Joel R. John, co-owner and President of M.J. Design ASSOCIATES INC., is a registered Landscape Architect with a degree in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University. He has 20 years experience with residential and commercial landscape design/build firms throughout Ohio and Michigan. He spent two years working in apprenticeship at NBBJ in the Landscape Architecture and Planning studio. He has also won numerous ONLA Beautification Awards, Perennial Plant Association Awards, and several Colour Columbus Awards, and is an Ohio Certified Landscape Installer and Nurseryman.
Molly M. John, co-owner of M.J. Design ASSOCIATES INC., has a bachelor of science degree from The Ohio State University in Landscape Architecture. With 20 years experience in a landscape design/build and maintenance environment, she is well-recognized in Central Ohio for her work at The Double Eagle Club, and the Wendy’s and Tim Hortons restaurants. Molly has won several ONLA Beautification Awards, Perennial Plant Association Awards, and Colour Columbus Awards
Chris studied horticulture at OSU's Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster ohio. He began his career growing plant material wholesale. He quickly turned to the retail side of the industry, managing a garden center and landscape company for 5 years. Also in that time he taught continuing education at the local high school. Chris spent the next 9 years with The Home Depot where he developed his skills managing and working with a very large, diverse group of people.
Rick R. Graham has 18 years experience in turf and landscape maintenance and has excellent skills in assembling, maintaining, and repairing landscape equipment. Rick is currently working as a maintenance foreman and mechanic and has been employed part-time with M.J. Design ASSOCIATES INC. for seven years.
We have been employing Hispanic workers since 2003. We utilize the Federal Governments H2B Temporary Work Program. The men are recruited in Mexico and then come here with valid passports and Visas that specifically state that they are here to work for M.J. Design. They are allowed to work here for 10 months and then must return to Mexico for at least 60 days. Our men usually arrive March 1 and return home just before Thanksgiving. Most of them come from near Zacatecas, Mexico, which is about 180 miles west of Monterrey. The majority are returning for their third and fourth years with us. Most are married and have children from toddlers to teenagers. They come here in order to provide those back home with a better life. What they make here in a day would take them a month to earn in Mexico. They are truly a great group of men and we are very fortunate to have found them.