DBT40 Honoree: John Passwaters

Title: Owner and Founder

John Passwaters | DBT PHOTO BY LUIGI CIUFFETELLI

Workplace: Passwaters Landscaping

Age: 38

When John Passwaters created his landscaping business at the young age of 18 years old, he found himself torn between work, college classes and baseball practice at Wesley College. But now, he can now say his business has grown into one of the most successful family-owned landscaping companies in Delaware. The company has a team of more than 60 people helping to cover all of Sussex and Kent counties as well as some projects in nearby states. 

In 2021, Passwaters Landscaping acquired Barton’s, a $2 million company with 25 employees. A year later, they acquired Allure Lighting, a $400,000 company with four employees. Passwaters says this allowed the company to grow from 2,300 customers to roughly 4,850 and helped it grow to about $6 million in gross sales in 2023.

The company has also been honored locally and is the preferred landscape vendor for Ryan Homes and NV Homes. Nationally, Passwaters Landscaping was chosen as one of three businesses to host the ACE Peer Group, allowing landscaping companies from around the country to visit the business. Passwaters sponsors Woodbridge Little League, volunteers at the state 4-H camp at Camp Barnes and donated materials and labor to help renovate the baseball field at Wesley College, among other philanthropic efforts. 

Passwaters Landscaping also donates to the Delaware 4-H Foundation. Although their impact can be felt across the state and nationally, Passwaters says he is proud of his hometown of Bridgeville and still operates the business on the old family farm that has been in the family since the early 1900s.