The Edge March/April/May 2026

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Faces of the Industry: Josh Nieuwsma

By Jill Odom

WHAT STARTED AS A SUMMER JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL WORKING ON A mowing crew eventually turned into a full-time job and career for Josh Nieuwsma. He says there wasn’t one specific moment he realized he could make a career out of landscaping but once he started the landscape management program at Michigan State University, Nieuwsma knew this is what he wanted to keep doing.

Nieuwsma now handles landscape design and sales for the company, where he meets with potential clients, designs and estimates projects, as well as sched ules projects for the installation crews. “One thing I’ve had to learn, and continue learning, is the selling part,” Nieuwsma says. “I didn’t start working at a landscape company because I love selling to people, so it’s taken practice to be a successful salesperson.” In the winter, he helps manage snow removal and salting work. He says his favorite aspect of the industry is still driving trucks and equipment. In five years, Nieuwsma hopes to be in the same position he is now with more experience and knowledge. Nieuwsma continues to enjoy volun teering as he served as the president of the Association of Grand Rapids Land scape Professionals in 2024. “I really enjoyed the networking and camaraderie with the board members, along with the work we did to educate and promote our industry,”Nieuwsma says. He says he wishes the general public understood that landscaping is more than mowing lawns and planting bush es, and the importance of working with a professional and experienced company to install or maintain a landscape. TE

2016 and 2017 where he competed in events including construction cost esti mating, backhoe operation, and wood construction. “NCLC was a great way to see the range of the industry and helped to reinforce my interest in landscape design and install work,” he says. “Companies should support NCLC because it pro motes the green industry to students who are interested in making it a career.” In 2016, Nieuwsma volunteered as an NALP Student Ambassador. “As a Student Ambassador, I was able to participate in some of the education sessions and saw the importance of continuing education in the industry,” he says. After working for Kloosterman Land scaping, based in Caledonia, Michigan, throughout high school and college, Nieuwsma was offered a full-time role in 2017. “My favorite thing is the variety of work I do day to day, and with the different seasons,” he says.

After completing that two-year program, Nieuwsma went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Michigan State. While studying at MSU, Nieuwsma served as the president of the Student Horticulture Association in 2016-17. He also competed in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition in

“NCLC was a great way to see the range of the industry and helped to reinforce my interest in landscape design and install work. Companies should support NCLC because it promotes the green industry to students that are interested in making it a career.”

8 The Edge // March/April/May 2026