As our summer internships come to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on how the BLC internship program has been such a valuable part of our career offerings.
From BLC Recruiting Manager, Jason Boyd:
As we wrap up another successful Summer Internship Program, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible contributions of our interns across Operations, Design, and Accounting. Throughout the summer, these talented individuals brought fresh perspectives, strong work ethics, and a willingness to learn that made a meaningful impact on our teams and our business. From tackling important projects to collaborating with colleagues across the organization, they have demonstrated professionalism, creativity, and dedication every step of the way.
As they return to campus and take the next steps in their professional journeys, I am looking forward to following their achievements and can’t wait to have the opportunity to work alongside them again as they build their careers.Cade Lackey, Carson Park, Grayson Strother, Isaac Hoots, Julia Tredeau, Nate Wright, Spencer Allen, and David Williams; thank you for a fantastic summer, and best of luck in all that comes next!
Above, our summer 2026 interns at Burkett Farm.
From BLC President, Kurt Bland:
Almost 4 decades ago, my mother and father—along with their colleagues—had the insight to create an internship program for Bland Landscaping Co. As an adolescent, I can remember their shared excitement about early recruits coming from SUNY Cobleskill, Sandhills, Virginia Tech, and of course North Carolina State University. The fact that we had grown into a company where students could get internships was a major milestone, and still is!
All these years later, it makes me so very proud when I think about the impact this program continues to have on students pursuing their education and trying to find relevant work experience for their résumé. We know that many of the students in this internship process will never come work for us. Some of them will return home to work in a family business, some may start their own business, some will work for a competitor, some will change majors and realize this industry is not for them—and a very select few will stick with us to gain more work experience while finishing their education. We’re here to help them successfully transition into a career in the green industry with BLC.
Over the decades, I’ve heard other owners question the “Return on Investment” for an internship program that doesn’t promise 100% retention. I firmly believe that’s a shortsighted approach towards pipeline development, both for our industry and for our team. It’s about learning and creating opportunities, helping them figure out whether landscaping is the right career or just a stepping stone on the way to another. We want interns to work for us, but we also provide support when they figure out it’s not the right path. One example is a young man who began the process of telling me he was going to be a manager in commercial landscape installation because he loved working with his hands and creating things. Then, he returned to school, declared a different major, and became a commodities broker after graduation! We may have helped him avoid a midlife crisis by identifying at age twenty something that he may have otherwise never known until after he graduated. But sometimes, interns change their mind and come to work with us for the long haul, despite other initial career trajectories. A great example is our own Joe Ritchie, who was studying engineering when he came to work as a student intern. 2+ decades later, he is the Senior Vice President of our company, responsible for leading nearly twelve hundred landscape professionals! His decision to change majors and follow his passion for the outdoors forever impacted his own future and the future of so many others who he has worked with as a result.
Internships have life-changing benefits.
Regardless of where the folks go to work following the completion of their education, we are very grateful that they gave us the opportunity to play an important role in this chapter of their personal and professional development.
Thinking about a career with us? We invite you to learn more about working at Bland Landscaping Co.