Our Story

Old North State was founded in the mid 1980’s by Bill Strope, who is still an owner today. When ONS first started out, it was no more than a small landscaping and maintenance company providing services to the community. Since the inception of the company more than 40 years ago, ONS has become an organization and family of skilled craftsmen, designers, and administration.

Old North State was established on the foundation of four main values: quality, accountability, knowledge, and hard work. These values reverberate with all levels of employees, from our owners to our laborers. We strive to give the customer the highest level of this service, quality, and value, which has and always will be our most important element in our relationship with our clients. We are committed to exceeding your expectations and stretching the boundaries on what is possible.

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Meet Our Team

Bill Strope

Owner and Founder

Gardening has always been a part of Bill’s life since he was 13 years old. Intrigued with watching a landscape of plants sprout and grow into what became a beautiful garden, Bill taught himself how to work with different species of plants. Bill chose to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture at Penn State University. After his college career, he decided to take what he learned and turned it into a professional career. Since beginning Old North State, Bill received his NC Landscape Contractor’s license, NC Irrigation Contractor’s license, and an ICPI Paver Certification.

As the owner and founder of Old North State, Bill takes on many roles; from dealing with the day-to-day business activities, to going out into the field for quality control. His passion lies with the creative team and sales department. Bill states: “I have always tried to think of the land as a canvas. We integrate creative artistry form with construction knowledge and regulations. Bringing the two together is always challenging, but very rewarding not just for the client, but for us as well.”

Bill has established a company and built a life around bringing joy to others through the artistic expression and passion of one simple ideal “outdoor living.”

Ben Strope

Vice President and Co-Owner

As one of Bill’s three sons, grew up working in the family business. Ben decided to help keep the family legacy alive by joining the business at a very young age. For many years, Ben worked every day alongside his father and the installation crews learning the proper way to handle, install, and implement landscape designs. His love of construction translates into his work by building one of a kind outdoor living spaces for his clients right in their backyard. Ben desired to continue pushing the limits of Old North State’s construction abilities. He furthered his education by attending countless swimming pool, landscape, and hardscape installation classes and seminars. He received many certifications, and is proudest of his Unlimited NC General Contractor’s license.

Ben attended Guilford College for Business Management.

ICPI Paver Certification, Segmental Retaining Wall Builder Certification with the National Concrete Masonry Association, NASCLA General Contractor Certified, and his NC General Contractor’s License.

Will Strope

Sales Manager and Co-Owner

A perfect addition to the management team, as Bill’s son, and Ben’s twin brother, Will came aboard the company full time, 10 years ago. From the time that Will could walk, he was always following his father around with a shovel in hand. Bill taught both him and his brother to have respect for all living things, and to use that passion to create and care for living designed outdoor spaces. It didn’t take long for Will to realize that he had to be in the second generation of the family business in some capacity. Working alongside each employee, Will quickly realized he had to help create something to take care of the projects that ONS installed.

Four years ago, in 2014, Will created the Estate Maintenance Department of Old North State, HomeCare. Will wanted to create and build a service that no one in the area was doing. Others said they were, but others were falling short. After looking at the maintenance industry, looking at the need for ONS, Will decided to roll up his sleeves and work side by side with the men to build what has evolved into a highly detailed oriented maintenance division. Today, Will humbly calls himself an employee of the company. As one of the owner’s of Old North State, he never knows exactly what will be needed of him from day to day. He always keeps the motto : “Dress up, show up, and be ready to help.”

After work, Will spends time caring for his wife, and baby girl. Will attended college for Business and Design. Since attending college, Will has earned his NC Irrigation License, his NC Pesticide/ Chemical Applicator License, and his ICPI Paver Certification.

