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The REAL Estate & Investment Show
THEREANDISHOW 007 - Interviewing Palm Beach Landscape Architect, Dustin Mizell!
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In this episode of The Real Estate and Investment Show, host Daniel Clavijo welcomes Dustin Mizell, President of Environment Design Group, to discuss the art and business of landscape architecture in Palm Beach, Florida! With over 25 years of experience, Dustin shares his journey from architecture student to leading one of South Florida’s premier landscape design firms!
In this conversation:
- The Professional Journey: Discover how a "providential" pivot from traditional architecture to landscape architecture led Mizell to a 25-year career designing high-end gardens and public spaces
- Defining Landscape Architecture: Mizell debunks common myths about the profession, explaining why it is much more than simple "curb appeal" or maintenance
- The Power of Synergy: Learn why involving a landscape architect at the very beginning of a project—working alongside the architect and GC—can transform the final outcome and save clients from costly mistakes
- Building a World-Class Team: Mizell discusses his philosophy for teamwork, focusing on finding "good people" over just "talented people" to foster lasting camaraderie
- Designing for the Florida Environment: From salt and wind resistance to creating "outdoor rooms," explore the unique challenges and rewards of designing in South Florida's volatile climate
- Philanthropy & Public Spaces: A look at Environmental Design Group’s work on iconic local spots like Worth Avenue and their commitment to pro-bono community projects
- Faith & the Garden of Eden: Mizell reflects on how his faith inspires him to create restorative gardens that offer a sense of peace in a hectic world
Connect with Dustin:
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/environmentdesigngroup/
• Website: https://www.environmentdesigngroup.com/
Watch on YouTube! https://youtu.be/WSrd0RnOCmw
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All right, hello, and thank you for tuning in to the real estate and investment show with Daniel Clavijo. I am Daniel Clavijo coming to you from Beautiful, Sunny, Palm Beach, Florida. What is the Real Estate and Investment Show and who am I, you may ask? Well, our show wants to focus on the experience of amazing people in the real estate and investment space and share their knowledge with you, our wonderful audience. I truly hope that together we spark some ideas and inspiration for you wherever that may be. And who am I? Well, I'm an architect grad from the University of Miami, MBA grad from NYU Stern, and I've been designing homes in Palm Beach and surrounding areas for over a decade. I now also get to share the stories of such amazing individuals with you. Questions or suggestions about our show, write to us at infotherreandyshow.com, that also spells there and is how dot com, the abbreviated form for the real estate and investment show. Find us on YouTube, Spotify, and wherever you enjoy your podcasts. We appreciate your help. Like, comment, follow, subscribe, and above all, share with your friends and family. It is thanks to you that we will be able to grow and bring you high quality content and guests in the real estate and investment space. Speaking of which, we have an amazing guest with us today. He is one of South Florida's finest landscape architects. For over 25 years, his skillful hand and creative mind have designed, enhanced, and maintained some of the most beautiful gardens, pools, and public spaces in the region and beyond. There's also a little bit of inspiration of his faith in his work. We'll find out about the impact of the Garden of Eden. He is the man, the myth, the legend, the one and only Dustin Myselle. Wow, thank you, Dave. Not used to that of much of a hyped introduction, but thank you. Pleasure to be here. Thank you, Dustin. It's great to have you on the show, and we've gotten to work together on quite a few projects over the years. And so I thought that, you know, this is great that people get to hear the experience from a landscape architect because landscape, you know, it's so much more than just curb appeal. There are the public spaces that you work on as well, the pools, entertainment. So it's all very involved. And whether it's for a home, public, or development purposes, you're very involved in the process. So as we say cheers, cheers. Please tell the audience a little bit about your background, your bio, and please take it away.
SPEAKER_02You know, before I even do that, it's funny in your introduction, you mentioned like how important you know landscape is and architecture. Uh when I was in grad school at FIU in Miami, uh studying for my uh thesis, uh, I had a graduate professor, he was a Harvard Law, uh originally Harvard Law, and then he became a landscape architect, taught at Harvard. And uh the first day of class in grad school, he said the two most misunderstood professions in the world are undertakers and landscape architects. And he went on to clarify, an undertaker, you know, people think like uh like the movies, right? They don't understand the science and everything behind it. And he said, the second most misunderstood thing is landscape architects, and that didn't make sense to me. And he said, I'll tell you why. He said, eventually you'll graduate, you'll get out in the real world, and you'll be at a cocktail party and tell somebody I'm a landscape architect. And they'll say, That's wonderful. My uncle works at the nursery at Home Depot. I mean, that's wonderful about your uncle, but that's not what we do. Or, you know, uh, you know, my my cousin has a landscape business and he does maintenance, and that's fantastic, but that's not what landscape architects do. So I remember hearing that in grad school going, that's not going to be true. And I tell you what, it really is true. So very few people, obviously architects understand, really understand what landscape architects do. But yes, I'm a landscape architect uh here in Palm Beach, Florida. Uh what a great place to work. Uh I mean, the weather, the people, the culture, the demographics. I mean, I'm in the right place for sure. And um, so I have an undergraduate degree from Florida AM. Uh long story how I got there, but uh then uh uh a degree in landscape construction and management, ended up at Florida International for my master's degree in landscape architecture, and then I've been practicing here for the last 25 years in Palm Beach County.
SPEAKER_00It's been awesome. And as I understand, you originally started in architecture as well.
SPEAKER_02I did, I did. Um I just always loved design. And um, you know, as a young kid trying to figure out what he wants to do in life, I'm like, wow, you know, why not architecture if you like design? And uh so uh uh I was at Florida AM University School of Architecture in Tallahassee, and uh, you know, loving it my first year, and then um I really started to wonder, because I love the design part, I just wasn't sure about kind of the interior architecture portion of it. Sure. And so I took a little bit of a step back and uh and coincidentally, I mean or providentially, however you want to say it, um uh, you know, I tried to kind of re-pivot. I know in a design, I love design, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be an architect. Right. And uh there just happened to be a landscape program there, and uh uh I found out more about it and said, yeah, this is really the lane I want to go in. So it all worked itself out.
