Justin Martin & Derek Stutts, Author at The Commercial Landscaper Podcast

justinmartin-derekstutts

Justin Martin is the CEO of Granite Hills Group, a rapidly growing commercial landscape platform serving the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Since joining Granite Hills in 2020, he has helped lead the business from $10 million in revenue to nearly $70 million through strong organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and a relentless focus on people and culture. Justin works closely with the company’s leadership team to shape strategy, strengthen operations, develop leaders, and build a business designed to last. He believes success—both personally and professionally—is ultimately measured by impact: the impact we make on our families, our team members, our customers, and the communities we serve. Justin’s career in the green industry began in high school at a garden center in Raleigh, North Carolina. After starting his professional career in management training and sales with Cintas, he returned to the landscape industry and spent nearly a decade with one of the country’s largest commercial landscape companies, growing from account manager to vice president. Along the way, he learned from leaders who challenged him to level up and from experiences that reinforced how he wanted others to feel when working alongside him—lessons that continue to shape how he leads and develops people today. He is passionate about building great teams, developing leaders, and challenging the status quo of what a commercial landscape company can be. Justin lives in Fort Mill, South Carolina, with his wife, Michelle, and their two sons, Will and Zach. Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, and exploring new places with his family. Derek Stutts is the General Manager for Granite Hills' Raleigh-Durham market, where he leads a team of experienced professionals and a frontline workforce of more than 70 employees. His passion for the green industry began at just 16 years old, working on the grounds crew of a private country club in North Durham. Originally planning to become a golf course superintendent, Derek attended North Carolina State University, studying Turfgrass Management, Horticulture, and Agricultural Business. After graduation, his career took him into the commercial landscape industry, where he advanced from crew leader into management with a national landscape company. He later helped build a landscape maintenance division for a local contractor before returning to a larger national provider in a leadership role. Driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, Derek eventually launched his own company, GroundWorks, growing the business from a single truck and one employee—himself—to approximately $1.5 million in annual revenue within just a few years. When the opportunity arose to become part of Granite Hills as an originating platform company, he made the decision to join the organization and help build its future. Today, Derek is passionate about developing people, building strong teams, and delivering exceptional service to clients across the Triangle. He and his family live on old farmland in Hillsborough, North Carolina, where his appreciation for the land extends beyond his career. Away from work, you'll most likely find him spending time with his wife and three children, relaxing anywhere near the water, or behind a drum set playing with his band or serving on various worship teams.