Inc.

Focal Pointe Acquires Signature Landscape, Landworks, Inc., and Rite-A-Way Lawn Care

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Focal Pointe Holdings, LLC, a leading landscape services company located in Caseyville, Illinois, has acquired three privately-owned landscape companies:  Landworks, Kansas City, Kansas; Rite-A-Way Lawn Care, Cottleville, Missouri; and Signature Landscape, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

Together, these acquisitions are expected to contribute 39% to total Focal Pointe revenue for fiscal year 2023. In total, the acquisition adds 220 employees across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, and represents a combined client portfolio in excess of $17M.

The move confirms Focal Pointe’s strategy of supporting its employees and creating a firm that offers recognized expertise in the landscape sector and unparalleled opportunities for professional growth.

“Putting people first, whether it’s our employees, customers, or the people in our communities, is central to who we are,” said CEO and Founder, John Munie. “When visiting with team members throughout the company, I’d ask ‘if we could design the best company on earth to work for, what would that look like?’ They said it would be a company that they could help build and where they could all grow,” said Munie.

As part of Focal Pointe’s people-first culture, all three firms will be integrated into the Focal Pointe family of companies, with only Signature retaining its name. Signature CEO Brett Gordon will become Focal Pointe’s new COO.

Landworks, located in Wyandotte County and serving the greater Kansas City metropolitan area, will be rebranded as Focal Pointe. Its owners, Jeff and Courtney Welch joined the Focal Pointe team.

Rite-A-Way CEO Brad Striker will retain their firm’s large tree business, with Focal Pointe acquiring Rite-A-Way’s snow and landscape operations in St. Louis/St. Charles, Missouri.


Focal Pointe executive director Bruce K. Wilson and board members Verne Harnish, Tim Spihlman, Kris Jakel, and the late Kevin Kehoe acted as M&A strategic advisors.

Former Focal Pointe Operations Director, Brian Brueggemann, has returned to the firm in a consulting role to lead operations integration.

ABOUT FOCAL POINTE

Founded in 1997 by John Munie, Focal Pointe is a full-service landscape business serving commercial and residential property owners, developers, and managers. Focal Pointe’s portfolio includes the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington University, Edward Jones, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Big Cedar Lodge. 

In 2022, Focal Pointe ranked as the 116th largest U.S. landscape company by Landscape Management magazine and ranked among the 50 fastest-growing privately held firms by the St. Louis Business Journal. Focal Pointe was also awarded a Top Workplaces in 2022 by The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch.

Focal Pointe is located in Caseyville, Illinois. Branch offices are in Hazelwood, Missouri; Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri; Springfield and Branson, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. www.yourfocalpointe.com

Photo Above: (L to R:  Brett Gordon, COO (Signature Landscape); John Munie, Founder & CEO (Focal Pointe); Jeff and Courtney Welch, (Landworks).

Jeff Lantz, Sr. Steps Down as President of Lantz Homes, Inc., Transfers Leadership Role to Jeff Lantz, II

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Jeff Lantz, Sr. Steps Down as President of Lantz Homes, Inc., Transfers Leadership Role to Jeff Lantz, II

After 35 years of serving home and business owners across the St. Louis region, Jeff Lantz, Sr. has stepped away from his role as president of Lantz Homes, Inc., handing over the family business to son and third-generation home builder, Jeff Lantz, II. The company, rebranded as Lantz Homes & Remodels, will carry on Jeff, Sr.’s dedication to homebuilding excellence while expanding into custom remodeling and renovation services to meet the changing needs of the market.

During his tenure at the company, Jeff, Sr., son of founder Al Lantz, managed the construction of hundreds of custom homes, multi-family units, and commercial buildings in the Metro East. The Lantz name became synonymous with luxury home projects that combined five-star craftmanship with a meticulous attention to detail. In addition to his work at Lantz Homes, Jeff, Sr. remained devoted to the community, helping to lead projects for the Edwardsville YMCA, Edwardsville Township Park, and the Edwardsville Ice Rink.

“My father’s integrity, honesty, and commitment to giving people the quality home they deserved inspired me to evolve Lantz Homes into one of the top high-end building companies in the region,” said Jeff, Sr. “Being able to pass it down to my son is my biggest achievement, knowing he will continue the family legacy. I’ve watched and worked with Jeff, II since he was in high school, and he holds the same high standards Lantz Homes has been known for over the past 60 years. Jeff, II is always following the latest building trends and focused on finding the most economical way to build a quality home.”

