Crawford Landscaping, Naples, Florida

Since he was 16 years old, Jud has been involved in the landscape industry. It has always been his passion since his grandfather taught him the intricacies of rose gardening. While working as a crewmember with various landscape companies to earn money for college, Jud discovered the magic of turning a bare piece of dirt into a fantastic landscape. It was through those experiences that he decided to pursue landscape architecture as a career.

After earning degrees in both Landscape Architecture and Horticulture from the University of Wisconsin, Jud began the pursuit of his career with one of the leaders in the Landscape Industry, Tom Lied, of Lied’s Landscape Design & Development.

Over the past 25 years, Jud made the transition from landscape design and sales to sales manager and then, to Vice President of Operations at both Lied’s and Smallwood Landscape Companies. During that time, Jud became active in the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA, now PLANET). Recognized for his leadership abilities, Jud was elected President of ALCA in 1997. It was through this experience that Jud realized how much he enjoyed working with other landscape contractors across the country and networking with them on sales and business issues.

Previously Jud was employed by a local builder/developer where he served as the company’s Project Manager. In that position, Jud was responsible for overseeing the design, marketing, sales and construction of High-rise Tower Condominiums in Tampa and Bradenton Florida.

In the second quarter of 2008, Jud joined Crawford Landscaping’s team of professionals with the goal of expanding the company north into the Sarasota/Bradenton areas. It has proved to be the start of an exciting new venture.