John Tammen
General Manager, Rubicon Landscape Services
John has overall responsibility for sales, business growth, operations and finances for Rubicon Landscape Services. He brings over 30 years of business and management experience to Rubicon. John began his career working for several engineering and construction firms, including Turner Construction. He has a strong understanding of construction and maintenance processes, including how projects are designed, bid, sold, built, and maintained after occupancy. John also worked in the software industry. He sold and managed consulting services for major software implementations, most recently with Oracle Corporation. In 2005, John decided to make a career change and join the social enterprise sector. John is a Registered Civil Engineer in California and Ohio and holds a California State Contractor's License C-27. He holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering, a B.A. in Architecture and an MBA, all from Stanford University.
Steve Jeffery
Operations Manager, Landscape Installation Division
Steve played a key role establishing the construction division of Rubicon and is responsible for supervising all landscape installation operations and preparing estimates and designs for new projects. He brings 25 years of landscaping experience, including 18 years in management. Steve’s experience includes the retail nursery industry, installation and sales of residential landscape services, and management in commercial landscaping. He also started his own landscaping business in designing and installing residential projects. Steve has an A.S. in Plant Science, an A.A. in Ornamental Horticulture, and a California State Contractor’s License C-27.
Larry Brunink
Sales Manager
As Sales Manager, Larry has contributed to growing the landscape construction and maintenance businesses at Rubicon. He has over 20 years of experience in sales and management in landscape services. Prior to joining Rubicon, he managed several branch offices of a national landscaping company. His previous responsibilities spanned a wide range of activities, including training managers, analyzing information systems, and handling acquisitions. Larry also has a strong background in vegetation control management and weed abatement programs for large refineries and transit systems. Larry holds a B.A. in Communications from Michigan State University.
Karen Deckert
Administrative Manager
Karen has been with Rubicon since 2001 as the Administrative Coordinator, managing contracts and purchasing, overseeing accounting, and operating as the liaison to Rubicon Programs, our parent agency. She brings over 20 years of experience in sales and management from the wholesale and retail nursery industry. Karen also uses her landscaping expertise to serve the community by volunteering as a Landscape Captain for Rebuilding Together, a non-profit organization that refurbishes and remodels homes for elderly and low income individuals. Karen has a B.S. in Horticulture from Kansas State University.
Charlie Kansaku
Site Manager, Landcape Maintenance
Charlie brings 22 years of landscape field experience and 6 years of heavy construction to Rubicon Landscape Services. His previous commercial landscape installation experiences consist of city parks, apartment complexes, highway landscape improvements, universities, and hospital sites. Charlie also has experience in the heavy construction industry, ranging from fish ladders to water filter and sewer treatment plants.
Martin Swank
Safety/Quality Assurance Coordinator
Martin is responsible for all aspects of project and employee safety. He directly handles compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations including all OSHA and EPA inspections, requirements, and guidelines. Martin also oversees Rubicon’s agency safety plan and manages our employee safety and proficiency training programs and related documentation. His previous experience includes Quality Control and Instrumentation and Process Control Engineering.
