About Us
Our Story
Thrive Lawn Care was founded by David Gentle, father of three and husband to Anna Gentle. By his junior year in college, David had worked for two lawn care companies in Wisconsin and Illinois, so he had several years of experience in the industry under his belt. While he loved doing the work, he wanted more for his family and the community. He was unsatisfied with how the majority of the industry treated their clients. In the fall of 2020, while still in college, he decided that he would start his own lawn care company with a push mower in the back of an old, beat-up SUV in the hopes of serving his clients on a more personal and professional level. Today, Thrive is more equipped and our mission remains true.
Our Vision & Mission
At Thrive Lawn Care, our vision is to change the industry in Central Illinois by focusing on our clients first. Our mission is simple – to exceed expectations. This mission gives us purpose and fulfillment in what we do on every property and how we treat our clients.
Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce
On February 28, 2023, we joined the Chatham Area Chamber where we held our official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Surrounded by family and friends, we celebrated more growth and opportunity to serve our community.
Hardship = Growth
We’re not perfect—and we don’t pretend to be.
Thrive Lawn Care has had its fair share of struggles. In 2024, rapid growth stretched us thin. We brought on new team members and learned some hard lessons about leadership and pricing. Profitability suffered. There were times when even the owners, David and Anna, couldn’t pay themselves. It was humbling.
But that’s the thing about hardship—it either breaks you or makes you better. We chose the latter.
In our search for guidance, we connected with Mike Andes, founder of Augusta Lawn Care and a mentor to green industry entrepreneurs. His team showed up—literally—to spend a full day with us, offering mentorship on leadership, systems, and financial clarity. They didn’t charge us a dime.
That moment changed everything.
In 2025, Thrive turned the corner. We’re not just more profitable—we’re healthier, stronger, and more mission-driven. That growth has meant better wages for our team, more consistent quality for our clients, and the ability to say “yes” more often when our community needs a hand.
We’re not perfect. But we are getting better every day—and we’re proud of that.