Mission & History

A Respected Reputation

Established over 2 decades ago, Environmental Management Inc. has grown to be one of the largest landscape companies in Central Ohio.

OUR MISSION

  • EMI is passionate about improving our environment. Through our innovative Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle program, EMI continues to improve the environment while minimizing our footprint. EMI recycles 100% of the yard waste collected and composts it into usable mulch/soil. Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices can bypass the use of pesticides using natural effects. Our products and materials are sourced locally—saving transportation. The EMI mower fleet uses electronic fuel-injected mowers (reducing fuel usage by 20%). We also use route optimizing technologies to eliminate/minimize down time and idling, leading to a reduction in our fuel use.
  • EMI is continuously conscious of available green practices as we work to:
    • Proactively choose plant life for our designs that will continue to thrive with little maintenance.
    • Use easy-to-prune plants with little or no use of fertilization.
    • Utilize material options that are specific to the natural environment of the area (less watering needed).
    • Choose pest-resistant and disease-resistant plant life to eliminate the need to spray.
    • Organic-based fertilizers are available
  • We use water more intelligently, so our practices decrease unnecessary usage:
    • Working with weather satellites
    • Xeriscaping practices (landscaping that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental irrigation)
    • Water-saving irrigation heads
    • Drip irrigation when appropriate
    • Installing rain sensors
    • Utilizing rain gardens to capture water naturally
We believe our individual employee is EMI’s greatest asset. EMI is committed to providing the best possible climate for maximum development and goal achievement for all employees. This commitment has resulted in the most NALP (National Association of Landscape Professionals) Landscape Industry Certified Technicians than any other company in the nation. EMI has also taken the lead in implementing the U.S. Department of Labor’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program, which provides our professionals with the opportunity to earn a Journeymen’s license from the U.S. Department of Labor. Having the best trained Landscape Professionals ensure our clients’ needs will be realized and EMI will remain an affordable and exceptional value to our clients.

We feel leading by example is key to influencing others to act. Our owners are committed to growing this industry that has provided countless opportunities to everyone at EMI. We believe that we can actively grow our industry through sharing our successes and knowledge with others while educating the next generation of landscape professionals. EMI remains active in supporting the local and national FFA, the Ohio High School Landscape Olympics, Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) Training Days, Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) Training Days, and the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, to name a few.

HISTORY

Environmental Management Inc. (EMI) started in March 1992 with 2 employees and 20 customer accounts. By the end of the year EMI generated a revenue base of $350,000 and 31 clients. Mark Wehinger and Gary Clark formed the organization and established lofty goals to continue the growth for this young landscape maintenance company. By the end of EMI’s third year (1994) of operation, EMI had grown to 10 full-time employees, 20 seasonal employees, and 1.2 million in annual revenue. EMI’s steady growth continued in 1995 ending with 15 full time employees, 30 seasonal employees, and $2.2 million in annual revenue. In addition, the Business First newspaper ranked EMI 8th out of 25 other landscape firms in the Columbus area (based on annual revenue).

In 1996 the company expanded its Landscape Maintenance operations to include an award-winning Landscape Design/Build division. EMI continued experiencing tremendous growth throughout the next ten years, increasing services to include Commercial Landscape Installation, Irrigation and Water Management services, Seasonal Color and Lighting, and Snow and Ice Management. As a result, by the end of 2008 EMI grew to achieve an average annual revenue of 15 million dollars with a full-time staff of 70 permanent employees and an additional 200 seasonal employees.

In the first 25 years in business, EMI grew to achieve an average annual revenue of 33 million dollars with a full-time staff of 125 landscape professionals and an additional 200 seasonal landscape professionals making EMI the largest individually owned landscape firm in Ohio, and still growing. Additionally, EMI is the only landscape company in Ohio to earn the prestigious National landscape Industry Accredited Company designation, and currently employs the most nationally recognized Certified Landscape Industry Technicians and Managers.

This phenomenal growth and achievement can only be attributed to the efforts and dedication of our landscape professions in meeting our client’s needs and providing the quality service expected. We maintain our competitive position and continued growth because our team members are service oriented, focusing on quality, productivity, and safety.

Environmental Management Inc. building

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