Jeff, II has worked for Lantz Homes since 1999, learning all aspects of the business, from estimating and project management to design and hands-on construction. His vast experience and ability to build close relationships with his clients led him to add custom home remodeling to Lantz Homes’ service line in 2022 for families who wish to stay in their current homes.

“I’ve worked with my dad at Lantz Homes since I was a kid and learned from one of the best,” Jeff, II remarked. “I respect my dad for always giving 100 percent to his clients and the community. I’m excited to use the knowledge I’ve taken from him to continue that same quality building here in the Metro East. My vision for Lantz Homes & Remodels is to always provide excellence, working side by side with clients to build their dream home or remodel the home they currently love.”

For more information on Lantz Homes & Remodels, visit www.lantzhomes.com or call 618.656.3346.

Since 1959, Lantz Homes & Remodels, a third-generation Edwardsville and Glen Carbon homebuilder and remodeler, has transformed dreams into homes for hundreds of Madison County families. Designed from their clients’ imagination and handcrafted to their specifications, each home is entirely customized, from floor to ceiling and every space in between. For more information, visit www.lantzhomes.com.

St. Clair County Transit District Selects TWM Engineering, Inc., to Design Road Bike and Pedestrian Trail

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St. Clair County Transit District today announced it has selected TWM Engineering, Inc., to provide design services for Phase III of the Old Collinsville Road Trail, which will be a bike and pedestrian trail that is part of the expansive MetroBikeLink System. This contract will be a continuation of Phases I and II, from Lebanon Avenue to Munie Road and will be a part of the Old Collinsville Road corridor trail development. The goal is to connect to Phases I and II of the Old Collinsville Road Trail, as well as subdivision, parks, schools and businesses within the municipalities of Belleville, Shiloh, Swansea, Fairview Heights and O’Fallon.

Phase III plans include a proposed trail running along Old Collinsville Road, approximately 1 mile from Munie Road to Frank Scott Parkway East (FSPE). Old Collinsville Road is a narrow, two-lane urban section of roadway unable to accommodate vehicles as well as individuals wanting to walk or ride their bicycles. The Richland Creek Bikeway has direct access to the MetroBikeLink System, which terminates at Old Collinsville Road, and would connect to the Phase I and II portions of the trail. There are many sidewalks and subdivisions that connect to the Old Collinsville Road corridor, bringing connectivity to the region.

“St. Clair County Transit District has had multiple requests for pedestrian accommodations in this area,” said Herb Simmons, Chair of St. Clair County Transit District’s Board of Trustees. “Phases I, II and III will connect numerous residential areas and commercial developments along Old Collinsville Road as well as Lebanon Avenue, the Richland Creek Bikeway and the rest of the MetroBikeLink System.  It would also improve access, mobility and safety for all citizens in this highly populated area of St. Clair County.”

The first section of the MetroBikeLink System opened in 2002 and was comprised of a four-mile trail, running from Southwestern Illinois College to the Swansea MetroLink Station. Since then, the system has expanded to include the Memorial Section, Fairview Heights sections, Orchard Loop Trail Phases I and II and the Shiloh Scott sections, Englemann Park Connector – which all connect back to the original trail. Currently, the MetroBikeLink System runs from the Shiloh-Scott Metro Station to the Fairview Heights Metro Station, providing access to six MetroLink stations and four different communities. Phases I and II of the Old Collinsville Road Trail, featuring approximately 1.7 miles of trail, are expected to be opened in 2022.

Construction of Phase III of the MetroBikeLink System is estimated to cost $755,000. St. Clair County Transit District has already secured a $300,000 construction grant from the Metro East Park and Recreation District with the hopes of securing a $200,000 IDNR Grant applied for earlier this year. It is anticipated that Phase III will be completed in 2023. To learn more about the MetroBikeLink System and St. Clair County Transit District, visit www.scctd.org.

Founded in 1981, St. Clair County Transit District oversees 11 MetroLink stations and 18 bus routes in St. Clair County, Ill. If commuters have questions about service, they can call (618) 628-8090 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, visit www.scctd.org