Our Staff

jack [at] livetlc [dot] com (Jack Degraw) - Director of Operations
I was born and spent my early childhood in northern New Jersey. I graduated from Independence High School in 1999 and founded TLC Groundskeeping. My background is in lawn and landscape maintenance, having a firm understanding of how your lawn and landscape is maintained pays great dividends on how well they perform and how long your investment will last.  I am a certified applicator with the states of Kansas and Oklahoma, holding certifications in turf and ornamental pest control and industrial and right-of way weed control. Currently I oversee most of the services offered at the nursery including irrigation, landscape maintenance, and landscape installation. If you have concerns about maintaining your lawn or ornamentals, weed control, or turf grass fertility, I'm your guy!
 
jodi [at] livetlc [dot] com (Jodi Eastman) - Landscape Designer
My husband, Brit, and I moved to Coffeyville from Chicago 17 years ago. While my two sons were little, I was a stay at home mom and was very involved in their activities. Later, I worked as a dental hygenist before deciding to pursue my hearts passion: being outdoors. I enrolled in the horticulture program at CCC and I was hooked! After completing a few landscape projects with my small crew, I met Jack Degraw and continued to work with TLC on various projects. I joined TLC permanately in 2011 and I have been blessed to work on some amazing projects. I love designing unique landscapes for people and helping them achieve their outdoor living dreams!
 
twila [at] livetlc [dot] com (Twila Brooks Hawthorne) - Store Manager
I was born in Kansas and have lived here most of my life. A life long tree hugger, I began my career in the floral industry. I graduated from Johnson County Community College and earned a Floral  Design Certification from the Kansas School of Floral design in Lawrence. I moved to Independence in 1986 and continued my education at ICC with an Associates degree in Science. After almost thirty years in the floral industry as a floral designer I began working at Independence Nursery and Garden Center, using both my experience with flowers and my education in botany to pursue a second career in Landscape Design. The garden center has allowed me to learn and work with industry greats and exposed me to the best gardening people in the state. I have obtained a Certification in Pest Control from the State of Kansas. Learning to present landscape design with the aid of industry software is my current interest and I am looking forward to completing the Kansas State Arborist Certification Program. 
 
jeremy [at] livetlc [dot] com (Jeremy Jones) - Greenhouse Manager
I am the greenhouse man. I have a passion for greenhouses and growing. I graduated from K-State with a bachelor’s degree in greenhouse management. While at K-State I earned my Commercial Pesticide Applicator certificate and was the pest control person for the university’s horticulture greenhouses. I briefly worked in the university gardens and was involved in a professor’s elementary school garden club research project. I was garden liaison for the club and then the head grower/gardener. I have a different view of plants and nature then most: there is no weed, flower, or tree that I don't find beauty in. I try to share what I see with others through my photography. My appreciation for nature came from being raised in the quiet country side where you can't escape nature. One of my favorite things to do is walk in the woods. I came back to Independence because I love this town and believe in the nursery and want to help the business become what it was meant to be, a successful supporting cornerstone of the community.