- Gil received a bachelor of science degree from Clemson University in 1989, majoring in agronomy. In 2004, Gil Grattan founded the family-owned business called Virginia Green.
- Virginia Green is one of the largest and fastest-growing lawn care companies in the United States and a recognised leader in lawn treatment. The company is continuing to expand in the Charlottesville – Harrisonburg market by acquiring the business formerly known as Home Pride Lawn Care.
- In January, Gil Grattan announced the recapitalisation of Virginia Green with the help of Golden Gate Capital, and Gil will continue to lead the company as CEO.
As the founder of Virginia Green, one of the largest lawn care companies in the U.S., Gil Grattan said he was used to working with grass and weeds himself. Under his leadership, the company just achieved a partnership with Golden Gate Capital for recapitalisation and expansion.
Gil Grattan: ‘Lawn for Virginia’
Gil Grattan is the president and chief executive officer of Virginia Green Lawn Care based in Henrico, Virginia.
Gil received a bachelor of science degree from Clemson University in 1989, majoring in agronomy. After graduation, he became a golf superintendent at the Country Club of Virginia for 3 years. Later, Gil joined the territory sales in Eastern NC of Regal Chemical Company in 1994 and served as territory manager for more than ten years.
Gil Grattan said he was used to working with grass and weeds himself. In 2004, Gil Grattan founded the family-owned business called Virginia Green, providing comprehensive residential and commercial lawn care services throughout Virginia including Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Northside Hampton Roads, the Shenandoah Valley and now the New River Valley.
Since then Gil has devoted his time to the company. Under Gil’s leadership, Virginia Green was ranked first in “Best Lawn Service/Landscaping” in a Richmond Times-Dispatch poll four times in the last five years.
Gil was always thinking about how to support the company expand its business. “Our rapid growth is a testament to our comprehensive lawn care offerings and the large team we have built to deliver superior results and unparalleled customer satisfaction,” said Mr. Grattan.
He also stressed that “we are so excited to bring our local lawn care service to Home Pride customers and we are proud to be able to continue to invest in our market and better serve our existing customers and new customers.”
Also read: Who is Kunal Shah? Founder and CEO of Cred transformed Indian fintech
Virginia Green: ‘The largest farmer in LA’
Virginia Green, a leader in the lawn care industry, opened for business in 2004 and has grown rapidly employing over 300 associates and is a premier operator of residential lawn treatment services with a growing footprint of ten locations and 70,000 customers across key local markets.
The Company offers personalised residential and commercial lawn treatment services through a flexible subscription-based model, underscored by its recognisable brand name in Virginia.
The company provided comprehensive commercial and residential lawn care services, as well as tree and shrub care services throughout Virginia including Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Northside Hampton Roads, the Shenandoah Valley and the New River Valley, helping maintain, protect, and care for landscape’s valuable assets.
In recent years, Virginia Green has expanded its service offerings in the areas of soil testing and amendments as well as perimeter pest control and all-natural flea, tick and mosquito programs.
Virginia Green prides itself on having an industry-leading retention rate of greater than 87%. It distinguishes itself with a team of local certified technicians and in-house agronomists—experts in Virginia’s unique turf, soil, and weather conditions, whose knowledge instils confidence in diagnosing and treating various lawn issues, from disease to grub control.
Virginia Green is continuing to expand in the Charlottesville – Harrisonburg market by acquiring the business formerly known as Home Pride Lawn Care. Dedicated to making lawns and landscapes greener, healthier and more energy efficient, the company look forward to providing expertise in lawn care and will continue to serve current Home Pride customers with the previous Home Pride service leaders, staff, and programs with no changes.
This strategic acquisition supports Virginia Green’s commitment to developing long-term relationships with current and future customers through local knowledge and lawn-specific service plans. This move not only strengthens their position in the Harrisonburg market but provides them with a facility to service their customers efficiently and adds the opportunity to grow the Valley more quickly. The new branch will be located in Weyers Cave, a central location to service from Broadway to Stuarts Draft.
Cooperation with Golden Gate Capital
When it comes to Virginia Green, the most notable announcement came in January when it partnered with SAN Francisco-based private equity firm Golden Gate Capital.
Also read: What is Global Founders Capital funding size?
Gil Grattan announced the recapitalisation of Virginia Green with the help of Golden Gate Capital. This is Virginia Green’s first-ever round of outside capital to expand both inside and outside the state.
Gil will continue to lead the company as Chief Executive Officer and will remain a significant shareholder. Harris Williams, a global investing bank, is serving as financial advisor to Virginia Green, and Williams Mullen which provides full service law firm is serving as legal counsel.
Grattan wouldn’t disclose the amount of money Virginia Green received in the deal, but he said it was enough to keep his Henrico-based company on track for acquisitions. “I am excited to partner with Golden Gate Capital and believe their expertise in scaling industry-leading platforms makes them the perfect partner to accelerate our business growth in Virginia and beyond,” said him.
Mike Montgomery, managing director of Golden Gate Capital, said “Virginia Green is one of the largest and fastest-growing lawn care companies in the United States and a recognised leader in lawn treatment. The company’s strong track record of sustained growth is truly remarkable and the excellent customer satisfaction they provide provides the ideal platform for future expansion. We are excited to support the company as it continues to expand its reach.”
Neale Attenborough, managing director of Golden Gate Capital, also paid tribute to the company and culture Gill had built. As the company expand franchises to new geographies, he looks forward to Virginia Green’s performance building on its already attractive customer acquisition and retention model.
