Ben Graning launched his college career in Chapel Hill, certain that he’d be headed to medical school four years later.

But with a bachelor’s degree in hand, Graning decided to trade in the white coat for good old work clothes, launching a landscaping company called BH Graning in Sylva.

“I’ve always had a passion for working outside,” said Graning, who held humble expectations for his fledgling business.

“I saw myself working out of the back of a beat-up pick-up truck with one helper doing it out of my yard,” said Graning.

That was exactly the way it began, but years of hard work later, Graning’s company has grown to 14 employees who work all over Western North Carolina and north Georgia.

Part of his company’s success can be attributed to Graning’s outstanding work ethic.

“Long hours and hard work, but that’s the way I was raised,” said Graning.

Sometimes, getting the job done meant toiling through the night under the headlights of work trucks to meet a deadline.

Graning’s company has also particularly excelled because it hires professionals who have stuck with the company due to excellent benefits, which include a retirement program and even profit-sharing.

While Graning’s staff still takes on $100 landscape cleanups, they have also tackled $100,000 commercial and high-end residential designs.

BH Graning’s work includes everything from installing irrigation systems to landscape lighting to being green by using native plants and rain capturing cisterns.

Graning has attended seminars and undergone extensive training to expand the horticultural knowledge he gained while attending college.

While owning a successful business does mean committing to some days in the office, Graning still enjoys getting out to work with his crew.

“I still try to be very hands-on,” said Graning. “It’s important for me for my business to be small enough that I’m attentive to my customers.”

Despite all of Graning’s hard work, he attributes his company’s success to his customers.

“Customers have put the word out for us and have stayed with us,” said Graning. “We’re thankful to be in a small town like this where word of mouth does get out.”

Graning has no regrets about his decision to enter landscaping. He said one of the most gratifying aspects of the trade is being able to instantly see the impact of his work.

“There’s a lot of job satisfaction,” said Graning. “At the end of the day, you can turn back and look and see what you’ve done.”