MEET THE FOUNDER
Nicholas@FreshStartMaintenance.com
In the unpredictable landscaping industry, where economic shifts, seasonal challenges, and unforeseen setbacks test every business, complacency is a recipe for failure. At Fresh Start Maintenance, founded by Nicholas Petrino in 2018, our journey embodies a relentless commitment to pushing beyond limitations. My philosophy as a leader—forged through years of service, adversity, and ambition—has been to overextend deliberately, embracing challenges to fuel growth and resilience. With this mindset, rooted in my diverse experiences and tested by early hardships, has transformed Fresh Start Maintenance into a thriving, client-focused company, ready to rise stronger from any storm.
My path to founding Fresh Start Maintenance was shaped by discipline and adaptability. From 2002 to 2006, I served in the U.S. Navy as an Information Systems Technician, 2nd Class Petty Officer, earning two Naval Achievement Medals for my contributions to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After an Honorable Discharge, I worked as an ocean rescue lifeguard for the City of Lake Worth Beach, honing my ability to stay calm under pressure. In 2013, I transitioned to code enforcement, where I met a city-contracted landscaper whose nuisance abatement work sparked my passion for landscape beautification. By 2014, I joined a landscaping company as a Sales Associate, quickly leveraging my fast-learning nature to boost recurring sales and increase the company’s net worth. In November 2018, driven by ambition, I launched Fresh Start Maintenance Inc.
The early days were brutal. Almost immediately, we faced ongoing vandalisms and multiple robberies—trucks were set ablaze, and our newly purchased equipment was stolen. With clients depending on us and no resources to meet their needs, I was knocked down but not defeated. Guided by a lifelong lesson—“When the bottom falls out, we can let it break us or rise stronger”—I regrouped, replenished our fleet and equipment, and pressed forward. This resilience, born from adversity, set the tone for Fresh Start Maintenance’s ethos: embrace challenges, adapt, and grow.
In landscaping, playing it safe invites collapse. I’ve seen competitors, lulled by the illusion of stability, crumble from a single setback—a lost contract, a labor shortage, or a supply chain disruption. At Fresh Start, we reject complacency. By taking on ambitious projects, like complex commercial designs or large-scale developments and municipalities, we’ve stretched our capabilities, investing in advanced tools and training our team to innovate under pressure. When material costs spiked or staffing challenges arose, our financial and operational resilience—built through years of calculated risks—allowed us to pivot swiftly, turning obstacles into opportunities. Each trial strengthened us, refining our processes and solidifying our reputation.
Today, Fresh Start Maintenance thrives because of our commitment to excellence and client relationships. Employing skilled, dedicated crews, we prioritize quality results and immediate communication, offering a 24-hour response team to ensure client satisfaction. Our clients and employees are our backbone, and their loyalty drives our growth. As we expand, we remain guided by the principle that pushing boundaries builds resilience. In an industry where the bottom can fall out, Fresh Start Maintenance chooses to rise—stronger, bolder, and ready for what’s next.
