The Best of the Best: Your Personal Gardener and Arborist

Rhea-AI Summary

FedEx 's 'The Best of the Best' series highlights recipients of the Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award for Veterans & Military Spouses. Your Personal Gardener & Arborist, founded by James and Natalie Chesebro in 2011, received a $10,000 grant. The East Troy, Wisconsin-based company offers comprehensive lawn and tree care services. Starting as a part-time venture between James' military deployments, it has grown to employ 22 staff members.

The company overcame challenges by implementing innovative hiring strategies and investing in quality equipment. They contribute to the local economy by supporting local businesses and hiring veterans. The grant will be used to build a bunker for bulk materials, expanding their commercial offerings. Your Personal Gardener & Arborist is recognized for its community engagement, including an annual 'Tree Day of Service' for veterans and support for deployed military families.

Positive

• Received a $10,000 grant from the Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award
• Grown from a part-time venture to a thriving business with 22 employees
• Offers comprehensive lawn and tree care services, making it a one-stop shop
• Implements innovative hiring strategies and invests in high-quality equipment
• Recognized as Wisconsin's Small Business Administration Veteran Owned Company of the Year
• Plans to expand business by offering bulk materials for commercial customers

Negative

• None.

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / August 14, 2024 / FedEx Corporation:

‘The Best of the Best' Series: Celebrating the Recipients of the Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award for Veterans & Military Spouses

In April, Hiring Our Heroes announced 5 grant recipients for the Small Business Award for Veterans & Military Spouses, an initiative that provides a one-time $10,000 grant for selected military-connected entrepreneurs, thanks to the generosity of the FedEx Founder's Fund. Selected grant recipients displayed both business acumen as well as two key characteristics - a dedication to overcoming economic hardships and a commitment to giving back to their communities.

In our 5-part blog series, we're meeting these grant recipients and learning more about the inspirational businesses that they have built and the passion that fuels them daily.

The fifth grant recipient is Your Personal Gardener & Arborist, a one-stop shop for all your lawn and tree care needs, based in East Troy, Wisconsin.

In January 2011, James and Natalie Chesebro started Your Personal Gardener & Arborist to fill the employment gap between James' deployments. Initially a part-time landscaping business, it was founded by James, a Green Beret who served from 2002 to 2016, providing a range of lawn, landscaping, tree, and snow care services when he was home. The business quickly grew and has expanded significantly each year. With six children, two of whom now work in the business, Your Personal Gardener & Arborist continues to thrive. What sets the business apart is its comprehensive range of services, including installations, large tree removals, mulching, mowing, and much more, making it a one-stop shop for all lawn care needs.

In the early stages of the company, James and Natalie encountered numerous challenges, including disruptions due to James's deployments. Additionally, the company struggled with a competitive job market and had difficulty finding qualified candidates for open positions. To address these challenges, James and Natalie strayed from online hiring platforms, instead implementing word-of-mouth referral programs, and actively recruiting from high schools and colleges to attract students interested in outdoor work. Demonstrating financial acumen, they invest in high-quality equipment that reduces labor demands and enhances employee satisfaction. They also provide a range of incentives and benefits, including bonuses, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, paid training, and awesome uniforms!

James and Natalie have made significant contributions to their local economy in East Troy, Wisconsin. What started as a small operation with two individuals and a pickup truck has grown into a thriving small business employing a full staff of 22. Their marketing efforts are supported by professional affiliations, and they actively seek to hire qualified veterans. The company supports local restaurants by catering for their employees, fuels their fleet at nearby gas stations, and sources nearly all bulk materials from local vendors. Through these efforts, James and Natalie not only drive their business forward but also strengthen their community, demonstrating the spirit of local entrepreneurship.

Your Personal Gardener & Arborist demonstrates exemplary leadership and community engagement through initiatives like their annual "Tree Day of Service," offering complimentary tree care to a selected veteran, and volunteering for Project Green Care & Snow Care to support deployed military families. Active in the Mukwonago Chamber of Commerce and recognized as Wisconsin's Small Business Administration Veteran Owned Company of the Year, they promote veterans, social inclusion, and gender equality. As members of several professional associations and a federally certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, they truly exemplify a thriving company making a meaningful community impact.

James is looking into expanding the business even more by offering bulk materials for commercial customers, and the $10,000 grant money will be used to build a bunker for those materials. The couple was honored and flattered to be selected as it not only serves their company, but their family, employees' families, communities, and the customers they serve.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from FedEx Corporation on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: FedEx Corporation
Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/fedex-corporation
Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: FedEx Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is Your Personal Gardener & Arborist, and how does it relate to FedEx (FDX)?

Your Personal Gardener & Arborist is a lawn and tree care company in East Troy, Wisconsin, founded by veterans. It received a $10,000 grant from the Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award, supported by the FedEx Founder's Fund, as part of FedEx's (FDX) community engagement program.

How will Your Personal Gardener & Arborist use the $10,000 grant from FedEx (FDX)?

The company plans to use the $10,000 grant to build a bunker for bulk materials, which will allow them to expand their business by offering bulk materials to commercial customers.

What community initiatives does Your Personal Gardener & Arborist participate in, as highlighted by FedEx (FDX)?

The company conducts an annual 'Tree Day of Service' offering free tree care to a selected veteran, volunteers for Project Green Care & Snow Care supporting deployed military families, and actively participates in local chamber of commerce activities.

How has Your Personal Gardener & Arborist grown since its founding in 2011, according to the FedEx (FDX) press release?

The company has grown from a part-time operation with two individuals and a pickup truck to a thriving small business employing a full staff of 22, offering a comprehensive range of lawn and tree care services.