The Commercial Landscaper Podcast

Robert Clinkenbeard
  • 4.8 (13)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The journey of an entrepreneur, replete with the challenges of self-belief, vulnerability, and consistency, can often feel overwhelming. "The Commercial Landscaper Podcast" hosted by Robert Clinkenbeard, is designed to elevate your entrepreneurial mindset. Robert offers a fresh perspective that ensures you never feel isolated in your journey, instilling a firm belief that you not only deserve success but are fully capable of achieving it. Through twenty-minute weekly episodes, his podcast features interviews with global experts to maintain a well-rounded perspective on all aspects of your life, both personal and professional. The content is both highly relatable and motivating, empowering listeners to take decisive steps as emerging business pioneers.

  1. Interview with Daniel Simpson, Product Marketing Leader at Fleetio

    1D AGO

    Interview with Daniel Simpson, Product Marketing Leader at Fleetio

    Daniel Simpson is a Product Marketing leader at Fleetio, where he helps fleet-driven businesses solve everyday operational challenges with practical, easy-to-adopt technology. Before entering the software world, Daniel worked in construction and has supported business operations across Canada, the UK, Australia, and the United States. That hands-on experience shapes his approach today, with a focus on helping both field teams and leadership make smarter decisions about their assets and operations. He's passionate about turning real-world fleet challenges into solutions that make work safer, more efficient, and more predictable.

    30 min
  2. Interview with Katelyn Milanes, Director of Culture & Engagement at Fisk Lawnscapes

    APR 29

    Interview with Katelyn Milanes, Director of Culture & Engagement at Fisk Lawnscapes

    Katelyn Milanes is the Director of Culture & Employee Engagement at Fisk Lawnscapes. Katelyn has a proven track record of cultivating positive workplace cultures and creating people-centered organizations that thrive. She specializes in organizational culture, professional development, and human resources strategy. Before moving to Colorado, she spent eight years working in Media & Advertising in New York City. Katelyn also co-founded CoVe, a startup in NYC built for women pursuing personal and professional development. Katelyn graduated from Montclair State University in 2016 with a B.A. in Communication, a Public Relations Concentration, and a Business Minor. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys socializing, exploring in the mountains, and hiking with her puppy.

    29 min
  3. Interview with Karen Schakarov, Chief Marketing Officer of Monarch Landscape Companies

    APR 22

    Interview with Karen Schakarov, Chief Marketing Officer of Monarch Landscape Companies

    Karen Schakarov joined Monarch in January 2024. As Chief Marketing Officer, Karen is responsible for leading strategic marketing initiatives and enhancing the Monarch brand to drive growth and value for all stakeholders. Prior to joining Monarch, Karen was President and founder of ES&SY Group, where for two decades she drove growth and innovation for clients such as Toyota, JFK International Airport, JetBlue, and Sony. She led the development of a corporate culture program for JFK's $2.5 billion expansion and created philanthropic initiatives for Toyota/Lexus.  Her strategic programs have also increased brand awareness for non-profits like City of Hope and the Tiger Woods Foundation. Prior to ES&SY Group, Karen was Vice President of Marketing at Caesarstone US, where she transformed the brand into a market leader. Under her guidance, Caesarstone's brand awareness increased by 40% year-over-year, and company revenue grew by 500%. She managed high-profile celebrity partnerships and secured extensive media coverage, achieving 1.7 billion media impressions in 2015. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration from New York University.

    28 min

  4. APR 15

    Interview with Richard Sperber, Former Founder and Executive Chairman of Sperber Landscape Companies

    Richard Sperber is a veteran landscape industry entrepreneur best known for leading the family legacy behind ValleyCrest Landscape Companies and later founding Sperber Landscape Companies. He began his career at ValleyCrest, the business started by his father, Burt Sperber, and went on to take leadership of the company in 2001, helping expand it to more than 100 locations worldwide. In 2014, he led ValleyCrest's merger with The Brickman Group to create BrightView, which became the industry's largest landscape company.  After stepping away for a short period, he returned in 2019 to launch Sperber Landscape Companies, building the business around trust, strong local brands, and a people-first operating philosophy. In his own telling, Sperber's leadership has been shaped by a belief that lasting success comes from doing right by employees, customers, and partners, preserving company culture through growth, and creating opportunity for the next generation. Company messaging has likewise emphasized training, safety, career development, craftsmanship, and long-term stewardship as central to the Sperber identity.  Industry reporting in March 2026 said Sperber had parted ways with Sperber Landscape Companies, while also indicating he did not view that departure as retirement from the industry. Connect with Richard Sperber!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-sperber-16375b6b/ Connect with Wilson360! https://wilson-360.com/ W360 Scotland Trip! https://event.wilson-360.com/wilson360-scotland-trip

