Name
Michael Douglas
Age
38
Company/Organization
Douglas Lawn Care
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
Douglas Lawn Care provides professional lawn care, cemetery maintenance, and burial services in Southwest Michigan. We serve both residential and commercial client. From mowing, making foundations for headstones, to snow plowing and cemetery burials for local townships.
Education
Bloomingdale High School, Class of 2006 Kalamazoo Valley Community College – Business coursework (nearly 100 credits completed) Self-taught entrepreneur with hands-on experience running a successful business
Accomplishments
• Founded and operate Douglas Lawn Care, a successful full-time business serving over 100 weekly customers, 10 cemeteries, and multiple townships • Contracted sexton for Bloomingdale and Columbia Townships, overseeing burials, headstone foundations, and cemetery maintenance • Expanded services to include commercial snow plowing and seasonal cleanups • Built a growing YouTube channel highlighting lawn care, equipment reviews, and small business insights • Named one of Moody on the Market’s 40 Under 40 in 2025
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
By the age of 40, I hope to continue expanding Douglas Lawn Care into one of the leading property maintenance companies in Southwest Michigan. I want to create stable, year-round jobs for more employees, grow our commercial accounts, and continue improving cemetery grounds for the families we serve. I also hope to grow my online presence to inspire other small business owners and share what I’ve learned along the way.
Current City
Grand Junction
Place You Were Born
Kalamazoo
What was your first job?
My first job was working on our family farm, Douglas Family Farms, where we sold Christmas trees and balled-and-burlapped (B&B) trees. It taught me the value of hard work, customer service, and the importance of small family-run businesses in the community.
What’s the best advice you ever got?
You won’t build a solid business trying to please everyone. Saying no can save you time, stress, and money.
Who inspires you most?
My dad. He owned Douglas Tree Farm and now runs Douglas Family Farms, where he maintains blueberry fields. Even after retiring from Bloomingdale Public Schools, he’s working harder than ever on the farm. He’s the hardest working person I know and showed me the value of dedication, discipline, and doing what you love.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
Before starting my business full-time, I worked at Bronson Methodist Hospital for nearly 10 years. I was a certified sterile processing technician and eventually became a lead tech. Working in a hospital wasn’t something I ever expected, but it taught me a lot about discipline, leadership, and the importance of doing things the right way. Lessons I carry with me every day in my business.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
I enjoy taking the kids out on our pontoon boat and spending time on the lake — especially anchoring at the sandbar for swimming. We also love getting away up north to Bois Blanc Island to relax and unplug as a family.
What book are you reading now?
God Has A Name
Volunteer activity you love the most.
Coaching my kids in the local youth sports program. It’s a great way to stay involved, give back to the community, and help shape the next generation. All while spending quality time with my own kids.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I grew up here, built my business here, and now I’m raising my family here. Giving back to the community that shaped me is just something that feels right. Whether it’s through my work, volunteering, or helping out where I can. I want to see this area thrive for the next generation.
What Superpower would you most love to have?
If I could have any superpower, it would be super speed, like The Flash. I could get all the work done (and then some), and still have plenty of time left in the day to spend with my family. It’d be the perfect balance of productivity and quality time.
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
I want to be remembered as someone who worked hard, served others well, and made a lasting impact in my community. Whether it’s the business I built, the cemeteries I cared for, or the time I spent coaching kids. I hope people remember that I showed up, gave my best, and put family and faith at the center of it all.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
It’s an incredible honor to be recognized alongside so many hardworking and talented people in our region. It means a lot to see the long hours, tough decisions, and commitment to my community and family being acknowledged. This award motivates me to keep pushing forward, not just in business, but in giving back and setting an example for my kids and others chasing their own goals.