SPEAKER_00Awesome. And in that experience of architecture school, of course, it goes hand in hand with a lot of things you were able to apply in landscape architecture. What are some of the things that you find you've carried over across the years with that uh both best of both worlds, I'll say?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, I think it was cool because um to your point, I mean, you know, I had a lot of the fundamentals of architecture in the like the beginning classes. So I I think probably most specifically uh would be like spatial study. You know, an architect, I mean, space is very important. Uh the land in the but you're confined right within a building and you figure out how to make the most of a space. In the landscape, uh sometimes it's so macro scale and so broad that you're thinking so big when you're not really thinking about the space. So I think the whole idea of like space planning and and uh designing within a constraint, helping the landscape, you know, whether it's a small project, a large project, you know, not just develop a pretty aesthetic landscape, but really create an amazing space like an architect would. Yes.
SPEAKER_00A different interpretation for escaping the forest for the trees. Exactly, exactly. Yeah. Now, when you started working here in Palm Beach, how did that process go about with Environmental Design Group? What was uh your process with that?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. So um, like I mentioned, you know, I got my graduate degree at FIU. Uh I had the privilege at the time, during grad school, I was working for my dean. Um, he actually uh had his own practice, so which was fantastic. And uh I love working in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove. I mean, amazing homes, properties down there. And um, you know, but I was living in Palm Beach County, commuting, and boy, the traffic just got to me one day. I did the same. Yeah, and I said, I gotta make a move, and um and uh just uh literally was for the internet, so found Environment Design Group uh in the phone book and uh reached out. And it's a long story, but uh a quick part of it is uh Frank Moroni was the original founder, he became a dear mentor and friend to me. And uh we started as a small firm, and then we were in West Palm for many years, uh over there in the Como building right off of uh Clemata Street and uh 2008 hit, right, in the economy. And um, and you know, when it comes to the bad economy, I mean, yes, construction stops, but the worst is landscape. I mean, you construction stops in a bad economy, but if you have to redo a bathroom, you probably still do it. You might still do a kitchen, right? If you need a new roof or uh, you know, some other things, you'll you'll still do that. But nobody will do garden work. Nobody will put a pool in an economy where the the banks burst. So, you know, we had a period of a couple tough years. So during that time, uh Frank, the original owner of the company, said, let's go to Palm Beach. You know, we've got nothing to do, let's rebrand ourselves, let's focus only on high end the residential, and uh we'll wait till work picks back up again. So uh it was kind of a neat story just moving from Miami to here, uh, finding a super cool guy to work with, the economy hits, we move over to Palm Beach, say, let's regroup, the whole world's gonna rebuild, and here we are today.
SPEAKER_00Awesome. And as that process developed, what is something that you found in that rebranding process? We of course here we focus on real estate investment business development as well, and that's something that people can take into their own applications when they're looking at perhaps how they want to focus their business.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. I think um boy, in a perfect world, if you can really um refine your brand and uh really your market, right? Um, that it helps. Because I think you know, when you're young or you're just trying to trying to take whatever you can, you know, you kind of find yourself everywhere. And that could be good, but it could be bad as well. You know, I think you can get to the point and you know, whatever that career is or that profession, and really say, this is our brand, this is our market, this is our target, and you know, it really helps you with strategy. And that strategy, I think eventually if you stick to it, it'll make you an expert. And then that's where your value comes in.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. And then that same approach that you take on this uh leadership role that you're not just a designer, but you're running the business. How is that process when you transitioned from partner to being lead for the company?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. No, uh it's kind of funny. I tell people sometimes, like I had this fantasy in graduate school, like that I'd be sitting in a small, beautiful office like you have here with a with a with a with a canvas and painting a Monet, and maybe there's a charcuterie board next to me and and the classical music playing and just creating these landscapes. And um, you know, but you know, that's a I think that's a time period in your life, you know, when you have that vision and and uh you know if your business grows and and uh your opportunity outreach grows and you get an amazing team behind you, at some point you have to transition from you know uh you know being maybe the the designer to to to you know to really the navigator of the business. And so that's kind of where I am in today. I mean I'm actively involved in all the projects and high-level design and in the standards and excellence. But but you're right, there gets a point as you grow your business, you become not just the lead architect there, you know, you hire people that might even be more talented than you, and then you run the business.
SPEAKER_00And it's always great if you can find somebody who you're not just the smartest person in the room, right? Because you get you're able to bounce off ideas, and yeah, the group makes you uh smarter and just more successful because they do have so much talent. And that's something that I've always found uh very interesting about your team. You have a very diverse international team that brings a lot of different skill sets. Um, how did you go about when you look to hire somebody? What has been the success? Because I will also say from experience, you treat the team very well. It's like it's amazing how there's a camaraderie there. So, what can you tell us about how to develop a team?
SPEAKER_02No, thanks. Um I mean, obviously, um, you know, there's a lot of talent in any industry out there. Um I don't look at talent at all, and I don't just say that in some theoretical or um, you know, uh curt way. I mean, I I honestly, to your point, Daniel, I I honestly just I try to find good people, and when I find good people, I know that they'll benefit uh my business and we make it work. I mean, so I have a story behind uh currently we have 19 employees, which I think is a good size firm for a landscape architecture firm. Absolutely. Um I have a story behind how I found every person, and uh, but uh uh I I just like to find good people and I know good people around me will make me better. And um, I mean you can find talented people. There's a lot of talented people out there, but I'd rather good people than talented people.
SPEAKER_00Excellent. And they're also, you know, they're you give them credit where credit is due, and you know you also know how to lead them. It's it's it's a great great team to work with. Thank you. Now, what happens when a client comes to you? What is more or less the process? What are some key considerations a client should take when they want to hire a landscape architect?
