Every year, we set aside time to recognize the people whose commitment and passion help make Landmark Landscapes what it is. This year, five team members are celebrating their five-year anniversaries — five unique journeys marked by hard work, growth, collaboration, and the shared pride of building something meaningful together. Their stories remind us that behind every beautiful landscape is an even more remarkable team.
The Growth and Leadership of Melanie LeNoble
Five years ago, Melanie LeNoble wasn’t searching for a career in landscaping—she was searching for a career that made sense for who she was. With a deep agricultural background and a lifelong love of the outdoors, she assumed landscaping and agriculture would be similar enough. Growing crops vs. growing perennials… rock picking vs. building boulder walls—what’s the difference? she joked.
As it turns out, there are plenty of differences—but they’re differences she’s grown to love.
Melanie came to Landmark with experience in agriculture and administration, and she quickly discovered that landscaping offered new challenges and opportunities she hadn’t imagined. From the start, she embraced the learning curve.
“The past five years I have been learning something new every day,” she says. Whether it’s turf maintenance, install processes, or understanding the finer points of equipment and materials, she has appreciated the way Landmark’s team shares their passion and knowledge so openly. It’s that collaborative culture that helped her grow—and that she now helps strengthen for others.
Today, as the Operations Administrator and emerging leader, Melanie plays a crucial behind-the-scenes role in Landmark’s success. The part she enjoys most is supporting our crews so they can focus on doing great work and creating beautiful spaces. Coordinating materials, lining up equipment, managing schedules, and building strong relationships with vendors—these are the connections and details that keep Landmark’s projects moving.
“It’s rewarding to play a part in creating that efficiency and momentum for the team,” she says. And her teammates feel that impact every day.
When Melanie reflects on her most meaningful project over the past five years, she doesn’t point to a single job site or season. Instead, she points to her own journey.
She originally applied for a softscape install position, excited about the idea of an outdoor summer job. But her interview took an unexpected turn, leading her to a role in administration. Five years later, she’s coordinating large installation projects and serving as a strong, ambitious leader for Landmark’s crews.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” she says, grateful for the trust, mentorship, and challenges that have shaped her career.
Outside of work, Melanie enjoys craft fairs, weekends at the cabin, taking the boat out, and spending time with her family—especially now, as she and her husband welcomed their first baby boy in September. She also credits her husband for being an unwavering source of support.
“His encouragement behind the scenes means more than I can put into words,” she shares.
When Melanie talks about Landmark, she reflects on the energy that comes from working with people who genuinely love what they do.
“A strong team culture isn’t always about the work,” she says. “It’s about the people who make the work feel worthwhile.”
Her positivity, drive, and leadership have helped shape that culture in meaningful ways. As we celebrate Melanie’s five-year anniversary, we celebrate not just what she has accomplished—but who she has become. Her growth story is a powerful example of what happens when talent, opportunity, and a great team come together.
Melanie, thank you for five remarkable years. We’re grateful for your leadership—and excited for everything the next five will bring.
Celebrating 5 Years at Landmark: The Story of Adam Kennedy
Five years ago, Adam Kennedy wasn’t looking for “just another job”—he was searching for a true career change. While scrolling through Indeed, he came across an opening at Landmark Landscapes that caught his attention. He didn’t yet know it, but that single click would mark the beginning of a new chapter—one that would blend his decades of experience, his passion for teamwork, and his natural leadership into a role that felt like home.
Before stepping into the world of landscaping, Adam spent more than 20 years in road construction. He worked four years as a laborer, ten years as an equipment operator with Northeast Asphalt, and later served seven years as the paving foreman for the Manitowoc County Highway Department. His background instilled in him a deep respect for craftsmanship, precision, and operational excellence—all qualities that mirrored Landmark’s own culture.
When Adam joined Landmark, he quickly found what he didn’t even realize he had been missing: a team of people who shared his drive and dedication. Today, as Operations Supervisor, it’s the people who continue to inspire him.
“What I enjoy most about my role is getting to work alongside all the incredibly talented people in this company,” he says. Whether he’s collaborating with crew leaders, supporting Account Managers, or helping push a project across the finish line, Adam finds real meaning in contributing to something bigger than himself.
When asked about a standout moment from the past five years, Adam doesn’t hesitate: the Nautilus Garden & The Meadow project.
From design to installation to ongoing maintenance, nearly every corner of Landmark had a hand in bringing that outdoor living space to life. For Adam, it symbolizes what Landmark does best—individual strengths combining into one unified result.
