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Rooted in Innovation

Rooted in Innovation

Written by: Tree Staple
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About this listen

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.

© 2025 Rooted in Innovation
Earth Sciences Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • From Drone Flyovers to Hand Sketches: Joe Marker’s Signature Process
    Dec 9 2025

    On this episode of Rooted in Innovation, we sit down with Joseph Marker, owner of Marker Elevated Landscapes, to explore what it really means to lead a residential landscape firm with vision.

    From his signature 3-2-1 design process to his hybrid use of drone imagery and hand-drawing, Joe walks us through the artistic, technical, and deeply personal aspects of designing meaningful outdoor spaces. We also hear the story behind a 144-acre Tuscan-inspired estate, why Vastu Shastra shaped its layout, and how Joe honors the legacy of his family business while pushing the boundaries of what modern landscape design can be.

    Whether you’re a designer, contractor, or homeowner, this episode will challenge the way you think about space, communication, and the role of technology in the design-build process.


    Timecodes

    00:00 – 01:21 - Intro: Meet Joseph Marker and Marker Elevated Landscapes
    01:22 – 03:16 - The 3-2-1 Design Process: From Concept to Master Plan
    03:17 – 05:12 - Inspiration Sources: Travel, Books, Social Media & Gardens
    05:13 – 07:06 - Drone-Backed Hand Drawings: Communicating Clearly with Clients
    07:07 – 10:14 - The Role of Process in Avoiding Miscommunication
    10:15 – 13:32 - Flexibility, Late Nights & Sunrise Site Visits
    13:33 – 16:04 - Designing a 144-Acre Tuscan Estate in Pennsylvania
    16:05 – 17:35 - Applying Vastu Shastra Principles to Landscape Design
    17:36 – 20:00 - Flat Lots, Rolling Hills, and the Role of the Client
    20:01 – 22:06 - Maintenance: Growing Slowly and Preserving Quality
    22:07 – 24:49 - Family Legacy: Honoring His Father’s Company & Vision
    24:50 – 27:11 - Leadership, Hard Work, and What Joe Learned from His Dad
    27:12 – 29:21 - Low-Maintenance Design, Deer Pressure & Plant Strategy
    29:22 – 32:06 - Golf Course Inspiration & Finding Creativity Outdoors
    32:07 – 34:49 - Designing Par-3 Greens for Clients (and for Fun)
    34:50 – 37:19 - Tree Favorites, Annual Preferences, and Unique Palettes
    37:20 – 39:58 - Final Reflections: Communication, Creativity, and Vision

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    40 mins
  • How Rob Ambler Built a People-First Landscape Company
    Nov 7 2025

    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


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    36 mins
  • What Landscape Designers Actually Want to Specify with Emily Bell
    Sep 8 2025

    In this episode of Rooted in Innovation, the team sits down with Emily Bell, a landscape designer and founder of Emily Bell Landscape Design, to talk about real-world challenges—and smart solutions—in site planning. From stormwater management to tree stabilization, Emily shares the tools she actually specifies, including TreeStaple, Silver Cells, CarbonSmart wood, and ProFlow pavers. They also tackle the realities of budget constraints, developer resistance, and the all-too-common spec-and-switch problem. If you're in urban planning, landscape architecture, or product development, this is the episode to rethink what belongs in your design toolbelt.


    Timecodes:

    00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Emily Bell

    01:10 – Core site challenges: drainage, trees, and materials

    03:08 – Developer pushback and the value engineering dilemma

    04:20 – What makes TreeStaple so useful in the real world

    06:05 – ProFlow pavers: where they fit and why they matter

    08:20 – Cost vs benefit in spec decisions

    09:33 – CarbonSmart wood and circular material sourcing

    12:22 – Specifier considerations and contractor habits

    14:04 – Urban vs rural: where these tools shine

    15:35 – Silver Cells explained and why they’re needed

    18:11 – When it’s too late for root management

    19:07 – Personal design inspiration from transit and urban systems

    21:24 – How travel shapes Emily’s landscape perspective

    23:08 – What makes a product worth advocating for

    25:21 – Examples of product trends that don’t work

    27:00 – Collaboration between specifier, contractor, and client

    28:31 – The spec battle: why holding the line matters

    30:04 – Final thoughts on tools that elevate site performance

    31:08 – Closing remarks and call to advocate smarter tools



    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 Emily Bell on LinkedIn


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    27 mins
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