Meet the Leadership: Frank Antonucci

By: Rosalie Merriner

Here at Antonucci Lawn and Garden, family is at the heart of everything we do. Each one of our employees is a valuable member not only of the team but of the family—and that truly starts from the top down. Welcome to a new series where you’ll get to meet the incredible people who make up our leadership team. First up is the co-founder of Antonucci Lawn and Garden, Frank Antonucci.

Frank was born and raised in the metro Detroit area, and although he didn’t grow up in construction or landscaping, he did grow up around the automotive industry. He noted that the “environment of the automotive industry shaped a lot of how I think.” It ingrained in him the value of hard work, practicality, problem-solving, and the importance of doing things the right way.

Outside of work, Frank’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his family. He also really enjoys cooking, being in the kitchen, and simply, being around people. There’s no doubt that people—no matter who they are—are important to Frank: “A big part of who I am is tied to serving others, whether that’s in my personal life, through my faith, or in the way I try to lead in business.” Frank is married to his beautiful wife, Sylvia. They have been married since 1997, and together they have raised three children. Family is one of the most important parts of his life, and much of what has driven him in business has been the desire to build something meaningful, stable, and lasting.

In 2009, Frank and his wife Sylvia started Antonucci Lawn and Garden. It began out of his home while he was still working a full-time job selling cell phones. He was putting in about 50 hours a week at that job and then hustling landscape work on the side. After a couple of years, he had built up enough work to leave his job and go all in. At first, the business was run from his home, and after about three years, they had outgrown it.

Over the years, the business has grown into a full-service landscaping company serving Northern Nevada. At his core, Frank is someone who likes to build—whether that’s a business, a team, a landscape, or something that gives people an opportunity to grow. When asked why he wanted to start Antonucci Lawn and Garden, Frank responded:

“I started Antonucci Lawn & Garden because I saw a real opportunity in the commercial landscape maintenance world. There was a need for dependable service, and I believed there was room to build a company that could do quality work, grow the right way, and last.”

From the very beginning, Frank never wanted to create a business that solely relied on him. He had seen too many companies where everything hinged on the owner, and if something happened to them, the business would fall apart. Instead, he wanted to build a company with a structure that could keep going, serve clients well, and create real opportunities for other people.

What started as a company focused on residential maintenance has since expanded into commercial maintenance and construction work. When recalling the early days of the business, Frank shared:

“One of the first big moments for the company was landing an apartment complex in Carson City. I had been trying to get that account for about three years. I kept stopping in every few months, staying in touch with the manager, and letting him know that if he needed anything, I’d be there. Eventually, he gave us a chance.”

That property wasn’t just a single account—it was one site that was part of a larger portfolio. It became the company’s first meaningful break into that market and helped open the door for future growth. The construction side of the business began around 2014 or 2015. Since then, the company has been able to take on projects like the Davis Property in Gardnerville. Projects like this really showcase how much the company has grown.

Since Frank and his family had moved to Nevada in 2005, building the company here was the natural fit. This was where he was planted, and it was where he believed they could build something meaningful over the long haul. Frank has used the skills he possesses to build a company, focused on quality, with family at the heart.