SPEAKER_02Right, right. Um, you know, I think honestly, um, you know, architecture is one thing, real estate's another. Landscape's a little different in the fact that um it's kind of should be the first component, right, and it should be the last as well. In other words, um, you know, some people they kind of do it a little out of sequence. Um, you know, they'll hire an architect, you know, they'll work with them maybe six, nine months, almost a year, love the house, love everything about it. And then they're like, okay, let's bring in the landscape architect. Um the better way of doing it is if we're brought in the very beginning and we're working with the architect, I mean, honestly, we find with that synergy, a lot of times architecture will change. Right. It's like, listen, we have an amazing view over here. I mean, let's capitalize on that. And without me making architectural suggestions, you know, architect might pivot because of that. You know, the winds here, the shade, the things like this. So um, you know, hopefully we get in early with clients because we think we get the good value. So we have a lot of um effort in the beginning. We kind of go away a little bit during construction, but then we're back at the end making sure everything is perfect and every plant's in the right place. So um when we interview a client or a client interviews us, I like to say we interview them as well. Yeah, uh, because um we don't want every client, obviously, right? Sure. Um, but um, you know, we kind of just try and explain to them the benefit of having us and not just to satisfy you know some aesthetic things, but the value we bring if we're really involved from the beginning to the end. Absolutely. I try to educate them a little bit, and some people buy into it, and some people like, nah, you know, we just need to code compile and plan, can you help us? And we'll see if we can help it or not.
SPEAKER_00It's definitely like the site work is the first aspect, and as I always say, first you have to get a survey, but then when you're designing things here in Florida, at least you know, the areas that we've worked with, most of the time we don't have to deal with topography, which is nice, but in other places it does become more involved, and I think who better than a landscape architect to bring that vision to it because we as architects we do learn a little bit about that, but that's not our main training, right? Now you invest a lot of time in your projects. Um what are some key things that you always look for when you're starting out the project? What everybody has a different consideration, as you're saying, like there's the views, the the winds, the solar, but what are some key things that you like to look at when you start off a project?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think um going back to maybe what you allude to in the beginning, my my history coming from the architecture field, I think no matter if it's a small project, medium, or uh or or super large scale, I really want to look at every project and go, where can we create some really cool spaces? Um, you know, and I think that's a little different uh than some other landscape architects or designers who are looking like, okay, I want to create a pretty garden, I want, you know, some flash points, some focal points, some pretty color, uh, which is nice and important. Um, but I go into a lot of landscapes where I don't find like surprising spaces or or or gorgeous outdoor rooms. And so every project, you know, you know, as the clients tell me, you know, uh uh I was on a Zoom call yesterday with potential decline. She was kind of walking me through a house. And and I'm already thinking, like, wow, what a cool little jewel box, what a cool little room we could do for her. So uh I think every project I go into is how can we create a really cool space. Right. And I think maybe that does come back from my architecture background.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. You have as well, as you were mentioning, that experience of the economy and the time of rebounding. What do you see kind of right now that we're in tw early 2026, the projection towards development in the area?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. In this area specifically?
SPEAKER_00Yes, in the areas you were you were.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. You know, I would say I mean, I'm no um economist, but you know, um Me too. I mean, I I hate making predictions, especially about the future. I know, I know, and the world is so volatile, and you know, I mean, gosh, I mean I mean, a social comment. I mean, when you do look at the world, we are so blessed, right? I mean so much of the world, you know, is just in turmoil. Here we live in this beautiful place in Palm Beach on the beach, right? And it's incredible. So we're blessed. But all that said, I mean, um, my projections, I guess, you know, I mean, you know, when you look at the economy and hear the economists talk about the the the K factor of the economy, yeah. I think I think it does exist. You know, I think, you know, our market, your market, my market, you know, obviously are you know, you know, people in the top, you know, and and you know, they do well in uh with versatility in the world. Um, you know, it's just you know how it is. So I think the forecast for us is good. Now, if you and I were sitting here on this podcast in middle America, it'd be a different conversation. You know, middle America is a little different maybe now. So I mean, I'm certainly don't say that lighthead, I know how blessed we are to be where we are in our market, but I think our market's strong. And uh, you know, I mean, you know, as I network, as I come into other professionals like yourself and other architects and what everybody, and everybody is very optimistic about our market. Again, um, we're in a bubble for sure. You know, we're in a special place, but uh, I think it's gonna be a good year for all of us, right?
SPEAKER_00What do you see as some things that um of course you work in this market, but you also give back to the community and you do public projects. What are some of the public projects that you're that you've worked on and that you are working on right now?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Um no, uh we're having some really cool opportunities. Um, we're doing some fun public projects for the town of Pond Beach itself. Yes. Um, you know, hopefully the summer uh um fire station on North End, we're doing a pretty little pocket park there in Wells Road, which is gonna be really exciting. Um we're also working on the uh downtown development of the linear park along Worth Avenue and the clock tower where the public beach is. And so we're in the process of that, um, uh working through that with the town. It's gonna be an incredible addition.
SPEAKER_00A lot of dead space right there, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, there's a lot of dead and active space, and uh they've got to put a new seawall in for you know climate change and resiliency, and and so it's literally gonna blow up everything that's there now. So we're gonna come back with something really exciting. Um, you know, and um, but you know, we we we also uh you know, uh I mean those are community projects. Uh we're also involved in some philothampic philoth philothamphilanthropic. Thank you. I'm drawing a it's one of those tough words. Yeah, yeah. So we're uh doing a night really nice project uh um uh downtown for uh shelter right now. Uh we're also doing some work at uh Ann Norton's uh sculpture garden as well uh to assist them with some summer projects and and um so so we're we're always really uh uh happy to assist and if it's a nice project and we can contribute back to the community, um we certainly do that pro bono many times.
