Employee Profiles

Management

Gene R. Grant Jr.
CEO, Registered Landscape Architect

Employed at Grant and Power since: Started the company in 1978
Family: Gene has three children, Regina, Victoria, and Timothy.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Registered Landscape Architect
Favorite part of job: Gene's favorite part of his job is developing people in the company. He believes in giving people the room they need to become the best they can be. He enjoys seeing the young people in our organization grow, mature, and develop themselves into the leaders of the company. It is very rewarding building an organization and team in which all the players are working as one.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Gene's favorite design style is an English Garden- A formal backdrop with large groupings of informal colors.
The best aspect of the business is seeing the eyes of a new Grant & Power customer after their dream landscape has been completed for them. That makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Employed at Grant and Power since: February 1998
Hometown: IJmuiden, The Netherlands and currently lives in Woodridge
Family: Jan and his wife, Wanda, have three sons, Alexander and twins, Benjamin and Nicholas. Jan enjoys traveling, spending time with his family, photography, sports, stamp collecting, long distance biking, running, and is very involved with his church.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Jan received his master's degree in Landscape Architecture, Plant Ecology and Vegetation Science at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands (7.5 years). He has been working in the green industry for 25 years and is a registered Landscape Architect in the state of Illinois and a member of ASLA. Jan has assisted over 4,500 homeowners with their landscapes selling over 22 million dollars worth of landscaping in the last 20 years. He has received Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards at the Cavalcade of Homes. He continues his education by attending industry seminars and has had 15 years of management training.
Favorite part of job: Jan enjoys working with his customers, and colleagues. His wants to help his customers achieve their goals and to make them happy and satisfied so they are proud of their environment. 
Favorite plant/design style/element: Jan likes to include outdoor rooms, vignettes, seatwalls, perennial, grasses and servicberries for his clients.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1994
Hometown: Morris, Illinois and currently lives in Oswego
Family: Scott and his wife, Heather have a daughter, Ava and a son, Nolan, as well as, two dogs, Zak and Mia.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Scott has taken several College of DuPage courses in criminal justice and ornamental horticulture. He is ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) Level 1 Certified Concrete Paver Installer.
Favorite part of job: He loves working with people to accomplish set goals.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Natural design style, natural stone, favorite plants include serviceberry, gro-low sumac, and oak leaf hydrangea.

Employed at Grant and Power since: May 1995
Hometown: Quincy, Illinois and currently lives in Geneva
Family: Sharon has four children: Jill, Dianne, Chad and Stacey, and nine grandchildren: Nikki, Stephanie, J.D., Abby, Charlie, Nathan, Natalie, and twins, Ben and Maya. She enjoys spending time with her children, grandchildren, her Maltise George, working out, doing craft projects, and cooking.
Education/Awards/Certifications:ILCA Awards committee
Favorite part of job: Sharon enjoys talking to clients on the phone.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Year round interest

Sales Department

Employed at Grant and Power since: September 2007 
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently lives in Aurora
Family: Shawn has family in Michigan. His mom is a 5th grade teacher and his dad owns a landscape design/build company. His older brother Aaron is a pilot and his younger sister, Lauren, is currently going to school for interior design.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Shawn received his BBA degree from Western Michigan University focusing on sales and business marketing.
Favorite part of job: Working with people from start to finish, watching the project progress and to meet and exceed expectations in the end.
Favorite plant/design style/element: A weeping Japanese maple used near a waterfall or pond.

Audrey Wilson 
Sales Consultant

Employed at Grant and Power since: 2000
Hometown: Oswego, Illinois
Education/Awards/Certifications:Audrey has several certifications in sales, management and landscape related courses including ILCA design and plant identification courses and Unilock paving installation.
Favorite part of job: Audrey enjoys working outdoors and creating beautiful and functional landscapes for her clients home.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Creating seasonal colors and textures that compliment the customers home and lifestyle. Favorite plants include ornamental serviceberry trees, roses, and ornamental grasses.

Ken T. Davis 
Commercial Sales Consultant

Employed at Grant and Power since:  December 2010 
Hometown:  Naperville, IL and currently lives in Montgomery. 
Family:  Ken's parents are retired and live in Lake Summerset in Davis IL, just outside Rockford. His brother lives with his family in Palentine. 
Education/Awards/Certifications:Ken is a certified Illinois Pesticide Commercial Applicator. 
Favorite part of job:  Ken enjoys meeting and working with new people. His overall goal is to promote a healthy landscape that his client's can be proud of.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Ken's favorite plants are Redbuds and Crimson Frost River Birches. He enjoys the process of designing perennial gardens that provide seasonal color for commercial properties.

