Influential Woman · Landscape industry

Sandra de-los AngelesFlores

Business Development Representative, Stay Green

Moreno Valley, CA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree High school graduate Degree Computerized accounting certificate Cert Computerized accounting certificate Cert Reclaimed water certification Cert Irrigation controller installation and operations certification Cert Water agency certifications (Inland Empire) Cert CPR certified Cert First aid certified Cert HydroPoint online certification for irrigation controller systems

Her Story

About Sandra

My journey in the landscape industry began 28 years ago through an internship I needed to complete for my computerized accounting certificate program. That internship was with a landscape company, and they ended up keeping me for the next 8 years, moving me through different positions from answering phones to their computerized accounting department, and eventually into sales and field work. I learned from the ground up, which has been invaluable throughout my career. I've held many roles over the years, including serving as a quality control manager for 12 years, where I would go out to job sites with an extra set of eyes to help our field teams improve and make the company better as a whole. That experience taught me about plants, ecosystems, and what the guys do out in the field, which has helped me tremendously in my sales work. For the past 8 years, I've been in business development for the Inland Empire region, and I've been with Stay Green for a year and 3 months now. In my current role, I focus on client retention and building strong relationships, making sure contracts align with client expectations, and following through with new contract startups all the way through the first 90 days to ensure all our promises are kept. I'm not a car salesperson who just gets in and out and drops the ball. I'm a relationship builder, and I want to make sure our relationships and commitments are the number one priority. One thing I really enjoy is educating new upcoming managers in the HOA and commercial property management side, giving them insight about planting, trees, and helping them look toward the future of what they'll be dealing with after things grow. It's preventative maintenance, encouraging them to consider that while something may look nice now, certain varieties of trees or shrubs might outgrow the area and create liability issues down the road.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Sandra

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to my long-lasting relationships, my dedication, and the fact that what I say is what I do. I believe in consistently being involved on a personal level with all of my clients, and that turnaround and commitment has served me well. Many of my relationships have lasted over 20 years in the industry. I have clients that aren't just my contacts, but homeowners as well, and they still draw back to me. They find out where I'm at and they return because they loved me as a person and what I stand for, and they know that's the type of company I work for. It's about building relationships that go the distance, not just completing transactions.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I've ever received is to stick to what you say and make sure that your actions follow. It's about integrity and follow-through, ensuring that your words and your actions are aligned.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I've always said, make sure that you know a person on a personal level, because that's going to take you a long way. Understanding what they're going through and how you can alleviate their problems and turn them into solutions means you're always their backbone. It's not a transaction, it's a relationship that's going to go far. Relationships are always going to go further than just a transaction. I do my job as a relationship, not as a transaction. Yes, we may utilize the new technology today, but we still want to stick to the foundation and the fundamental of what made these companies successful. Don't be afraid to admit that you are wrong, and if you don't have the answer, just let people know you'll get back to them. Don't fib, don't lie, just be truthful. If you can't answer something right at that moment, it's okay. You'll find the answer.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I think the biggest challenge is getting the company's reputation out there, because it's such a hard competitive industry in our field. We have such large competition with medium and small-scale companies. It's no longer just 3 competitive bids, you're literally dealing with 10 to 12 different companies that are bidding on one property now. So it's just trying to stand out without having to push, push, push. I'm not a car salesperson, I'm more of a relationship builder, and I want to make sure that our relationships and our commitments are number one priority, versus the car sales reps that just get in and out and drop the ball. That's not the company we are.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Family is most important to me, along with quality time, efficiency, and being committed. I also believe in always being truthful and admitting when you're wrong. Don't be afraid to admit that you are wrong, and if you don't have the answer, just let people know you'll get back to them. Don't fib, don't lie, just be truthful. If you can't answer something right at that moment, it's okay. You'll find the answer.

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