MEET THE TEAM
We'd Love to Hear Your Aspirations!
OWNERSHIP:
Joel John, ASLA, OCNT, Ohio Pesticide Applicators License
Joel, co-owner and President, is a registered Landscape Architect with a degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. He has over 25 years experience working with residential and commercial landscape design/build firms throughout Ohio and Michigan. Joel spent two years working in apprenticeship with NBBJ in the Landscape Architecture and Planning Studio and has served for the past five years on the Certification Committee for the ONLA and has been a judge for the National Awards competition for NALP. He has a strong passion for proper bed preparation and plant use. Joel lives in Dublin with Molly and their two teenage kids. In his spare time he enjoys working out, golfing, playing basketball and following the Buckeyes.
Molly John
Molly, co-owner and Vice President, received her degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. She has over 25 years experience in the landscape design/build and maintenance environment. She has served the last few years on the Membership committee with ONLA and was recently appointed to their Board of Directors. In addition she has served as Co-Chairman of the CLA Outdoor Living and Landscaping Tour. Molly has also been a member of the Delta Delta Delta House Corporation for many years and served as their treasurer for most of those years. In her spare time she loves watching her kids participate in their numerous sporting events, working out and maintaining the 25 flower pots she has at her own home.
FULL-TIME STAFF:
Grady Cobb, OCNT, Ohio Pesticide Applicators License
Grady comes to M.J. Design with a degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. Immediately after graduating from Ohio State, Grady worked on the grounds crew at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin for two years which included working during the Presidents Cup in 2013. He joined the M.J. staff in 2014. During his free time Grady likes to run, go to church, and travel around the country with his dad to play on difficult golf courses and in golf tournaments.
Michael Coyle, OCNT
Michael grew up locally in Powell. He was a former summer intern for M.J. Design in 2009 and 2011 while he attended Arizona State University! Michael earned his Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture there in 2012. When Michael is not working on designs, he still enjoys being outside—playing golf, hiking and biking. We're happy to have Michael's talent and dedication on our team.
Michael Davie, OCNT
Michael comes to use with an Associate Degree in Landscape Design Management from Columbus State Community College. He operated a small landscape maintenance company for 3 years and worked as a project manager for HRH Landscapes, Ltd. for 5 years. When asked his favorite plant, he had a hard time deciding between Plumbago, (for its color), Heuchera (for color and texture), and Hollyhock (for its large colorful flower). Michael resides in West Jefferson with his wife, April, and two children, Jayden and Mya.
Kelly Darrow
Kelly, our office manager, comes to M.J. with a degree in Health Administration from Auburn University. (Yes, we hired her even though she didn’t go to OSU.) Kelly has familiarized quickly to the Landscape Industry and lives in Dublin with her husband and 2 teenage children. During her free time, she enjoys going to the lake with her family and sitting in the sun with a nice glass of wine.
Patrick Leitch, Master OCNT, Ohio Pesticide Applicators License
Patrick joins our team with a degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. He has been with us since February 2014 and serves as our Safety, Training, and Operations Manager. Patrick was an army soldier for 9 years and served one tour in Iraq in 2004. He lives in Dublin with his wife and three young children. In his free time he enjoys being with his family and seeing friends when not busy working on the numerous projects at their new home.
Sue York
Sue, our part-time office assistant, comes to M.J. with a degree from Bowling Green State University in Management Information Systems. Sue helped implement our new time tracking and client database. Sue lives in Plain City with her husband and has a daughter who is attending Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee. During her free time, she enjoys doing crafts and being outside (when it’s warm).
TUCKER (certified office dog)
Our beloved four-legged helper and office support...Woof!
SEASONAL-SUPPORT STAFF:
We have employed legal Hispanic workers since 2003. We utilize the Federal Governments H2B Temporary Seasonal Worker Program. The men are recruited in Mexico and then come here with valid passports and Visas that specifically state that they are here to work for M.J. Design. They are allowed to work here for 10 months and then must return to Mexico for at least 60 days. In the last few years we have sponsored some of our men for Permanent Resident cards and they successfully obtained them in 2018. Our men usually arrive March 1 and return home around Thanksgiving. Most of them reside near Zacatecas, Mexico. They come here to provide their families back home with a better life. What they make here in a day would take them a month to earn in Mexico. They are truly a great group of men and we are very fortunate to have found them.
