The YardMaster Landscape & Big Lakes Lawncare Merger Story: Why We Chose A Private Equity Partner

A lot of business owners think private equity means losing control, sacrificing culture, and putting profits ahead of people. What if the exact opposite could be true? In this episode of The Deal Factory, Jeff Harkness sits down with Chester Buczynski and Mike Montenaro to unpack the formation of the YardMaster Big Lakes platform backed by Unity Partners. The conversation explores the realities of private equity partnerships, employee ownership, scaling through acquisitions, leadership development, and building a culture that creates transformational wealth for employees at every level. From Chester's journey starting a landscape company with no money and a vision, to Mike's path through decades of leadership in the green industry, this episode offers a candid look at what it really takes to build, scale, and grow a business beyond traditional limits. Most importantly, they challenge some of the biggest myths in business—proving that growth, culture, people, and profitability don't have to compete with one another. Key Discussion Points • Why Yard Master and Big Lakes partnered with Unity Partners • The biggest misconceptions about private equity • How employee ownership changes company culture • Building leadership teams capable of scaling • The importance of intentional communication during acquisitions • Integrating multiple companies without losing culture • Creating transformational wealth for employees • Why growth creates opportunity for everyone • Leadership, mentorship, and succession planning • Thinking bigger about what's possible in the green industry Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:25 Meet Mike Montenaro & Chester Buczynski 2:25 Mike's Journey Through the Landscape Industry 5:20 Chester's Entrepreneurial Story 7:10 When Growth Required Outside Capital 11:00 Why They Chose Private Equity 15:20 What Makes Unity Partners Different 17:00 Culture vs EBITDA 19:00 Employee Ownership and The Purpose Plan 22:05 Building Culture After the Deal 23:55 Technology, Scale, and Growth 25:10 Communicating Change to Customers 28:45 The First Meeting Between Mike and Chester 32:10 Leadership, Mentorship & Partnership 35:20 Inside Their First Board Meeting 39:00 How the Propel Program Supports Growth 40:35 Lessons From Early Acquisitions 43:00 Integration, Culture & Leadership 46:00 Why Business Owners Need Better Advisors 49:00 Leadership, Fitness & Personal Growth 53:00 Why Most Business Owners Don't Think Big Enough 55:20 What's Next for Yard Master Big Lakes 56:05 Closing Thoughts