BIOS
Doug Smellage - Owner & President
Doug is the founder, owner and president of Lawns of Dallas. Doug is a Dallas native and has an undergraduate degree from SMU (’77) and a graduate degree from Texas Tech (’79). At 15, Doug started mowing lawns, which he continued throughout his college years.
Click here for complete bio
In 1981, soon after he graduated, he started Lawns of Dallas, with the vision of building and growing one of the Dallas/Fort Worth area’s finest landscape maintenance and design/build companies. Doug is still involved in the day-to-day operations, with a heavy focus on the future development of the company. Over the years, Doug has been published in several industry magazines as well.
Doug and his wife, Ann, have three great kids, Calvin, Polly and Lindy. In his spare time, he enjoys serving as an active member in the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, along with several other community boards and organizations. When he’s not involved in one of the previously mentioned activities, he enjoys golfing, boating, hunting and fishing.
(Less)
Mike Rangel - Maintenance & Tree Division Manager
Mike is the maintenance and tree division manager for Lawns of Dallas. He brings over 26 years of experience in the green industry with an educational background from Eastfield, Richland College, Bryan Adams High School and St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic School.
Click here for complete bio
He has worked for several other companies with roles such as vice president of operations and small business owner. He is a Texas Certified Landscape Professional #236 as well as a Specialist in Urban Trees.
In his spare time, Mike enjoys being active with his two boys, Anthony and Christopher, at school and church and taking them fishing. He has been married to his wife, Becky, for 20 years. Mike has been with LOD since September 2005.
(Less)
Ross Mittelstet - Vice President of Operations
Ross is the vice president of operations for Lawns of Dallas. Ross graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in landscape architecture and in addition has earned a Texas irrigator’s license.
Click here for complete bio
At Lawns of Dallas, Ross has worked his way up through promotion. He began his career at LOD as a maintenance foreman, moved to maintenance supervisor, then landscape division manager, and since has earned the position of vice president of operations, where he oversees all the day-to-day operations within all divisions while also running two irrigation technicians. As a part of his duties, Ross closely monitors daily expenses so as to continue to make LOD a better company. Ross also plays a key role in keeping all lines of communication open with all Lawns of Dallas clients.
Ross and his wife, Leigh, have a daughter, Lexi, and another on the way! They enjoy boating, hiking and playing Frisbee catch with their dog in their spare time. Ross has been an LOD team member since August 2003.
(Less)
Neil Bales - Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Neil is the vice president of sales and marketing for Lawns of Dallas. He graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management, and a minor in horticulture and biology. Following graduation, Neil moved back to the Metroplex to pursue a career within the landscape industry.
Click here for complete bio
Neil has worked in the green industry for over seven years along with a couple of internships during college. Prior to graduating college, he interned with a local nursery and 3B Landscape, gaining valuable knowledge that helps him today. After graduating in May 2004, he started working for a small landscape company, Longhorn Landscape Creations, based out of McKinney, Texas, running both the sales and production side for the maintenance division. In May 2005, Neil began working as the sales manager for Lawns of Dallas, where he’s been ever since.
Neil was promoted in 2010 to vice president of sales and marketing. As a part of his role, he oversees all new business development as well as maintaining a strong working relationship with all Lawns of Dallas clientele. He also serves as the lead landscape designer for both residential and commercial projects. Neil helps provide key leadership in monitoring company costs and pricing structure so as to continue to keep Lawns of Dallas an industry leader in competitive sales.
Neil enjoys spending time with his wife, Olivia, and their son, Davis James. In his free time, he enjoys taking trips, golfing, snow skiing, fly fishing and hunting. He and Olivia are both very involved in Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. They’ve been members for over five years and help lead a young married class on Wednesday evenings.
(Less)
Homero Saldana - Maintenance Supervisor
Homero serves as a maintenance supervisor for Lawns of Dallas. In this position, he wears several hats in helping to assist the company daily. He was promoted from foreman to maintenance supervisor in July 2010.
Click here for complete bio
As a part of his role, Homero meets crews on-site to discuss quality control, property and project details, as well as efficiency. Homero also helps run all Lawns of Dallas employee safety meetings so that LOD can continue to lead in OSHA safety laws and regulations, as well as insurance precautions.
