Management

Gene R. Grant Jr.
CEO, Registered Landscape Architect

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.

Sales Department

Employed at Grant and Power since: February 2010
Hometown: Naperville
Family: Michael is a dad to two wonderful kids Ryan and Nicole. He is the oldest child of 3, and has two younger sisters. Michael is an Uncle to two nieces named Natalie and Allison. He currently lives in Naperville, and has lived there on and off for most of his life.
Education/Awards/Certifications: Michael received his Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in 1995. He was the Awards Committee Chair for the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association for 4 years. Michael was also an awards judge himself for the Wisconsin chapter of Landscape Contractors Associations for two terms.
Favorite part of job: Meeting with the clients, listening to them, learning who they are and where they have come from. This allows Michael to really give the client exactly what they want in their landscape.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Michaels favorite design style is one that fits with the particular project at hand. A more rustic home would require more natural planting and a more modern home would require a simple, elegant syle of design. His favorite plants are Burr Oak, White Pine, Redbud, European Ginger and Judd Viburnum.

Employed at Grant and Power since: March 2010
Hometown: Plainfield
Family: Ken is from a farm family in the Plainfield area. He has a 15 year old daughter, Taylor, that just got her driving permit. Now the fun begins!
Education/Awards/Certifications: Ken has his Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences from Joliet Junior College. He has a Bachelors Degree in Horticulture Education from Southern Illinois University. He is an Illinois Certified Nurseryman, Certified Arborist and has received State and National Awards.
Favorite part of job: Ken enjoys meeting new interesting people, and witnessing the transformation of a property from the client's dream into a reality, while exceeding their expectations.
Favorite plant/design style/element: Ken's favorite plant is any of the landscape roses. They offer so much color during the growing season. He likes a natural look to a landscape with a combination of a few formal elements. The outdoor living room with water features is also at the top of his favorite list.

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.

Design Department

Kathy Richardson
Landscape Design Captain, Marketing Coordinator

Residential Maintenance

Office Staff

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.

Foremen

Employed at Grant and Power since: 2005
Hometown: Michoacan, Mexico
Family: Jose and his wife live in Carol Stream
Favorite part of job: He enjoys all aspects of landscaping especially hardscapes.

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.

Luis Reza
Commercial Maintenance Foreman