Blue Skies Landscaping Program is an operation providing a full range of landscaping services in the Milwaukee area. Blue Skies Landscaping staff install and maintain landscapes, green infrastructure, gardens and fruit trees, maintain the Walnut Way campus, and execute landscaping contracts on all types of properties, including residential, municipal and commercial.
Blue Skies focuses on our greatest assets – our people. We offer job training in landscape horticulture for staff. The program provides job training and employment for individuals who have traditionally faced employment barriers and those seeking to build skills in a growing trade area.
The program also provides a sustainable source of earned income for Walnut Way and serves as a powerful vehicle for individual and community transformation. The impact extends beyond traditional job training programs as residents of the community are employed to help renovate once-vacant properties into community assets and serve as mentors to neighborhood youth who witness us working to lift up Lindsay Heights.
A Look at Our Work
Jeremy Davis
Environmental Specialist
BBA, MUP
National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Certified Instructor
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Certified Pesticide Applicator, 3.0 Turf & Landscape + 5.0 Aquatic & Mosquito
SAWW (Safety and Woods Worker) Training Level 1 Certified
First Aid CPR AED Certified
I am a grower and lover of the outdoors. I love the challenge of hard work and the uniqueness of each work day. I enjoy watching the development of our team and the transformation of spaces in our neighborhood and all over Milwaukee.Joined Walnut Way in 2010
Aton Fox
Environmental Stewardship Program Assistant
Certified Public Notary
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
I started working with Walnut Way as an intern for the Growing Youth Leadership program. Through the program, I learned and developed the skills I now use as the Environmental Programs Assistant. I hope to see growth in the people and places Walnut Way works with, myself included.Joined Walnut Way in 2015
Jacob Liptack
Blue Skies Maintenance and Operations Supervisor
Certified Pesticide Applicator, 3.0 Turf & Landscape
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator, Track Loader)
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
SAWW (Safety and Woods Worker) Training Level 1 Certified
I am a Supervisor and Horticulturalist with Blue Skies Landscaping. Born and raised in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, I love to see the beautification that landscaping brings to our community. It’s great working outside and being able to see the work we install blooming.Joined Walnut Way in 2014
Jevon Prowell
Blue Skies Landscape Technician
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator, Track Loader)
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
SAWW (Safety and Woods Worker) Training Level 1 Certified
First Aid CPR AED Certified
In 2014 I joined the Blue Skies Landscaping team. I love working with my hands and meeting lots of people. As I always say, “We don’t just do landscaping, we do it all!”Joined Walnut Way in 2014
Carlos Lathan
Blue Skies Landscape Technician
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
14 and 20 foot Trailer Trained
Working for Walnut Way has helped me to gain knowledge, develop work skills, and prepare me for my future by learning different job trades and keeping me focused in the right direction. I enjoy being a part of a group that gets work done and saying to yourselves that I was a part of that job. In my spare time, I enjoy working on cars.Joined Walnut Way in 2017
Henry Hopkins
Blue Skies Construction Crew Lead
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator)
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
I am a hard worker and person who works to the best of his abilities. I love the outdoors and working with my hands. I enjoy the fact that everyday is a learning experience and I gain more knowledge each day. I am very friendly and easy to get along with. I am a big guy with a big heart.Joined Walnut Way in 2018
Desmond Parker
Blue Skies Landscaping Crew Member
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
Zero turn commercial mower trained
I’m Desmond and I’m from the Lindsay Heights area of Milwaukee. I enjoy being active and physical with a little quick thinking. I am laid back, but I get the job done. I’m 21 years old, a high school graduate and take pride in my work ethic.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Hannah Dee
Blue Skies Landscape Technician
First Aid CPR AED Certified
Certified Pesticide Applicator, 3.0 Turf & Landscape
Associate of Landscape Horticulture
I enjoy working for Blue Skies Landscaping because I have the opportunity to maintain green-spaces that can be enjoyed by all. I believe that Milwaukee is headed for a renaissance, and I am fortunate to play a small roll in that. Being able to transform overlooked areas into beautiful and useful places is a blessing. I have the opportunity to improve spaces that are accessible to anyone.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Jose Zelaya
Blue Skies Landscape Technician
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
14 and 20 foot Trailer Trained
Zero turn commercial mower trained
I’m Jose. I am 24 years old. I have one daughter. I enjoy working with my hands and learning new things. I was born and raised in Milwaukee in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. I was part of the Gardens 2 Market internship at Walnut Way years ago. After years of working in retail/fast food, I decided I needed a change in my career. I didn’t think I would enjoy landscaping as much as I do. What I love most about my job is the team work, the support, the diversity, and the sense of pride when a project is completed. My hobbies are working on cars, listening to music, and writing. One of my goals is to graduate with my Associate’s Degree in Landscape Horticulture Design and if possible continue to a Bachelor’s. I would love to learn as much as possible and become a landscape designer one day.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Tyriek Foster
Blue Skies Landscaping Crew Member
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
I’ve stayed on the south side of Milwaukee for half of my life. I enjoy the consistent work and being outdoors, as well as learning all aspects of landscaping such as planting and using landscape tools. I am a hard worker. Whenever I do work, I do it in detail. I enjoy playing and watching basketball. I love food, and I can cook all types of meals.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Rene Mejia Townsend
Blue Skies Landscape Technician
I first got started with Walnut Way from the Growing Youth Leadership program, which later on led me to work with the Blue Skies team. I’m learning about different types of plants, and how to properly handle special equipment, as well as what it means to take care of gardens/beds efficiently.
I’m an artist attending the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. I’m a huge nerd when it comes to anime and books like the Hobbit and Harry Potter. I’m also big on animal agriculture and sustainable living and hope to one day have my own home built with animals, and my own personal garden.
Joined Walnut Way in 2020Projects
Current
Upcoming
