Rich Kerri: Alfresco Architect
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
LIVERMORE — Rich Kerri originally wanted to design buildings for a living, but he eventually found he was better suited for designing landscapes. “All through junior high and high school, I planned on becoming an architect,” he recounts. “I even took drawing classes to get ahead of the game. At one point, I started doing landscaping work as a summer job. I found that I enjoyed working outdoors and seeing the results of my work firsthand. Over time, I realized it might be a better option for me to learn about horticulture and landscape design than go through all the math courses required to be an architect. Ultimately, I decided to go that route, and it has worked out great!”
Today, as owner of Kerri Landscape Services, Rich says his favorite part of his job is watching projects go from conception to completion. “I really like seeing an idea come to life. It usually starts as a pencil drawing and then gradually becomes something real and tangible, so it’s always fulfilling to see the finished product.”
A resident of Livermore (where he lives with his wife and business partner, Debbie) Rich expresses his appreciation for the Bay Area’s temperate weather and diverse topography. “Besides working outdoors, I do a lot of outdoor activities in my free time. Living in the Bay Area, the great weather and diverse landscape afford me the opportunity to pursue a lot of different things, which makes life a lot more fun.”
When he’s not hard at work, Rich says he’s usually hard at play. “I work long days so I can take big days off. I really like motorsports, whether it’s boating in the delta or riding ATVs in the desert. Basically, if it has a motor, I’ll play with it.” Besides going big with his hobbies, Rich also likes to go big with traveling. “My wife and I make it a point to travel regularly. We went to Germany last year and just recently got back from a safari in Africa.” In addition to sports and travel, Rich enjoys spending time with his two grown children, Katie and Clay, both of whom live in San Francisco.
In regard to his professional career, Rich espouses the importance of keeping customers satisfied. “Our company byline is, ‘The ultimate in customer satisfaction,’ and we make sure our work and service reflect that,” he explains. “We always try to give homeowners the best value for their money. Even if we have to cut into our margin, we’d rather lose money than leave a client feeling short-changed.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Rich says he’d get started on his to-do list. “I’m not the kind of guy who can just sit around, so I’d need to find something to keep myself occupied. To start, I’d probably finish some projects around my house and do some maintenance on my vehicles. Between my property and my toys, I have quite a few things to keep me busy.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What was your first car?
A: A 1965 Ford pickup.
Q: What’s your favorite kind of food?
A: Mexican.
Q: What’s your favorite Bay Area brewery?
A: Altamont Beer Works in Livermore.
Q: What kinds of movies do you like?
A: Action movies and Westerns.
Q: Who’s your favorite Western movie actor?
A: John Wayne.
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