Stuckeman alum prioritizes the value of strong relationships, hard work

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mike Levkulich, 2007 Penn State landscape architecture alumnus, sets a high standard not only for the work of his design firm but also for himself in developing strong professional relationships.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Levkulich graduated with his bachelor of landscape architecture from the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School immediately before the start of the 2008 recession. His first employment opportunity led him to New Jersey-based landscape architecture firm Melillo + Bauer Associates, starting the first season of his professional life. He cites Tom Bauer, a founding partner of the firm and a fellow Penn Stater, as a mentor of his.

“Everybody goes through seasons,” Levkulich said. “About every four years, I try to pick my head up, look around and see if I’m on the right path.”

According to Levkulich, the time he spent at Penn State prepared him not only in the practice of landscape architecture but also in building and maintaining strong professional relationships.

“I can say with confidence — and a little bit of bias — that with the Penn State Landscape Architecture program’s quality of [students] and how well they are prepared for a workplace, I’d put them up against anybody [for a job,]” he said.

Eight years into working at Melillo + Bauer, Levkulich learned about an opportunity from a friend from his time at Penn State in Dallas at TBG Partners. As he met more industry colleagues in Texas, he said felt the doors of opportunity opening — a new season was coming, set in Texas.

Levkulich’s time at TBG allowed him to develop personally and professionally, becoming a senior associate landscape architect and meeting his wife at the firm. After five years at TBG, Levkulich felt the tides changing again, he said. He felt inspired to start his own company: Bud Creative.

The Dallas-based landscape architecture firm, now comprising six employees, opened its doors on Jan. 1, 2020. After collecting seven or eight projects in the first months of 2020, the boutique firm came to a pause as, one by one, its clients ceased working on design projects.

“On paper, this should not have worked out the way it did,” Levkulich said. “I thought, ‘What on earth did I just do?’”

Highland Park Village, a high-end retail area in Dallas, found that the pandemic unexpectedly presented the most opportune time to work with Bud Creative to renovate their retail space, given that their stores were shut down. The project, started in 2020, allowed the new design firm to pick up again and sustain itself throughout the most challenging months of the pandemic.

“I appreciate those difficult challenges because now I’m set moving forward with a humbler personality,” Levkulich said.

On Bud Creative’s website, Levkulich cites “Do more” as his philosophy. Levkulich admits that he never shied away from hard work due to his upbringing in a highly motivated blue-collar family and diligent participation in athletics throughout his childhood, and this work ethic has transcended through his college life into his professional life.

“Creativity and good solutions for any creative business should be a prerequisite. Clients shouldn’t have to ask for that; you should just do that,” he said. “If we can improve our process, the answer is yes.”

However, Levkulich believes that his philosophy of working hard to create strong design solutions works in partnership with another cornerstone of his professional experience: getting to know everyone involved and developing healthy professional relationships with them.

“There are so many people that cross our paths every day — clients, reps, contractors, other colleagues that we work with — we get introduced to so many people, and now I just feel so much of a desire to get to know other people,” Levkulich said.

Levkulich said that he does not market Bud Creative online often but rather relies heavily on word of mouth, prioritizing the genuine relationships he has made in the industry. He also builds strong relationships within his company internally. He describes his leadership style within the company as service oriented.

“To lead is to serve,” Levkulich said. “Are you willing to do the work that you would give anybody else — no matter how small the task — down to cleaning the toilets and taking the trash out?”

For Levkulich, no job at the office is too small, and he is always aspiring to improve and encourage his employees to do the same.

“If you can, don’t settle,” he said. “Hold yourself to a higher standard; you can improve. You can do it with others, too. If I can elevate others to [improve], I’ve done my job successfully.”

Levkulich advises current Penn State students to appreciate and embrace the strength of their educational program.

“I hold the Penn State [landscape architecture] program in very high regard,” Levkulich said. “Recognize the opportunity that you have, and when you are [graduated], encourage everybody to do more and recognize opportunities for relationships.”