A Profile of Four Seasons Landscaping, Landscape Developer, Entrepreneur.

Located approximately ninety-five miles north of New York City is a hidden gem of a town, once ravaged by in-opportunities and showing disrepair, this immerging diamond in the rough is the place Four Seasons Landscaping calls home; a thriving epicenter that has taken a new lease on life, abounding with opportunities for growth and development. The company started in 2005 by Pedro Heredia Jr is locally owned and operated by the Heredia family

     Set amidst the meandering plains of the Hudson Valley, nestled among the rolling hills, lie the picturesque city of Poughkeepsie and its pristine environs. Sprawled along the banks of the Hudson River in upstate New York with a commanding view of the distinctive, snowcapped peaks of the Catskills Mountains, Poughkeepsie is herald as a catalyst for growth and is central to the economic development of the region and its vibrant commercial center. Its strategic location, mid-way between New York City and the state capital Albany, has allowed this mecca to become more relevant in recent years due to an upsurge in entrepreneurial activities. The city has a population of 32,400 residents and a metro population of 672.400, distributed among the outlying towns and villages in a compact setting. Lush vegetation give rise to beautiful parks, playgrounds, tree-lined streets and driveways, and provide a natural backdrop to residences.

     The surrounding towns offer support through schools and colleges, libraries and newspapers, and boasts one of the oldest premier Opera House in North America. The Bardavon Opera house, built in 1869 is a distinctive landmark, proving monthly and at times nightly entertainment. The city is made accessible through a network of major highways and thoroughfares and is a major transit hub for city and private bus lines, the Metro North Railroad and Amtrak. To the east of the city lies the Taconic Parkway, to the west the New York Throughway I84, both providing easy accessibility to industries and the business center.

     The harnessing of new technologies and the city rehabilitation exercise, has given rise to numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to leave an indelible mark on the surrounding landscape, and for existing businesses to expand and contribute positively to the community, in a socially responsible manner. As a landscape developer, the family business has been a stabling influence on the local scene and within the business community and is seen as a role model for young business owners. Having envision the business from his father and mentor, Pedro has decided to grasp the opportunity made available through the rehabilitation program and expand the business. The family’s dream was that the business would one day grow to support the city of Poughkeepsie and its surrounding communities through the services offered and provide support and philanthropy when needed. An increase in real estate development has contributed to an influx of business requests to satisfy incoming resident’s desire for state-of-the-art landscaping designs and developments. The business no longer operated out of the old business location, as the need for additional equipment and increase in labor personnel require more commercial space for efficient operations. The challenges experienced by management during the expansion served as a catalyst to affect the necessary changes and highlights the positive and negative aspect of doing business amid fierce and sometimes unfriendly competition.

     The Duchess county community of Poughkeepsie, and its environs, are steeped in folklore and history and is regarded by many as one of the most sought-after communities in upstate New York. After the decades of decline due to the migration of industries and commerce in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and the debacle of September 11, 2001, the community is now experiencing phenomenal growth in all sectors of the economy. The increase in entrepreneurship, real estate development and tourism, affordable education and the rehabilitation of historic buildings and other infrastructure offers a unique opportunity for landscapers to realize their growth potential and therefore make their mark as social contributors and community builders. Poughkeepsie’s unique position as a transportation hub has allowed the city to be featured in the theaters, movies, gardening and travel magazines. In addition the landscaping opportunities made available through residential and commercial offerings is in stark contrast to the incongruity of the dilapidated structures that previously exists before and the lugubrious and strange specter of empty factories, torn up tracks, piles of garbage and roads in disrepair. The growth being experienced has provided opportunities for smaller businesses to expand their services to accommodate the increase in business activities, to provide additional employment opportunities, increase business to business operations and realize an increase in profit. The citizens of Poughkeepsie have developed a relationship with the old business owners, and are dependable customers who are supportive of local business ventures, so the expansion of Four Seasons Landscaping Company would be a welcome addition to the growing number of service contractors providing similar products. By virtue of its dependability in service over the years of operation, the name has served as a benchmark for such service and comes with exceptional guarantees; the name is synonymous with quality and success.

     In shouldering the responsibility to meet the increase in demand for quality landscape contractors, Four Seasons has embrace the revolution presently shaping the business sector that has encouraged new and existing business owners to seek out new clients while providing cutting-edge technology to rival old techniques, as businesses lacking in this regard will struggle and in most instances will be forced to close if they are not competitive. New owners have essentially acquired a mix of old and new customers due to the increase in consumer base and could eventually force longtime operator out of business. The Heredia name has over the past 15 years stood for integrity, honesty, resourcefulness, efficiency and purpose. The soundness of their business practices has allowed them to serve the community well over the past four decades, and has encouraged them to make lifetime commitments to education, environmental groups, and the implementation of social and economic programs to better the community. They have formed youth club, assist with providing hot meals for the less fortunate through the Family Partnership Program and empowering youths through mentorship with the local Beulah Baptist Church. Four Seasons Landscaping Company continues to liaison with community groups, government agencies and private interests with a view to improve the quality of service provided, and to ably assist the community in whichever way possible. In addition, training will be provided to every employee, so as to allow them to become ambassadors of the community, enabling them to display the highest level of professionalism required to individually serve each and every client.

     In providing landscaping services to me all these years, Four Seasons Landscaping Company has provided professional, personalized quality service. The panoramic views enjoyed by visitors to the city and its environs is testament to the creativity and indomitable spirit of the person known as Pedro Heredia, the vistas enjoyed by residents in and around the Poughkeepsie neighborhood reflects his genius and is testament to the quality of service offered; the resulting ambiance epitomizing the care and professionalism enshrined in their work and their mission. The energy, commitment, drive and enthusiasm displayed by the company and its employees has transform whole neighborhoods and serve as a model for other businesses. The company’s contribution to community building is immeasurable, with donations to education and social programs. The Company has transformed the waterfront parks into restful, serene area that have given added value to the Chamber of Commerce tourism product and visitors are enchanted by the views offered on tour visits. Without the developments offered by Four Seasons Landscaping

Company, the city and accompanying surrounding villages within the Hudson Valley Region may have remained plain and naked to the average visitor or resident. Equally important to the economy of the region is the increase in visitor arrivals which saw the upswing in businesses in art, fashion and other commercial activities. Centrally located on Lexington avenue in the city of Poughkeepsie, Four Seasons serves as a vital point of distribution, the city and neighboring communities should be made aware of the tremendous impact the company have had on their respective lives and his ingenuity in transforming their sleepy communities into picturesque landscape. It had been an exhaustive process to acquire the funds for expansion, the right personnel for training, and the harnessing of the technology required to become competitive within the profession. The final value/product is the culmination of all the efforts put into the business to make it a success. Through the years I have been a happy, satisfied customer, and I am privileged to be a small part of this company that has forever change the face of the city of Poughkeepsie.