Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Holt.
Jesse, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
The idea of creating something started far before I knew how much I loved plants. I grew up in a family of doers, so the idea of owning a business was always a version of life I could see myself heading towards. As a kid, I always loved problem-solving and building widgets. If lego blocks were worth any sort of money I would have retired at the age of 12, I had a pile of them. I also enjoyed art and sketching. I was fortunate and thankful to have a mom who encouraged me explore those areas.
I attended Auburn University and became infatuated with horticulture, which is the study of plants. Auburn is known for agriculture and had a department full of professors that loved the field and took a passion for making sure you did too. While I was there, I also began working for a small outdoor construction company that also dabbled in design. Being hands-on everyday with someone else’s design made me want to be hands-on with my own designs. From there, I decided to jump to the school of architecture after finishing undergraduate and study landscape architecture. The program taught patience, nuance, and aesthetics. From a design perspective, for myself, those are three qualities I’m constantly chasing.
After leaving Auburn, I jumped around to Nashville, Birmingham, and Huntsville. I eventually landed in Atlanta with an opportunity to create a design/build outfit at Russell Landscape. Teddy Russell, the owner of the 33-year old company, has played a pivotal role in my understanding of business, growth, and going for it. He is an encourager of pushing boundaries and trying new ideas. After spending three great years there, I made the decision to attempt to build a company of my own. After doing it for three years, I can say it’s been one of the greatest growth experiences of my life.
Has it been a smooth road?
There are good days and bad days. I can be a perfectionist of sorts so it was an adjustment taking ownership for something that doesn’t always go the way you imagine it will. The first year I started, I think out of the first 60 days of the year, it rained like 72 of them. I wasn’t sure if I was in Atlanta or Seattle. Logistically I realized that there is only so much you can control. It’s helped me let go and focus on sharpening the things I can control and let the chips fall as they may.
On the other hand, the good days provide a lot of joy. At its essence, the job is to meet new people and take an idea they have in their head, decode it, and bring it to life. Building something that others will have the opportunity to enjoy, for me, is tough to beat.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Harbor and Harvest is an outdoor design + build group. The company specializes in anything from masonry and woodworking to planting plants, metal fabrication, and art installations. I would like to say Harbor and Harvest is known for two things: 1) variety and 2) providing the client with the exact product they are looking for. Because clients are not professionals in this arena, they don’t always know how to communicate it out loud. Whether it be modern, industrial, or prairie style – the goal is bridging the language barrier between the contractor’s ability to execute the client’s vision. Simply put, Harbor and Harvest is the translator between clients and contractors.
I would say what sets the company apart is the way it’s structured. It is difficult to put a dozen different trades under the same company letterhead and have it work well. Those passionate about their craft, be it masonry, carpentry, or landscaping, are usually equally passionate about the way it operates. For that reason, I never felt it was practical to force each individual into a bubble. The result has created more joy and lightheartedness in the way we approach our daily craft.
We harbor and care for these professional relationships, not only for business but for daily life purposes. Out of the 15-20 contractors I work with daily, we have a personal friendship that reaches far beyond work. Everyone has their own freedoms, but the end goal is the same and has been carefully crafted by everyone involved. The result is harvesting a high-quality multifaceted product with one point of contact for the client.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Atlanta has great energy as it concerns our industry. Projects like the Beltline, Ponce, and the new quarry park are a few examples. In my experience, I also feel like the people who live here find value in the outdoor space and want it to improve as well. If someone is just starting out, this city has opportunities everywhere big or small.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.harbor-harvest.com (currently under construction)
- Email: jesse@harbor-harvest.com
- Instagram: harbor_and_harvest
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