Fractional Leadership for Growing Landscape Companies

Part-Time Executive Leadership for Full-Time Results


Senior COO/GM-level structure without the permanent hire

Schedule a Fractional Readiness Conversation

OR

Email Paul Directly

Growth Doesn’t Break Companies.

Ambiguity Does.

Most landscape businesses don’t struggle because of effort.


They struggle because:


  • Decisions aren’t clearly owned


  • Execution varies across crews and accounts


  • Owners become bottlenecks in daily operations


  • Margins erode quietly while the work keeps coming


The business doesn’t need more hustle.


It needs leadership capacity.

What Fractional Leadership Actually Means

Fractional leadership gives your company experienced operational leadership, embedded into your business on a part-time basis.


You gain the benefit of a senior operator who helps stabilize performance, build systems, and develop leaders…


Without the cost or risk of a full-time executive hire.

This is:

  • Embedded operational leadership

  • Operating cadence and execution rhythm

  • KPI visibility and accountability

  • Leadership development and decision clarity

This is not:

  • Hourly consulting

  • Generic coaching

  • Advice from the sidelines

  • A temporary fix without structure

Fractional leadership

is ideal when:

  • You’re scaling beyond informal systems

  • You need structure, cadence, and accountability

  • You’re not ready for a permanent COO/GM seat

  • You want execution improvement now, not in six months

Meet Paul Lukert

I’m a seasoned green industry operations executive with more than 30 years of leadership experience across multiple geographic regions and business models, including:


  • Commercial maintenance


  • Residential services


  • Design-build and installation


  • Enhancement-driven growth organizations


  • Snow and seasonal operations

I’ve led inside companies ranging from $2M entrepreneurial firms to $500M+ enterprise organizations, helping teams scale performance while protecting culture, client retention, and profitability.


My experience includes:


  • Oversight of $10M–$42M+ commercial portfolios


  • Multi-branch operational leadership


  • Full P&L ownership and margin improvement


  • Client retention and enhancement growth strategy


  • Building accountable leadership systems that scale beyond personalities


Fractional engagements are built to create clarity, execution discipline, and scalable leadership.

Recent Fractional Engagements

$8M Multi-Branch Landscape Company

15-Month Engagement

  • Reduced owner decision bottlenecks by 62%


  • Improved gross margin by 4.2 %


  • Developed operations manager into promotable GM


  • Exited after operations stabilized and systems were sustainable

$12M Commercial Maintenance Portfolio

6-Month Engagement

  • Reduced labor as a percentage of revenue by 280 bps ($300k + savings)


  • Installed weekly leadership cadence and KPI dashboard


  • Increased client retention by 8.5%


  • Increased Enhancement GM by 6.8%

Across All Engagements

  • Average margin improvement: 3-5 points
  • Average reduction in owner decision load: 50-60%
  • Average labor reducton: 17%
  • Client retention improvement: 5-10 points
  • 100% of engagements resulted in sustainable systems

Trusted by landscape companies in 11 states

Combined portfolio oversight: $175M+

Fractional engagements focus on measurable outcomes: margin improvement, decision clarity, leadership capacity, and systems that scale beyond personalities.


Results are documented and shared with client permission after engagement completion.

Want results like these? Let's talk.

Credentials & Certifications

  • Executive Director — Maxwell Leadership


  • Certified Corporate Facilitator — Maxwell Leadership


  • Certified DISC Behavioral Advisor — PeopleKeys


  • ICPI & NCMA Certified Installer (Concrete Pavers & Walls)


This blend of field execution and leadership development supports both the systems and the people required for sustainable scale.

What I Provide as a Fractional Leader

Fractional support is structured, not vague.

Depending on engagement level, responsibilities include:

Operational Excellence

  • Weekly leadership cadence and accountability


  • KPI visibility and performance tracking


  • Crew productivity and scheduling structure


  • Margin strategy and cost control


  • Client retention risk reduction

Leadership Development

  • Coaching and development of field leaders


  • Decision-rights clarity across organization


  • Leadership bench building


  • Owner-to-team communication alignment


  • Scalable systems that reduce firefighting

Strategic Execution

  • Enhancement growth and margin strategy


  • P&L ownership and improvement


  • Systems that scale beyond personalities


  • Process documentation and sustainability


  • Successor development and transition planning

This is operational leadership; not advice from the sidelines.

Fractional Engagement Models

Fractional

Core Advisor

Strategic clarity and operational discipline


Best for: Growing companies that need executive-level guidance without weekly embed.


Includes:

  • Monthly leadership review


  • KPI and margin visibility


  • Owner decision support


  • Priority alignment and strategic cadence

Outcome:  Reduced chaos, clearer direction, stronger focus.

Fractional Operator 

Execution leadership inside

your operating rhythm


Best for:  Companies scaling fast and needing weekly structure, coaching, and consistency.


Includes:

  • Weekly leadership cadence


  • Dashboard and execution accountability


  • Coaching ops and field leaders


  • Margin, retention, and enhancement strategy


  • Decision-rights and role clarity

Outcome:  Predictable execution, aligned leadership, owner relief.

Embedded

Fractional Executive

Interim COO / GM-level leadership


Best for:  Transitions, turnarounds, or leadership gaps requiring deeper

ownership.


Includes:

  • Embedded executive presence (8-10 days/month)


  • Operational stabilization and systems reset


  • Leadership bench development


  • Culture and accountability alignment


  • Scalable structure during growth

Outcome:  Stability, structure, and long-term leadership capacity.

Investment & Commitment

Fractional engagements are structured as

monthly retainers with 6-12 month minimums.


