Former student’s firm grows after focus on commercial maintenance

[Native Land Design] (http://www.nativelanddesign.com/) , the Austin-based landscape service company owned by Texas A&M former student Ben Collinsworth, has experienced explosive growth since 2005, when the company’s focus switched from residential construction to commercial maintenance. In the ensuing years, the business expanded across Texas and has been repeatedly listed among “fastest growing companies,” including three appearances on the Aggie 100 list compiled by Mays Business School.

Collinsworth, who earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from Texas A&M in 1999, was profiled in an April 27, 2011 article, “ [Growth Spurt Aftermath] (http://www.greenindustrypros.com/article/10257927/growth-spurt-aftermath) ,” published by Green Industry Pros.com. In the article, he explains why commercial maintenance is a better business model with a lot less volatility than construction.

Since making the transition, Collinsworth said Native Land Design’s sales have more than doubled and the business has expanded from its headquarters in Cedar Park, an Austin suburb, to include locations in San Antonio, Houston and the Rio Grande Valley.

In addition to its three-peat on the Aggie 100 list, Native Land Design has twice been named as one of Austin’s 50 fastest-growing companies and in 2009, it was listed among Inc. Magazine’s 5,000 fastest-growing private companies.