“The Nautilus Garden & The Meadow project truly showcases our entire talented team,” he reflects. “Everyone played a valuable role, start to finish. And our maintenance team keeps it looking amazing today.”
Outside of Landmark, Adam’s life centers around another team—basketball. He has spent more than 20 years coaching at every level, from third-grade teams to high school athletes. Coaching became more than a hobby; it became a way to mentor, motivate, and shape young people through discipline and confidence.
One of his greatest joys has been coaching his own children throughout their entire youth and high-school careers. He proudly credits his wife, Stacy, as the steady support behind it all.
“She was by my side through all of the ups and downs of coaching kids, young adults, and our own,” he shares.
Today, as we celebrate Adam’s five years at Landmark Landscapes, we’re also celebrating the character he brings to our team—his leadership, his humility, and his commitment to helping others succeed.
Thank you, Adam, for everything you bring to Landmark. We’re honored to have you, and we look forward to the chapters still ahead.
The Steady Leadership of Ben Protzmann
When Ben Protzmann joined Landmark Landscapes five years ago, he was searching for something simple yet powerful: a place where he could do great work, close to home, surrounded by people who shared his values. After facing challenges at his previous job due to ownership and management issues, he knew he needed a fresh start—and he also knew he didn’t want to work just anywhere.
Landmark Landscapes stood out immediately.
“Landmark was really the only company I considered joining,” Ben recalls. “Their reputation in the area spoke for itself.” He wanted to be part of a company on the rise, and from day one, Landmark felt like the right fit.
Ben brought with him a deep well of experience. He started in the landscape industry in 1999 and has spent his entire career immersed in the craft—building, managing, problem-solving, and helping homeowners make the most of their outdoor spaces. That foundation, paired with his steady demeanor and strong client relationships, made him a natural fit as a Senior Account Manager.
For Ben, the best part of his role hasn’t changed since the beginning: the clients.
He loves meeting people at their homes, building relationships, and helping them navigate decisions that directly shape the landscapes they live in every day. And for someone who thrives outdoors, working with lakefront clients is especially rewarding.
“No day is ever the same,” he says. “That variety is something I’ve always loved about this career.”
Of all the projects he’s touched over the past five years, two stand out in particular.
The Nautilus Garden & The Meadow project—one of Landmark’s most iconic outdoor living spaces—was among the first major projects Ben worked on. Its scale, complexity, and artistry made it a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one that continues to make him proud.
He also reflects on the Lightfield project with a sense of accomplishment.
What began as a dangerous, unusable hillside was transformed into a stunning, functional lakefront landscape with safe access and spectacular beauty. Turning a challenging site into something meaningful for a family is the type of work that reminds Ben why he loves what he does.
Outside of Landmark, Ben finds joy in the simplest and most grounding parts of life: being outdoors, fishing, hunting, taking walks, and spending time with his family. Whether he’s on the water or in the woods, the outdoors has always been where he recharges.
And through all of it, Ben remains thankful for the support he feels at Landmark.
“I am very blessed to have found Landmark Landscapes,” he shares. “My strengths and weaknesses seem to be a great fit with the team.”
As we celebrate Ben’s fifth anniversary, we celebrate more than tenure—we celebrate the dedication, consistency, and quiet excellence he brings to Landmark every day. His commitment to his clients, his craft, and his teammates has made a lasting impact on the company and the communities we serve.
Ben, thank you for five outstanding years. We’re grateful for you—and excited for everything still ahead.
The Steady Hands Behind Our Fleet — Tony Giebel
Every great landscape project at Landmark begins long before a shovel hits the ground. It starts in the shop—where the engines turn, the hydraulics flow, and the equipment that powers our entire operation is kept running at its best. And for the past five years, one person has been at the center of that mission: Tony Giebel, Landmark’s Fleet & Facilities Supervisor.
Tony first came across Landmark on Indeed.com, but it didn’t take long before he became an essential part of the team. While he had a small taste of landscaping years ago—working one summer for his uncle’s company in Chilton—he jokes that he “can’t say I was much of a landscaper.” What he did bring, however, was something even more valuable: mechanical skill, calm under pressure, and a mindset built for solving problems.
In Tony’s world, no two days look the same.
“I like the constant change in daily work,” he says. “Every day is something new.”
