Lavish Gardens Team Members
Our Award WinningTeam
At Lavish Gardens Landscape, we put our years of experience in landscaping and design to work for you. We come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, but we all have one thing in common – we work obsessively until your vision for the outdoor spaces surrounding your house becomes a reality.
81 Angies List Super Service awards since 2009




Founders
Michael Cole
President
Starting at the age of 16, Michael began working in construction and maintenance. At the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, he took a Botany class which provided a solid background for his work in landscaping. Everything else has been learned through application and real-life experience in the field. He has found that he can figure out an answer to almost anything with enough persistence. His process for challenges includes asking questions, working, and then constantly readjusting until he has it right.
Michael always wanted to have his own company, and succeeded in starting one during the recession of 2008. He considers successfully starting a business during such challenging economic times as one of his greatest accomplishments. He continues to learn now by asking questions of people he admires and respects, and is constantly finding new ways to do things. Having his own business also affords him the ability to guarantee integrity as he is able to have a hand in the process from start to finish.
Outside of business, his passions include scuba diving and working on live aquariums. He especially enjoys being able to see the process of photosynthesis and how all the plants and animals work together within a miniature ecosystem. Michael also enjoys playing guitar, piano, and drums in addition to archery and traveling with his wife and family.
Michael’s goal with Lavish Gardens Landscape is to design and install creative, elegant, usable, and fun landscapes. Using quality materials as well as first-class construction ensures outdoor living spaces that clients will enjoy for years to come. Michael wants his clients to enjoy and have fun throughout the whole process!
Susan Cole
Vice President
Susan has always had a love for flowers and landscape, and the transition into the world of professional landscape has been very fulfilling. As a business owner, she employs skills developed in administration, telecommunications, and a determined work ethic. When asked about obstacles she has overcome, she says she prefers to see them as opportunities!
When not busy running the business, Susan loves creating her own outdoor garden, hiking, kayaking, and traveling with her husband and family.
Team Members
Michelle Hughes
Office Administration
Michelle applies skills from a broad range of experiences including landscape construction, food prep, retail, and office administration. Her focus on customer service and the ability to organize people make her a valuable member of the team at Lavish Gardens Landscape.
A mother of two and wife to a fireman, Michelle spends her free time on arts and crafts or in the great outdoors. She has completed two half marathons – the 2016 Hotshot Half and 2017 Folsom Lake Trail Half – and considers herself an amateur runner, training for the purpose of completing the runs, not competing in them. She welcomes new obstacles, trying to learn as much as she can from each new one. She has running an actual obstacle course, like the Tough Mudder, on her list of "to-do" items.
Ivan Pena
Construction Supervisor
Ivan came to Lavish Gardens Landscape with over 16 years of landscape construction experience. He enjoys the process of turning blank canvases of dirt into people’s dream outdoor living spaces. The greatest challenge he has had to overcome has been learning a new language and pushing the limits of his knowledge to understand all that he knows about landscape and construction. Always striving to update his knowledge, Ivan's approach to learning new skills is much like that of Michael Cole's, owner of Lavish Gardens Landscape, in that he is always asking questions of those he respects to learn as much as he can.
With 4 children, much of Ivan's time while not at work is spent with his family, including playing soccer. He also works on cars and especially enjoys installing custom sound systems, lighting, and painting decals.
Dan Jolly
Landscape Designer, Sales, & Consultant
Dan has experience in a variety of areas and has worked as a home builder and retaining wall installer. He also has experience in paving sales and design in addition to solar sales, design, and auditing. He is skilled in AutoCad and is constantly striving to update his technological skills. He takes an honest, straightforward approach to everyone he works with.
When not building landscapes, he is tending to the succulent garden in front of his home or getting outdoors with his dog and kids to go hiking, biking, or on a trip to Tahoe or the beach.
Eran Barker
Landscape Designer
Having been in the landscaping business for over 22 years, Eran had previously worked as a teacher. He found that his skills as an educator translated well into communicating with clients and understanding their needs. He holds degrees in Humanities, Horticulture, and Landscape Design.
When he isn’t at work, he enjoys biking, running, swimming, and golfing. Reading and traveling are also some of his passions.
Jason Gorski
Landscape Designer
Having worked in a large landscape architecture office on everything from master planning to construction details, Jason has put his Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Pennsylvania State University to work. He has practiced in the Sacramento area for over 10 years.
With 3 children, much of his time is devoted to supporting them in their activities. He is a soccer coach as well as a Cub Scout Den Leader. Learning, reading, traveling, and having fun with his family takes up the rest of the time not spent at work.
David Griffard
Landscape Designer
Having worked in the landscape construction industry as a commercial and residential superintendent, David had an extensive work history before joining the team at Lavish Gardens Landscape.
He has worked on commercial and high-end residential landscape architecture firms for a number of years, and holds a Bachelors Degree in Landscape Design and Contracting from Colorado State University, from which he graduated with honors. Besides construction experience, he also has 7 years of landscape design experience with some of the top firms in the Bay Area, working on large estates from Pebble Beach to Tiburon.
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