ST. JOHN | Creekside Landscaping President Mike Arnold takes pride in his company’s excellent customer service.

“We understand the busy schedule of our clients and do as much as possible to accommodate, such as never requiring them to meet at our office but we come to them for all planning,” Arnold said. “Our installations are second to none. We go to extreme lengths to get the project done in a timely manner, but never compromise on quality.”

It’s all about trust and delivering the best product possible.

“We never have, and never will, leave a customer hanging,” Arnold said. “Yes this is a career for everyone on our staff, but it’s what we love, and we love to serve.”

Based in Northwest Indiana in St. John, Creekside Landscaping also serves the Michigan and the Chicago area.

“Our primary service is landscaping, complete with full 3D design, in-home consultations and presentations and, of course, the implementation of such designs,” Arnold said. “Our maintenance division services hundreds of Northwest Indiana clients weekly with lawn care and fertilization programs.”

Projects range from a plant layout to full outdoor entertainment and kitchen areas. Creekside is an authorized contractor for Unilock, the leader in the landscape paver industry, Arnold said.

Arnold said popular trends among local customers are simple, low maintenance planting and elaborate backyard entertainment areas.

During winter, Creekside Landscaping provides snow and ice control for commercial clients including gas stations, post offices, retail stores, warehouses, factories, and hospitals.

Prior to opening Creekside, Arnold worked for other landscape companies. During his time at Purdue University, Arnold had his own small lawn mowing route.

“That small route blossomed into so many other things that I simply decided to put my eggs in that basket and run with it,” Arnold said. “I knew that I was not the type of person to sit in an office all day, or a classroom for that matter. I always needed to be in an outdoor environment, and I have a passion for the construction industry. Landscaping seemed the logical choice. It has grown exponentially ever since.”

He credits his mother Renee Arnold, head of business development for a global investment firm in Canada, as being his role model and inspiration.

“She is the smartest person I know,” Arnold said. “In the middle of her professional career, she always finds time to help guide me through business decisions. I can honestly say that we wouldn’t even be having this conversation if it weren’t for her participation in my life and in Creekside.”

Arnold’s business goals are to continue building a company that is not only reputable in his community, but is also known as a great place to work.

“If you don’t enjoy what you do, what is the point of doing it?” Arnold said. “I strive to employ a team and family atmosphere at Creekside and make each member a personal part of my life.”

He also plans to introduce new and interesting landscape designs and concepts to the community.

“I’ve learned to find what you love to do in life, and find a way to make a living doing it,” Arnold said. “I love serving people, and I love building relationships. Business is a means of doing those things every day. My philosophy of life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Any good you see in me or good you see in my business is not because of any good in me, but because of him who lives in me.”

Read the full article here https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/small-business-spotlight-creekside-landscaping-st-john/article_6b39c0ff-9d9e-5d26-a4fa-3edcc6d229ee.html