John Quast Mesa Turf Masters

By Special to the Sentinel Monday, March 31, 2014

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Midland Michigan in a community similar to Grand Junction. I met my wife Juli while attending Michigan State University in the mid 80s. We married in August of 1990 and moved to Western Colorado in January of 1991 to start our future together.

How did you get started in the industry? Like many kids, I had my first mowing job at the neighbors house when I was just 13 years old. She saw me mowing my parents lawn and asked if I would be interested in taking care of hers. I agreed and by the time high school started, I was maintaining 25 lawns, mostly for neighbors and friends of my parents. I took a few years off when I went away to college. In 1985, I needed a summer job and accepted one with a national lawn care company. I was hired on as a salesman, but it was obvious that this was not my strong suit. I was reliable and liked the lawn care business so they kicked me out of the sales office and put me in the field, teaching me how to fertilize lawns and care for trees. I spent the season with them learning as much as I could and have been involved in the industry ever since. Before moving to Colorado I worked in various locations around Michigan, each with their own unique needs. In addition to actual lawn services I also worked for a company that produced fertilizer and specialty lawn care products.

How has the industry changed since you got started? The advancements in technology have lead to the biggest change in our industry. The nutrient requirements of lawns and landscape plantings have not changed much over the years, but how we deliver the service is much more advanced. When I first started out, we determined the daily schedule based on folders in a file cabinet. Then we would plot each address on a folding map to determine the order of the day. Now with computer routing systems and GPS technology all of that is completed in the office in advance. Our technicians have hand held tablets containing their daily work and mobile printers in their trucks to leave the client timely, job specific information about their property. This information is gathered in real time and is stored in our database for future reference.

Tell us about your family? I am blessed to be married for the past 24 years to my wonderful wife Juli. Her support and understanding have allowed me to pursue my dream of owning my own business. We have two great kids, a daughter Aleah and a son Marshall. Aleah is a senior at Grand Junction High school and will be leaving this fall to start her higher education and play volleyball for The Milwaukee School of Engineering. Marshall is in his final year of grade school and will be attending Orchard Mesa Middle school this fall. He is active in baseball, rock climbing and helping me around the office and house.

What do you enjoy when youre not working? I think my biggest pleasure is watching the sports activities of my children. There are many weekends spent travelling to volleyball tournaments or baseball games. I also enjoy golfing, fishing, taking my family on vacation, and generally spending time outdoors with family and friends.

What should a consumer look for when hiring a lawn care company? The most import thing to consider when hiring a lawn care company is if you are comfortable doing business with them. I believe that our job is not to just make your lawn green and weed free but to give you the information you need to better manage your property. We will call you in advance of any service visit. We have a full time staff to assist you with any other landscape needs you may have. My service technicians are trained, state certified, and have passed a background check prior to ever stepping foot on your property.

What do you enjoy about living in western Colorado? I like Western Colorado because it is nice sized community with many of the benefits that the bigger cities have without the congestion. Additionally, where else can you live that offers all of the great outdoor opportunities so close to home? The weather is great and the people are kind and pleasant to do business with.

What do you see as the up and coming trends in the lawn care industry? In the future, there will be a greater emphasis on regulation and improved professional image for the lawn care and landscape industry. As a landscape professional, we are responsible to care for your properties in a safe and effective manner. Mesa Turf Masters will remain committed to its customers and to meeting their needs in the future.

Looking for help improving your home? Call the HBA of Northwestern Colorado at (970) 245-0253 or visit http://www.hbanwco.com

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John Quast Mesa Turf Masters