Nursery, company share award
The retail nursery started by James Cartledge's father has grown leaps and bounds since the late 1970s, expanding to include landscaping and landscaping maintenance.
Owens and Minor, Inc., on Lewiston Road in Grovetown, has been given a Point of Pride award for their landscaping, which was done by Springwood Nursery.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"We just try to focus on providing quality and consistent service," said Cartledge of Springwood Nurseries Inc., which was established in Columbia County in 1978. "We started out as a retail nursery and we've just built the business from there."
It's the quality service that Springwood Nurseries provides that has earned it a reputation in the community. The latest achievement for Springwood has been recognition of the landscape maintenance work it provides to Owens & Minor Distribution on Horizon South Parkway in Grovetown.
Columbia County Clean and Beautiful, which awards a quarterly Point of Pride award to area businesses for keeping their grounds neat and beautified, has given the 2004 third-quarter award to Owens & Minor.
"It really is nice to recognize these people for their efforts," said Paula Dukes, chairwoman of this year's Point of Pride program.
Teri Shepherd, general manager at Owens & Minor, said the business was "real excited to get this award. This area has grown so much since we've moved here and it's great to be a part of that growth, and it's nice to receive this award.
"We do take pride in the appearance of our building, as well as our business," she added.
Owens & Minor Distribution has been at its current location for about 12 years. The business distributes medical and surgical supplies, primarily to hospitals.
Craig Connor is crew leader for Springwood Nurseries' landscaping maintenance project at Owens & Minor, according to Cartledge, whose business employs 21 people and includes a retail nursery on Cox Road.
"He's a very detail oriented fellow," Cartledge said. "He does a good on that project and on others that he works with."