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Jim Martin has served as President of James Martin Associates, Inc (JMA) since the company’s founding in 1977. Today in his role as President, Jim is actively involved in business growth and strategic direction; selection and development of current and future associates; JMA’s emersion in waste elimination through lean management and continuous process improvement; and the company’s commitment to and involvement with charitable and community philanthropy.

During the early years of JMA from 1977 to 1983, Jim wore many hats as sales person, landscape architect, business manager, construction superintendent and even laborer from time to time. As the company moved out of survival mode, Jim was able to spend time recruiting and developing wonderful young landscape professionals – some are still with JMA and some have gone on to start and grow successful landscape industry firms. Inspired by some of Chicago’s finest older landscaping firms, the early work of Jim and the team began to be recognized at the state and national level, with JMA’s first national award being earned in 1981.

From 1983 to 1995 the company maintained a steady growth, continued to win recognition for its outstanding work and hired three of the six members of JMA’s senior management team.

Since 1997, the quality and commitment of these three great associates (Heidi Sibert, Tom Bolas, and Shari Dalziel) has allowed Jim the privilege to get involved with promoting the work of world-renowned sculptor, Frederick Hart; to write the first book on lean management in the green industry; to serve as a board member and then as President of PLANET, the largest national landscape industry association in the United States; to organize and become Managing director of Chicago Snow and Landscape Partners, LLC, a partnership of four Chicago region professional landscape firms serving clients throughout the Chicago region; and to consult with landscape industry firms throughout the United States.