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Our Associates, personally selected by Charles Vander Kooi, are industry experts that will help you achieve your goals. We know that just as each company has unique needs, there are different solutions to meet those needs. We believe that it’s impossible for one person to be considered an expert in all aspects of a business, which is why our team is so diverse, each with a unique background. We'll match you up with the consultant who is best qualified to help to develop a model geared specifically to you. Charles Vander Kooi - Seminars & Consulting Jerry Gaeta - Seminars & Consulting Tony Bass - Seminars & Consulting Joe Palimeno - Seminars & Consulting Dr. Gary Ostwald - Seminars Tim Saul - VKA Operations Charles Vander Kooi - Seminars & Consulting
Charles has been involved in the construction industry for over 39 years, 15 as an estimator and upper-management employee of companies, and 24 as a consultant and speaker. He has bid over a billion dollars in work over his career. As a private consultant, he has helped over 1,200 companies in their estimating/bidding systems and has lectured to over 200,000 people nationally and internationally. Constantly in demand, Mr. Vander Kooi speaks at an average of 80 trade Shows, conventions, and associations each year teaching his philosophy across the U.S., Canada, Latin America, England, and Australia. He consults with an average of 50 clients annually, assisting in and improving their performance. He has authored several books to the industry and his seminars are available on audio as well as video. Jerry Gaeta
Jerry has written numerous articles for many trade publications and has also been on the magazine reader advisory panel. Jerry Gaeta has been instrumental in developing software for budgeting, estimating, and equipment management for Vander Kooi & Associates. Jerry was Chairman for the development of the South Carolina Nursery and Landscape Certified Landscape Technician Program and was awarded in 1991 Nurseryman of the Year, the first landscape contractor to receive this award. Tony Bass - Seminars & Consulting
Since joining Vander Kooi & Associates in 1999, Tony Bass has worked with numerous companies as their personal consultant, and spoken to several leading industry organizations including CLIP, and the Lawn and Landscape School of Management. Joe Palimeno - Seminars & Consulting
After successfully implementing the effective cost recovery system and management approaches he learned from Charles Vander Kooi, his revenues and profits increased to the level of allowing Joe to travel the country making contractors profitable through private consultations, and estimating workshops.
Dr. Ostwald has a Ph.D. in human communication studies and an MBA in management, both from the University of Denver. His undergraduate degree in industrial engineering is from North Dakota State University. Gary's previous business experience includes being the owner/manager of a real estate property management firm in Summit County, Colorado for 10 years. Additionally, Dr. Ostwald has held engineering and management positions with two Fortune 500 firms, beginning his business career as an Industrial Engineer for 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In the summer, Tim helps homeowners manage the process of building custom homes in the mountains surrounding Denver.
Mark served as past president of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (1999-2000) and is responsible for the purchase and implementation of the "Certified Landscape Technician Test" in the state of New Jersey. Mark also credits his success to the implementation of the estimating practices of C8harles Vander Kooi, whom he feels helped him set and achieve his long term goals.
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Charles Vander Kooi wrote his first seminar over 20 years ago while on a plane to his very first speaking engagement. An instant success in front of an audience, he made an impact on people when he coupled his true-life experiences as a professional estimator and contractor with stand up comedy and a little fire and brimstone. Since that first seminar, he has presented over 1,400 seminars and continues to average 90 programs a year in numerous industries around the world. One word of caution--if your name is Billy, or Bob, don't sit on the front row!
Senior Associate for Vander Kooi & Associates since 1994, Jerry Gaeta recently sold his design/build commercial landscape, irrigation and landscape maintenance firm he established with his partner in 1975. Jerry is a successful estimator who has bid hundreds of millions of dollars in landscape construction and maintenance projects, became an associate with Vander Kooi & Associates, Inc. in 1994 and has consulted and lectured for the Green Industry in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Bahamas. He is a keynote speaker for leading industry organizations, associations, manufacturers and distributors on estimating and bidding, overhead recovery, managing work crews and other topics for the Green Industry and teaches estimating workshops. 
After completing his studies in agricultural mechanization at the University of Georgia Tony Bass started Bass Custom Landscapes which he grew to over 2.5 million dollars in annual sales while working in a county that has a total population of barely 100,000 people. In 1994 the Georgia Junior Chamber of Commerce named Tony one of five Outstanding Young Georgians for his work in building environmental awareness and preservation in Middle Georgia. His company has been featured in over 100 articles in local and national print publications in just the last six years. 
Joe Palimeno has been an associate of Vander Kooi and Associates since 1998. He began his professional career learning the landscape construction business from the ground up, beginning with performing in the field, and eventually becoming sole owner of Ledden Palimeno Design Build Landscape Co. 
Dr. Ostwald joined Vander Kooi & Associates this Spring and brings a new level of high performance management to the team. Gary B. Ostwald, Ph.D. is currently on the graduate school of business faculty at the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. He teaches graduate-level courses in high performance management, negotiation and dispute resolution, working in culturally diverse teams and human resource management. He has recently completed advanced training to become qualified in using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as a team-building tool to help high performance teams deal with conflict and communication issues.
Tim Saul works out of the Denver location with Charles and is in charge of handling the day-to-day operations of Vander Kooi
Chris James has 27 years experience in Snow and Ice Management. His clients include multi-family, residential, corporate, commercial,
industrial, universities, and highway authorities. Through his company,
Snow & Ice Solutions, Chris has presented talks to contractors,
facility and property managers, highway and university management and
personnel. He has worked with private contractors on Government Bid
(awarded) for Snow and Landscape Contracts in excess of $5 million.
Chris is course coordinator for Rutgers University, “Snow and Ice
Management Program.”
In 2004, Chris joined the VKA Group, bringing a strong background in
estimating, especially in the area of snow and ice management.
Mark established his business in Wyckoff, NJ in 1989 on a part time basis while earning his 4 year degree in Landscape Architecture from Rutgers University. Upon his graduation in 1993, Borst Landscape & Design became a full time operation. The experience Mark has gained from owning BLD has given him a diverse background in people management skills. Mark believes these skills have helped him successfully grow and manage his Design/Build/Maintenance Company, which has achieved revenue of $6 million dollars per year. Vander Kooi & Assoc., Inc. PO Box 621759 | Littleton, CO 80162
Tel: 303.697.6467 | Fax: 303.697.6815
For software sales and support please call VKA South Carolina at 843.886.3363