Mark Laberee – President, General Manager

After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Design from South Dakota State University in 1972, Mark put his education to work as a Landscape Architect and planner for several firms before creating Lan-De-Con Inc. with Rod Johnson in 1975. Mark’s creativity in landscape design and his knowledge of solid construction techniques have been the backbone of Lan-De-Con since its inception. Mark continues to play an active role in the growth of Lan-De-Con and is committed to providing quality landscape design and installation service for all of Lan-De-Con’s clientele.

Mark and his wife Kathy reside in Waconia, where they look forward to visits from their two sons, their wives and two granddaughters. Mark’s love of the outdoors was cultivated at an early age while he was growing up on the family farm near Watertown, South Dakota. Today, when Mark is away from the office, he is usually found in the field hunting or on the lake fishing.

E-mail: mark.laberee@lan-de-con.com

Rod Johnson – Vice President, Production Coordinator

Rod Johnson is co-owner of Lan-De-Con Inc. and Vice President of the company. He heads the financial end of the company as well as distribution of products to and from job sites. Prior to the formation of Lan-De-Con, he served in the Air Force and went to Business College.

Rod is married and has two teenage children, which keep him busy attending their various sports and church activities. His hobbies involve sports and cars related interests. One of the highlights of his life is to vacation with his family.

Mark Laberee and Rod started Lan-De-Con 30 years ago and have enjoyed seeing the company grow. The character of the people hired and the quality of their workmanship has helped to make Lan-De-Con the company he is so proud to call his own.

E-mail: rod.johnson@lan-de-con.com

Jim Keller – Senior Project Manager

Jim Keller joined Lan-De-Con Inc. in 1981 after graduating from the Landscape Technology program at Hennepin County Vocational College. He started his career at Lan-De-Con as a Field Superintendent and has served as project manager for the past 17 years. Jim’s 24 years of experience has afforded him the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of the landscape industry from design to implementation. His experience in full on-site landscape construction management provides his clients with the peace of mind that their project will exceed all expectations.

Jim is an avid collector of vintage fishing tackle and enjoys cooking, fine wine and gardening in his free time.

E-mail: jim.keller@lan-de-con.com

Chuck Klinefelter – Sales Manager, Senior Project Manager

Chuck wears many hats at Lan-De-Con Inc . His main responsibilities are sales manager and senior project manager. He graduated from college in 1970 with a degree in Landscape Design and Technology. After graduation Chuck served in the U.S. Army for three years based mostly in West Germany. Having been in the industry for 33 years, he has seen a lot of changes, like the introduction of skid-steer loaders, tree spades, computers, electronic calculators, and AutoCAD design software. Chuck and his family enjoy the weekends at his cabin in northern Minnesota and when fall arrives he enjoys hunting upland birds in North and South Dakota. Winter allows for a couple of trips to Lake of the Woods for relaxation and walleye fishing. Chuck’s unlimited knowledge and experience have gained him respect in the landscape industry.

E-mail: chuck.klinefelter@lan-de-con.com

Gunars Ogrins – Project Manager

Gunars has been with Lan-De-Con Inc. since the spring of 2000 and has been in the landscape industry since 1993. Gunars’ background includes humble beginnings as a laborer while concurrently obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from the University of Minnesota in 1997. Since graduation, Gunars has been designing, bidding and managing all phases of residential and commercial landscape installation ion. His goals are to give his customers the highest level of service before, during and after the project is complete. Gunars’ design theory is to create an environment for his customers that is visually appealing, practical, maintainable and most importantly, cost effective.

Gunars resides in Minnetonka, MN with his two Labrador retrievers, Balto and Maza. He enjoys the outdoors, camping, alpine snowboarding, sailing, boating, canoeing and remodeling. Gunars is a first-generation Latvian-American and is tri-lingual as well. Gunars’ favorite place is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, where he manages to escape twice a year.

E-mail: gunars.ogrins@lan-de-con.com

Scott Marotz – Landscape Designer, Project Manager

Scott joined the Lan-De-Con staff in 2002 after obtaining his degree in Landscape Architecture from North Dakota State University. Scott spent his first season at Lan-De-Con Inc. as a Field Superintendent, which allowed him to expand his knowledge of installation techniques and further help him understand the relationships between idealistic design principles and the resulting real world implications. Scott’s knowledge of computers and computer aided drafting has resulted in increased efficiency within the office and allows us to deliver a higher level of service to our clients.

