landscaper of the year finalist
Going
Beyond
Expectations
By Arricca Elin SanSone
When David Katz of Elite
Landscaping designs a
landscape, it's about
creating a space beyond
a client's wildest dreams.
E
nter the office of Elite Landscaping in Poughkeepsie, New York, and you're immediately
and enthusiastically greeted by the public
relations department: a 12-pound, tail-wagging
bundle of joy named Emee. First impressions count.
Emee's good-natured presence perfectly reflects
the company's unbounded energy and eagerness
to please.
Next, David Katz, 53, president of Elite Landscaping, appears. He's dressed in a crisp, white shirt
embroidered with the company logo, tucked neatly
into immaculately pressed jeans. "I love what I do. I
hate mediocrity and excuses," he says. His intensity
is tempered by a keen sense of humor and dedication to family.
Photos fill a corner of Katz's office, showing wife,
Debbie, and his two children, who grew up in the
business. Debbie's office is across the hall; she
puts in 50-hour weeks as she has for the past two
decades. Whiteboards with workflow charts line the
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