Career Path: Production Manager
Chris Richards
Q: Describe the path that brought you to the landscaping industry?
A: Since I was a little kid, I’ve been doing this for myself. I started out just taking my dad’s mower and hitting the neighbors lawn and went up from there. I did a handyman service where I learned everything from changing lightbulbs to mowing lawns and fixing patios, siding, everything…but my favorite thing out of everything I’ve learned is this.
Q: What brought you to Outerland?
A: A lot of room to grow. A lot of structure.
Q: What do you tell your friends you do for work?
A: I work for Outerland, a landscaping services, and gardening company.
Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: Being able to go back and look at a job and say, ‘Wow, what a difference I’ve made.’ That’s why I’ve always loved it because you get to make that difference, and it’s incredible if you know what you’re doing and appreciate the work.
I also love being able to interact with all the guys, not just my crew, because I can share my knowledge with everyone rather than just one or two people.
Q: What do you find most challenging about your job?
A: The administrative part of it. How much of this job is on technology and computers.
Q: What’s one thing people might not know or expect about your job?
A: One thing I didn’t know was that you’re like a Dr. Phil, if you will. You need to talk to people and have to treat everybody differently. So, when you make crews you need to look at personalities and how they mix with other personalities and each person’s strengths and weaknesses.
In the field, the challenges can be anything from the weather to the type of job or property.
Q: What skills or characteristics do you think your job requires?
A: Common Sense… Open-Mindedness for change and other people’s ideas. And drive, for sure.
Q: What makes Outerland unique?
A: Our size. The goals. The people.
Q: What do you like about working in the landscaping industry?
A: The difference we can make.
Q: What advice would you give someone who’s looking to get into our industry?
A: Challenge yourself. See what you can do.
Q: What makes you proud to work at Outerland?
A: It’s a big company. There are a lot of opportunities and the difference we do make is incredible.
The Outerland Team
Our team brings together dedicated landscape design, maintenance, property management, and garden specialists with more than three decades of local experience. We value hard work, personalized care, and the unique ways that outdoor spaces frame our days.
