Tim Travis, president of Goldner Walsh Garden and Home, does more than run a small business. He exemplifies why Michigan is considered the third-most entrepreneurial state and fifth in the nation for business growth.
Goldner Walsh, 559 Orchard Lake Road in Pontiac, is a landscape design-build company with a floral department, garden center, tropical greenhouse, event space, and a 9.5-acre garden plant nursery. The company helps other small businesses by hosting Spurlock’s Natural Stone and Brick Paving, Crooked Tree Fine Woodworking, and an independent yoga instructor. For nearly a decade, Goldner Walsh showcased City Girls Soap, a one-woman operation producing goat’s milk-based soap, lotion, and detergent.
Being involved in the community is part of the Goldner Walsh company culture. The event space doesn’t require clients to use Goldner Walsh’s floral shop. Travis is just fine with caterers and beverage providers setting up for greenhouse events because it helps other small businesses, he said.
He’s always loved working with plants and flowers, which he attributes to his grandmothers, Lily and Rose. He started working for Goldner, then rose to operations manager, and, with landscape designer and horticulturist Jim Slezinski, bought the company in 1988.
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