Keeping the Valley green leads to success for TLC

Gerry Bower came to the Valley in 1998 as a suit-and-tie manager of a McAllen manufacturing plant. Today he's a boot-and-jeans guy, running his own landscape management company TLC Total Lawn Care LLC which serves commercial clients from its Weslaco headquarters.

When the Toronto-area native arrived on the border, he didnt know what a bougainvillea was. Now I drive down the road, and my eyes focus on the aesthetics, how the landscapes are being cared for. When I watch a football or baseball game, Im looking at the turf.

Getting to that point has been an adventure. I had no intention on being in this business, but I started seeing opportunities in the green industry, Bower said. In 2000, he and three partners started TLC. It was just an investment. But in 2002 Bower and his wife Kathy bought out the partners to become 100 percent owners. The next year, he left the manufacturing world behind to run TLC full time, hands-on.

Bower, 43, admits he had no knowledge of landscape maintenance initially, but he believed that his manufacturing management experience would transfer to the green industry. I know systems and managing people. I knew it wasnt as important to know the product. I believe that I dont have to know everything, but I need to know the person that does.

Bringing in experienced staff and consulting with professional organizations such as PLANET and state landscaping associations has enabled Bower to grow his business Valley-wide. His client list now includes malls, property management firms, home owners association, retail plazas, hospitals, and industrial plants. Bower said he studies competitors projects to discover how they are making landscapes look good.

Bower attributes TLC success to the companys three-pronged mission statement: exceed customers expectation in quality and professionalism; provide an excellent working environment for employees; and provide a positive return for investors. If we live by it, we will be successful, Bower said.

Last year, the company began offering vacation pay for employees. With time comes maturity. Were in this for the long haul, he said. People are our assets. We keep looking for ways to better the employee environment.

In 2007 Landscape Management magazine featured TLC Total Lawn Care as a company to watch. Not bad for a six year old business that started in a one-bay garage in north McAllen. In 2004 , TLC moved to a vacant warehouse in north Weslaco on FM 88, after negotiating to fix up the structure as part of rent. Bower confirmed the move was good for his business. Weslaco is a great location, he explained. I couldnt believe the community here. Its very strong, open and helpful.

A strong proponent of sharing knowledge and digging up answers, Bower said TLCs supervisor has scheduled 43 training sessions on all facets of commercial landscape maintenance for TLCs 15 employees in 2008. Covering topics from shredding to tree rings that the crews may or may not know about, the training will also present TLCs performance expectations in these areas.

Bowers own expectations have changed as his knowledge of the green industry has grown. Were going to break the $1 million this year. Thats our goal, Bower said. Although TLC doesnt intend to compete with the neighborhood yard men mowing lawns, Bower has responded to commercial customers requests for lawn fertilization and weed and pest control, using his licensed pesticide applicators and licensed irrigation system repairmen. He envisions expanding this category to residential customers this year, moving into an underserved niche. That will mean taking on more people and buying more equipment. Bower predicts 2008 will be a banner year for TLC.