    45 min

  5. APR 8

    Interview with Aaron Kroll, Co-Founder & Partner at Sterling Point Advisors

    Aaron is the Co-Founder of Sterling Point Advisors, a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm focusing on guiding privately held companies through the strategic challenges of exiting their businesses. He has successfully completed 70+ transactions since founding Sterling Point in 2018. Aaron earned a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron in addition to a Master of Business Administration, summa cum laude, in Finance. He also received an executive leadership certificate from Cornell University. Aaron received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Business Management from Virginia Tech. Outside of work Aaron enjoys spending time at the lake with his family.

    31 min

  6. APR 1

    Interview with Eli Zevin, General Manager of Aspire

    Eli Zevin is the General Manager of Aspire, the leading business management platform for commercial landscaping companies, operating under ServiceTitan. He leads the Aspire business and is responsible for its growth, customer success, and product direction. Eli came to Aspire after nearly a decade at ServiceTitan, where he built and led implementation teams serving contractors across the residential skilled trades, from small emerging businesses to large enterprise clients. He became known for transforming how customers get onboarded and set up for long-term success, which is a thread that runs through everything he does today. Since stepping into the GM role, Eli has focused on deepening Aspire's roots in the landscaping industry, driving meaningful product innovation, and building the kind of customer relationships that make software companies worth sticking with. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and the trades, and believes the best software companies don't just build tools, they become true business partners.

    34 min

  7. MAR 25

    Interview with Angelique Robb, Founder & Owner of SYNKD Media

    Angelique Robb, a certified landscape designer and owner of award-winning Papillon Designs and Landscaping in Scotland, UK, launched the idea for SYNKD in January 2021. Built upon Angelique's passion for the profession and helping it "raise the bar," today SYNKD media and the SYNKD Live events unite landscape professionals across architecture, construction, and horticulture to accelerate progress, spark innovation, and shape a more sustainable planet - one smart solution at a time. Angelique's mindset is one of constant growth. Initially launching SYNKD as the magazine brand Pro Landscaper and the event FutureScape USA, she is constantly evolving and crystallizing goals for the landscape industry—just as she did with her design-build company. In 2008, after qualifying as a landscape designer, she launched Papillon and built the company into a national award-winning design + build + maintain practice. Angelique graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Petroleum Engineering, and worked in the oil industry for many years in the USA and UK. She has now returned to her hometown in Lafayette, LA.

    31 min

  8. MAR 18

    Interview with Dustin Walker, Owner and President of Landscape St. Louis

    Dustin Walker is the Owner and President of Landscape St. Louis, a high-end residential landscape design, build firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. After building leadership experience outside the green industry, Dustin made the intentional leap into landscape ownership, acquiring Landscape St. Louis and stepping into the challenge of leading an established company through transition and growth. In his first year as owner, Dustin focused on learning the business from the ground up—working closely with crews, designers, and operations leaders to understand the realities of production, job costing, horticulture, and client expectations. That first year was defined by balancing respect for the company's legacy with the need to improve systems, clarify roles, and build a foundation for scalable growth. Dusty brings a disciplined, process-driven mindset to the landscape industry, with a strong emphasis on people, intentionality, and craftsmanship. What drives him most is building a company where talented professionals can do their best work and where clients feel confident trusting their homes and properties to the team.

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The journey of an entrepreneur, replete with the challenges of self-belief, vulnerability, and consistency, can often feel overwhelming. "The Commercial Landscaper Podcast" hosted by Robert Clinkenbeard, is designed to elevate your entrepreneurial mindset. Robert offers a fresh perspective that ensures you never feel isolated in your journey, instilling a firm belief that you not only deserve success but are fully capable of achieving it. Through twenty-minute weekly episodes, his podcast features interviews with global experts to maintain a well-rounded perspective on all aspects of your life, both personal and professional. The content is both highly relatable and motivating, empowering listeners to take decisive steps as emerging business pioneers.

Information

  • Creator
    Robert Clinkenbeard
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 The Commercial Landscaper
  • Show Website
    The Commercial Landscaper Podcast

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