SPEAKER_00That's always excellent for people to to know about, right? Because it it helps as well, and you're giving back to the community and people get to see your work where you know perhaps in one of these private settings they don't necessarily get a see, and uh even though you've you photograph everything and and the website is excellent for people who want to get more of a idea behind your work. So do you have in this time period like a favorite type of project that you like to work on? I know that it's like choosing your favorite child.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, right. That's really hard. Um, you know, I I I would say really just um it has nothing to do with uh I mean most of the stuff we do is obviously single family home residential. Right. That's probably 90% of our work because it's the it's it's the demographics we are. That's 97 90% of Palm Beach, right? You got public and you got multifamily at the condos. Um so you know, we do all of it, but gosh, I really just um truly enjoy like just a fun residential project with just a super cool client or a cool family, young or old, um, that that it's not really a spec home, it's their house. Right. And uh when they talk to you about how they live, you know, this is how we live, you know, this is what we do in the morning, you know, this is you know, uh what we do as we're transitioning between work or when we come home for work, this is the feeling, this is the ambiance we want. I mean, those are fun because you really feel like you're you're helping someone's lifestyle. And um, and when someone says we want this, God willing to be like a forever home. I mean, you know, it's a cool, it's it's a high bar. And uh so I think those are uh the most fun, you know. When you work on condos are cool and they could be contemporary and exciting and have all the bells and whistles, but you know, you got you know 80 residents and how many are you gonna make happy and how many are gonna be there next year? And it's so transient, you know?
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02Then I think uh just a single family home with a cool family that's like, you know what, we want this to be our place. Can you help us? I mean, I I think it's a privilege, it's fun. That that's kind of what I really enjoy the most.
SPEAKER_00And piggybacking off of that, when you're dealing with clients, what are some key points that you have found to be successful over the years? What are some challenges and some inspiration overall that people can take from, you know, how to how to deal with with clients?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Um, you know, I think um, you know, the client relationship is very important. Absolutely. You know, um, you know, I feel like I'm I have a good personality as far as like um that I listen to clients, and I think that has uh a lot of value to them. Um uh because like kind of in our business, you know, it's you know, there's a lot of egos involved as well, kind of just in the design world, right? And so I think, you know, if you if you can kind of have an if you're approachable, if uh clients really feel like you listen to them that has a lot of value, and that's really good in the beginning. I think uh sometimes when projects get hard, it's sometimes it's in the end. You know, maybe you know, a project went on way too long. You know, not for anybody's fault, just the reality of life. Took way too long to get approved, way too long to get permits, the economy changed, you know, they held it for a year. You know, then they started construction. Their contractor told them it'd take them 18 months, it took three years, and they over budget, and then by the time like you know, that comes to what I would call the cherry on top, the garden, the landscape, they're so Exhausted, they spent so much more money than they want. They come back to you and say, listen, we know you gave us everything we wanted. It cost us what can we do for this? And so and and and sometimes it's like the energy and that love, and it's nothing you did wrong, it's just it's not there anymore. Because that you know the process is worn them out, the money's worn them out. So then sometimes that you know uh you know you feel, gosh, I wish we could have finished like we started. But it's just life and it happens. Not in every project, but you see you see more than you more than you think though. Absolutely. Especially with the landscape portion of it, because that's the expendable part.
SPEAKER_00Right. There are so many unexpected things that can happen along the process. Um for how to people, you know, let's let's stay on track, let's focus for next time.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. You know, I think it's um always using the the right team. You know, I mean there's a lot of architects out there, um, but there's a handful of good architects going here. Oh, thanks. Um, same thing in the landscape industry. There's a there's a lot of talent out there, but talent doesn't get people over the finish line. Um, you know, there's a lot of great GCs out there, um a lot of powerful ones, a lot of big ones, but picking the right one. Owner's reps are good to have as well. Uh sometimes people think an owner's rep is it should be for a very, very large project. Not necessarily. You know, they come as your advocate along a GC. So just suggestions. I mean, pick the right people, the right team, and uh and and and I think you do much better. You know, um it's not always about the price, it's not always about the uh the bandwidth. Um, you know, who who do you uh synergize with, um, who do you think's gonna uh stick to their word and who do you think is gonna perform the best for you? And uh I think the projects will end up so much better.
SPEAKER_00Yep. There's always the price that you have to pay for quality. Um what helps you? I mean, I'll I'll say from my experience, of course, as I mentioned, your team, your work, everything that uh we've done together, and hopefully we will keep working in the future is always excellent. But what helps people to to to see what stands out with your firm?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, you know, well, I'll just tell you what I hear. Um, you know, uh, you know, I always hear like, hey, listen, we really appreciate that you guys, you know, uh listen to us and and you actually like keep your deadlines and uh and you perform. Um and again, um, you know, to me that's like you know, elementary, right? Yep. But in our business, it it's not always standard though. Right. And I don't think it's because there's bad people running bad firms. I just think that, you know, again, in our market, everyone's so busy that it's hard sometimes to keep up. And uh and you're taking out really big projects and really time consuming, and no matter what your bandwidth is, it drains a lot of your you know time. Um so I think what I hear from clients is gosh, you you know, you guys listen to us, you're meeting the deadlines, you're not holding us up, and that's where our value is. You know, sometimes I tell the clients, like, well, I'll have interviews with a client, and they're like, Okay, listen, I interviewed this person and you, you know, why would I choose you? You know, it's like yeah, it's almost like a job interview, right? And and sometimes I'll even say, gosh, that other person you're interviewing, they're incredibly talented. I mean, they might be better than me, but the only thing differential I would say is I can't speak for them, but I can speak for myself and and uh we will perform. Uh we will be on time, and uh and we won't hold you up. So I can speak for that. Never miss the deadline with Dustin from Pet Videos. If we do, I'm gonna shut down because uh that's what we're known for.
