Northview Landscaping

Juan Lopez: A Life of Landscaping

By Matt Solis, Editor

Some landscapers find their way into the industry through opportune encounters or sheer convenience, but for Juan Lopez, it has always been a family affair. “My father has his own landscaping company and I started helping him on the weekends when I was a kid,” he remembers. “Little by little, I picked up more about the trade and was driven to move forward with it. I actually liked staying busy over the weekends, and I was learning a lot and getting to know the customers, so it was a great environment.”

Juan spent 12 years working with his father before branching out on his own and establishing Northview Landscaping. “My dad’s company mostly does landscape maintenance, but over the years, I started doing small projects on my own and found that I was really interested in the design/build aspect of landscaping,” he details. “I wanted to continue doing that full-time, so I decided to start my own company.”

Today, Juan says his favorite part of his job is working with clients to bring their landscaping visions to life. “I love seeing how happy my customers are when their jobs are complete. We start with nothing and end up with a beautiful living space, so it’s always fun to see that change take place.”

Outside of work, Juan spends most of his free time with his girlfriend, Briana, and their three dogs, but he also makes space for a personal favorite hobby. “One of my friends got me into golfing recently, so now I’m really passionate about the game,” he explains. “I’m a pretty adventurous person in general—I like doing outdoor activities like hiking and going to football and baseball games.”

When it comes to a professional philosophy, Juan cites a couple of quotes that are especially meaningful to him. “One of my favorite sayings is, ‘If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time,’ and I think about that on every project. I also like, ‘When you point the finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back at you.’ That one reminds me to try and avoid being a negative person.”

When asked what his future retirement might look like, Juan says he would likely take a page from his father’s book and fill his time with rewarding endeavors. “My dad is semi-retired but he always finds ways to stay busy, and I think I would do the same thing. I’d probably get into charity work or help kids who are coming out of high school and need some guidance in their lives.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What are your favorite sports teams?

A: The Las Vegas Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. I also like the Oregon Ducks because I went to a football camp when I was in high school and we practiced at their stadium.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Puerto Rico. I love the tropical weather and small-town feel.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?

A: Relax and watch some movies or catch up on paperwork.

Q: What’s your favorite genre of movies?

A: Comedy.