When her plans to join the Navy took an unfortunate turn, Bobbi Mullis channeled her talents into building a successful lawn and landscape care business. And her volunteer work with GreenCare for Troops allows her to give back in a very personal way.

With a genuine passion for exceptional work and dedication to top-notch service, Mullis, owner of USA Services in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, seems like she was born for the lawn care business. But her road to success was no walk in the park.

She grew up as a “military brat” to a family steeped in service to country – her father medically retired from the Marines in the late 1980s with more than two decades in the Corps, and her brother is a retired Air Force veteran.

She was naturally talented at working on logistics, and she applied her skills at the shipping terminals in Charleston. That career path was cut short by the great recession of 2008, leading her to consider, then fully commit to, a career in the military. Unfortunately, while helping a friend with some yard work, a freak injury to her leg stopped that plan in its tracks. Once again, Mullis was reevaluating her future.

“I was one week away from signing the papers and joining the Navy, but the universe had other plans for me,” says Mullis. “I was so frustrated I couldn’t see in front of me for about six months, but I eventually came to terms with it.”

After a period of recovery and consideration, she took aim at the lawn care industry, combining her talent for logistics and a drive to deliver excellent service. But the in-bred love and respect for the military was and is always with her and being unable to serve was a difficult pill to swallow.

In June 2018 she came across an Instagram post from a landscaper, who was sharing his work with a military family through the GreenCare for Troops program. “I googled it, pulled up the website and said, ‘Yes, that’s something I really want to sign up for.’”

The following season, Mullis was paired up with two military families in need of mowing and basic lawn care. She visits each home every two weeks to edge around driveways and sidewalks and cut the lawn.

“I want the properties to look super nice and neat – how I assume the spouses would take care of it if they weren’t deployed,” says Mullis. “Keeping that high standard is my goal.”

She hasn’t had a lot of direct interaction with either of the families, but she understands the challenges of losing a family member for an extended time.

“They seem overwhelmed with life, so I try not to bug them too much,” says Mullis. “I try to make things as seamless and uncomplicated and stress-free for them as possible – lawn upkeep is something they won’t have to worry about.”

When she discovered the Instagram post, Mullis admits that she was a social media novice. Now, she’s active on many platforms and uses them to promote work she can do through the GreenCare for Troops program.

“One of the reasons I’m so happy to be a part of this program is, even though I am not able to wear the uniform and serve I am able to reach out and help other people who are, and show them that there are people back home who want to help as much as they can.”

Are you ready to step up and become a volunteer for a military family? Register today at https://bit.ly/2fyOSqI

The Presenting Partner of GreenCare for Troops is Nufarm.  Platinum Partners include Toro and SiteOne Landscape Supply. The Silver Partner is Arborjet/Ecologel