Ward + Thornton

Lately, several landscape industry players have made moves to work together through mergers or acquisitions. Just some that have crossed the Turf desk are listed below. Ohio Market: Schill Acquires Ward + Thornton, Fredericks Landscaping Schill Grounds Management is expanding into the Cincinnati market with acquisitions of two full-service landscaping companies: Ward + Thornton Landscapes, based in Maineville, OH; and Fredericks Landscaping, based in Cincinnati. Founded over 50 years ago, Ward + Thornton provides full-service landscape, maintenance, snow management, and design-build services to numerous customers in northeast Cincinnati and beyond, including Fortune 500 companies as well as local businesses of all sizes. Fredericks Landscaping has been providing full-service landscaping and snow management to customers in central Cincinnati and northern Kentucky for more than 40 years. The southeastern Ohio acquisitions expand Schill’s presence beyond its primary markets of Cleveland and Columbus, and represent the third and fourth acquisitions Schill has completed in recent months. Schill will operate out of the existing Ward + Thornton and Fredericks facilities, while approximately 200 employees from the companies will join the Schill family. Mike Ward, the former owner of Ward + Thornton, will oversee the consolidated operations in the region in a new role as Schill’s Market President for Cincinnati. “We are delighted to show our new employees and customers in Cincinnati what makes Schill a best-in-class partner for year-round grounds management services,” said President Jerry Schill, pictured right, who co-founded North Ridgeville, OH-based Schill Grounds Management more than 25 years ago. Schill continues to ...