Getting To Know Sharolyn Parker
I grew up in a small town in the Midwest (Iowa). If you’ve seen the movie “Bridges of Madison County” then you’ve seen my hometown (Winterset). I am the youngest of 4 and the only daughter. I graduated from college with a marketing degree in 1982 and went to work in the family automotive business for two years. I moved to Dallas in 1984 and went to work for Sewell Village Cadillac-now commonly known as Sewell Cadillac—where I met my husband of 30+ years, Rich Parker. Once Rich and I got married I quit my job so we could start a family. We have four sons: Reed, 29, Keaton 27, Kevin 27 and Chase 25. We also now have one daughter-in-law, Michele (Reed) who we are proud to claim as one of our own.
Events that led up to how I got involved in this business:
When Reed was 12 he started a lawn maintenance business for people in our neighborhood and by doing our lawn. When his business took him to a home too far to walk I would drive him. He maintained and grew his business (Lone Star Lawns) partnering with a friend from high school until he went away to college. At that time he was maintaining approximately 40 lawns around Lake Highlands where we lived. Also about this time I was beginning to wonder what I was going to do post raising kids and began managing the business for him and, at times, actually doing the work along with my youngest son, Chase. Mid-way thru Baylor Reed decided owning and managing a business long distance was too much so I decided to buy it from him. I have since expanded the business by getting my irrigation license, my pesticide applicator license (so I can legally spray for weeds and put down fertilizer) and graduating from Master Gardener School. I am officially now Lone Star Landscapes.
What is unique about my business?
One of the things that makes my business unique is that I work on the landscaping crew. At 55 years of age I think that makes me unique (or crazy J). What that means for my clients is that they deal with me directly from start to finish on all landscaping jobs (and can easily contact me regarding lawn maintenance and irrigation also). I am the salesperson here as well as the GM so there are no layers you have to go thru to get to a manager. It’s just me. I like it that way. I enjoy being outside and I enjoy people so it’s a win win. It’s also a Crossfit work out everyday.
Another thing that makes me unique is I work at staying small with my lawn maintenance. In a time when everyone else seems to be trying to become bigger (adding more crews) I feel there is a lot to be said for staying small and bringing a “Sewell” level of service to homeowners and the landscaping business. Has this always worked out the way I envision it?—I’d be lying if I said it has. But it’s my goal to serve a rather small group in the Dallas/Fort Worth area but do it very well. Things have evolved over the last 9 years and I feel that the path to this goal (how you stay small yet be competitive and still make a living) is becoming clearer.