Geronimo Lopez Beltran
Geronimo’s brother, Daniel, recommended him to M.J. Geronimo has been with us since 2004, and last year he obtained his Permanent Residence. He serves as our Head Landscape Foreman. He has learned a lot in his time with us and has picked up on Joel’s attention to detail. He is very conscientious, a hard worker and will do anything asked of him. Geronimo is from Zacatecas, Mexico where he lives with his wife and 4 children. He enjoys playing soccer on the weekends with other team members and loves Chipotle.
Lorenso Beltran Garcia
Lorenso is one of our Maintenance Foremen and has been working with us since 2006. He is a “Happy-go-Lucky” guy, who always has a smile on his face. He is joined here in the states by his father, Max and Uncle Rogelio. He is from Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and three young children. He is happy to have family with him here in Ohio and loves Donatos Pizza and Cane’s.
Antonio Lopez Beltran
Antonio was recruited by his cousin’s Daniel and Geronimo and started working for M.J. Design in 2007. He is considered “Mr. Muscles”, as he is very strong. He is also our stone guy. He does a great job on dry-laid flagstone paths and walls. He serves as a Landscape Foreman. Antonio is from Sain Alto, Zacatecas Mexico, where he lives with his wife and four children. When home in Mexico he will work in construction, as well as, farming beans and corn. He enjoys watching baseball and going to Chipotle.
Ismael Arriaga Ordaz
Ismael comes to M.J. Design from Monterrey, Mexico. He has worked for us since 2007. He is one of our Maintenance Foreman. Ismael has turned into a great pruner and has learned the art of selective hand pruning. He is very quiet and you will often find him listening to music via his headphones. He is the youngest in his family with 3 older sisters. Ismael is married, and he and Maria just recently had their second child. He likes to watch basketball, but soccer is his favorite sport and he plays with other staff members on a team during the summer in Columbus. He enjoys the parks and outdoors in Ohio.
Victor Guzman Martinez
Victor has been part of the team since 2012. Victor also helps with translations for staff and he is getting more confident in speaking English with clients. Victor is here on a Permanent Resident status. He leaves his wife of 9 years, Jennifer, and daughter, Scarlett, back in Vicente Guerrero, Durango to come be a part of the team. In his free time you will find him listening to rock-n-roll, playing video games or kicking the soccer ball around with Ernesto and Juan Carlos.
Juan Cuevas Arellano
Juan joined M.J. Design in 2011 on the H2B program and received his Permanent Residency in 2018. Juan has a younger brother, Hiliaro, who works for M.J. Design on the H2B program. Juan is very shy. He works with the maintenance crew. In the spring he enjoys working with Molly on creating the beautiful annual containers, long with planting summer annuals. Juan is married and has three children. When he goes back to Mexico, he works with his uncle who is a veterinarian. His like American food, but really enjoys finding authentic Mexican restaurants.
Ernesto Garcia Guzman
Ernesto is a permanent Resident and joined our team in 2014. He is one of Maintenance Foreman. He is working hard on learning English in order to increase his communication skills with clients. He is from Vicente Guerrero, Durango. In his free time, you will find him out running on the soccer field or reading the most recent novel.
Juan Carlos Gomez Lopez
Juan Carlos is the nephew of Antonio. He works on the landscape crew, where he gets to show off this muscles. If there is a job that needs muscle, he will jump on it without being asked. He had a busy 2018, when he obtained his permanent residency and married his beautiful wife. They have one son. In his spare time, you can catch him playing soccer with Ernesto or eating Chipotle.
Jose de Jesus Lopez Mendez
Jose de Jesus is the nephew of Geronimo, Jose Luis, and Daniel. He has been a part of the team since 2012. He comes from Sain Alto, Zacatecas. Jose de Jesus is flexible and floats between the maintenance and landscape crews. He enjoys fishing and playing soccer. You may find him in the gym working out and lifting weights. His favorite food here in the states is pizza.
