BIOS
Doug Smellage - Co-Owner & President
Doug is the founder, co-owner and president of Lawns of Dallas. Doug is a Dallas native and has degrees from both SMU and Texas Tech. Doug started mowing lawns when he was 15 and continued through college.
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In 1981, soon after he graduated, he started Lawns of Dallas, with the vision of building and growing one of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area’s finest landscape maintenance and design/build companies. Along the way, Doug has turned over more of the day-to-day operations to trusted staff members in an effort to grow the company responsibly. Doug has been published in several industry magazines over the years as well. Doug and his wife, Ann, have three great kids, Calvin, Polly and Lyndie. In his spare time he enjoys serving on the Highland Park school board and being an active member in the Salesmanship Club of Dallas, along with several other community boards and organizations. When he’s not working on one of the previously mentioned things he enjoys golfing, boating, hunting, and fishing.
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Connor Bales - Owner/General Manager
Connor is the co-owner and general manager for Lawns of Dallas. Connor graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor of landscape architecture before moving back to the Metroplex to pursue his passion of landscaping full time.
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Connor has worked in the green industry for over 14 years, beginning in high school at a local nursery. He has worked for such companies as Artisan Landscape Inc. and Enviro Landscape Group Inc. before starting his own company, 3B Landscape, which merged with Lawns of Dallas in 2004. He oversees all the day-to-day operations for LOD and still serves as the senior landscape designer and sales member. Connor is married to Mary and they have three children, Kathryn, Coleman and Libby. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hunting and watching most sporting events. He and his family are very involved in their church, Prestonwood Baptist Church.
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Mike Rangel - Maintenance and Tree Division Manager
Mike is the maintenance and tree division manager for Lawns of Dallas. He brings over 22 years of experience in the green industry with an educational background from Eastfield College and Bryan Adams High School.
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He has worked for several other companies with roles such as vice president of operations and small business owner. He is a Certified Landscape Professional as well as a Certified Urban Tree Specialist. In his spare time Mike enjoys coaching the baseball teams of his two boys, Anthony and Christopher, and taking them fishing. He has been married to his wife, Rebecca, for 16 years. Mike has been with LOD since September 2005.
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Ross Mittelstet - Landscape Division Manager
Ross is the landscape division manager for Lawns of Dallas. Ross graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in landscape architecture and in addition has earned a Texas irrigator's license.
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At Lawns of Dallas, Ross has worked his way up through promotion. He began his career here as a maintenance foreman, moved to maintenance supervisor, and since has earned the position of division manager, where he oversees all the day-to-day operations within the landscape division. Ross keeps the lines of communication flowing with our clients during the landscape installation process. Ross and his wife, Leigh, and their baby Lexi enjoy boating, hiking and playing Frisbee catch with their dog in their spare time. Ross has been an LOD team member since August 2003.
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Neil Bales - Sales
Neil is the sales manager for Lawns of Dallas. He graduated from Texas Tech with a bachelor of science 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.
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Neil has worked in the green industry for over 5 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 of 2004 he started working for a small landscape company named Longhorn Landscape Creations based out of McKinney, TX running both the sales and production side for the maintenance division. In May of 2005 Neil began working for Lawns of Dallas as the sales manager where he’s been ever since. He oversees all new business development as well as maintaining a strong working relationship with all of the Lawns of Dallas existing clientele. He also serves as the lead landscape designer for both residential and commercial projects. Neil enjoys spending time with his wife Olivia, and in his free time he enjoys taking trips, hunting, golfing, snow skiing and fly fishing. He and Olivia are both very involved in their church, Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX. They've been members for over 3 years and help lead a young married class on Wednesday evenings.
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Andrew Rangel - Residential Maintenance Supervisor
Andrew is the residential maintenance supervisor for Lawns of Dallas. He has a bachelor of science in horticulture from Stephen F. Austin State University and brings over 20 years of experience and knowledge to our company through working for such companies as Tru Green Landcare, the Dallas Arboretum and Qualicare Landscape Services.
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Drew has been married for 13 years and has two sons, Emilio & Gabriel, and has two daughters, Sofia and Mia. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his family, is actively involved in the Boy Scouts, and loves making people laugh. He has been with LOD since April 2006.
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Jose Rangel - Irrigation Supervisor
Jose oversees the day to day operations over the irrigation department, supervising his irrigation techs, generating work orders and creating proposals. He started working in the landscape business over ten years ago having worked in the irrigation departments for Tru Green Landcare and Qualicare Landscape Services. He has been a licensed Landscape Irrigator since 1999 and a licensed Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester since 2004.
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Jose is a proud husband and father, and enjoys spending time with his family, taking trips, going to the park, watching movies, and cheering for the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks. Jose has been a member of the LOD staff since April 2007.
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Jon David Baldridge - Maintenance Supervisor
Jon David (J.D.) is a maintenance supervisor for Lawns of Dallas. He graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor of science in agriculture-business and management with an emphasis in horticulture.
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J.D. began his career by serving as a crew foreman and supervisor through several internships with Lawns of Dallas while attending college. J.D. is married to Rachel and so far they have one child, Maddox James. In his spare time he 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. J.D. has been a member of the Lawns of Dallas team since August 2007.
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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 provides them with an invaluable service in keeping the Lawns of Dallas equipment and trucks in the best shape and appearance.
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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.
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Deena Norris - Administrative Asst./Office Manager
Deena is the administrative assistant and office manager at Lawns of Dallas. Her role can be most accurately described as the "director of chaos."
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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 recently graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor of science 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, and being around children. She enjoys being involved in her church, Prestonwood Baptist Church. She has been with LOD since June 2008.
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Veronica Ortega - Customer Service
Veronica is most often the first voice you hear when calling the offices for 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.
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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 for 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.
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