LANDSCAPING DESIGN CONTRACTORS

Join our Hardscaping Team!

Jeremy founded Willow Gates Home & Landscape in 2005. However, his passion for landscape Design began many years earlier. Jeremy grew up working with his mother in her small nursery, where he learned about rare and unique plants that are seldom found in typical landscapes. In 2002, Jeremy took a job as Landscaper in Lancaster PA at Sauder’s Nursery and spent three seasons learning more about landscaping and greatly broadening his knowledge of trees and shrubs. In 2005, he was offered the opportunity to purchase the landscaping division at Sauder’s;  after much debate, he seized the opportunity, forming a partnership with his brother. His brother left the company in 2011 to pursue his dream of building a family dairy farm.

Jeremy focused primarily on landscape services, including design, installation, and maintenance in the beginning, but soon expanded the business to include patios and retaining wall installation. In the years that followed, Jeremy invested in installation training and certification from the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA), with certifications for retaining walls, concrete pavers, and more. He also became a certified Techo-Bloc installer.

He has a passion for the industry and became an authorized instructor in 2016. He now teaches installer courses for retaining walls, concrete pavers, permeable pavers, and advanced hardscape projects, and he speaks on related topics at industry events. He appreciates the opportunity to give back to the hardscape industry and pass on some of his experience to other hardscape contractors and high school students. Some of his favorite landscape projects have involved creative stormwater management, outdoor kitchen designs, fire features, and anything that involves innovation in design or in technology! He loves taking a client’s landscaping and hardscaping ideas and bringing them to life.

Jeremy spent two years researching methods of controlling silica dust from cutting concrete and stone products. After researching systems currently on the market didn’t meet the needs of Willow Gates, he began developing his own systems. He has launched Dust Killer Tools and also teaches a 2-hour course for contractors seeking to work dust-free. While the impetus was the OSHA Respirable Silica Rule, his crew has appreciated no longer working in a cloud of dust!

While he says he has no time for hobbies, he’s always up for a discussion on classic muscle cars! He also loves cooking outdoors, with a smoker grill, pizza oven, and fire pit residing in his backyard. He makes his home in rural Berks County with his wife, 6 children, and a menagerie of cats, dogs, and rabbits.

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CHAD MARTIN

Chad joined our team in 2022 as our first full-time office staff, and he ensures that phone calls and website leads are promptly answered.  He appreciates the wide range of his tasks, from customer service to sourcing products.  Chad especially enjoys design work or anything that presents a challenge!  His interests include technology, sportbikes, and dirtbikes.

From the owner:

Chad has helped implement major changes in his time here, including our new accounting, job costing, CRM, and phone systems. He’s been an invaluable resource for researching and implementing many of the new systems and technologies we’ve added. He has also been instrumental in bringing our timelapse videos to life! 

ELVIN KING

Elvin joined our team in 2021 and is currently our hardscape foreman. He enjoys transforming a project into a client’s dream space, especially the rapid changes when laying pavers and mulching. Elvin’s interests include archery, land and forestry management, and volleyball.

From the owner:

Elvin brings great attention to detail and is invaluable in managing our larger projects.  His background in carpentry is a welcome addition to our team!

Conner Shirk

Conner joined the landscape crew in 2022. He loves seeing the end results after working on a project for weeks and especially enjoys cutting pavers and final details. In his free time, he enjoys softball, volleyball, and disc golf, as well as working on his F150. Conner has worked on both our landscape and hardscape crews and is currently our landscape foreman.

From the owner:

Conner brings a great sense of humor to our crew!  He’s also the perfect choice to trim the tallest shrubs on our projects; if you’ve met Conner, you understand why!

Jalen Nolt

Jalen joined our crew in 2023.  He appreciates watching the stages of a project unfold, and especially enjoys laying pavers and wall block.  His interests include snowboarding, archery, and disc golf.  Jalen is currently on our hardscape crew.

From the owner:

Jalen brings a quiet attention to detail, rarely needing a task explained to him twice!

John Zimmerman

John joined our team in 2024 and is currently on the landscape crew. He loves the transformation when laying pavers and mulching, especially laying pavers. His interests include bass and trout fishing and softball.

From the owner:

John brings a youthful enthusiasm to our crew, and always has an awesome attitude!

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WANT TO JOIN OUR TEAM?
CALL NOW OR EMAIL US FOR AN APPLICATION!

We are always looking for additional talent for our Landscape Design team. Please watch our video, and if you want to join an exciting industry while working in a clean, professional environment, call us!