Phil Catron | Source | President and Founder at NaturaLawn of America

While rejection is typically a hindrance in life, for Phil Catron, it ended up being a big stepping stone to launching a groundbreaking business concept that would become a powerhouse in the lawn care industry.

Phil founded NaturaLawn of America (NLA) in 1986 when he saw a great need for nontoxic, organic-based lawn care that no one else in the industry was offering or even considering and a concept his former employer wouldn’t take seriously. Since founding NLA nearly 40 years ago, Phil has continuously led the company to be ahead of the industry curve, including developing and implementing the use of zero-phosphorus fertilizers several years before states began mandating it through legislation, as well as introducing soil testing into NLA’s agronomic programs many years before numerous states mandated it.

In his role as president of NLA, Phil embraces the philosophy that by taking care of the company’s people first, they will in turn take care of the company’s customers, resulting in the loyal customer base that has allowed NLA to grow into the resounding success that it is today.

As an industry leader, Phil is passionate about discussing the importance of soil as a foundation for turf and plants, why organic fertilizers are better than traditional synthetic products, why synthetic chemicals and pesticides are detrimental and unnecessary, and why biological and biorational alternatives are safer for people and the environment.

A Board-Certified Agronomist with the American Society of Agronomy, Phil began his career in the industry by earning a bachelor’s degree in plant science from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in agronomy from Rutgers University. While at Rutgers, Phil was part of a turfgrass breeding program and helped develop two varieties of Bentgrass, which he holds patents on. Phil is a contributing author to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Pest Management textbook, has provided multiple testimonies at the local, state and federal levels regarding industry legislation, and was recently honored with the Trailblazer of the Year Award at WorkWave’s 2024 Beyond Service User Conference.

Outside of NLA, Phil is involved in several charitable organizations, including serving on two boards of directors – for CounterAct International and Candlelight Productions, Inc. – as well as supporting Embraced International in Honduras, Compassion International, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and many local organizations close to NLA’s corporate headquarters in Frederick, Md. Phil has also served as a missionary and mission leader for efforts in Honduras.

In his spare time, Phil enjoys woodworking, sporting clay shoots and target shooting, rebuilding old cars, going for walks in the woods, and spending time with his grandchildren.