Although it started as a small family nursery, Rotolo Consultants, Inc. (RCI) has grown into one of the largest and most respected full suite landscape and construction providers in the Southeast, with branches spanning the Gulf Coast from Houston to Orlando all the way up through Nashville and Birmingham. Since its inception over 45 years ago, RCI is now recognized as one of the Top 25 Largest Commercial Landscape Companies in the U.S. and Canada.
Providing unparalleled proficiency in its full suite scope of services, RCI is renowned for creating breathtaking outdoor spaces for high-end casinos and resorts, pro-level golf courses, apartment buildings, private shopping locations, state-of-the-art town centers, universities, and more. RCI understands how to develop and manage clients’ specific needs and visions all while working within their budgets to see projects through completion.
With its design-build capabilities, RCI accelerates construction schedules and optimizes the design process. Academic institutions, developers, and property managers alike seek out the firm’s expertise with landscape, irrigation, specialty concrete, pavers, water features, fences, retaining walls, masonry work, signage, arbors, and more. Once the construction is complete, the same groups again turn to RCI to maintain their properties.
On the grow
Today, RCI is “on the grow,” recently expanding both geographically and in the services it offers. In 2018, RCI purchased GPL out of Destin, Florida before going on to acquire Bay Landscaping in Panama City Beach, Florida the following the year. In 2020, RCI acquired Visions Landscape in Birmingham, Alabama. These acquisitions brought RCI’s full scope of services to the panhandle and Alabama communities.
Along with increasing its footprint in Pensacola, Destin, Panama City Beach, Birmingham, Auburn, Montgomery, Huntsville, and Alexander City, RCI grew organically into the Orlando market in 2022 via the installation of a $40 million-plus construction project with Universal Studios (more on this later) as well as the successful grounds maintenance award of two school systems in Orlando.
“These clients are enabling RCI to bring the full scope of our services to the Orlando market,” says President and COO Michael Rotolo. “We’re now permanently in Orlando, which we’re extremely excited about. That market seems to be consistently growing and appreciative of our service.”
Additionally, RCI grew organically into Nashville, Tennessee in 2021 and then Houston, Texas in 2023. “We’re excited about the potential in Houston and we’re increasing our team in this market in preparation for the growth,” Rotolo says.
This year alone, the company grew into the Shreveport/Monroe, Louisiana market, secured a large project in Austin, Texas, and anticipates being in Atlanta, Georgia by the end of 2024 and in Dallas, Texas in early 2025.
Unique projects
This success led to numerous new and exciting projects, including work for Universal Studios. RCI is currently providing more than three acres of aquatic work in addition to landscape and irrigation services on the project, with an opening anticipated in 2025.
“We set a new bar for ourselves with the Universal Studios project,” Rotolo says. “We’re particularly proud of it and it’s a step up from anything we’ve ever done. We’ve built some very large aquatic structures before, mostly competition pools, but this is three acres of aquatic lagoons—on a different scale than what we’ve been exposed to in the past. We’re really enjoying working with the Universal team as we build out this unique feature.”
Another impressive development—The Tom Lee Park, recently installed in Memphis, Tennessee—is an $11-million project beautifying an almost mile-long stretch along the Mississippi River. RCI is still involved in the project today as it provides the park with landscape and grounds maintenance services.
“RCI was responsible for the landscape, irrigation, some hardscape elements, aquatics, and playground areas for a specific portion of the riverfront known for hosting large festivals like Memphis in May, among others,” says Rotolo.
Finally, the Conway Aquatic Center is currently in the works in Conway, Arkansas consisting of four bodies of water: an indoor competition lap pool, an outdoor lazy river and slide complex, an outdoor activity pool, and an indoor leisure pool, to be completed in 2025.
Disaster relief
Aside from its impressive construction projects, RCI is heavily involved in disaster relief services, striving to aid clients within the communities it services with emergency response efforts in the wake of natural disasters. As a contractor with a proven history of disaster response, it can typically mobilize teams at the same time emergency service vehicles are on the road. RCI is ready to provide immediate assistance and solutions in incredibly overwhelming situations for the clients and the communities it serves.
“We view this as our responsibility,” says Rotolo. “We are happy to help when needed. When we start working with any client, we very much take the approach that they’re our partners, so when storms and disasters come through, we approach them from a partnership perspective of, ‘how can we help you get back on your feet?’”
