‘The Vande Hey Way’ – 75 years of serving the community

Rich Palzewic

Staff

October 20, 2025

APPLETON – Founded in 1950 when Len Vande Hey began mowing lawns part-time to support his growing family, Marketing Director Kelly Smith said Appleton-based The Vande Hey Company has since evolved into much more.

“From those modest part-time jobs Len accomplished, Vande Hey has grown into a one-stop shop for all your outdoor living projects,” she said. “If you can think it, Vande Hey can probably help complete it.”

Smith said Vande Hey does anything from design/build, pools/spas, landscape management, tree services and outdoor lighting.

“We can start an outdoor project and see it through to the finish,” she said. “Many of our clients start with something small, like a patio, and come back to us for future needs. We want to be our clients’ life-long outdoor partners. If it happens outside, we can do it.”

Smith said Vande Hey is upfront with its customers about the types of projects it can do.

“There are a few services we don’t specialize in – concrete being one – but we have a series of great subcontractors we work with to accomplish projects,” she said. “If we’re doing a pool install, we’ll have one of our concrete subcontractors complete the work poolside. Our clients always know what parts of a project we might have to get additional help with.”

Smith said they also work alongside builders with new construction.

“We work with the builder, electricians, etc., to fit in the best we can to help with the project,” she said.

Smith said Vande Hey takes pride in being a multi-generational family business.

“It’s interesting to see what each generation of the family has brought to Vande Hey,” she said. “Each one of the generations has added something unique to the equation.”

Current President Andy Vande Hey said the company has “grown significantly” over the years – now employing 130 people – while “staying true to our values.”

“Our unique culture drives us to deliver legendary service to our team members, customers and community,” he said.

The ‘Vande Hey Way’

Smith, who has been with Vande Hey for nearly eight years, said the company has embraced a growth mindset while maintaining a strong focus on its workplace culture.

“We recognize our team and celebrate with them,” she said. “Five years ago, we implemented a concept we call the ‘Vande Hey Way.’ It’s a series of fundamentals that captures our team. We believe it contributes to our growth and success and sets us apart.”

Vande Hey’s dedication to community involvement, Smith said, is one of those key factors that sets the company apart.

“One way we do that is through the Dianne Vande Hey Foundation in honor of Andy’s mother, who inspired us to live generously,” she said. “Annually, we donate 10% of our profits to organizations that align with our values, thanks to the support of our team and clients.”

Smith said Vande Hey encourages its employees to prioritize faith and personal growth first, followed by family, with work coming third.

“We want to make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family first,” she said. “If you have those two in place, work is a lot easier.”

Each week, Smith said Vande Hey recognizes employees who demonstrate dedication to its foundational values.

“The culture and legacy here have been a huge part of our success,” she said. “These things obviously resonate with our team members but with our clients and community members, too. We want to always remain an important part of our community – we feel it’s important to give back.”

Resiliency, hard work

Andy said when his grandpa began tending lawns part-time in 1950, times were tough, and with 11 children to support, the extra income was a true “blessing.”

“Putting in countless hours to help grow the business, his children formed his hardworking crew, while building a foundation of dedication and perseverance that brought them each success in life,” he said.

In 1968, Andy said his father, Gerald, bought an old Ford Ferguson tractor, a pickup truck and a few shovels and took over the family business.

“His passion and drive fueled the company’s growth, expanding from basic lawn care to complex landscaping projects, including opening a garden center in 1982,” he said.

Just as his dad’s did, Andy said his own journey with the business began at an early age.

“As a child, I swept the shop and watered plants, eventually starting full-time work at age 12,” he said. “I earned 25 cents an hour back then – or $1 for every rabbit I hunted to protect our plant material. While my career aspirations leaned toward medicine, everything changed during my sophomore year of college.”

Andy said that’s when he began managing a major Vande Hey landscaping project in Green Lake.

“That ignited my passion for transforming outdoor spaces,” he said. “That summer solidified my love for this industry and set the course for my future. After graduating from college, I officially joined the family business.”

In 2002, Andy said he stepped into the role of president.

“Like any business, we’ve faced challenges,” he said. “In 2008, we encountered a pivotal moment when our bank withdrew our line of credit, forcing us to fight hard to stay afloat. Those years of perseverance taught us resilience and shaped the company we are today.”

Looking ahead, Andy said Vande Hey is focused on more growth.

“To quote my grandpappy, ‘The first hundred years are the hardest,’” he said. “At 75 years strong, we’re only getting better with time – and the best is yet to come.”

Smith said one area Vande Hey is focused on expanding is its tree service, highlighted by the February 2024 acquisition of Fox Valley Tree Care and Landscape.

“They are all certified arborists,” she said. “That’s been a whole new experience and very exciting for us. They do everything from tree removal to tree care, disease control, stump grinding, tree trimming, etc.”

Smith said Fox Valley Tree Care’s merger with Vande Hey gives its clients access to additional services to help complete their outdoor projects all under one roof.

“It’s been a great addition and complements what we do perfectly,” she said. “They are now fully under the Vande Hey umbrella and are represented as a division of the company.”

For more information on The Vande Hey Company, visit vandeheys.com.