On Location: Perrone Landscaping
A field‑level look at the culture, people and work behind one of Central Massachusetts’ most disciplined landscaping teams.
making breakfast for employees
Flying into Boston with Josie, Joe and Erica felt like the start of any normal work trip, but once we met up with Reid and drove into Worcester, the whole vibe shifted. By the time we pulled into the Perrone shop, the sun was dropping behind the trees and their crews were rolling in after a long day in the field. Perfect timing. You get a real feel for a company when you see how they end their day.
The yard had that familiar crew energy — tired but still joking around, giving each other a hard time, laughing in that way people do when they’ve worked together long enough to know everyone’s habits. Underneath all of that, you could see how seriously they take their work. Trucks backed in straight. Trailers lined up. Gear cleaned and reloaded for the next morning. No chaos. No rushing. Just pride.
It didn’t take long to see that the three pillars they talk about — Safety, Pride and Consistency — aren’t just something printed on a wall. They show up in the way the crews move, the way they talk to each other, and the way the yard looks at the end of the day.
We spent some time talking with JP and met Tom and Dan for the first time. Once things settled down, we checked into the AC Hotel downtown and grabbed dinner. Erica convinced the table to order oysters. I passed. Josie tried her first one and immediately made a face that said everything. Solid end to night one.
The next morning came fast. We met the team at 6:00, which felt early for us but was basically mid‑morning for them. JP, Tom and Dan were already cooking breakfast burritos for the crews. New hats were laid out, headshots were being taken, and leadership was giving shoutouts. You could feel how much pride they put into their culture. It wasn’t a show. It was just how they operate.
As everyone gathered, it was easy to see why people stick around. Perrone has this steady “grow with us” energy — not in a loud, slogan‑y way, but in the way they invest in their crews, teach new skills, and give people room to move up. They’re building careers, not just filling trucks.
After breakfast, Tom and JP addressed the crews. They thanked everyone for a great season, talked about finishing strong, and set the tone for winter work. Brian translated and kept things moving. Then the yard emptied fast. Everyone hit the road with purpose.
We followed.
Our first stop was a residential mowing crew. We caught them finishing their first property and heading to the next. At the shop they were friendly and joking around. In the field they were locked in. Fast, efficient, dialed. You could tell they’ve been doing this a long time.
Next was an irrigation project. Looked simple from the outside, but the speed they worked at was wild. We showed up just in time to see them finish digging the trench and laying pipe. They connected everything so quickly I barely had time to get my camera out.
JP drove us out to meet Brett at their future home — forty eight acres of possibility. Space for equipment, bulk materials, custom manufacturing, and faster activation onto job sites. Standing there, listening to Brett talk about what this place will become, you could see how Perrone’s “one company, unlimited solutions” mindset actually plays out. They’re building a home base that lets them scale without losing the culture that got them here.
We stopped at a massive residential hardscape project next. Three tiers of natural stone retaining walls, steps, patios and gardens. The kind of project that completely changes a yard and gives the homeowner space they didn’t have before.
Then we crossed into Rhode Island to check on one of the Facility Solutions crews renovating a car wash. They were putting in new entrance and exit pads. Watching them use an excavator to do the heavy lifting was impressive. Brett had an Engcon bucket on site. First time I’ve seen one used in person. Very cool.
Before wrapping up the day, we made one more stop at the DCU Center in Worcester. One of their crews was cleaning up the gardens around the venue. Clean edges, organized beds, tight lines. We also saw one of their commercial mowing crews. Same story as the residential team. Friendly at the shop, all business on site.
By the time we got back to the hotel, the Phaser crew was exhausted. Field days hit different when you’re used to working behind a computer. We grabbed quick showers and headed out to dinner with Brett, JP, Tom and Jeff. First time meeting Jeff. He crushed the appetizer order. Great food, even better company. It was nice hanging out as people instead of faces on screens.
The next morning was quieter. We spent a few hours with Brett and JP working through admin tasks, lining up their website plan and getting access to their social platforms. Not the most exciting part of the trip, but productive. After that, everyone split off. Reid flew to Arkansas. Josie and Joe went back to Minnesota. Erica left for Arizona. I grabbed my bag and headed to Connecticut to visit two more clients.
Being in the field with Perrone made everything click. You can’t understand a company’s culture from Zoom calls. You have to stand in their world, watch how they move, and see how they treat their people. Perrone is built on professionalism, pride and efficiency. You see it in their shop, their uniforms, their equipment and the way their crews carry themselves. Nothing about it felt forced. It felt earned.
Trips like this remind me that the best marketing starts with paying attention to real people doing real work.
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