In 1955 Jan Gelderman, a Dutch immigrant, founded Jan Gelderman Garden Service with just $7.14 worth of tools and a 1948 Willys Jeep. In the first years, lawn maintenance made up the bulk of the business in the spring, and landscaping and stone work in the summer and fall
1955 Novak Property
January 1, 1955
![1955 Novak Property](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/novak-wall.jpg)
Early work on the Novak property, a curved retaining wall was built with adjacent flower gardens. The wall still stands today!
Jan Gelderman was hospitalized with severe asthma
September 2, 1964
Jan Gelderman was hospitalized with severe asthma. His son, Hank, began his involvement in the business. Hank was 12 years old and took on the maintenance work of cutting, digging and planting for the company. Because he wasn’t old enough to drive,
Started using the JGL logo.
September 3, 1970
![Started using the JGL logo.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/first-jgl-logo.jpg)
Started using the JGL logo.
Hank Gelderman joined the business full time and became a partner.
September 4, 1971
Hank Gelderman joined the business full time and became a partner.
Jan Gelderman Landscaping is officially incorporated.
September 5, 1976
Jan Gelderman Landscaping is officially incorporated.
Gelderman started its snow removal division, taking its operations from seasonal to year-round.
September 6, 1977
![Gelderman started its snow removal division, taking its operations from seasonal to year-round.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/snow-removal.jpg)
Gelderman started its snow removal division, taking its operations from seasonal to year-round.
Roy Hummel
September 7, 1977
![Roy Hummel](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/roy-hummel.jpg)
Roy Hummel joined the company.
John Buikema
September 8, 1980
![John Buikema](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/john-buikema.jpg)
John Buikema joined Jan Gelderman Landscaping, making him now Gelderman Landscape Service’s longest employee to date.
25th anniversary
September 9, 1980
![25th anniversary](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/25-years.jpg)
Jan Gelderman Landscaping celebrated its 25th anniversary and started offering profit sharing and an employee savings system for its employees.
The first year that we had year-round employees other than Hank.
September 10, 1981
![The first year that we had year-round employees other than Hank.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/old-truck.jpg)
The first year that we had year-round employees other than Hank.
Gelderman builds its first shop.
September 11, 1981
![Gelderman builds its first shop.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/building-first-shop.jpg)
Gelderman builds its first shop.
timesheets
September 13, 1981
![timesheets](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/timesheets.jpg)
The first time crew leaders were responsible for timesheets and timekeeping for their crews.
first computer system
September 12, 1983
![first computer system](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/hank-laptop.jpg)
Hank was one of Burlington’s first cell phone users, and in the early 1980s, the office acquired its first computer system.
Jan Gelderman passed away.
September 16, 1993
![Jan Gelderman passed away.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jan-gelderman-at-desk.jpg)
Jan Gelderman passed away.
Logo is updated.
September 19, 1994
![Logo is updated.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/gelderman-logo-1994.png)
Logo is updated.
Timescapes
September 21, 1998
We introduced Timescapes to track our project time.
Jason Bobbit joined company.
September 26, 2003
![Jason Bobbit joined company.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jason-bobbit.jpg)
Jason Bobbit joined company.
Jan Gelderman Landscaping celebrated its 50th anniversary.
September 28, 2005
![Jan Gelderman Landscaping celebrated its 50th anniversary.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/50th-anniversary-cards.jpg)
Jan Gelderman Landscaping celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Nathan Helder
September 28, 2006
![Nathan Helder](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/nathan-helder.jpg)
Nathan Helder, Hank’s son-in-law, joined the company and is currently the president and owner of the company.
Water Management & Irrigation
October 1, 2010
![Water Management & Irrigation](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/water-management.jpg)
Addition of Water Management & Irrigation.
Jane Green joins the organization as VP of Finance & Administration
October 2, 2010
![Jane Green joins the organization as VP of Finance & Administration](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/4.-Jane-Green-VP-Finance-_-Administration.jpg)
Jane Green joins the organization as VP of Finance & Administration
Hank Gelderman officially retired.
October 3, 2011
![Hank Gelderman officially retired.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/hank-40-years.jpg)
Hank Gelderman officially retired.
Gelderman streamlines finance and administration
October 3, 2011
Gelderman streamlines finance and administration and opens “Support Centre” in Waterdown, ON for branches and departments.
Breslau satellite office
October 4, 2012
Breslau satellite office officially opened to expand services into the Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Gelderman Landscape Services
September 30, 2013
![Gelderman Landscape Services](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/gelderman-logo-2013.png)
Jan Gelderman Landscaping officially changed its name to Gelderman Landscape Services and the logo is updated again.
