Leadership

 Hermann Lindau - Past CEO & Founder

Hermann Lindau's connection to the land began on his family's farm, where, as a young boy, he recognized the benefits of nurturing the soil and covering bare patches with replanted sod.  This early experience laid the foundation for a lifetime dedicated to the turf industry.

In the late 1920s, Mr. Lindau immigrated to New York, initially working as a bricklayer with his brother.  Fate, however, had other plans.  His work ethic and eye for quality led him to a career with one of New York's earliest turf installers, where he contributed to diverse projects, including the iconic 1939 New York City World's Fair.

World War II interrupted his burgeoning career, taking him to the Middle East, southern France, and finally, central France.  Upon his return, opportunities abounded.  He partnered with Bob Dohne, forming a company that raised the bar for turf projects across the New York metro area.  Their impressive portfolio included work on the Northern State Parkway, Taconic Parkway, and a massive 47-acre sodding project on the Maine Turnpike.

As homebuilding boomed in Nassau and Suffolk counties in the mid-1950s, Mr. Lindau launched his own firm, capitalizing on the private sector's growth. His reputation for quality workmanship and strong relationships with turf growers, including McGovern Sod Farms and DeLea Sod Farm, solidified his standing in the industry.  He even had the honor of installing sod at the personal residences of both Mr. McGovern Sr. and Mr. DeLea.

Mr. Lindau was a constant innovator, always seeking new technologies to advance the turf industry. He acquired one of the earliest Ryan Sod Cutters, a piece of equipment still owned by the company today.  In the early 1970s, he purchased the first Rockhound Rake in the Northeast, revolutionizing high-end turf installation.

Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Mr. Lindau's leadership continued to shape the landscape, creating exceptional turf projects for discerning homeowners, landscape design firms, educational institutions, golf courses, cemeteries, and municipalities.  His legacy as a turf pioneer continues to inspire.

 Herman A Lindau - President CEO
 

Growing up on Long Island, New York, a passion for the turf and landscape industry took root in Mr. Lindau at a very young age. By six years old, driving tractors on project sites was as natural to him as playing baseball. Immersed in the family's turf installation and landscape business, he spent his summers from the early 1960s onward, honing the skills that would define his career. His training on the company's equipment eventually led him to become a member of the International Operating Engineers.

After graduating from Farmingdale State University with a degree in Landscape Design, Mr. Lindau officially joined his father's company, Hermann Lindau & Son, Inc., becoming Vice President in 1976.  He quickly took on key responsibilities, including estimating, bidding, and project management.  Under his father's guidance, he cultivated a deep understanding of quality grading and turf installation.  The firm flourished, undertaking high-profile projects, including work on Long Island's most prestigious homes, sports field development for educational facilities and municipalities, golf course installations (such as Bethpage Black), and park enhancements (including Silver Lake Park, Wantagh Park, Cantiaque Park, and Ostsego Park).  They also became the go-to turfgrass and seed installers for numerous prominent landscape design firms.  At one point, virtually every monthly edition of a local Long Island home magazine featured a project showcasing turf installed by Mr. Lindau's company.

Like his father before him, Mr. Lindau was committed to exploring new equipment technologies to enhance quality and production on large-scale projects.  His forward-thinking approach has led the company to acquire unique, innovative, and advanced equipment, enabling them to offer services previously unavailable in the New York metro area.

Today, Hermann Lindau & Son, Inc. continues to uphold the adventurous spirit of its founder, Hermann Lindau, and proudly enters its third generation of skilled equipment operation, meticulous grading, and unwavering passion for the industry.