Laytonsville, MD – Twenty-three Ruppert Landscape employees were honored recently as the company presented its annual awards at a banquet held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA.
“These awards highlight exceptional individuals whose superior efforts and skills have benefited our customers and our employees,” said company president, Phil Key. “We are truly proud of each of these individuals and what they’ve accomplished.”
Clyde Vadner Merit Award
This award is one of the company’s top two honors and recognizes the individual who has contributed continuous, consistent, long-term hard work, dedication and job skill that has helped to shape the company. This year’s recipient is Chuck Whealton, regional manager in our landscape management division, who is a resident of Sykesville, MD and has been with Ruppert for over 15 years. “Chuck has contributed greatly to the success of the company during his tenure and continues to help push us in the right direction,” said Tom Barry, vice president of the landscape management division. “In the past year, Chuck has taken on a new role which has him overseeing special projects that have led to material improvements in our operational efficiency. Chuck is a hard worker with a wealth of knowledge and a keen willingness to help others.”
Achievement Award
This award is also one of the company’s two top honors and recognizes the employee who has made a significant contribution in 2016 through outstanding job execution and high-quality results. This year’s recipient is Mike Felts, branch manager in our Maryland landscape construction branch, who is a resident of Laytonsville, MD and has been with Ruppert for over six years. “Mike has led his branch through its most successful year ever, breaking division sales records and completing some extremely large and challenging projects including Clarksburg Premium Outlets and Sagamore Spirit Distillery, the Rec Pier hotel in Baltimore, and MGM National Harbor,” said Bob Jones, president of the landscape construction division. “On top of that, his branch had almost zero turnover this past year, which I think says a lot about Mike’s management abilities.”
Distinction Award
This award was given in recognition of exceptional dedication to the principles and ideals of our company and outstanding safety performance. The recipient, safety and loss prevention managerDave Sanders, is a resident of Fayetteville, PA and has been with Ruppert for over eight years. “Dave has competently and successfully managed and grown our safety program to keep pace with the company’s expansion,” said Jay Long, vice president of human resources. “He has helped us to significantly reduce the number and severity of incidents, and presided over a substantial reduction in the company’s MOD rating. He sweats the details of safety and has gotten our leadership team, and the company as a whole, to do the same.”
Branch Impact Awards
These awards are given to the employee whose outstanding dedication and contributions have made a positive impact on their individual branch. This year, there were 20 recipients:
- Ethan Brown (area manager), a one-year Ruppert employee from Falls Church, VA, received the honor for the Alexandria, VA landscape management branch.
- Zac Czapko (operations manager), a thirteen-year Ruppert employee from Dacula, GA, received the honor for the Georgia landscape construction branch.
- Perry Greto (enhancement manager), an eight-year Ruppert employee from Folsom, PA, received the honor for the King of Prussia, PA Landscape Management branch.
- Melanie Haynes (branch administrator), a four-year Ruppert employee from Milford, VA, received the honor for the Richmond, VA landscape management branch.
- Lisa Horton (executive assistant), a six-year Ruppert employee from Mount Airy, MD, received the honor for the corporate office.
- Kyle Meissner (area manager), a three-year Ruppert employee from Marriottsville, MD, received the honor for the D.C. landscape management branch.
- Excequiel Morales (field manager) a four-year Ruppert employee from Durham, NC, received the honor for the Raleigh, NC landscape management branch.
- John Oubre (area manager), a nine-year Ruppert employee from Lilburn, GA, received the honor for the Mableton, GA landscape management branch.
- Patty Pescrille (business developer), an eight-year Ruppert employee from Joppa, MD, received the honor for the Baltimore, MD landscape management branch.
- April Rose (project manager), an eight-year Ruppert employee from Front Royal, VA, received the honor for the Virginia landscape construction branch.
- Tim Schofield (area manager), a two-year Ruppert employee from Arlington, VA, received the honor for the Laytonsville, MD landscape management branch.
- Patrick Shelley (field manager), a two-year Ruppert employee from Charlotte, NC, received the honor for the Charlotte, NC landscape management branch.
- Chris Southworth (business developer), a five-year Ruppert employee from Houston, TX, received the honor for the Texas landscape construction branch.
- Patty Steadman (Field Manager), a two-year Ruppert employee from New Carrollton, MD, received the honor for the Forestville, MD Landscape Management branch.
- Donavon Stout (area manager), a fourteen-year Ruppert employee from Wilmington, DE, received the honor for the Toughkenamon, PA landscape management branch.
- Francisco Umanzor (field manager), a three-year Ruppert employee from Manassas, VA, received the honor for the Gainesville, VA Landscape Management branch.
- Rey Valle (field manager), a three-year Ruppert employee from Germantown, MD, received the honor for the Maryland landscape construction branch.
- Michael Vispi (area manager), a thirteen-year Ruppert employee from Buford, GA, received the honor for the Lilburn, GA landscape management branch.
- Theresa West (business developer), a two-year Ruppert employee from New Windsor, MD, received the honor for the Frederick, MD landscape management branch.
- James Wood (project manager), a one-year Ruppert employee from Raleigh, NC, received the honor for the North Carolina landscape construction branch.
Ruppert Landscape, a family and employee-owned business, provides commercial landscape construction and management with 20 branches serving eight primary markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta and Houston. The company has a long-standing tradition of growing its team and giving back to the community. Visit us at www.ruppertlandscape.com.