We had the good fortune of connecting with Ed Szczesniak and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Ed, what is the most important factor behind your success?
We do what we say we will do, when we say will do it – and we are on the job – with our crews – not hiding behind a desk.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I tell people I’m a “Recovering Consultant” – and it’s true. I spent the first 27 years of my business career in consulting roles for a couple of major companies all over the globe. It was fun, financially rewarding, but the travel schedule was taxing. I heard that at age 50 you could go back to college for free in Georgia, so I did just for the fun of learning something I enjoyed. I had no intention of becoming a Landscape Designer or building another business. Well, now some 20 years later I don’t make as much money, but I also don’t live in airplanes and hotels or eat food I can’t identify. I can wake up in my own bed, live and have dinner with my own family, and choose how, when, and where I will spend my efforts. Aside from really enjoying what I do, the best part of this is that I’ve been able to help our company become the kind of company that I used to want to hire but never seemed to find out there. 50 years as the consumer gave me a lot of insight on what I’d want – and not want in a provider. In short, we try to treat our clients the way we want to be treated. Honest work, reasonable prices, and follow through as promised. Our team has seldom fallen short of these goal as we’ve been lucky enough to hire our key people with these same ethics, and while we may not be able to please every client on every aspect of a project, we do everything in our power to reach this goal – even at our own expense. Our internal and external crews, partners and suppliers know this about us – and I truly believe that they recognize us for being one of a very few in our industry who operates this way – every day.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My wife and I were not born in Atlanta, and have lived in many places, so we get a lot of out-of-town guests. When appropriate we like to entertain with golf at Lake Lanier. This course not only offers great golf, but terrific views of the lake, just in case the golf is not going so well (which in my case is often)! Dinners out are enjoyed at a wide variety of great venues like Trattoria 141, Uncle Jacks Meat Market, Bones or out on our back deck! If folks are in town for an extended visit a drive up to Dahlonega or Blue Ridge is often on the agenda especially in the fall where we can kick back and enjoy the leaves, walk the towns, sample local cuisine and maybe visit a local winery or two up in the GA mountains.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To Ms Karen Klare, who not only helped me learn Landscape Design, but introduced us to Philip Tucker and Lisa Glyn, our two great designers I will be forever in your debt. You made learning fun and have helped us grow GLD into what it is today!
Website: www.GeorgianLandscape.com
Linkedin: Ed Szczesniak
Facebook: Georgian Landscape Design
