Schill Grounds Management announced the acquisition and partnership of Begonia Brothers Services and Atlas Outdoor, marking its expansion into Southeast Michigan and strengthening its ability to serve commercial clients with multi-site properties.
These are Schill’s first acquisitions in Michigan. With 19 acquisitions completed, Schill now operates 34 branches across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southwestern Ontario, Canada, and continues to grow through partnerships and organic expansion.
Begonia Brothers Services brings nearly 30 years of experience providing landscaping, lawn care, snow removal, and related services throughout Southeast Michigan. Led by owners Peter and Ann Bonde and founder and commercial division leader Mike McDonald, the company serves both residential communities and commercial properties across the Metro Detroit and Northville areas. The company employs 45 team members.
Atlas Outdoor, founded in 2011 by Sam and Brandi Gembel, provides landscaping, lawn care, and snow services with branches in Flint and the Greater Detroit area. The company employs more than 110 team members and serves residential communities and commercial clients throughout the region.
Customers of both companies will continue working with their existing teams and contacts. Operations will be supported by Schill’s centralized systems, technology, purchasing power, and shared best practices across its 34-branch platform. The acquisitions bring Schill’s total headcount to 1,550 employees.
As part of the partnership, Sam and Brandi Gembel will remain actively involved in Atlas Outdoor, and Peter and Ann Bonde and Mike McDonald will continue to lead Begonia Brothers. This approach supports continuity for employees and customers while enabling long-term growth in the region.
“Atlas Outdoor and Begonia Brothers are well-run businesses with strong leadership and local reputations,” said Jerry Schill, Founder and CEO of Schill Grounds Management. “Their teams share our focus on service, accountability, and long-term
relationships, and we’re excited to support their continued growth in Southeast Michigan.”
“This partnership feels incredibly natural,” said Sam Gembel. “Jerry has been a friend and mentor to me for years. We’ve learned so much from the Schill organization, and we share the same belief that business should ultimately create opportunity for people.”
“Begonia Brothers is excited to partner with Schill and continue building on what we’ve created,” Bonde said. “By joining an organization that shares our commitment to quality and service, we can bring even greater value to our customers while preserving the culture and relationships that define who we are.”
ABOUT SCHILL GROUNDS MANAGEMENT
Schill Grounds Management is a leading provider of year-round landscaping and snow and ice removal services for multi-family, retail, office, mixed-use, distribution centers, healthcare and industrial properties of all sizes. The Cleveland, Ohio-based company was founded in 1993 by Jerry Schill, who still serves as the Company’s President and CEO. Over the last three decades, Schill has made 19 acquisitions and built a collective of 12 leading commercial landscaping brands while growing to 34 branches that serve thousands of properties across Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Michigan and Ontario, Canada. To learn more, please visit schilllandscaping.com.
Begonia Brothers Services was founded nearly 30 years ago, and the Northville, Michigan-based company provides landscape design and installation, landscape maintenance, snow management, and holiday decorating services. Owners Peter and Ann Bonde lead a highly qualified and dedicated team of 45 employees focused on exceptional grounds care for their customers.
Atlas Outdoor was founded in 2011 by Sam and Brandi Gembel out of the driveway of their home on Atlas Road in Davison, Michigan. The Flint, Michigan-based landscape and snow management company opened a base in Novi, Michigan in 2025 to serve residential and commercial customers across the region. Known for its people-first culture and commitment to operational excellence, Atlas has more than 110 employees.