You can have all the money in the world, but if you don't love what you do, give back to your community and enjoy Mother Nature then what's the point?

According to Shayne Newman, founder of YardApes, if you're passionate about what you do, you'll be successful, have fun, and never work a day in your life. So many times we get caught up in the day to day stress of being business owners that we forget to think about why we started in this industry.

Many landscapers grew up with an inherent love of nature. Shayne says the only thing more rewarding than this is getting involved in community service projects.

Experienced in the trade since 1987, Newman founded YardApes, Inc. in 1990 and holds the title of president. He hails from Telluride, Colorado, but has lived in New Milford for the past 27 years. Shayne received a B.S. in Finance from UCONN, is a Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, holds a Connecticut Supervisory Pesticide License and is a Certified Landscape Designer. He is also the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) PR committee chair, a CNLA committee member, founding member of the Connecticut LICT committee on training & testing, Community Culinary School of Northwestern CT board member, as well as Village Center for the Arts board member.

Always involved in the community, Newman created and hosts the YardApes Quad-Am Golf Classic, raising $39,000 for area nonprofits since 2006. Additionally, YardApes has participated in PLANET's Day of Service since its inception, volunteering time and materials to revitalize civic venues including The Creative Playground, The Pratt Nature Center, Harrybrooke Park, Sullivan Farm, and the Brookfield Public Library, The Children's Center and the Abbey of Regina Laudis.

Newman was featured on FOX News for his participation in Project EverGreen's GreenCare for Troops. In addition, the Connecticut affiliate of the American Psychological Association honored Newman with two of its five 2008 Psychologically Healthy Work Place Awards: Employee Growth and Development and Employee Recognition. He received awards alongside Pratt & Whitney and Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang camp.

YardApes, Inc. is the recipient of 2011 Connecticut Chamber of Commerce Big Business Award and has been North Western Connecticut's leading service provider of residential and commercial landscapes for over twenty-two years. The award-winning landscape firm is a full-service design, construction, and maintenance company with 25 employees.

For more information, visit YardApes at www.yardapes.org.