CAW E10: Kathi Roche, Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc.

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Kathi Roche, Co-owner, General Manager & Chief Financial Officer
Santa Rita Landscaping, Inc.
755 W Grant Road
Tucson, AZZIP: 85705
520.623.0421
Email: kathi@srlandscaping.com  Santa Rita Landscaping Website
Houzz Website
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter |

Kathi is a resourceful financial and business management professional with 38 years of experience in accounting, finance, and business management. Her work experience includes public and private firms of all sizes.  She is a proven Manager, driven to cut company costs while boosting company revenue through innovative management techniques. Organized and diligent, with excellent written and oral, and interpersonal skills, Kathi is successful in building and motivating dynamic teams. Her practical experience with all facets of business includes Cost Control, Process optimization, Strategic planning, Staff development, Goal attainment, Accounting, Human Resources, Payroll, Office Management, Finance, Banking Relationships, Tax preparations, and Financial Statements. She has managed teams from 5 to 250 people and has overseen multiple mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, reorganizations, downsizing, and consolidations. 

Kathi is a master at creating synergy within teams and integrating business plans seamlessly to maximize company profits, employee retention, and customer satisfaction. Kathi brings practical experience and knowledge of systems, procedures, techniques, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Many of her years of experience include work in the construction industry, from general contracting to the various trades. Her knowledge of WIP (work in progress) reports, accrual and tax accounting, balance sheets and income statements help form her management style that promotes increased net profits. Her titles have ranged from Accountant, Controller, Chief Financial Officer to Integrator, and General Manager. Kathi has been with Santa Rita Landscaping for 13 years. 

About the Business

In 1985, brothers Brian and Garrett Ham started their Tucson landscaping company and called it Santa Rita Landscaping, named after the Santa Rita mountain range they lived near.  Garrett was in his last semester of high school and Brian finishing his bachelor’s degree in Watershed Hydrology at the University of Arizona when Garrett received the firm’s first Contractors license with a $1,000 loan from First Interstate Bank of Arizona, co-signed by their father, to cover the bonding requirements. 

The business began in their parents’ barn, which served as their first contractor yard. During the day both partners worked the physical aspect of a landscaping business, installing brick, irrigation, plants and trimming shrubs and each evening they would handle the business side of the company, returning phone calls, drawing plans and doing book work. 

By 2005, the company employed 125 Tucsonans, and SRL bought the 4.6 acres at 755 W Grant Road to remodel the building that serves as their headquarters today.  By 2006, the company employed over 190 Tucsonans and launched Santa Rita Environmental and Santa Rita Waste Systems to provide storm water compliance and roll off dumpster services, finally merging in 2012 with Southwest Enviroscapes, Inc. to form one of Tucson’s largest and leading commercial, public and residential landscaping providers.  Throughout, the company has grown via its focus on customer service, ownership thinking, and The Santa Rita Way.

Host

Matt NelsonSenior Vice PresidentCrest Insurance Group 
Matt is a Senior Vice President at Crest Insurance Group in Tucson, consulting with companies to identify and implement insurance, risk management, and employee benefits solutions.  With more than a 15 years of industry experience, he has served as a keynote speaker on the healthcare industry, leadership, workplace culture and risk management for professional organizations throughout Southern Arizona, including the City of Tucson, Greater Tucson Leadership, the Financial Executives and Affiliates of Tucson, and the CEO Roundtable of Tucson. 

Matt is an active member in the Tucson community, having served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Arizona Army National Guard and volunteering with multiple local organizations, including as Treasurer and a Big Brother with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Arizona, a volunteer with the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Chair of the Pima County JTED’s Business and Industry Council, a builder with Habitat for Humanity and many other local youth charities. 
Email: mnelson@crestins.com  
Phone: 520.784.7636 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattrnelson2   

 

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