About our Nominee

Steve Aitken is an honest and hardworking man, and has been since he was young. After seeing his parents’ success in lawn care, he decided at a young age that cutting grass would be a great way for him to make some cash. He started out small, and ended up with 32 clients in his first summer. Guided by honesty and strong motivation to keep working, he developed his business and started growing. Steve has a tremendous amount of passion and love for what he does.

He started out 14 years ago when he moved here with his parents and got serious about creating the business in 2010. It took him a lot of relentless work to get him where he is today. He and his wife are proud to call Navarre their home. They are a wonderful family with two children.

 

Q & A

Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career/owning your business?

I was at a young age and my parents owned a lawn business in Tennessee. We moved here and I thought, well I can make some extra cash cutting grass. So, I started to hand out fliers to my neighbors. I had probably 32 yards by the end of the summer. I started out just riding around in a four wheeler and a trailer, cutting yards. I was making good money, and realized I couldn’t really work anywhere else and make the same amount, especially with only working half the day. In high school, I was into cars, trucks, and motocross, so I had to keep it up to pay for them.

Then the real world happened. I moved out and got a house. I was making great money and ended up getting a tax I.D. My parents told me I had a great little business and that I might want to get legit about it. So, that’s when I started getting a lot more serious and got an accountant and started hiring people. I worked for a new construction contractor in the winters and that got me into new construction. Then a bunch of builders started picking me up. I started buying machinery, and growing the company. 

I worked my way up, but I always push to work hard, honestly, and fair. 

 

Q: How long have you lived or worked in Navarre?

I’ve been here about 14 years. 

 

Q: Who is the most interesting person/business owner you’ve met here in Gulf Breeze/Navarre?  Who would you like to see nominated as a Face of Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

Well, I learned from Robert Stanford at Emerald Coast. He taught me quite a bit and he mentored me. He helped me out along the way and taught me about irrigation and all that. Tommy with Tommy Snow Balls in Navarre would be great too! I’ve known him since I was a kid. 

 

Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people starting their own business?

Give it your all and be honest and fair. You might lose money some days, but if you’re honest, it’ll always turn out better in the long haul. Some days you underbid, but you have to stay fair and honest about it. 

 

Q: What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about (or what is most iconic in) Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

Coming from Tennessee, I would say the beach. It’s really laid back. My favorite is Navarre Beach. 

 

Q: Where do you see yourself (and your career/business) in 5 or 10 years?

I want to get into different business ventures. I want to expand and I’ve debated opening up a little coffee shop that’s open for a little while every day. I want to get into rentals as well. 

 

Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Gulf Breeze/Navarre, and what do you love there? (What is your favorite dish, and where do you get it?)

My favorite restaurant in Navarre is Johnny Houston’s. I like the wings.

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?  And why?

Hawaii. I’ve never been there, I just see the pictures and it looks great. 

 

Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

The Fast and the Furious is my favorite movie. 

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Gulf Breeze/Navarre?

The people and the small town feel. People are polite and have different attitudes. It’s a different pace. People are always coming in from out of state and commenting about how nice everyone is. I went up to travel up to areas and you ask where something is, and they just look at you like they didn’t hear you. It’s just so much different here. 

 

Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch?  Why?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I’m a steak person, so I’d take him to McGuire’s for sure. Their steaks are great. I miss Cowboys, but they aren’t around anymore. 

 

Q: What is your favorite music or 3 bands that you would love to see live?

I’m a country guy. I like Tim McGraw. I like Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney too. I do like K-Love and rap too. But, I like older rap compared to new though. 

 

Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?

At a younger age, people looked down on me, because I wasn’t a great speller or reader. I tried to teach everyone that you can be whatever you want to be and do what you want to if you put your mind to it. A lot of people think my parents handed me the business, they didn’t. I worked really hard to get where I am and now my parents work for me. My dad is one of the hardest working men you’ll ever meet. He doesn’t have much to do with the business side of the company. 

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?

Structural, comfort, and love. 

 

Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?

My best friend from high school, Travis Simpson. 

 

Q: If you had a full-time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?

Housekeeper for sure. I was slammed with two kids in one year. We adopted a little girl and found out two weeks later that my wife was pregnant. 

 

Who was your childhood hero?

Dave Ramsey. My parents listened to him for so many years. 

 

What is something you are deeply passionate about?

Trust.

 

Do you want to give your yard a great new look, or just need some routine lawn care? Perhaps a pressure wash? Call or go see Steve today! Or send him a message through his website.

Address: 5205 Gulf Breeze Pkwy, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

Phone: (850) 499-6798

Services: Click Here!

 

Be sure to check out what our other nominees had to say!