SPEAKER_00It's it's your it's your reputation, it's what you're exactly what you're saying, it's what you're known for, and it's great that uh people are able to experience that firsthand when they do. Um now we live now in this world where technology has been evolving so much, now we've got all the factors stuff with AI. Have you seen that impacting your business in any way, or what do you find as some tools that are useful that you're able to use with these new technologies?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, good question. Um experimental phase. Um, you know, uh I don't know how much farther I'm gonna honestly in my office take it from there. Right. Um, you know, I've seen actually it backfire recently. Uh-huh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I had a project uh with another architect and um who was just really, you know, in schematic design, heavy using AI to develop uh models for clients. Gotcha. And um, and I was on a Zoom call the other day and a whole bunch of people and and uh the client's looking at an AI generated thing that's not even accurate as far as like the context of the site. And um and then post-call, you know, we've spent uh a couple weeks trying to clean up the client's perception of really what their site is because the AI, you know, didn't really depict it rightly, but the client has that in their mind. And uh we we've had to spend a lot of time trying to undo what something that took really quick to do is hard to retract once a client saw it. So um, you know, I I know it's a shortcut. You know, I I'm more old school, obviously, a little farther on in my career. Um, you know, we're not using our office. We experimented a couple times with a couple things uh just to see if we could take something and elevate it and it could be benefit to it, not a supplement, right? Not in lieu of. And I wasn't happy with it. And I got smart people in my office. I mean, I got seasoned people, I've got people coming right out of grad school right now, so they're in the latest technology, and and and I don't see myself implementing it uh anytime soon. And I might experiment a little bit, but um, but I've seen it uh be less productive than than than more. Is it quick? Sure. Is it the right way?
SPEAKER_00Jury's out on that. Yes. I I agree with you. I have found it to be um, as you're saying, kind of a supplement sometimes. I'll use it to enhance renderings that I've already done.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um that's our experiment. We'll we'll enhance some renderings that we already develop, we already put in, and it helps with shadows and lights. Right.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, as a as a starting point, I think that uh our jobs are still secure in that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think so too. I think so too.
SPEAKER_00There's a lot that, you know, at the end of the day, all those things are just uh feeding it all the information that exists, and that might be easier for um some fields that are more cut and dry, but for this creative aspect that there's so many things that get involved with it, it's I think it's very hard to say for it when it's a lot of different things.
SPEAKER_02Maybe 25 years now it's a different conversation.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_02But not in my not in my career, I don't think.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. And in that same type of vein where you're saying you're uh presenting these aspects to the client so that they can imagine what the place is going to look like, what the scene is going to be. I myself have some clients who have been able to pick up on things very quickly, and other ones who it's very difficult for them to imagine. What are some things that you've been able to use to help the client see the vision before it actually gets built?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Um you know, I I think the most helpful thing, and it's even old school to back to the hand sketches, is is really the the the three-dimensional aspects, you know, whether they're hand sketches or you know, whether the high resolution modeling or whether video walkthroughs, those to me honestly are always the best. Um because no matter you know how how um smart or seasoned a client is, and maybe it's their eighth or ninth, tenth home they built, plans are always difficult. Not because uh you have to be uh you know um very well versed in architecture and standard, it's a scale problem. Yeah, it's a scale problem. You know, you can show a plan, but until somebody sees it in a different view, uh the scale is always the issue. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So definitely a big consideration. Yeah. Um do you have any tips for people when they're going to find the plant selection that they want that you know they'll come to you and say, Oh, what type of planting it would really benefit the site? We like, for example, this type of palm, but you're gonna say, Oh, there's probably a better idea than right, right, right, right.
SPEAKER_02The thing that I think that we find the most is uh um uh you know, because of where we live and work, uh east, you know, our biggest issues are um the environmental. You know, salt and wind is a big problem. So we have clients all the time like, oh my gosh, you know, I bought this amazing oceanfront estate, I want it to look so Florida, you know, they're from Connecticut, they're from wherever. Um and then the minute you start to tell them you can't have any color over here because it'll get beat up with the salt and wind. I mean, you see like the color drain out of their face, literally. And so uh it's really the environmental things. And then, you know, um, you know, if if if you have, you know, um like more of a midtown location, right? Urban, two-story homes, incredible amounts of shade. And they want all of those other things to take full sun. So it so we really find it's like uh everyone knows aesthetically what appeals to them, but you know, when you're in a place like South Florida, you know, the environment is so strong and it's so heavy that if you don't pick the right plant, I mean it it won't even last a season. So that's kind of the biggest thing is put people, you know, you meet a client and say, okay, here's all the plants we want. Then you look at that and you're like, you hate to like start off the conversation negative. You're like, can you do this? And you're like, no, we can't. Yeah. I mean, you're on the ocean. You can't do any of that. And then you try to work with them and get creative, and then you try to show them, hey, listen, we've been doing this and we can show you the top 20 of the work, let's pick from there. And or you know, or or or if they want to at least well, I'll experiment, Dustin. Okay, I'll help you experiment, then I'll come back and help you fix it later, too. So, you know, I mean, we'll do whatever you want to do, but you know, we want you to know what you're doing first so you don't have to do it twice. Right.
SPEAKER_00It's very important to set those expectations from the clients we'll do it.
SPEAKER_02They'll say, I don't care. I'll place it out every six months. Yes. Right. That's not a problem.
SPEAKER_00Um any gardening tips you want to give people for for the spring that we're doing with spring in Florida is like a summer all time, but yeah, yeah, yeah, it is, it is.
SPEAKER_02Um yeah, plant now. I mean, hopefully, I mean, you know, we've had a lot of dryness.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Uh we uh we've gotten like these little splashes of rain and it's really heavy and ground saturated, but then it just goes drought. So I think we got the rains coming. It's it's a great time to plant now, uh better than the middle of the summer. So, you know, if you want to refresh your garden, you know, do something some pretty in the pots, do it now. I mean, the weather, I think we're done with the cold. You know, uh, I think the rain and the sun's gonna be really pretty. So it's a good time to have fun. Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Any other projects that have been outside of the South Florida area that you've worked on that you've found interesting?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. Uh I mean, most of our market uh really is in South Florida. Right. Um, you know, we've done a handful of things for you know clients we have up north and and or clients in the Bahamas and things like that, and some stuff in Texas. Um, but um, you know, really just like planning and stuff, and then the local people take it over there. Um, I think our value is the way we run our office, it's more like a boutique office that sure we can design anywhere in the world. And we can, we've done you know design developments for clients wherever. Um, but our value really comes in uh, you know, being on the project, making field adjustments, um, approving local materials, um, you know, approving layouts, um, adjusting things in the field. You know, I always tell my clients like, we'll we'll make our drawings as detailed as possible, but at the end of the day, we have to be there. Architecture is a little different. I mean, yeah, you guys make changes on the fly, but by the time you really do your drawings, they're pretty they're pretty good. Like, I mean, you could go on vacation two months and come back and not worry that the building's gonna look differently, you know? Right. And if I'm in the middle of a project, I really can't do that because I could come back and it could be vastly different. The paving layout, they made some changes that weren't appropriate. You know, well, I couldn't find this plant, so I bought this one. No, I don't like that one. Or I couldn't find this size, so we scaled down, but we doubled the quantity, Dustin. It's the same thing. No, there's a reason why I had that size. So I think you know, our value is you know, is to be the local guys on site, and and then I mean our drawings become instruments of service. So here you can do it, you can build it, call me your open house, we'll come have a uh, you know, an hors d'oeuvre together. But uh our value comes in in the boots on the ground. So uh so yeah, we we can work everywhere and we and we do it occasion, but our value is the local component.
