Utopian Landscapes LLC

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The Donald Phelps Christmas Grant (DPCG) is a philanthropic endeavor of Christmas Dcor by Utopian Landscapes, started in 2009. Each year a deserving member of the community in which Utopian Landscapes operates will be selected to have the exterior of their home lit for the holidays free of charge. Candidates for the DPCG may be nominated by any member of our community who would like to recognize a friend or neighbor who deserves a helping hand and a useful honor.

The DPCG is not a conventional philanthropic gift or donation and it can not necessarily be awarded under the same criteria as one. Utopian Landscapes looks to help individuals or families who are considered deserving based upon personal hardships, financial or merit conditions depending on the situation. Anyone familiar with the program may nominate any community member who is facing exceptional hardships and could stand to use a helping hand. The annual winner of the DPCG is chosen from the nominees by a committee including the president, investors, and customers of Christmas Dcor by Utopian Landscapes.

The DPCG is named in memory of Donald Phelps, the late grandfather of Christmas Dcor by Utopian Landscapes president, Nikos Floros Phelps. Donald Phelps, better known as Pappou to his grandson, was a man who truly loved the holidays and what they represented a time to celebrate with family and friends. In the summer of 1993, Nikos and his grandparents went on a trip to the West together. Shortly after returning, his Pappou lose his battle with pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 68. The family told Nikos that his Pappou had held on for this trip because of how important it was to be with family. The gesture was one of the best gifts anyone could have ever given and is part of the inspiration behind this award. The style and appearance of the Holiday Lighting is clean-cut and precise exactly as Pappou would have liked it. The DPCG became a reality thanks to the actions of a client who had purchased Holiday Lighting services for a neighbor whose parents had lost their house in a fire and whose daughter was chronically ill, in an effort to ease their burden during the holiday season.

The Decorated Family Program (DFP) was started by the Christmas Dcor organization several years ago to provide some holiday cheer to a family with a loved one serving away from home in the military. Christmas Dcor by Utopian Landscapes is bringing this program to the Harrisburg area and is inviting nominations of qualified families.

Anyone familiar with the program may nominate any community member with a loved one who will be deployed during the Christmas season, particularly those that are facing hardships and need a helping hand. The winner of the DFP will be chosen from the nominees by a committee including the president, investors, and customers of Christmas Dcor by Utopian Landscapes.

Please briefly describe the CURRENT situation of the family. How does this affect them, their work, or their home? What makes their situation unique? How would this program help them?

About Utopian Landscapes, LLC

Utopian Landscapes, LLC is a full service landscape contracting firm that specializes in both landscape management and the design/build aspects of the green industry. What separates Utopian Landscapes from other firms in the area is that it strives to be what other companies are not, both on the client and the employee side. When someone mentions landscapers there is a stereotype that often arises of a fly-by-night company led by a shirtless man smoking cigarettes with a beat up truck. This is an image that we are attempting to change by cultivating an image of professionalism and respect.
On the implementation side, our work quality is among the highest in the area. However, we believe that it is our interactions with our clients that set us apart. All calls are returned within 24 hours, deadlines are met and client expectations are nearly always exceeded. This is evident by our client retention rate of over 90%. The most common reasons for not retaining a client have been price increases, necessitated by rising costs beyond our control (such as fuel and suppliers) and unavoidable circumstances such as relocation. We offer our clients a very competitive (5%) referral program.
In 2008, Utopian Landscapes was awarded a franchise by Christmas Dcor, a company based in Lubbock, Texas. Christmas Dcor has nearly 400 franchises in the United States and Canada and serves over 40,000 customers and our franchise is the first in Central Pennsylvania. They design, install, and service the highest quality decorations for Christmas or other special events. All of their decorations use state-of-the-art LED lighting that consumes 90% less power than conventional incandescent lights. They are one of the first companies to offer such services in the area.
Giving back is the least that Utopian Landscapes can do for its community and the industry. In their free time, members of the company have served as a Big Brother for the Big Brother, Big Sister organization, Sunday school teachers, and volunteer judges for landscaping certifications. In July 2008, Utopian Landscapes also participated in the PLANET-sponsored 2008 Day of Renewal and Remembrance in which landscaping companies from around the country donate their services to help beautify the Arlington National Cemetery. Locally, Utopian Landscapes has donated services to Eagle Scout projects and most recently has been responsible for the holiday lighting for Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. They will also will be donating services for the expansion of the Ronald McDonald House in 2009.

