When Patrick Wells joined Piedmont Landscape Management in 2015, he was stepping into a company with deep roots and a respected name in Augusta’s commercial landscaping sector. Founded in 1977, Piedmont had grown into a leading commercial landscape company in the Central Savannah River Area. But for Wells, it was more than a career move—it was the beginning of a journey toward business ownership, leadership and growth, supported every step of the way by the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC).
Wells’ background and experience in the green industry prepared him well for the work. He had helped in his father’s landscaping business, worked in a nursery and even ran his own business while earning his degree in landscape architecture from UGA. When he started at Piedmont, he took on the role of account manager, eventually managing construction and irrigation before becoming president and, ultimately, owner in 2019.
Wells’ journey to ownership began in 2017, when he connected with the UGA SBDC in Augusta to prepare for the potential purchase of Piedmont. UGA SBDC business consultant Rick McMurtrey helped Wells create financial projections, refine a business plan and make critical banking connections…