By SHANNON HATHAWAY, Landscape Horticulturist and Sod Specialist
There are so many landscaping companies and turf installers in the greater Raleigh area, and it can be confusing to choose the right one to work with. I have been in the horticulture business locally for 27 years, and as I approached semi-retirement, I chose to work with one company for what I felt were very important reasons. That company is Peak Sodding.
As a landscape horticulturist in Wake County, I started my career working for Tony Avent at Plant Delights Nursery part-time while I attended NCSU. I already had a BA in English literature from Middlebury College, so I just needed the core horticulture classes at NC State. I began working full-time as the Landscape Designer for Garden Supply Company in Cary and quickly became Landscape Manager. In 2002, I founded Green Heron Landscaping, Inc., a very successful design/build firm. I sold Green Heron in 2013 and went to work as a Landscape Horticulturist for Duke University. In 2015, I was hired by Super-Sod to start their installation program and worked there until early 2023, when the decision was made to dissolve the installation department company-wide. I was approaching retirement age and was caring for my disabled father, so I took the leap into early retirement with part-time consulting. I interviewed with a few local companies and was offered positions. When Ben Schneider with Peak Sodding approached me, I was very impressed with his vision and his company. Let me explain why I chose Peak Sodding and why you should, too!
Peak Sodding’s core values statement says a lot about the company:
- Take Ownership
- No Half Measures
- Work In Excellence
- Integrity In All Things
- Communicate Well, Communicate Often
- Continuous Improvement
These values are referenced every day on every project and in every aspect of our work, and they fit in perfectly with my personal value system.
It is likely that we have all had an experience with a contractor or vendor that has not met our own high ethical standards. As I enter semi-retirement, I have the luxury of being very selective about the people I work with. Strong ethics are a must for me. I have full confidence in the ethics of Peak Sodding and those of its owner Ben Schneider.
I could tell you all about our customer service and quality installation, but I prefer to let our clients speak for themselves. 84 Google reviews and counting, and 4.9 stars! That is something to be proud of!
A company may have things under control and plans to handle a delay or a supply chain installer interruption. Still, if they do not communicate all of this clearly and in a timely manner, the client is left nervous, uncertain, and worried. The critical link in the chain is the Project Manager. I have worked with Iris Ramirez, Peak Sodding’s Project Manager, for three different companies in the past 12 years. Iris is mentioned by name in nearly every Google review because she is our great communicator! She keeps clients in the loop on everything, makes sure vendors and installers are coordinated, and walks through every project to make sure our high quality standards (and yours) are met or exceeded. Her attention to detail, her experience, and her personal touch ensure a smooth process from start to finish.
Our installers have the knowledge, experience, and focus to ensure a successful project. How do I know this? I have worked with Jose Medina and Alfredo Medina for over 25 years! Jose was the head foreman for my business until I sold it. He then worked with two large landscaping companies before forming his own company, Stone Arts and Landscaping, with his brother Alfredo. They are our primary installers.
You are not likely to meet the people behind the scenes like myself, Jenny Gibson (our logistics manager), and Anna Curry (our marketing manager). Rest assured, we are supporting Ben and the crew, working with vendors, and working to bring you website and social media content that can help you improve your sod knowledge and give you the tips you need to succeed with your sod project once it is installed. We are not a one-and-done business. We are here to support and inform you even after the guarantee has expired. We want you to come to us with questions. We are sod experts with decades of knowledge and experience.
If it sounds like I am a cheerleader for Peak Sodding, that’s because I believe in the ethics, knowledge, process, and people of Peak Sodding. I don’t have to work here. I work here because I can be proud of what I accomplish here. I chose Peak Sodding, and I hope you do too.