Our Employees Stand Out

From the employee side, the company has always promoted an inclusive “US” and “WE” atmosphere. Before an employee is hired they are told that this is not to be just a "job", but rather a “career” for them. This is a career, a profession, a livelihood. From the very beginning we determine whether a new hire has the desire and drive to grow with the company and retire with the company. Some of the benefits that are offered are full medical and dental insurance coverage and countless educational opportunities to further their advancement in the field. Our employees attend seminars and conferences that many companies either do not participate in or send only their upper level management. The more our employees get exposed to these opportunities, the more they realize the potential of the company.
The employees know that the clients of Utopian Landscapes are THEIR clients. These are clients they will interact with multiple times a year, who will start as clients and eventually become friends.

Nikos Phelps

Utopian Landscapes, LLC is led by its President, Nikos Phelps. Nikos has been involved in the landscaping industry for the past 11 years. From the very beginning, it was his dream to grow the company which he managed to do as a busy high school student, an athlete, and an Eagle Scout. In 2001, Nikos began at Penn State University, studying Landscape Architecture, while still running a business in the Harrisburg area. He scheduled his classes so that he had free days to allow for trips home to meet with clients to prepare estimates and present proposals and spent most weekends working.
In spring 2004, Nikos changed his major to Landscape Contracting with options in both Landscape Management and Design/Build. He also began pursuing an Entrepreneurship minor. In spring 2007, Nikos graduated from Penn State with a Bachelors degree in Landscape Contracting and a minor in Entrepreneurship and returned to the Harrisburg area to run the business full time.
Nikoss accomplishments in the industry can also be seen outside of the company. While a student at Penn State, Nikos competed in the PLANET (Professional Landcare Network) Student Career Days competitions for the University. PLANET Student Career Days is a national competition in which the best Landscape Contracting programs from across the country send their top students to compete in various events that correspond with different aspects of the industry. In 2006, Nikos placed 7th overall in the Leadership competition helping Penn State earn a 9th place finish. In 2007, Nikos helped lead the University with a 1st place finish in the Business Management competition beating out nearly 100 other students. His 1st place finish was only the third top individual finish at Student Career days for Penn State in school history and helped lead Penn State to a best ever 5th place finish.
In 2006, Nikos received the Acorn Alcinda Foundation Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Excellence in Landscape Contracting for his growth and achievements both in academics and his company. From 2004 to 2006 he was one of the top students in the Entrepreneurship minor which allowed him the opportunity to receive a paid position by the University to help teach an Entrepreneurship course in spring 2007. In 2007, Nikos also became a Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) by passing a rigorous 20-part hands-on exam. On average less than 15 people achieve this certification in Pennsylvania annually.

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Giving Back

Giving back is the least that Utopian Landscapes can do for its community and industry. In July 2008, Utopian Landscapes also participated in the PLANET-sponsored 2008 Day of Renewal and Remembrance in which landscaping companies from around the country donate their services to help beautify the Arlington National Cemetery. Locally, Utopian Landscapes has donated services to Eagle Scout projects and most recently this past holiday season we had the chance to decorate and light the exterior of Ronald McDonald House in Hershey. In their free time, members of the company have served as a "Big Brother" for the Big Brother, Big Sister and volunteer judges for landscaping certifications.

PURPOSE The Yannis Floros Landscaping Grant (YFLG) is a philanthropic endeavor of Utopian Landscapes that started in 2009. Each year a deserving member of the community in which Utopian Landscapes operates will be selected to receive a year of complimentary landscape work. This work will include standard maintenance work on a property with minor enhancement work. Candidates for the YFLG may be nominated by any member of our community who would like to recognize a friend or neighbor who deserves a helping hand.

The YFLG is not a conventional philanthropic gift or donation and it can not necessarily be awarded under the same criteria as one. Utopian Landscapes looks to help individuals or families who are considered deserving based upon personal hardships, financial or merit conditions depending on the situation. Anyone familiar with the program may nominate any community member who is facing exceptional hardships and could stand to use a helping hand. The annual winner of the YFLG is chosen from the nominees by a committee including the president, investors, and customers of Utopian Landscapes.

The YFLG is named in memory of Yannis Floros, the late uncle of Utopian Landscapes president, Nikos Floros Phelps. Yannis Floros, better known as Theos Yannis to his nephew, was a caring, loving, and a hardworking individual who with his big, warm, and genuine smile embraced everyone around him and never missed an opportunity to help the needy, contribute to a cause, or provide encouragement and advice. His own path to success as a businessman was a true rags-to-riches story. To some he was bigger than life and one who friends and family could always count on in time of need of any kind. In 1997, when Phelps, then 14, began landscaping to earn spending money in the summer, Theos Yannis saw the potential that could come from this (even before Phelps himself). He continued to encourage and inspire Phelps throughout high school, until he lost his battle with skin cancer in 2001 at the age of 65. To this day, his words and actions continue to influence the decisions and the path of Utopian Landscapes, LLC.
The YFLG was inspired by the actions of a client who had purchased Holiday Lighting services for a neighbor whose parents had lost their house to fire and whose daughter was chronically ill, in an effort to ease their burden during the holiday season.