We are known to many not only as Tom Penquite and Gary McDaniel, but also as the odd couple in professional circles.  Who would have ever predicted two private investigators with 58 years of investigative experience would make a leap to be nurserymen?  Believe us, it has not been an easy transition.  The education and experience we gained thus far in this journey has allowed us to make good decisions.  Once the development was underway, the decision was made to bring David L. Collins, Jr., a native South Carolinian aboard as our staff agronomist and Operations Manager, and the planned production came to fruition.  Collins is the hands-on specialist while the owners continue to be the creative business minds of the operations at Goodland Creek Trees.

Gary J. McDaniel is a fifth-generation resident from Palm Beach County, Florida who graduated from Palm Beach Junior College, and after serving two years in the U.S. Army as a Sgt. and Non-Commissioned Officer (Ft. Benning, Georgia in 1968) returned to college and graduated from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, which makes him neutral in the competitive work of Carolinian alumni.  He founded Pretext Services, Inc. (www.pretextpi.com) in 1978 after serving the Wackenhut Corporation as Manager of Investigations in five South Florida counties.  Pretext continues to this day as an internationally respected agency serving clients on a referral-only basis.  McDaniel continues as a lecturer on investigative methods and practices and is a court-certified investigative specialist, while serving the needs of the farm.

Tom Penquite is a native Iowan.  In 1961, Tom and family found their way to South Florida and settled in Ft. Lauderdale.  Tom served the U.S. Navy in Charleston, South Carolina, graduated from Florida State University and then lived in Atlanta, Georgia.  His careers include serving as a stockbroker dealing with Fortune 500 companies as he continued a part-time career as a real estate specialist.  He became a private investigator while in Atlanta, with a specialty in employment and business investigation.  He recently registered 007 Realty, Inc. in South Carolina to serve existing clients in sales of commercial and agricultural properties.

David L. Collins, Jr. is a native of South Carolina and a graduate of Horry Georgetown College in Myrtle Beach.  He followed in his father's footsteps as a golf course and landscape specialist.   David brings to Goodland Creek Trees 12 years of experience in growth management programs and a practical knowledge of growth sciences and productions needs.  He is our in-house agronomist with an established record of success.   We consider ourselves fortunate to take advantage of David's expertise and commitment.

David's hands-on work consisted of the installation of 15 miles of specialized irrigation engineered by the staff at W.P. Law in Columbia, SC.  This was followed by annually bringing 10,000 trees into production starting with liners which were transplanted into 3-gallon containers, bumped up to 15-gallon and then 30 and 45-gallon containers in separate growth programs.  As Operations Manager, he oversees the full-time staff and contract work force.  Undoubtedly, David is responsible for bringing the farm to its present form, having overseen the development of every acre and the construction of the infrastructure.  As an on-site resident and specialist, David welcomes your inquiries.