March 5, 2001
858-535-8101
TruGreen Names New San Diego Leader
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — TruGreen LandCare has a new leader for its San Diego region. Stepping down is Tom Ewing, known for founding Miramar Wholesale Nurseries (MWN), Southern California’s largest wholesale nursery.
After the nursery was sold to LandCare USA in late 1998, Ewing stayed on and continued to manage the business. In 1999, LandCare USA merged with TruGreen to form TruGreen LandCare. Ewing was named region manager of TruGreen’s San Diego operation. Suzie Wiest, also a founding member of MWN, will continue to manage all three MWN locations: San Diego, Irvine and San Juan Capistrano.
Stepping in as the new San Diego region manager for TruGreen LandCare is Tom Smith. For the last eight years Smith was branch manager of the San Diego landscape construction branch of TruGreen, overseeing all aspects of the San Diego and Las Vegas facilities.
While Ewing is no longer managing regional and nursery operations, he is still maintaining a presence. “I’m now consulting, concentrating on specific issues and special projects for the nursery as well as the TruGreen LandCare operation,” he said. Currently he is involved in marketing and lease-related projects, and intends to continue participating in industry-related activities and supporting industry standards.
“This was a good time for me to make this change,” Ewing said. “I’m confident that the customers, associates and the nursery itself are in good hands. I feel TruGreen LandCare provides the resources to continue strengthening all phases of the nursery business plan: dependable local service and products for the landscape and commercial property industries, out-of-state product service for the re-wholesaler, and further development of our commercial landscape centers.”
Since its founding in 1993, MWN has grown into Southern California’s leading supplier of wholesale landscape plant materials and supplies. Its physical size increased by half when the business acquired two nursery facilities in Orange County in 1997. In total, MWN comprises a 40-acre facility in San Juan Capistrano, a 75-acre facility in Irvine, and the 200-acre site in San Diego. Each has a fully-stocked commercial landscape center with will-call capabilities.
TruGreen LandCare and Smith plan to continue this trend of growth. “I will work closely with both Tom Ewing and Suzie Wiest to ensure that Miramar Wholesale Nurseries continues to offer the most value possible to its customers,” Smith said. “Our locations will remain fully staffed with experienced professionals in the nursery industry. We will maintain our well-stocked commercial landscape centers and continue to grow quality plant material. The nurseries’ initial goal was to become a dependable member of our customers’ support team. That goal will never change.”
Over the long term, Smith and Wiest plan to continue to use the resources offered by parent companies TruGreen LandCare and ServiceMaster. “We will promote all business opportunities available to MWN, from out-of-state accounts to the dynamic Southern California commercial property industry,” Smith and Wiest said. “MWN’s customers should expect continued devotion to quality products, dependable support, and trusted service.”