SPEAKER_00And to that local component as well, you're of course also working with subcontractors essentially, right? You've got the the nurseries, the gardeners, the landscapers. Uh what do you find when you're picking that team that has been helpful for you over the years?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, good question. Um because we're in a heavy market. There's a thousand of every one of those categories you mentioned, plus more. Um I think um, you know, just being here for an established for a long time um, you know, has helped me kind of vet, you know, like my top people. Right. And um, and and so you know, I'll have clients say, Hey, can you recommend somebody? And I'll say, sure. Yeah, I mean, I'll give you two or three, it's always good to price. But the good thing is is the the subcontractors to your point. Um, you know, I always recommend people that that they I know 100% they'll perform for me and they haven't even met the client. Right. Because if they they know if they don't meet my standard, it's not gonna work. So that's what I tell my clients, you know, I said, listen, you know, I'll I'll recommend two, three, however you want. But the good thing is, um, you know, um they'll perform for me before they even know you. Eventually they'll fall in love with you and perform for you, but they'll perform for me. Right. And uh, like, you know, like I have to have the relationship with my my like my landscape contractor. I'll give an example, you know, a great relationship with my landscape contractors. Um, he was working on a project that recommended them, uh, planted two day palms, which are very expensive. Yeah. And um, you know, in nature you can't match everything perfectly, but boy, we can get close. He planted two day palms in front of a house here in Midtown, Palm Beach. Uh, look great. Uh, I thought they were wonderful. We had all approved them. Owner had approved them, planted them, and uh when he planted them, uh the owner called me uh about two days later and said, hey, maybe up to the house. Went to the house. He goes, let's stay on the street, let's look at the opposite side of the street. He goes, You notice that one's about six inches tall or the trunk of it? I'm like, Yeah, it's a yeah, yeah. Because the nut, the head of it was a little different. Right. He goes, man, it's really bothering me. He goes, anything we do, can we lift it? I go, Well, you can't lift it. You know, certain things you can do that because then the roots are exposed. I said, it's in the middle of a grass. I go, you can cut the roots of the other one at the top, it's gonna put a lot of bounds. He goes, I go, they're pretty close. I mean, it's nature, it's not gonna be perfect. And he goes, it's really bothering me. Oh boy. And he goes, Do you think we could replace it? And these are expensive palms, right? Of course. 15,000, you gotta get a crane or whatever. Yeah. And I said, you know, if it's really bothering you, you know, we'll we'll replace it. And so I called my landscape contractor and I said, Listen, man, I go, can you take this, take it to your mom's house, plant it for her for Mother's Day, whatever it is, but we replace it? And he goes, it doesn't 100%. He doesn't know the client, but what he knows me. Of course. And, you know, he knows that that goes a long way, and he's gonna make that money back in the next project or whatever. Excuse me. So, you know, that's the value of having a local guy that has subs that respect him, everyone wins. Absolutely. Yeah. And so he did at no cost. But I wouldn't expect anything less. But that's the kind of relationship that I have with people that work for me. Yep. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00It comes from developing over time and just to that takes time. Years.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not months, years.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. How about going into the fact that landscape architects as well, they're designing the heartscape, the the driveways, the pool areas. What are some fun things that you enjoy about those aspects?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think uh those are cool because um, you know, back to that component of creating space, you know, a parterre hedge or a clipped hedge could, you know, frame a space as best it can, but the heartscape really says, you know, this was intentional. You know, um, you know, you people can call a paver guy and say, hey, here's my survey. Can you sketch out a new driveway? Sure. More than qualified you to do that. But is it intentional as a thoughtful that's relate to the house? You know, does it create the space, is the right scale. I mean, yes, the heartscapes is really fun.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um, you know, um, you know, some people are good at landscapes and plants and beds, but you know, terrible heartscape designers. If you can do both, that that's awesome. And I think we can do pretty good at both.
SPEAKER_00I'll even admit that you know, times that I've worked on and laid out a driveway or a pool, and you or and your office come with some very cool ideas.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, no, cool things. I really appreciate that. Because it's a different mind. Like you said, you're so focused as an architect in the house and the structure, and you know, you know some sight lines, it kind of makes sense for a pool here, but but you know, we come in and we're looking at a completely different angle, and so that's the that's how that synergy is so important. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And when you're working with a the general contractor or the architect or the engineer, you're starting, you know, it's uh design is over. Now you're in the weeds and you're actually doing this stuff. What are some key things that you like to lay out for that groundwork when the project's developing to make sure that they follow everything?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah. No, I think you know, just being involved. I mean, um, in a perfect world on a nice project, I mean, you know, we want to be included on the weekly OAC meetings. You know, um, because uh, you know, uh, you know, uh like a general contractor that doesn't maybe, you know, not that they devalue it, but they don't see your value, you know, might say, oh, Dustin, we can include you at the end, but you know, there'll be decisions at the beginning, you know, a site wall decision was made that that I might have had a different opinion on. Uh the civil engineer, he's got to come in early and maybe lay some of the the drainage in the beginning. And you know, they might have put a drain that that made no sense where they put that. And early on, we could have avoided that. Because of that, the pool deck might have looked different. I mean, you know, or the grading, like like this was designed, yes, it was approved, but in the field as we look at it, that grading doesn't work. Yeah, you know, if we had one more step, we can literally eliminate this issue. So um, you know, um I I think in a perfect world, you know, with the right architect, the right GC, they see your value as opposed to the guy that come in and shrub it up in the end. You know, um and and and uh gosh, I think we save our clients a lot of like um dissatisfaction if we're ball in the beginning. And and it's not no fault of anybody else's, but it's no vision of anybody else's but a landscape architect that would catch these things or see these things. It's uh tricky business. Yeah, yeah. Like I went to a project the other day and uh and I'm looking at the plans like, man, something doesn't feel right. And the contractor's like, oh, I moved this wall eight feet back.
