Brookfield, Wis. – Reflecting another year of expanded local outreach and support in different areas, Grounds Maintenance Services has been named a finalist for a national community service award in a competition sponsored by ActionCOACH, the world’s largest business coaching firm.
Grounds Maintenance Services is a finalist in the “Best Community Impact” category in ActionCOACH’s annual “Business Excellence Awards.” The award “recognizes outstanding results for businesses or owners that have significantly improved or impacted their local communities.”
The Brookfield-based landscaping and winter services company is competing with nominees from across the United States. Winners of this award, and 17 others, will be announced Jan. 30-Feb. 1 at ActionCOACH’s “Business Excellence Forum” in New Orleans.
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Grounds Maintenance Services made a strong case for the award in 2013. The C.A.R.I.N.G. Group (Companies Actively Reinvesting in Neighborhood Growth), an idea of GMS owner Todd Ruedt, launched in the Elmbrook School District after two years of planning. The program partners businesses, schools and consumers to support the local economy and provide additional money for education.
Ruedt continued his support for educational excellence by joining the Elmbrook Education Foundation board. His team restored a butterfly garden at Swanson Elementary School and performed other community service projects. GMS donated services and goods to numerous organizations and schools.
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An eighth annual golf event founded by GMS, the GMAC Benefit Golf Outing, raised more than $15,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Autism Society of Southeastern Wisconsin.
“We operate Grounds Maintenance Services on a belief that good business involves not just serving customers, but also the larger community,” Ruedt said. “We’re both proud and humbled to be a finalist for an award recognizing this approach. We thank our customers, community partners and hard-working employees for helping create the opportunity.”
Ruedt commended Tom Palzewicz, his longtime adviser at ActionCOACH of Elm Grove, for their work together. Ruedt, a Brookfield native, has more than 25 years experience in landscaping and lawn maintenance. His company has a long record of involvement with and support of organizations dedicated to improving the Brookfield community.
Founded in 1999, Grounds Maintenance Services offers a full range of landscaping and yard maintenance services, plus in-home Christmas tree delivery, holiday lighting setup and snow plowing. Its professional staff prides itself on helping homeowners grow their dreams, one yard at a time.
