In Fall 2024, Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service participated in the Entrepreneurial Studies Internship Program through the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. The program connects businesses with innovative, entrepreneurial-minded students eager to gain hands-on experience across industries.
Building on the strength of the program, our team designed an immersive internship that offered a full-spectrum look into the landscaping world. Through a rotating structure, interns explored everything from tree care and hardscape installation to project planning and client relations—developing both practical skills and real business insight along the way.
In 2024, we were lucky to meet Roy Ryder.
Roy joined our team eager to learn, and by the end of the season, he had built the confidence, capability, and drive to step into a full-time role. Today, he’s part of our Sales Team—bringing fresh ideas, a strong work ethic, and a deep understanding of the business to every client interaction.
“Our program gives interns a chance to experience different aspects of the landscaping business and get a feel for what might be a good fit for them,” says Jay Rotonnelli, VP of Strategy and Business Development. “By the end of the internship, they not only have hands-on experience in the field—they’ve also developed problem-solving skills, the confidence to take on real responsibilities, and hopefully a passion for the work. Roy is a great example of a success story!”
As we look ahead to Fall 2025, the internship program at UNH is evolving and we’re excited to see where it goes next. With a renewed focus on mentorship, skill-building, and growth, we look forward to welcoming the next generation of interns whatever shape the program takes.
Take a look at what Roy has to say about his experience:
What first drew you to landscaping as a teenager?
Growing up, my father was the superintendent of Sankaty Head Golf Course on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. I spent countless hours by his side, watching the crew work like a well-oiled machine to keep the course in pristine condition. I always found this to be very fascinating and impressive. Once I got a bit older, I started operating my own mowing service as a side job. I stuck with this from my early days of middle school all the way through to the end of college.
Why did you decide to transition from hands-on landscaping work to sales?
During my time at UNH, I gained a lot of business professional experience. I learned many skills related to customer relationship management which has become something that I enjoy working on. Immediately within the first few weeks of my internship here at Piscataqua, I knew that this was the place where I belonged. This company has offered me constant support and empowered me to enjoy and care about my work. It is also a place where I feel that I can positively impact by leveraging my current skillset. My background knowledge and passion for landscaping, coupled with the skills I gained at UNH made the decision to join the team here in a sales role a very easy one.
You studied Business Administration and entrepreneurship. How do those skills translate into your day-to-day role as a Sales Rep?
At UNH, I learned about what it means to be an entrepreneur as well as another term I was unfamiliar with, an “intrapreneur.” This is someone who comes up with new innovative ideas within a company rather than on their own. This is something that has always piqued my interest and also the reason why I decided to take it on as a college study. My current title says that I am a “sales representative,” however, “intrapreneur” would also define my role pretty well. That is also the case with everyone here at Piscataqua. When presented with an obstacle that may be difficult, the common question around here is to ask, “why not?” Or “Why can’t we do that?” This leads to innovative thinking and ultimately, a new strategy to tackle that obstacle. At UNH, in the Entreprenurial Studies major, I was also told that you must be resilient and that roadblocks are inevitable, you just need to learn how to overcome them. Now that I am in the driver’s seat, experiencing these situations I had learned about, the skills I learned in school are helping me move onward and upward.
Can you share a memorable project you worked on during your internship that solidified your decision to join PLTS full-time?
During my internship, I cycled through the many different operations that take place here at PLTS. I could be found one day working on a property with a shovel in my hand and then the next day sitting in on a tactical meeting with the senior leadership team. The type of work and the setting I was in changed constantly however, one theme stayed the same. The people around here are top-notch. Everywhere I looked someone was asking me about how my time at the company had been and to please reach out if I needed anything at all. Prior to starting my internship here, I genuinely had no intention of sticking around full time. After a very short time, I knew it would be foolish to let an opportunity like this pass me by.
What new skills or insights did you learn during your internship?
I have always been a hands-on learner and gain the most by doing activities rather than hearing about them. Nearly everything I learned while at UNH was geared towards operations at for-profit companies. Up until working here at Piscataqua, I had not worked at a for-profit company since my first summer job when I was 14 years old. Aside from that, my only other employer had been my local municipality where operations are done following a different mindset. My internship at PLTS was a perfect example of everything that I had been lectured about in school. It helped tremendously to reinforce those lectures and give me a much deeper understanding of the concepts.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Just like I have mentioned prior, the best part of my job is the people that I get the pleasure to work alongside. Not only are they very fun to be around, but the depth of knowledge is truly remarkable. A question about anything whether it is tree related, irrigation, snow, or many more, there is an expert on this team who I can go to, and they will be more than happy to help me out. That has made my recent transition out of education and into the workforce very seamless. I am very excited to see what the future has to hold!
