Design Build
Jonas G. Pattie, CLP
President & Co-Owner
Jonas has witnessed The Pattie Group grow and change throughout his entire life. The company’s mission, values and ideals were created in front of his ever-watchful child eyes and have been deeply rooted into who he has become. A Pattie childhood was loaded with days on the job site, evenings sitting on mom’s lap while she designed, trips to nurseries, client meetings with Dad, and watching the total creation of a landscape project from start to finish over and over again. The beautification of the environment, proper design techniques and the ability to create dynamic outdoor spaces is a skill Jonas has been studying his entire life. He is well known for his passion, innovation, creativity, and detail that permeate his designs and projects, and, as a result, no other Project Director has presided over as many state and national award-winning projects as he has over the last 15 years.
Jonas has his degree in Landscape Design from Columbus State, and in 2009 he became one of the youngest in the nation to attain his national “Certified Landscape Professional” certification. He oversees The Pattie Group’s marketing efforts, supervises the Project Development team and is one of the senior driving forces within the company. Like his father, Jonas has been featured or sought for commentary in countless national and local publications and has appeared five times on WJW Fox 8 Cleveland's "Kickin It With Kenny" segments.
Recent Posts from Jonas
How to Find a Quality Landscape Company
The True Value of Outdoor Spaces
Does Landscaping Increase Property Values
Brian Pattie, CLT
Executive Vice President & Co-Owner
Brian, a second-generation Pattie, grew up surrounded by The Pattie Group’s beauty, creativity, and fine sense of business. At the age of 14, he officially joined the team and has held numerous positions throughout the company since. Currently, Brian is responsible for our entire field operation company-wide, has served in almost every capacity in the company and helps manage and chart the ongoing direction of the company. In addition to The Pattie Group, he co-owns with his brother Jonas The Pattie Group’s sister company LandsKeepers which offers landscape maintenance for commercial properties. Brian graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He serves on the Advisory Board for The Auburn Career Center and is a Green Industry Teaching Assistant at Auburn Career Center Horticulture Program. Brian is an Industry Certified Landscape Technician in Softscape and Hardscape and is an active member in NALP, BOMA and Play House Partners.
Frank Bonanno, OCNT
Chief Operations Officer / Director of IT
Frank has been a part of The Pattie Group since 1989, when he started as an installation foreman. He has worked his way ‘up the ladder’ to become a vital part of the team. Not many decisions are made within the company that Frank is not a part of. He has been critical to the ongoing development of our highly skilled, efficient, and downright incredible field staff. His responsibilities include daily field operations, equipment and supplies, scheduling, staffing, training, as well as procedures and company policy. Frank is also responsible for every aspect of The Pattie Group’s IT functions from simple daily fixes, and building new PCs, to directing the development of major programs and software we use every day. Frank attended Gates Mills Horticulture Technical School as well as Cleveland State University for Horticultural Science and Turf Grass Management. He is an Ohio Landscape Association Certified Technician and holds certifications in low voltage lighting, retaining wall systems, project management, and irrigation.
Ed Godfrey, CLP, OCNT
Director of Project Development
Exceptional doesn’t even begin to describe the talent and knowledge that Ed Godfrey provides our team and our clients. In his over 20-year career with The Pattie Group, Ed has held many positions including Designer, Project Manager and Estimator. As Director of Project Development, Ed manages our design, planning and estimating work. There is not a single project done by The Pattie Group which Ed is not involved in planning. His wealth of knowledge and experience in all facets of design and construction assure our designs can be realized, our installations executed with precision and forethought, and our estimates accurate. Ed’s logical approach and ability to value engineer projects helps to save money for The Pattie Group and our clients. Ed has a B.S. in Landscape Architecture from The Ohio State University, national Certified Landscape Professional (CLP) designation and is an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT). Ed resides in Orwell with his wife and their three children in a home he built himself.
Brian Knauer
Project Director
Brian joined The Pattie Group with over 18 years of landscape industry experience. He has worked in almost every position of a landscape company including running his own successful landscape business for 15 years. Whether he is working on a design with the team or strategically thinking through the nuances and technicalities of an installation, Brian's immense knowledge, experience, client focus and incredibly high standards are ever apparent. Although he holds nearly two decades of hands-on experience, Brian's passion for the landscape industry shines as he constantly pursues additional education including courses and certifications in Live Wall & Live Roof installation, Irrigation Installation, as well as various OLA courses and seminars. Brian gets involved in as much as he can, both with The Pattie Group and in the industry, serving on the OLA Planning Committee. He also volunteers at vocational schools and youth centers. He is an amazing resource - not to mention motivator - for his coworkers and clients alike.
Creighton Kovacs
Project Director
Having grown up in the area, Creighton has had a lifelong awareness of The Pattie Group and its reputation as the preeminent local landscape development company. Now serving as one of our Project Directors, Creighton values the vast knowledge our team’s collective years of experience bring to every project as we all collaborate on creating the ultimate outdoor spaces for our clients. It's our shared company-wide expectation of excellence, always, in Creighton’s opinion, that propels us to wow our clients and makes The Pattie Group such a great place to work. Creighton also believes the best-finished projects are ones that clients have amble input on. Because of this, Creighton is committed to understanding clients’ goals for their outdoor space, helping them realize their space’s potential, and serving as an ongoing resource throughout the duration of the project. Creighton graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in Business Administration. He earned his MBA from Utica College and is working on obtaining a certificate in landscape design from the University of Guelph. Outside of work, Creighton is an avid hiker and camper with his wife and two kids.
