Education of Hardscape Contractors in all
Segments of Business and Installation

BIO

We believe in contractor education. It is the foundation of all great hardscapes.


Greg Ambrose - Bio

Fairlawn Consulting Greg Ambrose founded Fairlawn Consulting in 2007 to enhance the overall educational process for hardscape contractors. He is dedicated to the education of hardscape contractors in all segments of business and installation. He will share this through specializing in hands-on seminars and sharing his various real-life experiences through one-on-one consultation, as well as speaking to groups, and conducting industry sponsored certifications. Most recently Greg has worked as a consultant on the largest historical road renovation in Panama City, Panama Central America, and on the largest ICP installation at the Moin Container Port in Moin, Cost Rica. He has also shared his knowledge at such events as Hardscape North America in Louisville KY, iLandcape in Chicago IL, the CENTs Show in Columbus OH, and Green n Growin’ in Greensboro, NC.

Greg is an CMHA Level One Contractor and Instructor who has taught more than 150 classes in over 27states and Canada. Since 1998 he has certified over 3,700 students. He is also Certified as both a Contractor and an Instructor for the CMHA Commercial Technicians and PICP Technicians classes as well as the Advanced Residential Technicians classes. He has Certificates from The NCMA and the School for Advanced Segmental Paving and is the lead instructor for the school. Over the past 3 years Greg has instructed more than twice as many CMHA classes as any other instructor!

He has worked in various roles in the concrete paver industry since 1984. Prior to starting Fairlawn Consulting, Greg spent seven years as Vice-President for a Cleveland-based hardscape company specializing in high-end residential and commercial applications where his company successfully completed the largest historical brick road renovation in North America at the time. Greg currently runs United Hardscape, LLC located in Akron, OH.

Greg appeared on 4 episodes of Discovery Channel’s Hometime, as well as having offered how-to advice for consumers and contractors on radio. Greg has also enjoyed multiple speaking engagements on all aspects of hardscape installation such as; Commercial Installations, Mechanical Installations, How to Sell In-Home, How to Prequalify Your Customers, Specialty Hardscape Installations, and Bidding and Estimating. Greg has also contributed regularly as an author for Hardscape Magazine.

“I believe in contractor education. It is the foundation for great pavements.”

You can contact him by e-mail at: gtambrose@sbcglobal.net. Or you can find him online at www.HelpWithHardscapes.com


WORK HISTORY

Apr 2009 to present

Vice-President (Managing Partner)
United Hardscapes, LLC
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Responsible for all aspects of running the day to day operations of a large commercial hardscape company.


Jan 2007 to present

Senior Consultant (Owner)
Fairlawn Consulting
Cleveland, OH 44124

Training and Educating Contractors
Large Group Presentations – Efficiencies, Hands-On, Overhead Recovery, Sales


Apr 2008 to Mar 2016

Technical Director/Associate
Vander Kooi & Associates
Littleton, CO 80162

Training and Educating Contractors
Large Group Presentations – Efficiencies, Hands-On, Overhead Recovery, Sales


Feb 2002 to Jan 2008

Vice-President
Pave Ohio, Inc.
Cleveland, OH

Responsible for the day to day operations of the Commercial business.
  • Grew Business by 110%
  • Increased Margins by 68%
  • Increased profits by 52%
  • Developed and implemented estimating software


Oct 1997 to Feb 2002

Director of Hardscapes – Midwest
Oldcastle APG
Akron, OH

Responsible for the development of a new distribution program that sold products to Contractors through Dealers in the Midwest Territory (OH, MI, IN, IL, MO, Western PA, Northern KY)
  • Responsible for mentoring 7 Sales Associates
  • Responsible for Budgets as well as Financial Reporting


Sep 1994 to Oct 1997

Territory Manager
Lafarge Corporation
Wixom, MI

Responsible for a network of Dealers and their Contractors within the territory of OH, IN, Western PA.
  • Grew Sales by over 90%


Mar 1991 to Sep 1994

General Manager
Foti Enterprises
Cleveland, OH

Responsible for the day to day operations of a Mid-Sized Construction Company
  • Budgeting, Financials, Sales...


Memberships

  • Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA)
  • National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA)
  • Better Business Bureau Accredited
  • Member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local #5

Certifications

  • CMHA Certified Paver Installer
  • CMHA Certified Advanced Residential Paver Installer
  • CMHA Certified Commercial Paver Installer
  • CMHA Certified Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Installer
  • NCMA Certified Segmental Retaining Wall Installer
  • Certified Installer for Precast Modular Block (PMB) Retaining Walls
  • Graduate of the School for Advanced Segmental Paving
  • Instructor for CMHA Certified Paver Installer Certification Class
  • Instructor for CMHA Certified Advanced Residential Paver Installer Certification Class
  • Instructor for CMHA Certified Commercial Paver Installer Certification Class
  • Instructor for CMHA Certified Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Installer Certification Class
  • Lead Instructor for the School for Advanced Segmental Paving
  • OSHA 30 Certified

References

  • Available upon request


  • The Hardscape School
  • Hardscape North America
  • Belgard University
  • The SASP Training Video
  • Site One Landscape Supply
  • CMHA
  • Belgard
  • Fred Azar Landscaping