Schill makes 20th deal, entering Boulder via Chicago's James Martin
What's the deal? Schill Landscape Collective has acquired James Martin Associates of Chicago and LID Landscapes of Boulder, Colorado, its 20th acquisition and first entry into the Boulder market. Terms were not disclosed. The two targets had already merged before Schill stepped in, and the deal folded in Schwake Stone, a northern Illinois supplier of stone and concrete paving products.
What's being added? James Martin Associates and LID add 130 employees and two service branches, with Boulder becoming Schill's westernmost location. Founded in Chicago in 1976, James Martin serves residential, commercial, and snow-management customers across the city's North and Northwest suburbs.
What changes? Not much on the ground. Tom Bolas keeps leading James Martin, and Scott Natter keeps running LID in Boulder; founder Jim Martin stays on until retirement. The arrangement fits a pattern: Schill keeps partner companies under their local names, with centralised support across several business functions.
By the numbers: Schill now reports more than 1,800 team members across 36 branches, up from more than 1,700 employees and 34 branches in earlier 2026 reporting. It ranks No. 25 on Lawn & Landscape's Top 100 list.
Why now? Schill has been on a buying spree since TruArc PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → acquired the business — then Schill Grounds ManagementDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → — from Argonne Capital GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in January 2026. Its first Michigan deals came in February, and it entered the Chicago area in 2025 through Elevations LandscapingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
Jerry Schill said the acquisition enables growth in both Chicago and Boulder, plus deeper services for commercial customers that operate numerous locations. CCG Advisors, an Atlanta-based investment bank focused on the green industry, exclusively represented James Martin Associates.
The signal: The story is less any single deal than the continued scaling of a multi-market platform. Private-equity-backed roll-ups are consolidating a fragmented landscaping industry — rivals such as Mariani Premier GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → keep adding regional firms too — with Schill now spanning the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Rocky Mountain, and Ontario markets.
Read more: hoodline.com
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