Design and Estimating Department

Whitney Morris

Design Project Manager / Designer

Whitney graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Horticulture. Since beginning at Old North State, she has received her NC Landscape Contractor’s License, which helps her design lasting landscapes. Her love of the outdoors began with her parents simple vegetable garden in their backyard, which blossomed into a huge vegetable farm. “I have always loved art, design, and nature. Residential landscape design has always intrigued me because it allows for intricate details you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see. My landscape architecture degree allowed me to combine these ideals, which lead me to the green industry and the Old North State Family.” Whitney is dedicated to bringing all of your ideas and forming them into one beautiful and cohesive design. She will listen and work with you to get you exactly what you have envisioned for your property, and more. We are proud to have Whitney on our team, because she along with all of us, are what makes your dreams possible. When Whitney isn’t in the design studio, you can find her going on adventures with her husband to the mountains and to the coast; or at home with her two rescue cats, taking care of 50+ houseplants, or gardening.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Emma Emery

Materials Coordinator & Horticulturist

Emma grew up on a greenhouse nursery in Delaware and knew from a young age that the green industry is where she belonged. She graduated from NC State with a bachelor’s degree in Horticultural Science. During her time at NC State, she worked at the JC Raulston Arboretum where she grew a love for unique landscape designs that incorporate new and unusual plants. She participated in the National Collegiate Landscape Competitions all through college and has been able to use the skills she learned daily at Old North State. Emma joined the Old North State team in 2021 and has since helped develop a Purchasing Department as the company has continued to expand. The variety of materials that we use keeps her job interesting as some days she is working with vendors to source pavers chosen by the homeowner themselves and other days she is touring nurseries to find quality plant material perfect for the job. In her free time, she loves traveling, camping, and finding new ways to spend time outdoors with her husband and two dogs.

Accounting Department

Daniel Love

Accounting Assistant

In early 2018, Daniel joined the Old North State Family. Daniel attended North Carolina State University and has received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management, with a minor in accounting. Despite his business background, his love for the outdoors couldn’t keep him away from the green industry. After college Daniel jumped into a career through production management and job tracking. During this track, Daniel earned his Certified Plant Professional certification to help better his understanding of each project, and to assist in finding plants that are beyond the norm. Once joining ONS, Daniel spent many months out in the field in the everyday duties to learn and understand the unique way that Old North State makes every client feel like family while providing the best quality service and product.

Daniel loves seeing completed projects from the team, because every completed product is unique, just like Old North State. In his downtime, Daniel loves to spend his time with his family. Whenever possible, Daniel gets out on the boat, the beach, or just out on a hike with his wife and two boys. Family is very important to Daniel, which is why he makes such a great fit in the Old North State Family.

HomeCare

Mahala Grabow

HomeCare Administrative Assistant

Growing up in Minnesota and Pennsylvania, Mahala developed a taste for the politeness of the Midwest and the boldness of the northeast. After graduating from the Pennsylvania State University in 2017, Mahala decided to start the next chapter of her life south of the Mason-Dixon line, as she now wanted to experience the hospitality of the South! Gregarious and amicable, Mahala spent many years working in the hospitality industry, where she discovered her passion for connecting with people while going above and beyond to keep clientele happy. Mahala joined Old North State in 2022 and has quickly improved systems and workflow at the HomeCare department. She is critical in seeing the crews out the door each morning with a smile and keeping over seventy clients happy. She takes joy in working with clients to find exactly the right plant for the landscape taking into consideration the hue, bloom time, size – whatever the specification may be. Mahala’s colleagues describe her as incredibly cheerful, helpful, and brave! In her personal time, you can likely find her enjoying local restaurants, live music, or immersing herself in art at a museum.

Committed to Our Customers

At Old North State, we’re with you throughout every step of the design, planning, pool installation, carpentry installation, hardscape installation, and landscape installation process. Our designers will talk to you to better understand your expectations and to provide an estimate and beautiful, well thought out design (at a fee). Once the plan is set, our designers will continue communicating with you regularly and, of course, treat your property like it’s their own.

Contact Old North State today to transform your home.