Chris Mace joined the company and is the current VP Landscape & Design.
October 5, 2013
![Chris Mace joined the company and is the current VP Landscape & Design.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/2.-Chris-Mace-VP-Landscape-_-Design.jpg)
Chris Mace joined the company and is the current VP Landscape & Design.
Guelph
October 6, 2014
![Guelph](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/outdoor-services.jpg)
Acquired Outdoor Services and expanded into Guelph.
Celebrating 60 years of business!
October 7, 2015
![Celebrating 60 years of business!](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/60-years-card.png)
Brox Rogers joined the company and is now the current Waterloo Branch Manager.
December 1, 2017
![Brox Rogers joined the company and is now the current Waterloo Branch Manager.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2.-Brox-Rogers-Branch-Manager.jpg)
Brox Rogers joined the company and is now the current Waterloo Branch Manager.
Mark Wilson joined the company and is now the current Waterdown Branch Manager.
December 2, 2018
![Mark Wilson joined the company and is now the current Waterdown Branch Manager.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/4.-Mark-Wilson-Branch-Manager.jpg)
Mark Wilson joined the company and is now the current Waterdown Branch Manager.
KW branch moves to a new location on 642 Colby Drive, Waterloo, ON.
December 3, 2018
KW branch moves to a new location on 642 Colby Drive, Waterloo, ON.
Jonathan Scott joined the company and is now the current VP Maintenance & Snow.
December 4, 2018
![Jonathan Scott joined the company and is now the current VP Maintenance & Snow.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/3.-Jonathan-Scott-VP-Maintenance-_-Snow_.jpg)
Jonathan Scott joined the company and is now the current VP Maintenance & Snow.
Executive Leadership Team is created.
December 5, 2018
![Executive Leadership Team is created.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Executive-Leadership-Team-.png)
Executive Leadership Team is created.
Logo is updated.
September 14, 2019
![Logo is updated.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jgl-mailbox.jpg)
Logo is updated.
Harry Gelderman joined company.
September 17, 2019
![Harry Gelderman joined company.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/harry-gelderman.jpg)
Harry Gelderman joined company.
Shawn Lefebvre joined company.
September 22, 2019
![Shawn Lefebvre joined company.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/shawn-lefebvre.jpg)
Shawn Lefebvre joined company.
moved
September 24, 2019
![moved](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/new-office-construction.jpg)
The Company moved out of the basement of the original Gelderman home (now Nathan & Michelle Helder’s) into a new, modern facility with showers, lockers and a boardroom.
Jason Felker joined company.
September 25, 2019
![Jason Felker joined company.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/jason-felker.jpg)
Jason Felker joined company.
The landscape division hired an in-house designer.
September 27, 2019
The landscape division hired an in-house designer.
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
October 8, 2019
![Burlington Chamber of Commerce](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/BCC_Secondary120px.png)
Winner of 2015 Burlington Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Employer of the Year.
Kitchener office opened.
October 9, 2019
Kitchener office opened.
Arizona Outdoor Solutions and Gelderman Landscape Services partner together to enhance the irrigation and water management services.
December 6, 2019
![Arizona Outdoor Solutions and Gelderman Landscape Services partner together to enhance the irrigation and water management services.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ArizonaOutdoorSolutions.png)
Arizona Outdoor Solutions and Gelderman Landscape Services partner together to enhance the irrigation and water management services.
Gelderman implements ADP and Econz for payroll and time tracking.
December 11, 2019
Gelderman implements ADP and Econz for payroll and time tracking.
Roy Hummel retires from Gelderman Landscape Services after 42 years of service.
December 7, 2020
Roy Hummel retires from Gelderman Landscape Services after 42 years of service.
Lisa Riess joined the company and is now the current HR Manager.
December 8, 2020
![Lisa Riess joined the company and is now the current HR Manager.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/8.-Lisa-Riess-Human-Resources-Manager.jpg)
Lisa Riess joined the company and is now the current HR Manager.
Gelderman celebrates 65th anniversary.
December 9, 2020
![Gelderman celebrates 65th anniversary.](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Gelderman65.png)
Gelderman celebrates 65th anniversary.
Bruce Peart officially retires from the company.
December 10, 2021
Bruce Peart officially retires from the company.
Gelderman implements ADP and Econz for payroll and time tracking
June 20, 2022
Gelderman implements ADP and Econz for payroll and time tracking
![](https://www.gelderman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/going-strong.jpg)