. The quality of your work helps you get more work.”
The Value of Military Experience
Wondering what to do after your time in the military? Many former servicemen and women find themselves unemployed or underemployed during their first years out of the military — especially veterans who don’t have a college degree.
The landscaping industry could be your perfect fit.
The qualities that make you successful in the military are the same qualities we value here at Level Green Landscaping.
Leadership. Willingness to work hard. Dedication to the job. Showing up on time every day.
Our industry can be physically and mentally demanding.
We work in all kinds of weather, from extreme heat to bitter cold. We work in the rain. We work long hours.
If you’re a military veteran, chances are you’ve experienced all that, too.
But while we work hard here at Level Green, we know the value of down time, too. We’re a family-owned company, so family time is important here. When you’re off, you’re off, so you can spend time with loved ones.
We offer education assistance, too. If you want to take classes to better yourself in this industry, we’ll help pay for it.
“You Bring A Lot of Good Qualities to the Table”
The physical rigors of life in the military transfer well to landscaping.
Working in landscaping keeps you active and on the move — even if you’re not working in the field on a landscaping crew.
Our account managers are always on the move, walking sites with property managers and visiting job sites for quality inspections.
Our operations managers are out on job sites every day.
After six years in the Army and 12 more years working in the field, Brian is now shop manager at Level Green, in charge of 500 pieces of equipment, including 100 trucks.
He uses his Army leadership skills supervising and teaching mechanics.
Brian left the Army years ago, but “The military still plays a huge part in my life,” he says.
“Even if you’re 20 or 30 years out of the military, you still carry what you learned with you,” he says. “You bring a lot of good qualities to the table.”
Joining the Army out of high school is the best thing he ever did, Brian says.
Signing on at Level Green is right up there, too.
“Level Green is the place to be if you want to be part of something bigger,” Brian says. “Part of a family.”
Want to Join the Team?
We’re always looking for hard-working, talented people to join our team. And with our projected growth ahead, it’s an exciting time to come on board.
Are you ready to work for a strong, successful company where military veterans and their skills are valued?
We’d love to meet you.
Image source: American flag on porch