Design Department

Employed at Grant and Power since:  March 2007 
Hometown:  Downers Grove, IL 
Family:  Sarah has a sister who lives in Bowling Green KY, her brother lives in Minneapolis MN and her parents live in Downers Grove, IL. Sarah lives in Geneva, IL. 
Education/Awards/Certifications:She received a BS in Landscape Horticulture and Design from Purdue University and a Floral Shop Management Certificate from the College of DuPage. 
Favorite part of job:  Sarah enjoys seeing the whole process, from the design on the paper to the final installation, she enjoys the transforamtion that takes place while making the space more enjoyable to the client. 
Favorite plant/design style/element: Sarah enjoys a more contempary design style, using linear elements to create a unified, more formal look. Some of her favorite plants are Hydrangeas, Iris, and the Katsura Tree.

Employed at Grant and Power since:  March 2007 
Hometown: Downers Grove, IL 
Family:  CJ and her husband Mark currently live in Naperville with their two furry children Cowboy and Wally.
Education/Awards/Certifications:She recieved an Associate of Arts from the College of DuPage and completed her certificate in Landscape Design/Construction. 
Favorite part of job:  CJ loves to let her creativity flow and give people a place to "get away" in their own yard. 
Favorite plant/design style/element:  Her favorite design styles are landscapes that incorporate four seasons of interest and have a very natural and inviting look. Some of her favorite plants include Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Butterfly Bush and Serviceberry.

Employed at Grant and Power since: January 2000
Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois and currently lives in Batavia 
Family: Jenny lives with her husband, Ben and their two sons Ethan (5) and Jacob (2).
Education/Awards/Certifications:Jenny received a BS degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jenny's experience includes working for both a park district and a private landscape architecture firm designing commercial properties. 
Favorite part of job: Jenny enjoys the challenge of creating an environment that is unique to each person. 
Favorite plant/design style/element: Jenny likes to design projects that are clean and simple using strong architectural elements. Favorite plants include Annabelle Hydrangea, all types of grasses, and anything with a unique texture.

Residential Maintenance

Employed at Grant and Power since: January 2003
Hometown: Herne, Germany and currently lives in Warrenville
Family: Rita has been married to her husband, Carl, for 10 years. They met working together at a park district. They live with their four rescued cats and are companions to their Newfoundland, Katie, and a Leonberger mix, Jeannie.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Rita has 20 years experience in the horticultural field. She worked at a conservatory, managed wholesale greenhouses and was a purchasing agent for a nursery. Rita has also attended courses at College of DuPage including greenhouse management, landscape design and business management.
Favorite part of job: She enjoys challenges and problem solving. Customer service is very important to her.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Rita enjoys outdoor activities, old time farming methods, and meeting people. She helps people 'grow' their outdoor garden rooms.

Office Staff

Employed at Grant and Power since: February 2006 
Hometown: Geneva, Illinois
Family:  Loretta and her husband, Bob, have been married for 34 years. They have 2 children, Robb 30, an auto tech who is getting married to Angel in 2010. Lindsay 25, is a packaging engineer, married to Jerry in 2008. Loretta's mother Lois has lived with them since 2002 
Education/Awards/Certifications:Loretta received the Team Spirit Award in 2007 
Favorite part of job: Talking with the customers 
Favorite plant/design style/element: Loretta loves an English garden and lavender.

Employed at Grant and Power since: January 2003
Hometown: Forest Park, Illinois and currently lives in Wheaton
Family: Nadine and fiance Phil, have been together for 10 years. Nadine has 3 daughters, Monica (17), Ronna (16), and Melissa (13). Phil has 4 of his own children and they share a 3 year old granddaughter, Emma. Can't forget the family dog Skippy, the 3 year old Yorkie.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Nadine has a human resource master certificate and a human resource management certificate. 
Favorite part of job: Nadine loves knowing that hard work makes a difference at Grant & Power Landscaping whether it's working with a customer or co-worker.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Nadine likes Hydrangea, perennials and grasses 

