Like many landscapers, Quentin Kindred’s journey began at age 19 with little more than determination and a push mower. It was hard work, but it was a start.
For the first few years, Kindred focused on basic landscape maintenance—mowing lawns, trimming hedges, and keeping properties manicured in and around his home base of northwest Connecticut. But as time went on, Kindred began to seek more complex challenges.
“I always wanted to be bigger and better—not necessarily bigger, but better,” he says. “By taking on more challenging projects, it actually makes you think and use your brain a little bit.”
As his skills and reputation grew, so did his business. He added employees year by year, slowly evolving from a one-man operation into a full-fledged landscaping and site development company. Today, Kindred Landscape Group employs 18 people and operates across multiple states—but mainly Connecticut and New York.
Site development work includes excavation, grading, drainage, installing underground utilities and driveway construction. The firm also specializes in hardscapes and stone masonry. 3D renderings and designs help clients visualize their final landscapes on a more realistic way.
Dealer rep sees potential
Ten years ago, in the early days of the business, Kindred relied on a skid steer and a tractor. They were functional, but not ideal for the jobs he aspired to do. That’s when he met Tim Schofield of Cat® dealer H.O. Penn, who saw something in Kindred that others had likely overlooked.
“I was just a small-time guy,” Kindred remembers. “I think I had three or four guys at the time. Tim took me out to lunch. We talked equipment, and I think I only had a skid steer from another brand at the time, along with a tractor—nothing else. And he just kept in touch with me while other equipment dealers regularly ignored my calls.
“Every two or three months, he’d drop me a note. We went out to lunch a couple of times. No other dealer did that,” Kindred says. “He talked to me like I had 100 employees when, in reality, I was 23 years old and running a small operation.”
That relationship paid off. Eventually, Kindred took the leap in 2019 and purchased his first Cat machine—a 305E2 CR Mini Excavator. Kindred’s work became more efficient, and his business grew even faster. From that moment on, he was hooked.
Over time, he expanded his fleet to include four Cat Mini Excavators (301.7, 305E2 CR, 307.5 and 310), along with two Compact Track Loaders (289D3, 299D3) and a 906M Compact Wheel Loader—each machine playing a crucial role in handling different aspects of Kindred’s typical jobs.
“At the end of the day, the Cat excavators are the ones making money for us,” Kindred says. “They’re out there doing earth grading, sculpting foundations for stone walls, patios and fine grading.”
Last year, Kindred took delivery of a new Cat 310 Mini Excavator, a machine that has revolutionized how his team handles tree installations.
“We can dig a hole with the bucket, flip it off, put the forks on, take the tree, swing it over, and plant it—all with one machine sitting in the same spot,” he explains. “It’s incredible. Before, we needed multiple machines to do that.”
For heavy lifting, crews utilize the 307.5 and 310 excavators for lifting and placing boulders in retaining walls.
While the excavators do the bulk of the digging and sculpting, Kindred’s 906M Compact Wheel Loader works mostly in the yard, handling bulk materials like stone, mulch, and soil.
One of his most frequently used machines is the Cat 289 Compact Track Loader.
“The power of the 289 over our other non Cat machine is not comparable at all,” he says. “The other machine will start tracking hard, no matter how much weight it’s carrying, while the 289 is just smooth as can be.”
At first, not everyone in Kindred’s crew was sold on Cat machines. A seasoned tech who joined the team was particularly resistant.
“He always had a preference for other brands that was more familiar to him,” Kindred laughs. “Then he started working for us, and we have all Cat machines. The other day, he looked at me and said, ‘Man, this 310 Excavator is actually pretty nice.’”
It’s that kind of hands-on experience that has cemented Kindred’s loyalty to Cat equipment and H.O. Penn. “These new Cat machines are just unbeatable—the comfort, the precision, the power,” he says. “And the breakout force in tough digging is just unreal.”
During the winter months, “The wheel loader is the king when it comes to snow removal, and we run our 289 and 299 as well,” Kindred says. “They are just the quickest machines for snow removal—they really can’t be beat. Then add the operator comfort is unreal. With the heated Air Ride suspension seat and the roominess in the cab of the 906, this makes it easier for our crews to work long hours.”
Tracking equipment health
As Kindred Landscape Group grows, keeping track of machine performance and maintenance has become critical. That’s where Cat VisionLink® technology comes into play. The system alerts him to fuel consumption, idle time or if there’s a developing issue that needs attention.
“I use VisionLink at least two or three times a week,” Kindred says. “I check asset health, job hours, fuel levels—you name it. A notification is automatically sent to my phone if something’s wrong.”
Kindred appreciates the upgrades on the next generation compact machines.
“With the new touch-screen monitors in the cab, everything is so intuitive,” he says. “You don’t have to look through a 100-page instruction manual to figure things out. They’ve made it really simple. And the new cabs are roomier, and the hydraulics are much smoother.”
Looking ahead
With revenues growing 50 percent annually over the last five years, Kindred is living proof that persistence and passion can transform a small operation into a thriving business.
As his landscaping company continues to evolve, Kindred has set his sights on new opportunities. One of the company’s next major steps is expanding into land clearing, a move that will require even more powerful equipment.
“That’s part of the reason we bought the 310,” he says. “Eventually, we’ll put a Forestry head on it. We’re also looking at purchasing a new Cat Compact Track Loader with a forestry head. Caterpillar has the perfect tools for that.”
With a dedicated team, a strong partnership with H.O. Penn, and a growing fleet of Cat machines, the future of Kindred Landscape Group looks brighter than ever.
“Over the last three years, our work has just kind of snowballed, and we continue to be very blessed with many new opportunities coming our way,” he says.
Kindred Landscape Group minimizes downtime with Customer Value Agreements (CVA) covering all of his Cat machines. All of the firm’s equipment has been acquired with assistance from Cat Financial.
“Our H.O. Penn sales rep, Bernadette ‘Bernie’ McLaren, sends me everything, and it’s a very seamless process. When it comes down to the details of buying a new machine, the process is quick and easy. Very little time is required to complete the application.”
“It was a seamless transition from Tim to Bernie as our dealer sales rep,” Kindred adds. “She’s been tremendously helpful, and she’s on top of her game. She’s always reaching out, and she’s not afraid to ask questions as we work toward solutions. And it doesn’t matter what hour of the day it is, she’ll always answer my call.”
Kindred says another reason he’s sold on working with H.O. Penn over the years is their prompt parts and service support.
“Their service is number one—no one else comes close,” Kindred says. “We know their technicians are highly trained. The way I see it, if you own a Ferrari, you’re not going to try and do the maintenance on your own. You’re going to let the experts handle it—it’s the smart thing to do.
“The guys at H.O. Penn know what they’re doing and what to look for. They catch stuff we would miss, and we trust them.”