The grounds of Pittsburg State University are about to get some TLC, thanks to an alumni-led company founded by its owner while he was a student on campus.

Josh Thompson (BST '17) launched JT Home & Lawn in 2013 while studying Construction Management in the Crossland College of Technology.

"I had one truck and a mower to begin with," he said.

That humble start has grown into JT Companies, now a 73-employee organization that includes JT Home & Lawn and JT Construction. His brother, Jake (BST '15, BSEd '18), serves as president of JT Home & Lawn.

Among the company's recognitions are the 2024 Small Business of the Year from the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and the KOAM Four States Finest award for Best Construction Company. Josh was named the recipient of the G.O.L.D. Award from Alumni & Constituent Relations in 2024.

This week, the company was awarded a contract to maintain green spaces and landscaping in areas that include the Oval, Russ Hall, Gorilla Village, Crossland House, the Weede Building, the Student Health Center, and athletic complexes.

On July 6, the JT Home & Lawn team will begin work to return these areas to a level of which students, employees, alumni, visitors, and the community can be proud.

"We will do landscape maintenance, mulching, spraying, lawn treatment - everything it takes," Josh said.

Meanwhile, the university's Facility Operations team will focus on the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, the Veterans Memorial, the Student Recreation Center, the Student Welcoming Center, and the residence halls - a workload more appropriately sized for that team's personnel and resources.

University leaders say the partnership comes at a crucial time.

"The university takes great pride in our campus. Ensuring it's a beautiful and well-maintained place is a priority," said President Thomas Newsom.

A decline in funding over the past decade led to budget challenges and a smaller grounds team, even as the campus continued to expand.

"We knew outsourcing to a trusted partner would be the best solution," Newsom said.

The effort to identify that partner was led by Executive Vice President Jim Johnson, who was appointed in February to help solve major challenges and remove barriers for students, employees, and the community. Johnson worked to divide the campus into service areas, solicit bids, and negotiate the agreement.

"We needed a flexible, agile partner, and JT Home & Lawn is it," Newsom said. "They have built an outstanding reputation for their services, professionalism, and work ethic, and the bonus is they are a family of Gorillas who care deeply about this campus."

The "family of Gorillas" description is more than symbolic. The Thompson family has longstanding ties to Pitt State: their father, John Thompson, is a longtime professor in Automotive Technology; their mother, Debbie, has served in the Office of Admission for more than 20 years; and their grandfather, Ken Gordon, spent nearly 50 years in Automotive Technology. Josh's siblings - Jake, Caleb, and Anna - also are graduates, and the family was named the university's Honorary Family in 2021.

For Josh, the opportunity represents both growth and gratitude.

"Pitt State has been a huge part of my life, of my family's life, for as long as I can remember," he said. "It played a role in me being who I am, and who we are as a company."

"This job is a tall mountain - Pitt State is a big, beautiful campus that people feel very strongly about and very connected to. A huge number of people are on it every day - it's one of the most visible places in the area," Josh said. "There's a lot of work to do, but we are confident our team can do it and we are looking forward to it. We consider it a true honor to have been awarded this contract and are excited to grow this partnership with Pittsburg State University."