  • Fractional Core Advisor: Starting at $6,500/month


  • Fractional Operator: Starting at $12,000/month


  • Embedded Fractional Executive: Starting at $18,000/month


This represents 25-35% of the fully-loaded cost of a permanent executive, without benefits, equity, or severance risk.


Pricing reflects scope, company size, and engagement depth.


All engagements include:


  • On-site integration days


  • Weekly or monthly leadership meetings


  • Async support between visits


  • Clear deliverables and accountability


Minimum commitment: 6-12 months


Real structural change takes time. Month-to-month contracts create short-term thinking. We're building systems that last, not band-aids.

Here's What Typically Happens in the First 90 Days

Fractional leadership creates measurable traction quickly:


  • Clear operating cadence and execution rhythm


  • Reduced owner bottlenecks (40-60% fewer daily escalations)


  • Stronger accountability across leaders


  • Improved client retention and service consistency


  • Increased margin visibility and cost control


  • Field leaders making better decisions independently


  • Systems that scale beyond personalities


  • Documented processes that survive turnover


The goal isn't dependence.

The goal is a stronger organization.

Is This the Right Fit?

Strong Fit If

  • You're a founder-led or growth-stage landscape business


  • Revenue is increasing but operational structure is lagging


  • You feel operational strain and decision overload


  • Your leaders need clarity, cadence, and accountability


  • You want experienced executive support without a permanent hire


  • You operate across multiple branches, regions, or service lines


  • You're preparing for AI/technology adoption and need structural readiness

Not a Fit If

  • You want hourly consulting or emergency-only help


  • You're not ready to implement operating discipline


  • You're looking for motivation instead of structure


  • You need short-term (1-3 month) advisory only


  • You expect immediate results without process changes

Not sure? Book a free 30-minute consultation. We'll figure it out together.

On-Site Support Available

Fractional engagements are structured to meet

the realities of growing service organizations.


I am available for:


  • On-site leadership integration


  • Multi-location operational support


  • Short-term embedded executive assignments


  • Travel-intensive or transitional engagements


  • Temporary relocation when required


The goal is simple: 


deliver senior leadership capacity

where and when it is needed most.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: How is this different from hiring a consultant?

    A: Consultants give advice. Fractional leaders sit in the seat.


    I take ownership of outcomes, not just recommendations. You get embedded operational leadership, accountability, and execution, not a report and a handshake.


    I'm accountable for results: margin improvement, decision clarity, leadership capacity, and systems that work.

  • Q: What's the minimum commitment?

    A: 6-12 months depending on scope and engagement tier.


    Real structural change takes time. Month-to-month contracts create short-term thinking and band-aid solutions.


    We're building systems that last. That requires commitment on both sides.


    Clear outcomes and 90-day checkpoints ensure we're creating value throughout the engagement.


  • Q: How much time will you spend with my company?

    A: Depends on engagement tier:


    • Fractional Core Advisor: 2 days/month on-site + monthly leadership meeting + async support

    • Fractional Operator: 4 days/month on-site + weekly leadership meetings + ongoing communication

    • Embedded Executive: 8-10 days/month on-site + weekly exec meetings + full integration

    All engagements include communication between on-site visits via calls, Slack (or other collaborative platform), email, and dashboard review.

  • Q: Do you work remotely or on-site?

    A: Both.


    Every engagement includes on-site integration. 


    Operations don't happen via Zoom; I need to see how things actually work, meet your team, and understand the field realities.


    Between on-site visits, I provide remote support via calls, async communication, and dashboard review.


    I'm available for multi-location work and travel-intensive engagements when needed.


  • Q: What if we decide it's not working?

    A: Engagements are structured with clear outcomes and 90-day checkpoints.


    If we're not creating measurable value, we'll address it directly and adjust or exit gracefully.


    That said, I only work with companies where I'm confident we can make meaningful impact. 


    The initial readiness conversation helps ensure mutual fit before we start.

  • Q: Can you help us hire a permanent COO/GM?

    A: Yes. Many fractional engagements end with:


    • Internal succession: We develop your operations manager into the COO/GM role

    • External hiring: I help define, recruit, and onboard the right person

    • Hybrid: Internal promotion + I stay on in advisory capacity during transition

    As a Certified DISC Behavioral Advisor, I can also establish behavioral benchmarks and structured interview processes to ensure the right fit.


    The goal is always to leave you with sustainable systems and capable leaders long after the engagement ends.

  • Q: What industries have you worked with?

    A: My primary focus is the green industry and adjacent field service businesses:


    • Landscape maintenance (commercial and residential)

    • Design-build and installation

    • Snow and ice management

    • Tree care and arbor services

    • Irrigation and water management

    • Hardscape and outdoor construction

    I've led operations in companies from $2M to $500M+ across multiple business models and service lines.

  • Q: How do we get started?

    A: Start with a 30-minute Fractional Readiness Conversation.


    We'll discuss:


    • Your current operational challenges

    • Where structure is needed most

    • Which engagement tier makes sense

    • Whether fractional leadership is the right fit

    No obligation. No sales pitch. Just an honest assessment of whether we should work together.

    Schedule Your Readiness Call

Ready for the Next Level of Operational Clarity?

If you're hiring leadership, or feeling the weight of growth; fractional may be the fastest, lowest-risk way to stabilize performance and build the structure required to scale.


I work with 2-3 fractional clients at a time to ensure deep integration and measurable results.


Current availability: 2 openings for Q1 2026.

Schedule a Fractional Readiness Conversation

Or email directly: paul@dimensionalpd.com

30-minute diagnostic conversation.


We'll assess fit, discuss your challenges, and determine if fractional leadership makes sense for your company.


No obligation. No pressure. Just clarity.