Rooted in Innovation
Join Jim Mancini, Mike Nusser, and Dionisio Roman on the Rooted in Innovation podcast, where we meet with Arborists, Developers, Municipalities Workers, and other industry experts each month to explore their best tips and practices, industry insights, and current projects.
Sponsored by Tree Staple, we dig deep into the tree care and landscape development industries to get all the dirt on how these experts have successfully transformed both cities and forests.
Whether you want to catch up on industry news, or you’re looking for the latest landscape development tools and methods, we’ve got you covered.
So, what are you waiting for? Tune in and get ready to be inspired, informed, and entertained by the voices shaping the green landscapes we love.
Rooted in Innovation
How Rob Ambler Built a People-First Landscape Company
In this episode of Rooted in Innovation, we sit down with Rob Ambler, founder and owner of Ambler Industries, LLC, a design/build and maintenance firm based in Pennsylvania. Rob shares his deeply personal story of burnout, renewal, and the business transformation that followed. From restructuring his leadership team to adopting Aspire software, Rob rebuilt his company around culture, clarity, and faith-driven leadership. We explore what it takes to attract great people, make bold software investments, and lead with purpose in a fast-moving, often chaotic industry. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the growth cycle, or questioned how to scale without losing your soul, this episode is for you.
Timecodes:
00:00 – Welcome to Rooted in Innovation
01:05 – Meet Rob Ambler of Ambler Industries
02:25 – The mission: build a values-driven landscape company
04:01 – What culture looks like in practice: hiring, retention, clarity
06:14 – Burnout at $5M: sleepless nights, high anxiety, tough calls
08:52 – Replacing great-but-misaligned leaders
10:47 – How Rob found his new leadership team through divine timing
12:29 – Creating a no-turnover workplace through vision & loyalty
14:55 – The ripple effect of servant leadership at all levels
17:08 – Aspire software: from sticker shock to game-changer
19:36 – Tracking labor variance and tying it to performance
21:44 – Addressing pushback: “You only care about money”
23:03 – Gamifying incentives and linking data to growth paths
25:22 – Leading with faith and integrity: what it means on-site
27:00 – The story of one foreman’s transformation
28:38 – Rob’s personal “why”: faith, family, and making an impact
30:02 – Reflections on Plumstead Christian School and giving back
32:14 – Final takeaways on growth, leadership, and long-term vision
Resources:
Have an upcoming landscaping project? Contact Tree Staple for a quote treestaple.com
Connect with Jim Mancini on LinkedIn
Connect with Dionisio Roman III on LinkedIn
Connect with Rob Ambler on LinkedIn