Meet The Team

Industry Leading

Meet Your Designers and Lawn Care Experts

Business does not revolve around, rely on, or depend on people: it IS people! We make a sincere effort to see our employees, co-workers and supervisors, clients, prospects and vendors as people first and treat each one with the courtesy and respect that demands. This company outlook combined with the strong and serious work ethic of our people is the catalyst for the positive and energetic workplace that we and our clients enjoy. Working at Great American Landscapes is not always easy and constantly performing to our high standards can be difficult. However, good people find it rewarding: our full-time office staff of 20 average nearly 10 years with our company, and our 12 crew leaders over 7 years each—In this industry, this is truly Different.
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Our Leadership

Kevin ONeill

Kevin O'Neill

Founder and President

Meet Kevin

Craig Corbett great american landscapes

Craig Corbett

Design Build Manager

Meet Craig

Mike Risell great american landscapes

Michael Risell

Maintenance Division Manager

Meet Mike

julie friedman

Julie Friedman

Designer, Exteriors Outdoor Styling

Meet Julie

Kurt Brandenburg great american landscapes

Kurt Brandenburg

Operations Manager

Meet Kurt

tim carbis great american landscapes

Timothy Carbis

Maintenance Operations Manager

Meet Timothy

scott saylor great american landscapes

Scott Saylor

Landscape Designer

Meet Scott

mike swisher great american landscapes

Michael Swisher

Account Manager

Meet Michael

Shantoshi Thapa great american landscapes

Shantoshi Thapa

Accountant

Meet Shan

Steven Talcott great american landscapes

Steven Talcott

Landscape Designer

Meet Steven

Casey O Neill great american landscapes

Casey O'Neill

Meet Casey

some lady

Kris Devine

Plant Procurement Specialist

Meet Kris

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Zach Veres

Account Manager

Meet Zach

susan

Susan Boyko

Customer Billing Specialist

Meet Susan

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Business Hours

Monday8AM – 5PM
Tuesday8AM – 5PM
Wednesday8AM – 5PM
Thursday8AM – 5PM
Friday8AM – 5PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

Montgomery County, MD

Howard County, MD

Contact Us

GET STARTED
Great American Landscapes
Montgomery County Location
14310 Comus Road
Clarksburg, MD 20871

Great American Landscapes
Howard County Location
14018 Burntwoods Rd
Glenelg, MD 21737

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susan

Susan Boyko

Customer Billing Specialist

Susan recently joined the Great American team and is most excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow in her field.

“I want people to remember me as generous (both with my time and attention), kind-hearted, and hard-working. I give 100% to whatever task is at hand. I try to live by the saying ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well’.”
 
Fun Facts about Susan:
  • Susan is the proud mother of two grown children. Elizabeth, currently serving in the US Air Force, and Jon who works in his father’s company.
  • Susan enjoys spending time with her partner Marcus, cooking, traveling, and working with Three Rangers Foundation, a veteran non-profit focused on assisting regimental Rangers.
  • “If I won the lottery, I’d start a hotel where those in dire need could live and learn life skills (hotel management, janitorial services, cooking, etc). They’d get 6 months of free rent, then 6 months of very low rent. They would have free daycare and be able to focus on getting themselves in a place to feel great about their contributions to society.”
 
Kevin ONeill 1

Kevin O'Neill

Founder and President

Mike Risell great american landscapes

Michael Rissell

Maintenance Division Manager

One of my favorite aspects of my jobs is being able to coach and educate, whether it is in the office with a colleague, on a job site with a crew member or with a customer. The family atmosphere at Great American allows our team members to showcase individual talents and opportunities to grow and promote from within.

Fun Facts:
  • If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would open a custom classic car building company. I’ve always had a passion for cars, have owned one in my lifetime, but really enjoy the design aspect and everything that goes into building a classic car.
  • If I weren’t so good at my job, I’d probably be a teacher.
  • I have coached soccer for almost 20 years and have always loved watching the progression of my teams through the stages that the game has to offer.
  • On Sunday mornings, you’ll typically find me making breakfast for my wife Laurie and our 2 sons, Liam and Kieran. 
Steven Talcott great american landscapes

Steven Talcott

Landscape Designer

Helping people make their yards more beautiful and functional is the best part of my job. I love being on a team that brings so much experience to the table and one that values the idea of being one team with one goal. We all support one another and work together for the success of the company.

Fun Facts:
  • If I didn’t love what I do so much, I would probably be a computer programmer
  • When I was younger, I wanted to be a park ranger.
  • My wife Kim and I have 2 daughters. Whenever possible, we are outside picking produce, working in the yard, hiking, biking, swimming, or just playing with our 2 daughters.
mike swisher great american landscapes

Michael Swisher

Account Manager

I love the process of cultivating a property to meet its full potential. There is a bond of trust that naturally develops with customers through this process over time that I deeply value.

Great American embodies a deep respect for people, a love of horticulture, and a passion for quality that I find rare and quite special. I feel very fortunate to be part of this great team of individuals.

Fun Facts:
  • If I could be anywhere other than here, this particular minute, I would probably be paddling the Potomac in my Kayak with a few good buddies.
  • On Saturday mornings, you can usually find me making “Daddycakes” (Crepes) with the family and playing some good tunes. Every now and then a good old fashioned dance session breaks out!
  • I am married to my beautiful, wise, and funny wife Rebecca. Together, we get to raise three amazing lads who bring us great joy: William, Jack, and Graham.
  • On weekends we like to garden, mountain bike, and explore nature with friends and family.
scott saylor great american landscapes

Scott Saylor

Landscape Designer

My favorite part of my job is helping our clients create a design and seeing their happiness upon the installed project. We have a great group of professionals working towards one goal of providing the best customer service throughout the entirety of the project!

