IAA Internship Spotlight: Brandon Writt

October 7, 2019

The Ruppert philosophy states that “taking excellent care of our employees will result in our employees taking excellent care of our customers.” For Brandon Writt, an Agricultural Business Management major at the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture, this was a philosophy he would come to live out over the course of the summer of 2019.

Writt, who is from nearby Glenwood, Maryland, began his interest in landscape management/design at an early age. Showing entrepreneurial instincts, he created his own lawncare business while still in high school. In addition to operating his lawncare business, he also gained experience by assisting his friend on their family farm. This past summer Writt took the next steps in his career by working for Ruppert Landscape in Laytonsville, Maryland.

Throughout the summer he learned and completed a multitude of tasks, ranging everywhere from parking cars for an ABC (associated builders and contractors) construction event, to gaining management experience directing a 2-person crew at various jobsites. Using his knowledge of the jobsites, Writt was able to effectively communicate with property owners in a professional manner. He attended a field manager orientation meeting where he was exposed to the full duties and responsibilities of a field manager at Ruppert Landscape. Writt’s IAA Advisor Ken Ingram was impressed by the overall atmosphere at Ruppert, stating “the Ruppert Landscape internship is the best program I have seen. Students are exposed to all facets of the business with a special emphasis on finance, contracts, and profitability.”

Whether it was learning to use a walk behind mower, how to properly install plants into pots for improved curbside appearance or to improve his communication skills to increase productivity among team members, he fostered and developed numerous skills during his time at Ruppert. Writt described his impression of the summer, “I went into the internship knowing I chose a good company to work for and learn from. The work atmosphere there was pleasant, and I never felt left out. I also learned so much more about management and myself in the process.”

As he looks toward the future, Writt would like to manage part of or most of a company in the Landscape industry. He has a three-year internship at Ruppert, so moving forward he will be able to see both the construction and maintenance facets of the business, hopefully culminating in a full-time job opportunity.