That’s not an exaggeration. Our fleet includes everything from trucks to trailers, skid steers to mowers, compactors to chainsaws. Tony’s role touches every corner of Landmark’s operations, often without most people ever seeing it. When a piece of equipment breaks down unexpectedly or a crew needs something repaired fast, Tony is the one who gets them moving again. His work ensures our teams stay productive, our schedules stay on track, and our clients get the quality they expect.
Even though he says no single moment stands out over the past five years, the truth is that his consistency is what stands out to us. In a job where breakdowns don’t wait, Tony brings reliability, focus, and a get-it-done attitude that keeps Landmark running smoothly behind the scenes. His work may not always be front and center, but it is absolutely foundational to our success.
Outside of work, Tony enjoys the hands-on satisfaction of doing landscaping projects at his own home—a fitting hobby for someone who supports a landscape company by keeping its tools in top shape. He also loves playing pool, fishing, and hunting, embracing the outdoors and hobbies that give him balance after busy days in the shop.
As we celebrate Tony’s five-year anniversary at Landmark, we celebrate more than his skills as a mechanic—we celebrate his steady presence, his dependability, and the essential role he plays in the heartbeat of our operations.
Tony, thank you for five years of hard work, problem-solving, and keeping our crews moving. Landmark is better because of you.
The Journey, Creativity, and Leadership of Patrick Hughes
When Patrick Hughes joined Landmark Landscapes in April of 2020, the world was in the middle of a global pandemic — and Landmark hired him sight unseen. After 17 years away from Wisconsin, Patrick returned home with a remarkable mix of experiences from across the country and around the world, ultimately shaping the perspective and creativity he brings to Landmark today.
His path back to Sheboygan County took him through Montana and Wyoming, where he guided backpacking trips for at-risk youth; Washington, DC, where he earned a degree in International Studies from American University; Beijing, China where he studied abroad; and Portland, Oregon, where he worked for Nike and adidas and ran his own boutique landscape firm, Wheel & Barrow Landscape. Through every chapter, his passion for design, the outdoors, and helping people remained a steady thread.
Patrick’s landscaping roots go deep. With a Landscape Design and Horticulture degree from Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), he has spent nearly 25 years in the industry. When he reached out to Landmark in 2020, he was exploring subcontracting opportunities. After several phone and Zoom conversations with Joe Majerus and others, he was hired as an Account Manager, Gardening Foreman, and Marketing Specialist, meeting the team for the first time only when he walked in on day one. He stepped into his current role as Sales & Marketing Manager in 2023.
Looking back, Patrick is most inspired by the passion and dedication of the people he works with. The growth and organizational transformation of Landmark over the past five years stand out, but it’s the energy of the Sales, Operations, and Administration teams that resonates most. And while many projects hold meaning, the Nautilus Garden in Elkhart Lake remains a favorite — an award-winning effort that allowed Patrick to fully immerse himself in naturalistic planting design inspired by Piet Oudolf, and a testament to the power of Landmark’s team working as one.
Outside of work, Patrick and his wife Erin love to travel and explore the outdoors. He has backpacked extensively across the western United States, and the two recently completed the O & W Circuit in Patagonia, Chile — a memorable and challenging ten-day trek. Patrick and Erin also own and manage a short-term rental just outside Elkhart Lake called the Elkhart A-Frame, a place they’ve poured creativity and care into, and which now brings joy to guests year-round. He’s also a dedicated fan of the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks, and enjoys creating art and painting in his free time.
As Patrick celebrates his five-year anniversary at Landmark, we celebrate the vision, leadership, and heart he brings to the company. From his global experiences to his local impact, his story is one of creativity, adaptability, and passion — and Landmark is stronger because of it.
Patrick, thank you for five years of dedication and inspiration. We’re grateful for your journey and excited for everything yet to come.
Start Your Landmark Story Today
If these stories have inspired you and you’re looking for a place where you can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful, we’d love to meet you. Landmark is always looking for passionate people who want to build a career — not just find a job. Explore our current opportunities and apply today.
Contact Us
Landmark Landscapes of Sheboygan Falls, WI is a full-service landscape company. Based out of Sheboygan County, with a Green Lake, Wisconsin satellite office. We are centrally located and uniquely positioned to service the areas of Sheboygan, Elkhart Lake, Fond Du Lac County, Green Lake County, Ozaukee County, Manitowoc County, and Door County. We can manage your property with our Total Property Care system, and design and build projects large and small. Contact us today at 920-467-6442 to learn how we can care for you.