Scott resides in Big Lake, MN with his wife Tara and their daughter Sydney, where he currently serves on the Big Lake Planning Commission and Park Advisory Board. Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, camping, canoeing, sports, and enjoys finding some quiet time to sketch.

E-mail: scott.marotz@lan-de-con.com

Sherry Hickson – Landscape Designer, Project Manager

Sherry graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Horticulture with an emphasis in landscape design. Before joining Lan-De-Con in the summer of 2001, Sherry worked at various garden centers and also at the University of Minnesota Trial and Display Garden. At Lan-De-Con, Sherry's main roles are project manager and landscape designer. Sherry is involved with all stages of commercial landscaping from estimating plans to final project implementation and completion. Sherry also enjoys the creativity of designing residential home landscapes where she can utilize her extensive knowledge and love of perennials and flowers. Her design versatility ranges from creating colorful formal gardens to naturalistic plantings. Sherry strives to meet all of her clients and her own expectations of creating beautiful, functional, and manageable landscapes.

Sherry enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, traveling, and visiting with her friends and family.

E-mail: sherry.hickson@lan-de-con.com

Jean Johnson – Office Manager

Jean Johnson is a part-time employee and works as the office manager. She has worked for the company almost three years and thoroughly enjoys her co-workers. She is the wife of Rod Johnson and has found working with her husband a very pleasant surprise. Jean and Rod have been married almost twenty years.

Jean also does public speaking on the warning signs and prevention of child abuse. This subject is a passion of hers after working for years as a counselor for troubled teenagers. She is involved in her church, attends a weekly bible study and a monthly book club. In her spare time she enjoys walking, jewelry making, scrap booking and making hand crafted greeting cards.

It has been helpful and encouraging for her to better understand the inner workings of the quality company her husband, his business partner, and fellow co-workers have helped to build.

E-mail: jean.johnson@lan-de-con.com

Larry Kopp – Field Superintendent

Larry started his career with Lan-De-Con Inc. in April of 1985. He is currently the supervisor in charge of field operations. Larry’s 20 years of landscape installation experience have led to more efficient methods of installation that allow Lan-De-Con to continually deliver a quality project on time and within budget.

Aside from landscaping Larry enjoys spending time outdoors, golfing and fishing.

Loren Nelson – Field Superintendent

Loren started his career with Lan-De-Con Inc. in 2003 after working for several other landscape companies. He graduated with an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Landscape Installation program at Waseca Technical College in 1978. He is a field superintendent at Lan-De-Con and is known for excellent and thorough installations. Loren’s many years of landscape installation experience and his ability to efficiently manage a large crew of laborers allow Lan-De-Con to continually deliver a quality project on time and within budget.

Loren lives in Elk River with his beautiful red haired daughter and wife, much to his surprise after remaining single for many years. His wife, Patty, owns Nelson Arts, which designed this fabulous web site. He enjoys spending time laughing with his daughter, working on his acreage outdoors, training his dogs, and hunting and fishing.

Mark Dalen – Field Superintendent

Mark joined Lan-De-Con Inc. in 1992 and completed the two year Landscape Technology course at Hennepin Technical College while working as a landscape laborer for the company. Mark has over 13 years of landscape construction experience and has been a vital part of Lan-De-Con’s success. Mark’s knowledge of landscape construction and his ability to manage the on-site installation of a landscape design helps to ensure that the final product is going to exceed all expectations.

Mark lives with his wife and two boys in Carver, Minnesota where he enjoys spending his free time camping, hunting and fishing.

Tom Wischnack – Field Superintendent

Tom joined the Lan-De-Con Inc. staff in the spring of 2000 after seven years of previous landscape experience. Tom comes from a farming background, which has served him well in the landscape construction industry. Tom’s natural ability to lead has been a vital asset for Lan-De-Con over the last five years, and his strong ability to provide field management ensure timely job completion in a professional manner.

Tom spends his time away from work on his hobby farm in New Germany with his wife Elaine and their two sons Andrew and Alex. Tom is also an avid ice fisherman and enjoys bowling.