Omega Landscape Maintenance & Design

In December 2009, John Gimby found himself joining thousand of other dislocated workers facing a very difficult job market. But when the Veterans Program at the Oregon Employment Department office in Salem encouraged John to consider self-employment, everything changed. He found the resources he needed to help him start his own business and he hasn’t looked back.
In February 2010, John received the Sparkle of Excellence Entrepreneurial scholarship from Job Grower’s Inc. The scholarship granted John one-on-one advising time with MERIT to help him develop his business concept and plan, and enabled him to take the “Outperform the Economy” class series at the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Equipped with the skills to write a business plan and run a business, John finished his business plan and secured start up financing from the Veterans Program.

Omega Landscape Maintenance & Design officially launched in March 2010. John’s business specializes in turf and plant care with an emphasis on environmentally safe products and practices, and offers aerating, thatching, fertilizing and weed control.

John hit the ground running working 6-7 days a week and working up to 12 hours a day as the sole owner and operator of his business, but he says it is all worth it. He is thrilled to have survived his first year of business.

In the slower season, John has been able to work on expanding his business , employing the skills he learned from MERIT and the SBDC. He is now gearing up to work long days during his second busy season as summer approaches. Even with the long hours, he enjoys the freedom of owning his own business. “It affords me the opportunity to give back to my community, church, and family.” Plus, John finds great personal satisfaction in a job well done and in helping people solve their problems.

John believes his greatest success thus far is renewing his landscaping contractor’s license for a second year. He is focused on the long-term success of Omega Landscape Maintenance & Design and is working tirelessly towards that end.

“It affords me the opportunity to give back to my community, church, and family.”

—JOHN GIMBY
OMEGA LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE & DESIGN

SALEM