Industry veteran aims to protect local business legacies and create new opportunities for the next generation of landscape professionals

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Landscape industry veteran Richard Sperber has partnered with American Operator to help preserve independent landscape businesses and make business ownership more accessible to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Drawing on decades of experience building and leading some of the nation’s largest landscape companies, Sperber will advise on buying and selling landscape businesses, identify acquisition opportunities and connect interested parties with American Operator.

As consolidation reshapes the landscape industry, the partnership offers business owners another option for succession while helping experienced professionals take the next step toward owning a company.

“Small, local businesses are often the toughest competitors in any market,” said Sperber. “They’re the heart of their communities, but too many are disappearing. This partnership is about creating opportunities for people who have spent their careers building successful businesses but haven’t had the opportunity to own one, while preserving the businesses and legacies that make our industry special.”

American Operator buys established businesses while keeping their names, employees and local identities intact. Through its Operate-to-Own model, the company acquires small businesses alongside experienced industry professionals, providing the operator the opportunity to run these businesses as CEO, earn an ownership stake and eventually become the majority owners. With this approach, every business stays locally owned and operated, creating opportunities for local leaders to become owners, preserving jobs for employees, and strengthening the communities they serve.

The partnership is designed to benefit three groups:

• Business owners considering succession: Sell their businesses while preserving their legacy and local identity.
• Aspiring business owners: Take the reins of an established company without having to finance an entire acquisition.
• Industry advisors: Share their expertise, support new business owners and potentially receive an equity stake.

“Richard brings extraordinary industry expertise and a trusted network of relationships built over decades,” said Dan Long, Chief Investment Officer at American Operator. “Together, we can help retiring owners preserve what they’ve built and give the next generation of landscape leaders the opportunity to become business owners.”

Sperber will attend NALP Elevate, November 8–11, to connect with landscape business owners and industry professionals interested in the partnership.

For more information, visit https://www.americanoperator.com/richard-sperber.

About Richard Sperber

Richard Sperber is a landscape industry entrepreneur who helped grow his family’s business, ValleyCrest, founded by his father, Burt Sperber, into one of the nation’s largest landscape services companies. Today, he is focused on preserving independent businesses and creating new opportunities for the next generation of industry leaders.

About American Operator

Based in Austin, Texas, American Operator acquires established small businesses and partners with experienced industry professionals to lead them through its Operate-to-Own model. The company focuses on preserving local business identities, supporting employees and creating pathways to majority ownership for qualified operators.

For more information, visit www.americanoperator.com.

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SOURCE Richard Sperber