Randy Collins
Project Manager/ Snow Operation Manager
Starting his career at The Pattie Group in 2008 as a Design/Build Technician and Foreman, Randy has continued to grow within the company and is now a Project Manager and Snow Operation Manager. In charge of coordinating subcontractors and providing aid to the crews in the field, he says The Pattie Group has allowed him to go above and beyond when providing services for his clients.
A graduate from the Medina County Career Center and the Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute with an Associate of Applied Science in Landscape Contracting and Construction, he has also taken a variety of classes through the Ohio Landscape Association (OLA), Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), and is a Certified Landscape Industry Technician (CLT).
In his free time, Randy enjoys going hunting and camping, spending time with his family and making others laugh with his sarcastic sense of humor.
Linda Pattie
Senior Landscape Designer
Linda is one of the most respected Landscape Designers in the state of Ohio and is well known across the country. She is a uniquely creative, artistic, seasoned Landscape Designer and has been arguably one of the most important assets to The Pattie Group for over 30 years. Linda has produced thousands of breathtaking designs in her career. Her reputation earned her the selection as National Design Team Leader for New York City’s “Valor Park Project” (a 9/11 Memorial Park Project, designed by a respected team of Landscape Designers and Architects from across the country). Her award-winning designs in residential, civic and commercial sites, along with educational and competitive garden shows have helped compose The Pattie Group’s “dynamic, innovative, and distinctive” design principles which have become our cornerstone.
Her artistry, knowledge, dedication and sacrifices have dramatically influenced the growth and reputation of the company since its earliest years. She has worked in every capacity the company has called for; from shoveling snow covered walks and processing payroll to developing the company’s past marketing plans, including our recognizable logo and “Only Mother Nature Does it Better” slogan. Each day she simply adds to an incredible legacy that will be left through her beautiful and enduring designs and projects, and through what she has taught to her children and Pattie Group staffers about commitment and excellence in landscape design.
Joshua Tooker, ASLA
Senior Landscape Architect
Josh has been a vital part of the Pattie Group design team for over 15 years. He utilizes both a technical knowledge of AutoCAD and 3D modeling, as well an ability to create elegant and dynamic landscapes. With an approach to design that balances aesthetics and sustainability, Josh has transformed many properties in Northeast Ohio into distinctive living spaces. A licensed Landscape Architect, Joshua has been with The Pattie Group since 1998. Josh graduated with a BLA from The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He spent a semester in Prague studying Historic Preservation and Urban Design. Josh resides in Shaker Heights – a city known for its ahead-of-time community planning from inception.
Sam Randall
Landscape Architect
Sam brings an attention to detail and desire to learn as a Landscape Architect at The Pattie Group. An accomplished young man, he holds a B.S. in Landscape Management from Brigham Young University, a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois, and he is a certified Landscape Industry Manager through the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Sam says what stood out to him about the company through his application process and employment is the way family values are made a priority. An Eagle Scout and an active member in his church, Sam lives in Chagrin Falls with his wife and three children.
Rob Raith, CLT, OCNT
Nursery Manager, Horticulturist
Rob provides The Pattie Group with an unmatched level of knowledge in plant care and is one of the area’s most respected horticulturists. Rob is responsible for The Pattie Group’s entire seven-acre nursery holding area. His many important responsibilities include: the health and wellbeing of plant stock, managing and rotating inventory, the coordination and shipping of plants to jobs, maintaining strong relationships with growers and nurseries, acting as the resident plant and ailment know-it-all, and finding perfect plants in a pinch. Rob also takes a very active role in ongoing training in horticulture, plant identification and selective pruning for our entire staff. Rob has a B.S. in Landscape Horticulture from The Ohio State University; he is Landscape Industry Certified (CLT) in Hardscapes and Softscapes, is an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician, and has more than 30 years of experience in the landscape industry. Currently, Rob serves on the Ohio Landscapers Association’s Education Committee.
Meredith Ruple
Junior Project Planner & Estimator
With a passion for both nature and construction, Meredith’s energy and expertise are a perfect fit for her role on our estimating and design team. In her role as Junior Project Planner and Estimator, Meredith reviews designs and makes sure each component of the proposed project is priced accurately. Meredith enthusiastically seeks ways to learn and grow every day at The Pattie Group while also pursuing her Bachelors in Construction Management. She loves having a mix of opportunities to continue to develop professionally with The Pattie Group and appreciates the supportive atmosphere that comes with working for a family-owned company. Meredith takes pride in working for a company that never waivers on its commitment to customer satisfaction nor its commitment to its employees. When not at work, Meredith can often be found outside, often horseback riding, hiking, kayaking, or riding quads. When she isn’t traversing through the outdoors, Meredith is usually spending time with her two dogs Gus and Merlin or reading.