RCI prides itself on pulling resources together, mobilizing its teams, being nimble, and reacting to clients’ needs, he adds. “We truly view it as a partnership with our clients that goes both ways. If they’re successful, then we’re successful.”
Ins and outs of private equity
Although the company has experienced some challenges over the past few years, its accomplishments have been impressive, particularly a move away from private equity in 2021 after bringing on PE in 2015 to provide RCI with the capital needed for continued growth.
“We had great PE partners and enjoyed expanding the business from 2015 until 2021, but in 2021, RCI bought out our PE partners to again become a privately owned company,” Rotolo explains. “We’re excited about owning the company again and continuing to grow the business.”
Since repurchasing the company in 2021, RCI has increased its top-line revenue by more than 60 percent without any additional acquisitions.
“The entire ownership team here is excited about the path we’re on and the opportunities we can offer our employees and our clients,” says Rotolo. “This allows us the flexibility to grow the business and grow some of our managers and partners.”
The company is also excited to continue its expansion into the Carolinas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, as well as a more complete expansion into Florida, Georgia, and Texas. The team is committed to bringing its brand to as many locations in the South as possible. “Our expansion brings growth opportunities for our employees, allows us to serve our national customers better, and allows our local business partners another high-quality, competitive option in the landscape maintenance and aquatic spaces,” Rotolo says.
25th and climbing
Noted as the 25th largest landscape company in the nation in 2023, RCI intends to continue its climb up that list as it expands both operations and capabilities.
“While RCI has much to be proud of in terms of accomplishments, it is the company’s culture that truly stands out,” says Rotolo. “We work hard and take care of each other. RCI prides itself on doing good work, servicing our clients well, and taking care of our team. We have a tremendous group of managers here that have grown up in the business and been directly responsible for the growth of the business.”
Having the opportunity as a privately held company to recognize everyone’s individual and combined efforts has been “very rewarding,” he adds. “We still very much operate with a family company mentality despite being the 25th largest landscape company in the country.”
Strength in partners
Embracing a culture and company direction that starts at the top, RCI has a “tremendous” group of partners who each operate specific areas of the business at very high levels. “All of us are extremely engaged in the day-to-day operations within our respective areas of influence and have strong relationships with our managers and staff,” Rotolo says.
CFO Brian Rotolo—who has worked at the company since 2011—was integral in navigating the repurchase of RCI from its PE partners and consistently delivers impactful out-of-the-box solutions that move the business forward in meaningful ways. As head of the accounting, HR, and contract administration groups of the business, Brian’s handling of these teams’ abilities has resulted in the growth of the business at scale and is one of the biggest strengths of RCI.
COO of Maintenance Brandt Martin oversees all maintenance operations, alongside a talented group of regional vice presidents and division managers. “Brandt and his team’s commitment to their craft, ability to train and deploy high-level managers, and focus on efficient operations has been a huge driver in RCI’s growth, both geographically and financially,” says Rotolo. The maturing of Brandt’s team is a large reason RCI was comfortable taking the company private in 2021 and it continues to demonstrate strength and be a cause for optimism.
CMO Kasey Dorr—who came to the company in 2004 and works with the estimating, business development, and marketing teams—has been instrumental in the top-line growth of the company, while Senior Vice President of Construction Jodi Corey has been with RCI for more than 25 years overseeing all construction operations. Under their leadership, construction operations are expected to enjoy the biggest year in RCI’s history.
While CEO Keith Rotolo approaches retirement, he still leads the company as Chairman of the Board and plays an integral role in M&A and maintenance bidding strategies. Keith led the company through the transition into the private equity world in 2015 and back out of it in 2021, guiding the company through unique and challenging times.
“I feel very blessed to have the group of partners I do,” says Michael Rotolo. “Each of us brings a specific skill set to the team that makes RCI stronger. We rely heavily on the managers we’ve worked with over the past 10 to 25 years and it’s incredibly rewarding to see those managers’ maturation,” he says.
“As I plan for the future, I’m very excited about this next generation of managers. Most of them have grown up in the business and have become experts in their respective areas. Our milestones and achievements are going to be achieved because of this next generation, and I am personally very excited to see what they can do when called upon to take an even larger role in the company.”
