The Girard Companies

Like many young entrepreneurs, Rick Girard began mowing lawns for neighbors and family friends after school and on the weekends. As a freshman at Plantation High School, he designed and printed his first business cards as a class project, naming the company "Rick's Lawn Service".

Soon after, the name of the company was changed to "Rick's Handyman Service" as he began performing other odd jobs such as pressure cleaning, painting and resurfacing asphalt driveways.

Preceding both his junior and senior years of high school, Rick spent his summers working for South Shore Lawn & Garden, which was owned by Geoff Hounshell. While still in middle school, Randy Girard also spent most of his summer working alongside his brother for the same company.

During the school year, Rick worked part-time for Rose Auto Parts and for the printing department of a local office supply store named Jaffe's Stationers.

www.girardonline.com