Meet Our Team
Ownership
Wayne Barber
Owner
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2002
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
35 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Landscape Design – South Dakota State University
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
We get to create amazing outdoor environments
David Ward
Owner
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2002
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
45 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Horticulture degree from Kansas State University
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
Watching employees advance in the company
Leadership
Adam Lang
Landscape Design Manager
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2009
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
29 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor’s Degree in Horticulture and Landscape design from Kansas State University.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
We get to design and create beautiful landscapes and resort-like outdoor living areas for our clients
Austin Hall
Director of Operations
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2014
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
13 years
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Seeing landscapes transform over time
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Seeing our employees advance and achieve success
Brian Kane
Maintenance Operations Manager
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2021
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
20 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. Emphasis in Golf Course Management and a minor in business management
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Every day is different and challenging
Jay Hallett
Fleet Manager
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2011
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
30 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
The people, teamwork, being treated like family
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
Everybody has to start somehwere
Landscape Design
Cole Welch
Landscape Architect
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2016
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
30 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Regional & Community Planning from Kansas State Univeristy
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Transforming a client’s outdoor environment
Shane Hoitsma
Landscape Designer
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2015
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
9 years design sales and 5 years installing on crews
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor’s in Agriculture with emphasis on horticulture and LS design – South Dakota State University
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Meeting new people and taking the current site, putting together a plan, and seeing it come to fruition
Jeff Scott
Landscape Design Assistant
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2022
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
2 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Landscape Architecture from South Dakota State University
What advice would you give to a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars?
Do not hesitate to ask questions or be afraid of humility of something you’re unsure of. We have all had our first days at NTN
Steven Holt
Landscape Architect
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2013
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
14 years experience
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Masters in Landscape Architecture, Kansas State University
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
I get to design a lot, create something that people value
Nicole Marshall
Landscape Designer
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2014
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
20 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Masters in Landscape Architecture
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
The people, both co-workers and clients.
Jennah Holland
Commercial Install Sales
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2022
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
20 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
I enjoy our team and our culture. Clients and opportunities for individual/team growth
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
It’s fast-paced and competitive
Derek Teel
Landscape Designer
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2026
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
28 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
The culture and people. It is professional yet relaxed and that is a hard balance in our industry.
What is your favorite season? Why?
Summer. It’s busy at work, and it’s hot at the lake.
Hutch Turner
Landscape Design Assistant
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2025
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
5 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Horticulture with an Emphasis in Design from Kansas State University
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
Helping make my coworkers’ lives easier.
Maintenance Account Management
Brad Peters
Maintenance Business Developer
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2010
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
32 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
Camaraderie, ownership evolvement, freedom/flexibility
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Working with industry professionals
Renee Yankovich
Account Manager
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2018
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
30 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor of Scicence in Agriculture/Horticulture
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
“Never be above picking a weed.”
Spencer Jenkins
Account Manager
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2026
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
8 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor of Science
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
If you want something done right, do it yourself. Hard Work always pays off!
Nicole Crist
Account Manager
What is your favorite season? Why?
Spring because it is finally going to be warm again!
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
3 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
A bachelor’s degree in Horticulture
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Sam Virgillito
Account Manager
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
5
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln
What is your favorite sports team?
It’s a tie between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Office Administration, Finance, and HR
Donna Shankel
Accounts Payable
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2018
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
20 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
BS in Accounting from Emporia State University
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
The creativity of our designers and account managers and making our clients’ outdoor spaces so beautiful!
Jocelyn Rodriguez
Customer Support Specialist
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2023
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
2 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
Aspire training videos and hands-on training!
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
I love how everyone has a positive attitude and they make me feel like I’m a part of the family.
Michael Johnson
Controller
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2023
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
25 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
At Next to Nature, I have a fun time in a family atmosphere doing meaningful work.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
Change happens on the other side of struggle.
Sulet Lopez
Office Coordinator/Human Resources
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2022
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
6 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
The people I work with and for. They are understanding, caring and see your potential.
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
I am able to listen and help make our employees feel appreciated.
Lori Scott
Accounts Payable
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2005
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
40 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
BS degree, major in accounting. CPA since 1984.
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is
It is nice to be important, but it is more important to be nice!
Jordyn Brown
Irrigation Administrator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2026
What is your favorite season? Why?
Spring is my favorite season, because I love to see all the plants come back to life after winter.
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
I enjoy my coworkers and the work atmosphere the most.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Thanks to Bill Nye, I wanted to study volcanoes when I was younger.
Operations
Ben Linnemeyer
Landscape Production Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2023
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
23 years
What education have you completed to work in this field?
B.A. in Biology from William Jewell College
What advice would you give to a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars?
Be humble and open to new ways of doing things
Bill Schrag
Irrigation Production Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2020
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
18 years
What is your favorite sport/sports team?
Chiefs
What do you like to do away from work?
Landscaping/Fishing
Dillon Williams
Facilities Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2015
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
8 years
What’s the most inspiring part of your job?
Being able to help out so they can get to jobs efficiently.
What advice would you give to a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars?
Yes, to as much stuff as you can to grow your knowledge and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Matthew Potchad
Turf and Plant Healthcare Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2023
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
5 years
What do you enjoy most about working at Next to Nature?
Working with a collaborative team and being outside.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Working with customers, and seeing the transformation of a lawn over a season.
Noriel Renteria
Mow Production Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2020
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
5 years
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
Meeting, deadlines, targets, or goals. And learning new things.
What advice would you give to a candidate who wants to join our team of superstars?
To be passionate about the job, have strong communication skills, and have confidence in yourself and your work. It’s important to be reliable and to be a team player.
Jill Owens
Nursery Operations and Procurement Coordinator
What year did you start with Next to Nature?
2025
What education have you completed to work in this field?
I actually went to school for Architecture and graphic design, so all of my education in this field has been experience.
How many years of experience do you have in your field?
Taking into account how often I got in trouble for hitting my whiffle ball into my dad’s landscaping, I probably have about 35 years of experience in trees and plants.
Ready to Start Your Career With Next to Nature Landscape?
Join our team of talented individuals and be a part of the premier landscaping company in the Kansas City Metro area. We are hiring!
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