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02Eight feet back? I mean, you don't have approval for that. I'll have to clean that up later. But he's like, Yeah, we had a the transformer here that got put in mid-construction, and I was like, Yeah, but that wall could have been different. And you know, but a contractor's not gonna have that vision. He knows how to do it, yeah, he knows how to fix a problem, but I know how to be creative with fixing a problem. That's excellent. I love it.
SPEAKER_00Creative about fixing a problem. Yeah, trying. Um, tell us a little bit about the your faith and how it inspires you and the the story of the Garden of Eden that goes.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah, yeah. I mean, that comes up because you and I were having a small chat one day. Um, but uh yeah, no, I mean, you know, I always you know sometimes people say, um, because I grew up in a Christian home. Yes. A traditional Christian home, you would call it. My father's a pastor, he's been a pastor for 44 years. Wow. Same church. So yeah, so people always ask me, hey, you're a religious guy. I'm like, nah, I'm not really a religious guy. But my faith is the most important thing to me. So I think that's a you know, easier, more authentic way to say it. But uh, so grew up in a home like that, you know. Uh I kind of thought it was cool that I ended up going from architecture to landscape architecture, because, you know, I mean, you know, as a Christian, obviously, like, you know, the the whole Genesis account is super important and and really special. And so you think of the Garden of Eden, and you know, the whole, I guess, point about that is uh it was a place of peace for a moment in time. And so I think you always relate to that with my faith because it's like when I step in a really cool garden, you know, I don't feel anxiety, I don't feel like pressure, and if I'm stressed out, boy, it really brings you down. I mean, why are there meditation gardens? Why are they healing gardens? You know, why are there therapeutic gardens? It's because there's something about a garden, like when somebody steps in there, they're like, okay, like the world has like been quiet for a second.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And so, um, and I think that's innate. Like I've never met somebody that like went into a garden and goes, oh, this garden causes me anxiety. This is a bad design. But if you go in a pretty thoughtful garden, it's gorgeous, everybody goes in and goes, gosh, this is amazing. And people, what? They pay interest fees to go to what? Amazing gardens and botanical gardens and amazing estates and and showcases and things like that. And so, you know, if if mankind, you know, as a whole, innately appreciates like the piece of a garden, I think it does relate to maybe the garden of Eden. So maybe that's what kind of you know uh brings those two things together for me, I think. Totally.
SPEAKER_00I mean, like we have to get back to nature, right? Yeah, exactly. And here we're blessed with having so much nature, but you live in a dense city, concrete jungle, and people want to go to parks and whatnot. And here to be able to have their own little slice of heaven in a garden, that's always pretty amazing. Right. Yeah, it is, yeah, yeah. So here's a question that I ask everybody on the show to date, what has been your best investment personally and professionally?
SPEAKER_02Oh boy, best investment personally. Um that's a really good question. Uh I think personally, just um, you know, obviously my family. I'm very blessed. Uh beautiful wife, two children, and um um, you know, just uh uh, you know, just made some good decisions, I think, in life. I mean, not in t not by any wisdom and in hindsight looking back at it. Um just investing in my family and our children and keeping him local, uh, even through college and things like that. It's just been a a Blessing to like this season in my life and my wife's. Awesome. You know, I think um, you know, you've got that other perspective, you get married, you have some kids, and and and they go to UCLA or they go to NYU, and those are super cool things, and you're excited for them, and and um and you know, with our kids staying, like uh it was a transitional period, like what does this next season of life look? Do our kids go and do their own thing? And by them staying here, it's just been a neat thing. So I I think just investing in like my family um made this season of my life different than it could have been in a good way.
SPEAKER_01Awesome.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and I think professionally, uh honestly, was um um uh a mista it was a mistake or an accident. And uh and it really was going to work for Environment Design Group, which I'm currently the president of.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_02Uh I I'm not sure if I told you a story, but I'll be quick about it. That's okay. But it needs a couple minutes to get it out. Give us um, you know, I had the privilege when I was an undergrad to work for one of my professors. Right. And he was a landscape architect, and and it was just him and me. So uh so uh so I worked for one guy. When I went on to graduate school, I had the professor uh uh privilege, as I mentioned earlier, working for my dean. Yes. But actually his wife worked for him as well. They were both landscape architects. There you go. So now there were three of us. So my first job, there were two of us, my second job, there's three of us. And when I finally decided to do something different, I said, you know what, I'm going to go work for a big firm. I mean, my whole experience working was with one person, right? And it was two, I need to try the big firm mentality. And so when I came back to West Palm and I opened the phone book because there was no internet then, looked at individual names, landscape architect, John Smith, landscape architect, Jane Doe, landscape architect. I came across Environment Design Group. I'm like, that sounds huge. I go, this is this is what the change of my life I need. So I called the number, gentleman answered. I said, might speak with uh someone in human resources. Yeah. He goes, Well, I'm the president. I go, wow, I got right to the president. And then so I was just shocked. So, you know, I told him, he asked me what I needed. I said, hey, listen, I'm looking maybe for a job. I'm kind of transitioning. He said, Why don't you come and interview? I said, fantastic. He said, You know where the um the convention center is on Palm Each Lakes. He goes, We're in the forum building. He goes, it's a five-story building. I'm like, wow, a five-story building for a landscape architect. That's impressive. He goes, there's a parking garage. I'm like, wow, a parking garage for a landscape architect. So I'm really, he's already got me in, right? He says, You'll come in, there'll be a secretary, you'll have a seat, she'll come find me. So I dress in a suit, I find the building, I find the parking garage, I'm like, this is the energy that I'm looking for. I need to shake my life up a little bit. So I go in there, the