During his college years, Foley continued to work for a landscape contractor in season and a tree contractor in the winter months. He decided that working outdoors was where he wanted to be, and having touched a lot of bases in the green industry, that was where he was headed.

In 1987, as a sophomore in college, in addition to carrying a full schedule at two different schools, Foley formed his own landscape company. He worked at it on weekends and in the summer. In his first year he grossed $49,000. To obtain his business degree, he had to write a business plan that had to be approved by his teacher, and then present it to his class. Foley asked if he could write this plan on a company in the landscaping industry. At first his teacher rejected the idea, however, Foley convinced him that landscaping was a formidable and honorable profession. He won his argument, and equally as important, the business plan that he wrote was the outline for the expansion of his own business. In 1988, it won honors in a nationally recognized business plan competition.

While in his senior year at college, Foley projected his part-time landscape company (which was in its second year) would grow to $85,000 to $90,000. To meet this aggressive figure (which was double the first year’s volume), Foley hustled to put on work. He also hooked up with a builder, where he landscaped the model homes. By the time he closed his second year, his volume jumped to $250,000.

In addition, Foley enrolled part-time at Mass Bay Community College and received a two-year degree in horticulture. In June of 1989, with his formal education behind him, Foley jumped into his business full time with lots of energy and enthusiasm, and a strong desire to build his business. It was just two years after he started his company, which was a design/build business.

Upon graduation, John Dinsmore, a fellow graduate from Babson College, joined Foley’s team. Dinsmore began the maintenance division and by 1991, the company started converting from design/build to maintenance only. By the late ‘90s, the decision was made to get out of the “bid/build” construction business and focus on providing commercial maintenance services. Today, Foley Landscape generates about $4 million annually and John Dinsmore still plays an important role as operations manager.

They also have a special projects department that has a dedicated landscape crew that works primarily for their own landscape maintenance clients. When one of their clients adds to their property, Foley will do the landscape renovation and the enhancements. His business breaks into approximately 50 percent in commercial maintenance, 25 percent in snow and ice, and 25 percent in enhancements.

Realizing the importance of networking with other landscape professionals, Foley joined the state association and also the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), now known as the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). He attended a Green Industry Expo and began to realize that he could expand his horizons by getting involved with ALCA. He joined the membership committee in 1997, and has been on the board of directors since.

By the beginning of 2004, Foley knew that he was next in line for the presidency of ALCA. His term would cover 2005. Little did he imagine, in early 2004, what was going to take place under his watch.

Kurt Kluznik was the 2004 ALCA president. He, more than anyone else, helped prepare Foley to take the reins as the new president. Running a small business takes your time and energy. Many a small business person, wanting to give something back to an organization, assumes the presidency of that organization and by the time his year is up, he realizes how much the time cost him in his business.

Kluznik was determined to at least mentor his incoming president. “Kurt really kept reminding me to prepare myself and my business,”said Foley. Fortunately, our business was moving in the direction of having less people reporting to me. “This really helped me prepare to lead a national association.”

By the third quarter of 2004, ALCA and PLCAA (Professional Lawn Care Association of America) formally agreed to merge into one new organization called Professional Landcare Network (PLANET). Foley took office on January 1, 2005 when PLANET was officially formed.

Now, about eight months into the job, the organization is talking merger with the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA), and Foley is in the thick of it all. In addition, PLANET is searching for a new CEO as both executives for the two original organizations have moved to other positions in the industry.

Running an association is a full time job; running a four million dollar a year company (and planning to grow the business to ten million in the next seven years) is more than a full time job. It’s amazing that Foley has time to spend with his wife Holly and his two children, Courtney 7 ½, and Caitlyn 5.”I feel fortunate to have such a supportive family behind me. The fun that I enjoy with them really helps me to have some balance in my life.”

Our industry is blessed to have a Dan Foley come along at such a crucial time to take the wheel and keep the ship on a steady course.