Our Team
kEVIN FRANCIS
Graduate of Mississippi State University in ‘92 with a BA in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Contracting.
Worked from ‘93-’96 with Environmental Care Inc. in Orlando, Florida and their sister company Valley Crest in Atlanta, Georgia. Projects included Centennial Park and the Equestrian Center for the 1996 Olympic Games.
Moved to Charleston in ‘96 and worked for The Good Earth for 2 years before opening Coastal Landscape Construction. In 2002, after some personal setbacks, Coastal Landscape Construction was overhauled and became New Leaf Landscape Construction.
Category 3 and 8 pesticides license
Currently working on becoming a Certified Landscape Manager by our national organization NALP.
jake hendrickson
Jake is the Operations Manager for our Landscape Division. Originally from Greer, SC, he graduated from Clemson University with a degree in Landscape Architecture. He likes to remind everyone that Clemson won 2 national championships. He loves snow skiing and golfing but any type of competitive sport will keep him entertained. Jake likes to spend time with his wife (Lindsey), daughter (Ada), son (Lucas), dog (Greta), and cat (Briar).
rob robinson
Wow! Brains, Brawn, & Beauty! We had to throw in a 4th B to avoid a lawsuit from the Bureau. Anyone who has worked with him, can explain the last B (hint – there are 2 Ls and it ends in S). He serves as our Operations Manager for the Maintenance Division, although most of his time is spent doing the jobs that Kevin can’t coax anyone else into doing. Rob grew up in The Land of Lincoln and attended Southern Illinois University. He and his love of 15 years, now wife, Megan (whom the Great Kevin Francis himself, conducted the ceremony) moved down here from New England. Rob joined our team in 2015 and continues to push himself to understand the ecology of The LowCountry and help New Leaf to grow. In addition to our H2Bs from Mexico, The Canadians caught word and he was recently deemed “Hilarious” throughout North America.
bradley hance
Bradley is a Registered Landscape Architect and native of Mount Pleasant where he lives with his wife Sarah, son George, and daughter Marion. He went to Clemson University where he studied Landscape Architecture and graduated in 2009. After school, he moved back to the Lowcountry and began working in the Landscape field as a Landscape Designer for MUSC campus and then for an Architecture and Landscape Architecture firm. In October of 2017 he began working for New Leaf where he has developed landscape installation skills while also providing design services. Bradley enjoys the outdoors, getting out on the water, being up in the mountains, and all listening to and seeing music.
ben polk
Ben is a Project Manager with New Leaf. He joined the team in 2009 as a Landscape Designer but has also performed duties in Maintenance, Installation, and Construction. He is also the company's Mechanic, Welder, Janitor, Plumber, and Sensitivity Coach. Ben is originally from Beaufort, SC and has an Associates Degree in Engineering Design Graphics from Trident Technical College. Ben likes to spend time with his incredibly awesome wife and kids as well as playing music in local bands (bass player) and doing set design for South of Broadway Theatre Company in North Charleston.
Previous work including but not limited to:
Owner, Graphic Design, Photography - Green Apple Creative
Drafting, Land Surveying, Land Planning - Anderson and Associates Land Surveying
Landscape Design, Land Planning - Byers Design Group
Owner, Furniture and Fire Pit Design, Woodworking, Welding - Carolina Ember
michele dotter
Our Office Manager, Michele Dotter has been with New Leaf since 2013. In her youth, she spent most days outdoors on her grandparents’ farm in Spencer, Ohio tending to farm animals and gardening, which has cultivated her love for landscaping!
She enjoys spending time traveling the world with her husband and their two sons, David and Jonathan. In her ‘spare’ time, you might find her singing, gardening, tending to her chickens, or playing drums or guitar. One thing that she loves the most is studying the many facets of Science and Christianity and the way the two of them connect.
rachael notarealname
Coming on as our Project Coordinator in May 2019, Rachael is the newest member of the New Leaf family. Formerly a Lead Veterinary Technician, she has over 25 years experience making sure clients' needs are taken care of. She loves all things Star Wars, Star Trek and Harrison Ford and has easily seen The Empire Strikes Back at least 500 times. Gamecocks, the Bears and the Redskins are her teams (no matter where they're ranked!) and you'll usually find her yelling at the tv during football season. She's lived with her family in the Lowcountry since 2009, but has also called Virginia, Florida and Illinois her home throughout her life and doesn't plan on leaving the beach life anytime soon.