The Story Behind Arbor-Nomics
Richard J. Bare started the company in 1980 as a tree and shrub care company
serving the greater Atlanta area. In 1986, he added turf care. Offering superior
service, Arbor-Nomics Turf, Inc. has seen its market place, the North Atlanta
suburbs, explode with growth.
Growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, Dick used to spend a good deal of his time
working at his family's nursery/garden center because it kept him from doing
chores for free around the house.
With the experience Dick took away from working at the nursery, he enrolled
at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, where he majored in Horticulture
and Arboriculture and took a handful of business courses.
Once he graduated from college, Dick decided to go into business for himself
in the Columbus area. That lasted for three years until the company was bought
out by Karl Keummerling Associates, a large tree service company.
He stayed with Keummerling until he received a call from ChemLawn, which was
starting a horticultural spraying division. This was exactly the kind of work
Dick had been wanting to do. So when ChemLawn made him an offer he couldn't
refuse, he moved to Chicago, Illinois to become one of the first Tree &
Shrub division managers.
Dick was eventually transferred to Atlanta where he fell in love with the climate,
trees, mountains, and progressive business atmosphere. Atlanta was truly becoming
an international city.
After a few years, Chemlawn offered to transfer Dick to Pittsburgh but he was
smitten with the South and opted to stay in Atlanta. In 1980 he opened Arbor-Nomics
and went out on his own once again.
THE BARE
PHILOSOPHY. "Arbor-Nomics is about a concentration on the customer", explains
Dick. "Other companies are so big that it's hard for them to give personal attention
to their customers."
As his company started to become increasingly successful, Dick sought out other
entrepreneurs like himself. In 1985, Dick helped start the Metro Atlanta Landscape
and Turf Association (MALTA), a 500 plus member organization dedicated to furthering
the education of landscape professionals. He also is past President of The Georgia
Turfgrass Association.
As the company's customer base grew, Dick brought on others to help him manage
the business. In 1996 Doug Cash joined the company as Vice-President and General
Manager. Doug worked for over twenty years in the lawn care industry, from a
lawn care technician all the way up to regional manager with one of the largest
lawn care companies in the country. Doug also did postgraduate work at the University
of Georgia, Gwinnett Tech and North Metro Tech and won numerous awards including
"Branch Manager of the Year" and "Most Outstanding Customer Service."
Tricia Papp, Bare's stepdaughter, manages the offices and HR department. Tricia,
a CPA who has a master's degree in accounting handles all the company's finances
and books. She plays an integral part in the hiring process. "Our future
lies in the hands of our young employees so their character and training is
of utmost importance," Tricia states.
Arbor-Nomics relies on old-fashioned customer service to keep the business
strong. Every employee's extension is provided in the company's newsletter,
"The Buggette," which is delivered with each treatment. "We encourage
people to call Doug or I with any questions or concerns," states Dick.
"We want to be as accessible as possible to our customers."
That "old-fashioned customer service" has paid off for Dick and Arbor-Nomics.
The company currently has 9000 customers and has just expanded by opening satellite
offices at Lake Lanier and Marietta.
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