Homero is married to Elva, with two daughters, Mirna and Mirka. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his family watching movies, salsa dancing, playing music and just staying home! Homero has been with Lawns of Dallas since April 2010.
(Less)
Jose Rangel - North Division Manager
Jose started at Lawns of Dallas as the irrigation supervisor and was promoted to the north division manager in 2010. As a part of his role up north, he oversees all the day-to-day maintenance operations and client communications.
Click here for complete bio
He started working in the landscape industry over 10 years ago, having worked in the irrigation departments for TruGreen Landcare and QualiCare Landscape Services. He has been a licensed Landscape Irrigator since 1999 and a licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester since 2004.
Jose is married to Marisol, with two daughters, Grace and Vanessa. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, taking trips, going to the park, watching movies, and is a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks. Jose has been a member of the LOD staff since April 2007.
(Less)
Jon David Baldridge - Landscape Division Manager
Jon David (JD) is the landscape division manager for Lawns of Dallas. He graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture-business and management with an emphasis in horticulture.
Click here for complete bio
JD began his career in 2006, while attending college, by serving as a crew foreman and supervisor through several internships with Lawns of Dallas. He has experienced multiple sides of the green industry by serving both maintenance and landscape divisions. JD managed Lawns of Dallas North for two and a half years before being promoted in 2010 to landscape division manager. He currently oversees and manages all new landscape installation and construction jobs, which range from patios, decks, retaining walls, fences, seasonal color designs, and large landscape designs for residential as well as commercial properties.
JD and his wife, Rachel, are blessed to have one child, Maddox James. In his spare time, JD enjoys photography, local music, and hanging out with friends and family. He also enjoys watching sports, water and snow skiing, and hiking any chance he can get.
(Less)
Bill Steadman - Maintenance Account Manager
Bill is a maintenance account manager for Lawns of Dallas. As a part of his main duties, he manages multiple crews daily, as well as being a main point of contact and communication for many of the client base. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2009 with a degree in rangeland ecology and management and a minor in animal science.
Click here for complete bio
After graduating, Bill gained experience working for two other companies in the maintenance and landscape installation divisions. He joined the LOD team in November 2010 as a crew foreman and was moved up to account manager in December 2010. In January 2011, he earned his Chemical Applicators License for Lawn and Ornamentals.
In his spare time, Bill enjoys cycling, hunting, reading, building anything, and spending time with his wife, Holli. Together, they love to watch movies, go on walks, and do anything outside.
(Less)
Daniel Sims - Mechanic
Dan is the mechanic for Lawns of Dallas. He has over 20 years of experience as a mechanic within the green industry, having worked for only one other company during that time. Dan is not often seen by our clients, but he provides them with an invaluable service by keeping the Lawns of Dallas equipment and trucks in the best shape and appearance.
Click here for complete bio
He has a father, one brother, and one sister. In his free time, Dan enjoys working on and riding motorcycles as well as working with computers. Dan is a long-time team member of Lawns of Dallas, having joined the company in September 1990.
(Less)
Deena Norris - Office Manager
Deena is the office manager at Lawns of Dallas. Her role can be most accurately described as the “director of chaos.”
Click here for complete bio
Deena is vital to the success of our organization, maintaining client and vendor relationships, accurately installing all insurance and regulatory programs, and managing the company financial data, in cooperation with the controller.
She is a graduate from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science degree in human development and family sciences. She loves spending time with friends and family as often as possible. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, painting, creating furniture and art, and being around children. She enjoys being involved in Prestonwood Baptist Church. She has been with LOD since June 2008.
(Less)
Veronica Ortega - Customer Service
Veronica is most often the first voice you hear when calling the offices of Lawns of Dallas. Her friendly and professional demeanor has been a welcome addition as she is one of the newest members of the LOD team.
Click here for complete bio
Veronica brings seven years of customer service experience to her role on staff, serving in capacities for other organizations that included administrative assistant and assistant manager. She is a graduate of Bryan Adams High School and has completed coursework at El Centro College. She is also a board member of the PTA at her daughter’s elementary school.
When not working, Veronica loves being married to her husband, Tony, and enjoys the time they spend together with their two children, Iris and Tony Jr. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family by going to amusement parks and watching her son and daughter play soccer.
(Less)