Production Department

Employed at Grant and Power since: September 2006
Hometown: Maastricht, the Netherlands and currently lives in Oswego
Family: Veroni and her husband, Mike, have two sons, Jonathan and Timothy. Jonathan is a chemical engineer and lives in Indianapolis. Timothy attends Carroll University in Waukesha Wisconsin majoring in elementary education. 
Education/Awards/Certifications:Veroni completed her high school education in the Netherlands and focused on languages, history and geography. After completing additional studies in the administrative/secretarial field, she has worked in an office environment in both the Netherlands and the U.S.
Favorite part of job: Working together with all the people from the different departments and seeing how everybody's part ultimately creates a beautiful environment for the client. 
Favorite plant/design style/element: A natural looking landscape that includes milkweed, columbine and phlox in combination with various grasses.

Employed at Grant and Power since: March 2010
Hometown: Riverwoods, Illinois and currently lives in Bolingbrook 
Family:  Ania lives with her husband, Mike. Ania has a sister, Katherine, who lives in Southern California with her husband, Shane. Her parents live in Riverwoods, Illinois 
Education/Awards/Certifications:Ania has earned her B.A. degree from Depaul University where she majored in Geography (G.I.S.), and minored in Environmental Science. She is continuing her education at the College of Dupage, earning a landscape design certificate and working towards a B.A. in Horticulture. 
Favorite part of job: Ania enjoys developing relationships with clients, meeting new people, and problem solving. 
Favorite plant/design style/element: Ania's favorite plants include Serviceberry, Tulip Tree and all types of ornamental grasses and perennials. She loves natural landscapes and has a great appreciation for formal gardens.

Employed at Grant and Power since: March 2006
Hometown: Sugar Grove, Illinois and currently lives in Aurora.
Family: Katie lives with her husband, Dan and dog, Sargent. 
Education/Awards/Certifications:Katie has 8 years of landscape maintenance experience. She is a certified Chicago Wilderness burn crew member and has a Class A CDL. She will be taking her CLT (Certified Landscape Techician) exam this summer.
Favorite part of job: She enjoys meeting with customers and the crews and the people she works with.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Fall color and seasonal container planting. She likes ornamental grasses, tiger eyes sumac and witchhazel.

Employed at Grant and Power since: July 2007 
Hometown: Dakota, Illinois and currently lives in Aurora 
Family: Nick has two brothers, both civil and mechanical engineers in Rockford, and one sister that works at MetLife in Freeport. His parents are grain farmers in Dakota.
Education/Awards/Certifications:Nick attended Kishwaukee College for Diesel Tech. 
Favorite part of job: Nick enjoys working with so many wonderful people.

Foremen

Filberto Abad
Construction Foreman

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1985
Hometown: Guerro, Mexico and currently lives in Hillside
Family: Filberto and his wife, Patricia, have four children: Valentine, Rosa, Patricia, and Filberto.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1997
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois and currently lives in Cicero
Family: Epigmenio lives with his wife, Luce Perez, and has children on the way.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1997
Hometown: Morelos, Mexico and currently lives in Cicero
Family: Gabriel and his wife, Vicki, have three children: Luc Maria, Eyamia, Alondra.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1986
Hometown: Tilzapolta Morelos, Mexico and currently lives in Schiller Park
Family: Jesus and his wife, Bertha, have four children: Miguel, Lupe, Noe, and Kenya.
Favorite part of job: Working with plants.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1997
Hometown: Michoacan, Mexico and currently lives in West Chicago
Family: Nicolas and his wife, Evangalina, have six children: Guadalupe, Jose A., Elizabeth, Andrea, Andres, and Eduardo.

Employed at Grant and Power since: 1993
Hometown: Morelos, Mexico and currently lives in Streamwood
Family: Javier and his wife, Gloria, have three children :Javier Jr. (5), Wendy (3), and Daniel (1).

Employed at Grant and Power since:
Hometown:
Family:
Favorite part of job:

Employed at Grant and Power since: 2006
Hometown: Mexico
Family: Jose is married.
Favorite part of job: Pruning and trimming
Favorite plant/design style/element: Hydrangea

Luis Reza
Commercial Maintenance Foreman

Employed at Grant and Power since: 2002 
Hometown: El Paraiso 
Family: Luis has four sisters and one brother.
Favorite part of job: He enjoys estate and commercial maintenance.