The best advice I received in my football career is, “Be tenacious at everything you do and good things happen. If you are nervous or anxious about something it is OK as long as you are prepared.”

Fun facts:
  • If I could be anywhere other than here right now I would be 60-100 miles offshore fishing.
  • The most important thing I learned prior to high school was the importance of work ethic. This was ingrained in me from early on thru my father.
  • My wife and I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren to date. We love the outdoors and spend much of it at the ocean.
Kurt Brandenburg great american landscapes

Kurt Brandenburg

Operations Manager

My favorite part of my job is thinking of new ways to improve our company. I love that the Great American Landscapes team members are positive and helpful, as well as productive and hardworking.

Fun facts:
  • My favorite thing to do is get outside. Whether gardening, walking, cycling, or just sitting on my deck, I find that fresh air and sunshine suit me best.
  • I love plants and have studied them closely. If you pay attention, they will tell you what they like and don’t like.
  • Kurt has been married 41 years to his lovely wife Liz and they have 2 children and 1 grandchild.
tim carbis great american landscapes

Timothy Carbis

Maintenance Operations Manager

some lady

Kris Devine

Plant Procurement Specialist

We are very lucky to have Kris on our team to not only source great material, but also see the plants, first hand, before they go out to the job sites.

“Seeing the finished landscapes is also very rewarding! I appreciate that this job lets me keep informed of industry trends and share that knowledge with others.”

Fun Facts About Kris:

  • I’ve been married over 20 years and have 3 college-age kids and a dog. Life is busy and ever-evolving. Nature is what grounds me.
  • Spending time with family and friends brings me joy. A quiet walk in the woods or sipping a mojito with my feet in the sand and a warm ocean breeze in my face makes me happy.
  • When I was 5, I was pretty sure I’d be an astronaut when I grew up. Following that, I planned on being a corporate secretary so I could dress smart and wear high heels! Somewhat ironically, in my chosen profession, I typically wear khakis and timberlands (and I’m ok with that)!
  • One of the best pieces of advice I’ve receive is ‘give a firm handshake and move with purpose’.
Casey O Neill great american landscapes

Casey O'Neill

Landscape Designer

Casey joined the Great American team in 2013 and has been designing beautiful spaces for our clients for years! His favorite part of the job is getting the opportunity to meet so many different people at their homes.

“I get to learn about them, their families, their pets, how they like to spend their free time at home, and much more.  Being able to help enhance those things with a landscape design and watching a family enjoy it is definitely the best part.”

Casey enjoys working at Great American Landscapes because of the family atmosphere.  “Having a team around you like we have here makes work more enjoyable and helps make clients happy.”

Fun facts about Casey:

  • Casey and his wife Victoria are staying busy raising two young and energetic boys who they love spending every minute they can with!  
  • They also have two crazy dogs to add to the chaos.  
  • When Casey was younger he always wanted to raise animals. “I am still growing and taking care of living things for our clients, so maybe I was not too far off.”
Shantoshi Thapa great american landscapes

Shantoshi Thapa

Accountant

As the Great American Accountant, I enjoy solving problems and the opportunity to work with numbers. The best part about this company is our great team.

Craig Corbett great american landscapes

Craig Corbett

Design Build Manager

My favorite part of my job is meeting with our clients to finalize details of their brand new project. The confidence I have that our entire team is going to wow the client makes my job easy. The Great American Landscapes team is a true family atmosphere and I’m proud to be a part of the team.

Fun Facts:
  • I think those who know me best would describe me as honest, caring, and funny
  • If I had to pick between dogs and cats, it’s dogs for me!
  • Sunday mornings you can find me at church and then brunch after with my wife Kim
  • You could say I’m in to sports: all of them!
julie friedman

Meet The Team

Exteriors Outdoor Styling Division

I love creating beauty in outdoor spaces for my clients. The best part of working with Great American Landscapes is the teamwork and collaboration that occurs when everyone works together to benefit the client – from designing and installing a new garden to adding details like furniture and containers to maintaining the space and keeping it looking its best.

Fun Facts:
  • My superpower would be constant energy! I work really hard and really fast and get a lot done quickly.
  • On Sunday mornings, you can find me reading in our pavilion in my pajamas. I also love to read and have lots of comfy outdoor spaces to choose from.
  • The most inspiring part of my job is having access to beautiful gardens and homes all the time. Our clients are committed to keeping their homes and gardens beautiful through all of the seasons.
  • My husband Jonathan and I love to be outside with our kids – walking, hiking, hanging at the pool and even doing yard work!
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Zach Veres

Head of Horticulture

My favorite part about my job is helping clients better understand their landscapes. Great American Landscapes is a great family-oriented company.

Fun Facts:
  • At Happy Hour, I’m ordering a sour beer and like to try new flavors.
  • My day begins with reading, the gym, off to set up crews or start off meetings before clients head to work for the day. Once I am home I love to cook dinner.
  • The most inspiring part of the job is seeing the crews learn new skills and grow.
  • I enjoy working out, music, outdoor activities and reading in my free time.