ValleyCrest Landscape Companies announced changes to its senior leadership team designed to strengthen its position in the marketplace.

ValleyCrest strengthens leadership team

ValleyCrest Landscape Companies announced changes to its senior leadership team designed to strengthen its position in the marketplace. The Calabasas, Calif.-based company promoted Andrew J. Mandell to chief executive officer of ValleyCrest Landscape Development, its construction division. Mandell previously served nine years as executive vice president and chief financial officer of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies. Richard Wolff has been named to succeed Mandell as executive vice president and chief financial officer.


“ValleyCrest continues to add and adjust resources to meet client needs and be responsive to growth opportunities across the globe,” said Richard A. Sperber, president and CEO of ValleyCrest Landscape Companies. “Reshaping the executive team allows us to be closely aligned with customer demand, deliver high quality work in the most efficient and cost-effective ways, while still providing a strategic organizational structure that fuels long-term growth as the real estate business rebounds.”


Mandell will utilize his strong analytical and operational skills to team with Tom Donnelly, who remains president of the Development division, and will draw on his deep industry knowledge and long term relationships to spearhead the division’s growth. Donnelly will hold primary responsibility for overall sales, as well as building and strengthening new and existing national customer relationships. Development operations in Southern California and Nevada, as well as the company’s Landscape Architecture studios and Pre-Construction group continue to directly report to Donnelly.


In his new role, Mandell will be responsible for an extensive operational network that serves clients in major markets across the United States and internationally in the United Arab Emirates, Asia and the Caribbean. Mr. Mandell brings more than 30 years of financial and strategic business leadership experience to the newly created position directing the landscape Development division. A key member of the senior management team, Mandell will continue to play a critical role in the development and implementation of corporate strategies.


Prior to this promotion, Mandell was responsible for all financial activities of the corporation. In that position, he led a substantial financial and accounting organization, overseeing all financial matters including banking and financing relationships, as well as numerous corporate departmental functions, operations and U.S. Lawns, the company’s franchise business.


“The industry faces significant challenges that requires companies to hone their core competencies, focus on the geographic regions most important to them and deliver quality work,” said Mandell. “We closely track and listen to what end-users demand. By doing that it puts us in a position to offer commercial real estate owners and investors landscape solutions that ultimately put their properties in a competitive advantage.”


Wolff brings nearly 25 years of senior-level financial experience, operational business leadership and broad CFO capabilities that complement ValleyCrest’s existing management team and will enable the company to continue to realize growth opportunities in select markets across the globe.


Prior to joining ValleyCrest, Wolff held key senior financial leadership positions where he played a pivotal role in developing and executing financial strategies, improving operations and spearheading acquisitions and integrations. This included positions at Castle & Cooke Inc., ITT Industries, Triton Media Group, and Sage Publications, Inc.


Wolff’s extensive experience in the construction industry, as well as working for a large holding company, will allow him to enhance and guide ValleyCrest’s corporate financial efforts intended to support the firm’s continued growth. His new role includes overseeing all finance, accounting, executing and integrating acquisitions, banking relationships, safety, fleet, real estate, information systems and risk management functions of the company. Wolff will report to Richard A. Sperber, and will work closely with him and other members of the company’s senior management team on key strategic matters, while partnering with the operations of the company to assist them in achieving their objectives.


“I am excited to join the ValleyCrest team and become part of the 62 years of history,” said Wolff, who notes he joined the company for several reasons including the strength of the management team, strong financial sponsorship, and a deeply committed employee base and culture. “ValleyCrest is a world-class company and I look forward to building upon the foundation that has been laid as we continue to grow as the market leader. ValleyCrest has grown dramatically over the years and I look forward to assist in future growth.”