woman greets me at the desk and she says, Mr. Moroni, be with you in a moment. I see the hustle and bustle, people walking around with plants. I'm like, this is incredible. I mean, you know, I need this kind of experience. I was young. And uh she goes, he'll see you now. And they're walking me through these corridors, and I'm seeing cubicles and conference rooms, and I'm like, this is this, yeah, this is a blown operation. This is exactly what I wanted. So we go up the stairs, she introduces to me. Long story short, it comes out that that's not his building. He's literally renting a six-foot desk in the corner of a mezzanine with an architect's office. Um, so it was just him. So I went from one employee to two, and I was gonna go big, and I went back to one. And I remember driving home going, this is not for me. This is not for me. I can't go backwards. I need to go forward. And um so I was gonna just give him a hard no. He called me a couple days later and said, Gosh, I have this little small job. I know you're still working in Miami commuting, you know, you could probably knock it out in two weeks. Why don't you just help me out? He made some extra money. I was young, married, had no money, broke. And I said, Yeah, I can do that. And he goes, We'll just take it from there. I said, Sure, I'll make some money in two weeks. So we did it. You know, he seemed like a cool guy. He had something else for me. And then one day I got just tired of commuting, and uh he said, Dustin, if you want to work here, have more work. So I said, Oh, give it a chance. But it was it was like begrudgedly though, because I didn't want to go backwards. Right. You know, you know, if I really want to go forward in my career, I mean, I can't work just for one person. I've already done that. I worked for two, and that's as far as I went. I need something different and big. But you know what? I took a chance and uh invested in him and you know, jump ahead here um 25 years later. I would never would have crafted like what that relationship, what that decision uh would eventually lead to. Um, unfortunately, I mean the goal was that Frank would, you know, uh outwork me and I'd retire before him. And you know, unfortunately, you know, life uh he came down with cancer and fought hard and uh didn't make it, unfortunately. Um but I kept it going and you know to jump ahead to see that that investment in him because I liked him and uh the tremendous mentor he became to me, the friend, the business, the brand, the economy, the reboot, and to where I am today. But I I just feel so blessed and uh and um you know and I took a chance. And uh sometimes chances in life work out, sometimes I don't. Um and I took a chance, and um I can't be more grateful or blessed.
SPEAKER_00And you turned Environmental Design Group into that full-grown operation that you were looking to join. So that's amazing. Yeah, I'm humbled. That's terrific. Yeah. Well, I've asked you a lot of questions, but now you gotta ask yourself one. Do you know how that's gonna work? No, but let's let's do it. If you can move your leg just a little bit, you gotta pick a question out of a fishbowl. Okay. All right. All random questions.
SPEAKER_02Oh boy. Let me see. I can read again. If your life was a book, what would this chapter be called? Wow. Interesting. Wow. Unbelievable. And I think I would say that based on the story I just told you. Um when I went backwards, I had no expectations. I was just hoping I could you know pay my bills like everybody else. And um you know, to see jump ahead, um you know what, you know, uh be truthful, you know, what God's done in my life. I mean um it is unbelievable. And uh I'm excited about what the next chapter could be titled. Yes. But in uh I think I would chapter this one unbelievable.
SPEAKER_00That's terrific.
SPEAKER_02All right.
SPEAKER_00We're about to wrap up, but let me ask, do you have a suggestion for a future guest on the Real Estate and Investment Show?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I think I would bring um good you know, you know, because I listen to some of your other podcasts, and so you got some really great guests, and and I I think I would bring somebody uh in from like the somewhere in the construction industry here on the island. Yep. I mean, this is a unique place to build. You know, I have you know, uh we have clients from all around the world that built you know dozens of homes, and they come to Palm Beach and go, wow, we didn't know. It's so you know interesting, or that it's different to build here. And so I think you can bring someone, you know, whether it's in the outside build, inside, GC, landscape contract. I mean, bring somebody in here, you know, that that's really involved on this island, um, because they can tell you, you know, where the money's going, where the value's coming back, right? Yep. You know, um, like I was at a project the other day, and a client said, I want to do this, this, and this, and you know, um you know, and I'm like, I don't think you ever get that money back. Um, I mean, it it's not easy to do that here. It's gonna cost you a lot of money, even just to get it approved, a lot of money to get done and do it. I don't know if you're gonna get it back. And uh, and here's the process. And she was shocked. And she's like, Dustin, I build the house. I go, This is Palm Beach. Yep, it's a different process. Maybe bring somebody in there. I mean, kind of educate your audience of listen, it's a great place to live, but you you gotta go through it. Yeah, absolutely. And once you get through it, it's worth it. But uh just a thought.
SPEAKER_00Sounds like a plan. And last but not least, it's time for the shameless plug. What is something you're working on right now that everybody ought to know? And of course, where can they follow slash find you?
SPEAKER_02Okay, well, they can find us uh on Instagram and and uh Facebook and obviously our website or whatever, or stop into the Paramount Building. You know, we're we're we're right down the road there. Um, so we're excited about that. Um boy gosh, I'm working on something super cool. Um unfortunately, obviously, there's an NDA, but but I'll just I'll put a teaser out there. Terrific. Okay, how many landscape architects in Palm Beach um uh have a client that wants to design and install a wine orchard on their property? Wow. So interesting that will be bottled potentially. Wow, that's so working on something fun then.
SPEAKER_00Okay, okay. Well, maybe when we get more information, we'll we'll share that with the audience. There you go. Dustin, I want to thank you so much for your time and being on the show. We're gonna give you another big round of applause. And of course, they put all the show notes that'll have so people can reach out to you. But thank you for sharing your journey, your experience, and being such a wonderful guest. Thanks, it was fun on the show. And thank you so much for being here with us. Join me again next time with another amazing guest on the Real Estate and Investment Show with Daniel Clovito. I'm Daniel Clovito. Till then, stay awesome, everyone, and God bless America.