Contact:

Ed Plaster
Phone: 651.423.8498
E-mail

Matt Brooks
Phone: 651.423.8392
E-mail

Jeff Kleinboehl
Phone: 651.423.8478
E-mail

Nursery and Landscape sales have topped $2.1 billion a year and the industry needs an additional 2,200 full-time and 3,200 part-time employees.

At DCTC, you can learn what it takes to become successful in the Landscape and Horticulture industry.

Graduate Stories

Jumping right in: Ross Pirlet

Emily Zimmer Rosemount Town Pages
Published Friday, April 13, 2007

Ross This week Ross Pirlet will finish classes at Dakota County Technical College. And while his peers will too, his story is a little different. At 36 years old he is starting not only a new career but a new business.

Two years ago Pirlet, a former accountant, decided to return to school for landscaping with the support of his wife.

“(Accounting) was just getting old and I liked the idea of being outside,” Pirlet said.

Since he already had a college degree he was able to skip the general education courses and go right into the core classes.

He will graduate with a degree in landscape design. In addition, he recently passed the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association Certification Exam.

The exam is not necessary to work in the field but is an extra effort to receive credentials. Pirlet said he thought it was important to earn the certification to show his customers he is knowledgeable.

“Those who have gone and passed the test know what they’re doing,” Pirlet said.

The test is a two-part exam. DCTC teacher Ed Plaster said the test includes a basic horticulture section that everyone has to take and then a second section that is tailored to one of three specialty areas.

“It’s a pretty extensive test,” Plaster said.

Plaster said receiving the certification is valuable to the student because it gives them further credentials. For future customers, he said, the certification is a guarantee the landscaper has some expertise.

Pirlet, who took the landscaping-tailored exam, finishes his last class this week. He will then dive head first into being a entrepreneur.

He will do business as Pirlet Landscaping LLC. To contact Pirlet Landscaping call 651-402-9331 or e-mail pirletlandscapingllc@charter.net.

Back to Graduate Stories