February 2026 Contractor of the Month is: Chip-N-Dale's Custom Landscaping

Can you tell us about your business?

We're a team full of hard workers that all work to complete the same goal. I've been in the landscaping business for 30 years and believe it has most to do with how strong my team is.

How did you get into the landscape lighting business?

Our companies main focus has always been landscaping. Lighting is just something we've always included in our designs and it always compliments any projects.

What percentage of your business is landscape lighting/what other services do you provide (ie: landscaping, irrigation, electrical…)?

5% of my business would be outdoor lighting. We do everything for the outside. We design pools, barbecues, patio covers, stone, fire features, masonry, landscaping, pretty much everything.

How long have you been installing landscape lighting?

30 years and running strong!

What AMP products do you prefer to use? Which fixtures are your favorite?

I really like your MicroDots and Nano products. I really like the AtomPro spot. From a designer’s perspective, I like having the opportunity to use different beams and AMP has so many options to select from.

What tips or tricks have you learned that have benefited your work from a design/installation perspective?

I get the Nano Spots and Floods, the light fixture is so small it isn't conspicuous and does not take away from the design. I'd rather use 20 small fixtures and create those silhouettes and backdrops, shadowing, and even put lights in a plant, it makes for a much more complex install and provides overall better esthetics. Pro-Tip, Placing a Nano Spot in a potted plant so it'll casts a shadow on a wall, that’s how you add movement and texture at night!

Tell me about your sales process. How do you find your customers? What is your sales process? Do you use sales tools such as a free demo…

I'm 100% referral. I do have a Facebook page, but pretty much all of my leads are referrals.

Where do you find inspiration for your lighting designs?

I do all my own designs. Just playing with the fixtures. When I was first starting out, I was on the jobsites more so I'd be out there at nights adjusting the fixtures with the clients trying to get the perfect light. You don't want the light to be too hot on the plant. Just from learning what I like to see and what angles work best.

What do you feel is the most personally rewarding part of installing a lighting system for a client?

This past Thanksgiving, I had 4 clients reach out to tell me how happy they were and how much they love their landscapes. I spoke to my clients and they'll say how they like to live, entertain, and that they want to have their grandkids over so I did this cool fire feature. One that they could do smores on and they sent me a picture one day of the grandkids roasting smores by the fire. Kind of exactly how we designed it and they were just so happy with what we've done. I did a big project for a customer and she had 70 people over for thanksgiving and she walked around and videoed, talking to all the guests about how much they love the yard. Things have been really rewarding, and I still have my oldest client who has been with me about 28 years now. I built some tremendous relationships with customers and friends because we maintain a large percentage of projects we've installed.

Tell us a little bit about you personally: What do you like to do outside of work? What are your hobbies?

I love to ride the sand dunes in a sand car.