Community Highlights: Meet Samuel Swayzer of Swayzer Landscapes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Swayzer.

Hi Samuel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Imagine being only six years old and already working full days in the cotton fields. I still remember carrying a sack almost as long as I was tall and learning to drive a tractor before I was even big enough to see over the wheel. That was my reality. I was born in 1943 in Winnsboro, Louisiana, during the sharecropping era. Sharecropping was a system that kept families tied to the land through long hours of labor for only a small portion of the harvest. For a child, it meant carrying responsibilities far beyond your years. Those early days became my classroom, teaching me endurance, faith, and the quiet pride that comes from earning your way.

When I moved west to California, I carried those lessons with me. Life was not easy, but I never stopped believing that hard work and faith could open doors. For years, I drove trucks for Environmental, providing for my family and holding onto a vision of something greater. I knew deep down that God had more planned for me than just working for someone else. He was teaching me how to lead.

In 1978, my wife, Regina, and I took a leap of faith and started our own business. We founded Swayzer’s Incorporated in Carson, California, with little more than determination, prayer, and a belief that excellence would make room for us. Together, we worked tirelessly for more than four decades, building a company that reflected our values and always giving back to the community that supported us. What started as a small family operation built on trust and perseverance would grow into what is now Swayzer Corporation, a company grounded in faith, purpose, and service.

Today, Swayzer Corporation includes two divisions, Swayzer Landscapes and Swayzer Janitorial. Our three children, Elijah, Ezekiel, and Luellen, now carry the business forward, providing professional services for educational institutions, municipalities, public agencies, and commercial clients. Watching them lead fills me with pride because I see the same strength, the same faith, and the same heart that carried us through the beginning.

I look back and see God’s hand in all of it. From carrying a cotton sack in Louisiana to building a company that serves cities across California, my journey has been guided by faith every step of the way. I thank God for blessing me with a family who believes in hard work and service and for allowing our name to stand for something greater than business. My greatest joy is knowing that the work we began continues, stronger than ever, through the hands and hearts of our children, and that the same faith that carried us then still carries us now.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting out was not easy. When Regina and I began this journey, we did not know everything about running a business. We had to learn as we went, about contracts, paperwork, bidding, and what it really took to build a company from the ground up. There were no shortcuts, and there were times when we made mistakes simply because no one was there to show us the way.

Being a Black-owned business in a competitive industry brought its own challenges. We had to work twice as hard to be seen and taken seriously. There were moments when we were overlooked, underpaid, or passed over, not because of the quality of our work, but because of who we were. But we refused to let that stop us. Every obstacle became a lesson, every closed door a reason to pray harder and work smarter.

Perseverance, faith, and the will to keep moving forward became our foundation. Over the years, those struggles shaped our character and strengthened our purpose. They taught us that success is not just about winning contracts; it is about keeping your word, standing on faith, and proving through your work that you belong. Today, I see that same determination in our children as they continue to build on what we started, never forgetting where it began or the road it took to get here.

We’ve been impressed with Swayzer Landscapes, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Over the years, we have specialized in landscape maintenance, design, construction, irrigation, and water management, along with professional janitorial and facility maintenance for educational institutions, municipalities, and commercial clients. What has always set us apart is our reliability, attention to detail, and the pride we take in our work. Every project is a reflection of who we are and what we stand for.

Our foundation has always been family values, faith, and integrity. I have learned that hard work and service to others create lasting partnerships, not just contracts. From the beginning, Regina and I believed that if we stayed true to our word and treated people right, the company would grow the right way. And it did. We built this business on faith and community service, and I thank God that those same principles still guide us more than four decades later.

I take great pride in what the Swayzer name stands for today, a trusted local partner that cities and institutions can depend on. “In God We Trust” appears on every company vehicle and business card, not as a slogan, but as a reminder of the foundation that carries us.

At Swayzer Corporation, our mission has never changed. We serve with excellence, improve the spaces people use every day, and do our part to make a positive impact in every community we touch.

What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing the legacy that Regina and I started continue to grow through our children. There is no greater joy than watching them work together with the same faith, determination, and pride that built this company from the ground up. Every time I see one of our trucks out serving a city, maintaining a school, or keeping a community clean and safe, it reminds me of why we began.

I am happy knowing that our work still has meaning, that it provides opportunities, supports families, and gives back to the same communities that helped us grow. Most of all, I am thankful that we are still doing it together as a family, carrying forward the same spirit of faith and service that started it all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swayland.com