Kenny D. Crenshaw, the owner and president of Bartlett-based Herbi-Systems Inc., is gearing up for his annual trip to the nation’s capital on July 20. This year marks 12 years of patriotic volunteerism and leadership for Crenshaw.
In D.C., he serves as a “champion” or leader in the Arlington National Cemetery Renewal and Remembrance project, where he supervises 300 volunteers from across the country out of a total of 500 participants.
Last year, he picked up the inaugural Workhorse Award from then-Professional Landcare Network (now known as National Association of Landscape Professionals, or NALP) for his longstanding commitment to the project.
This year, he will again take several family members with him, as well as two of his employees, enlisting them in the tradition.
Crenshaw’s “home crew” will consist of wife Melissa and three of his children: Michael, 20, Jenna, 17 and David, 15. It will also include industrial weed control technicians and returning volunteers Phil Davis and Lee Tapley.
Now in its 19th year, the project involves mulching, cabling of trees, pruning, planting and aerating of more than 200 acres of the grounds in the historic cemetery.
Last year, Crenshaw and his team added gypsum to improve soil organic matter and water penetration as well as increase rapid seed emergence. The crushed limestone pellets also are added for the purpose of raising soil pH for healthier grass, he advised.
The labor of love occurs each July and is collectively valued at more than $200,000.
“I do it because it gives us a chance to give back to people who have served our country,” Crenshaw said.
He also has a kinship with the project. His Uncle Ken Kruger, who served in the U.S. Navy, is buried at Arlington.
In his own community, Crenshaw also is recognized for his initiative. Herbi-Systems was a Top 5 finalist in the 2014 Memphis Business Journal’s Small Business Awards.
The company garnered two Bartlett Chamber Barty awards for customer service and marketing in 2013, and Crenshaw was the organization’s Entre-preneur of the Year in 2012.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam appointed Crenshaw to the state Pest Control Board in Decem-ber 2012 (serving through 2016). Crenshaw also received the Patriot Award in 2012 given by the Employers in Support of Guard and Reserve.
Herbi-Systems is the largest locally owned lawn care provider in the Greater Memphis Area, serving more than 8,000 homeowners as well as industrial, governmental and commercial entities. The company specializes in weed control and fertilization of turf and ornamentals, as well as industrial and right-of-way weed and brush control.
Herbi-Systems added irrigation maintenance and repair to its roster of services in 2013. For more information on Herbi-Systems, call (901) 382-5296, visit herbi-systems.com or follow the company on Facebook.
For information on the NALP, visit landscapeprofessionals.org/nalp.
