Emerald Outdoor founders Doug and Cinni Martz set out to create a company that was unique to what was missing in the Jackson market. They differentiated their lawn care business by providing a higher level of service. When the Martz's started the faith-based Emerald Outdoor in 1999 their quest for a unique professional presentation led them to use clean, highly recognizable vehicles, enclosed trailers for equipment. Emerald has a drug-free work environment. Emerald Outdoor's difference is evident from the moment the crew arrives at the customer's site. The polite, friendly employees wear clean uniforms, no smoking is allowed. To stay true to its mission of high-level service, Emerald only takes on a manageable number of clients. The success of that policy can be seen in the company's customer retention rate. "A lot of retention is about customer relations," "It's really about the relationships that we have built. Our customers know us and can say, 'Hey, that's Lee.'" stated Doug Martz. The company provides lawn and landscape management services — including mowing, fertilizing, mulch installation, irrigation repair and snow plowing. Eighteen years later, we still focus on innovation, top-notch customer service, and a team approach. Current innovations include using technology such as GPS imagery, in determining the cost to maintain properties. An app called "Crew" allows instant on-the-job communication among the team members, and therefore faster responses to customer needs. "We focus on details so we can meet and surpass customer needs; That's just who we are. We treat each property like our own. Our services solve problems for property owners, so they can use their valuable time in other ways:" states Lee Bailey, director of operations. Their customers include homeowner associations, commercial properties, nonprofits, and educational institutions in the Jackson area. The Emerald team and their customers share very loyal relationships. The Emerald team feel very strongly about being educated in the industry they are in. The team does this by attending conferences, seminars, in and out of state. The Martz's nod to the Wizard of Oz's Emerald City in the company name, instead of "Martz," reflects their interest in creating a brand "bigger than themselves but a company for careers, where benefits packages are available, bonuses, 401K's, recognition of jobs well done. For many Emerald employee, their job is not a short-term seasonal job. Emerald Outdoor has senior, long-term team members. Having a consistent team also lets customers know who is working on their property.