When Matt White, Owner & President of Caretaker, Inc. first joined the company in 1988 as a Laborer, there were 8 employees and 1 location.  25 years later, Caretaker Landscape has 160 team members and 5 locations throughout the Valley.  Caretaker Landscape would not exisit if it wasn’t for the vision of Matt’s Mom, Susan Harris and former Step-Dad, Bud Stephenson.

Susan G. Harris – Caretaker, Inc.’s Founder and Executive Vice President, 1988 – 2006

Every company starts with a visionary, someone who wants to create something bigger than themselves and something that would leave a lasting positive legacy.  Susan wanted Caretaker to be the very best service provider in whatever services we provided.  The litmus test before opening any new department was, “Can we be the best?”  This concept remains the backbone of Caretaker’s culture and resonates in our current mission statement, our core values and our vision.  Her influence and impact on all of Caretaker’s current, past and future employees will be forever remembered.  Prior to starting Caretaker, Susan served as Vice President of Personnel and Marketing for Nichols Hills Bank & Trust in Oklahoma.  Susan held an Associate Degree in Accounting and Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University.

 

W. L. ‘Bud’ Stephenson, Jr. – Past President, 1988 – 2004

Bud was very active with the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA) and served as a member of the Board of Directors and Past President.  Prior to starting Caretaker, Bud served as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Central National Bank & Trust in Oklahoma.  With over 33 years experience in the banking industry, Bud earned the respect of the banking community and is a Past President of the Oklahoma Bankers Association.  He also served for six years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.  He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Colorado.