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About Us

Custom Backyard Renovators Serving the Twin Cities

BRENNING-OH

Nature’s Quest Merges
With Outdoor Innovations

We're delighted to inform you that as of January 1, 2024, Casey Hedeen with Nature's Quest, Inc. has merged with Outdoor Innovations Landscaping, a leader in our industry.

After 21 years in business, Casey felt it was time for a new challenge. Teaming up with Outdoor Innovations allows the opportunity for better service to his customers with the same quality that Casey demands.

Nature’s Quest and Outdoor Innovations are a match in values, dedication to absolute quality, and commitment to maintaining an outstanding status as one of the leaders in the landscape industry.

Casey can still be reached directly at his same number: 651-755-7028. Or, you can reach out to Outdoor Innovations Landscaping directly.

Proudly Serving the Twin Cities Metro Area

With our base of operations in Hugo, Minnesota, our dedicated team is honored to come to your Twin Cities home and recreate a high-end outdoor living area to match your unique vision!

Here are some of the cities we serve in our expanding service area:

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Afton
Dellwood
Grant

Eagan

Hudson, WI
Lake Elmo
Mendota Heights
Minneapolis
Minnetonka
North Oaks
Orono
St. Paul
Stillwater
Woodbury

Twin Cities Go-To for Luxurious Outdoor Living

Outdoor Innovations takes your outdoor living vision, then designs and builds it down to the last detail!
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Asher Judd

Owner/Operator
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Craig Palmer

Owner/Operator

Craig founded his first landscaping business, CP Landscapes, in 2001 while studying Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He expanded that venture and co-founded Outdoor Innovations with Asher Judd in 2007, which has been thriving and strengthening ever since.

Craig now oversees design, management, and sales and marketing for Outdoor Innovations.

In 2006, Craig married his wife Katie, and they are kept very busy raising their three sons: Ty, Garrett, and Tucker.

As an active, outdoor-loving family, they engage in baseball, shooting sports, golf, basketball, fishing, hunting, and the general chaos that comes with three energetic boys!

 

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Eric Monzel

Operations Manager

Eric has been with Outdoor Innovations Landscaping since 2021. Prior to joining us, Eric accumulated 26 years of experience in the landscaping industry.

Eric oversees our foremen, managing purchase orders and coordinating schedules with field contractors.

Eric is married and has two children.

In his free time, you will often find Eric fishing on a lake. He is a passionate fisherman and also enjoys hunting.

 

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Karina Bauer

Office Manager/Accounting
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Sepesitiano “Tiano” Pupungatoa

Sales & Design Consultant
CaseyHedeen

Casey Hedeen

Sales & Design Consultant

Casey is one of our Landscape Design Build Consultants and strives to be a leader in the hardscape industry.

Casey previously owned Nature's Quest Inc. in Hastings for 21 years, and as of January 1, 2024, Casey’s company merged with Outdoor Innovations.

Casey has extensive experience in every facet of the landscaping industry and is dedicated to his customers, providing the best quality products, production, and care.

 

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Trenton Dockendorf

Hardscape Foreman
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Devin Quam

Hardscape Manager
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Blake Herold

Hardscape Foreman
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Tyler Whitaker

Hardscape Excavation & Heavy Equipment Foreman
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Tim Erb

Landscape Foreman
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Ian Golladay

Landscape Foreman
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Owner/Operator

Asher Judd

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Owner/Operator

Craig Palmer

Craig founded his first landscaping company, CP Landscapes, in 2001 while attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture.

He expanded that business and co-founded Outdoor Innovations with Asher Judd in 2007, which has been thriving and strengthening ever since. Currently, Craig is responsible for designing, managing, and overseeing sales and marketing for Outdoor Innovations.

He married his wife Katie in 2006, and they are kept extremely busy raising their three boys.  As a family that loves sports and the outdoors, they are constantly engaged in activities like baseball, shooting sports, golf, basketball, fishing, and hunting, along with the general chaos that comes with having three active boys!

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Operations Manager

Eric Monzel

Eric has been with Outdoor Innovations Landscaping since 2021. Prior to joining us, Eric accumulated 26 years of experience in the landscaping industry.

Eric oversees our foremen, managing purchase orders and coordinating schedules with field contractors.

Eric is married and has two children.

In his free time, you will often find Eric fishing on a lake. He is a passionate fisherman and also enjoys hunting.

 

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Office Manager/Accounting

Karina Bauer

Karina, our Office Manager, has been ensuring smooth office operations since 2004 and holds a Business Management degree with a Marketing focus, along with various certifications.

Karina joined the Outdoor Innovations team in April 2024 and is affectionately known as “The Office Mom” because she always makes sure everyone is well taken care of, the office is well-stocked, clean, caffeinated, and no one goes hungry.

In her free time, Karina enjoys spending time with her husband, John, and their four children. She is also the founder of a non-profit organization called Wheel House Warriors, which supports Veterans, Active Military, and First Responders.

In the winter, Karina enjoys ice fishing, while in other seasons, she loves outdoor activities like waterfall hiking and camping. She also spends time with her pets, plays the piano, reads, cooks, bakes for staff meetings, and makes fancy coffee drinks. Additionally, she is a big fan of the Minnesota Wild and the Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey teams.

As a customer, you will often have the chance to meet Karina, as she loves taking before, during, and after pictures of all our projects! If you see her, be sure to say hello!!

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Sales & Design Consultant

Sepesitiano “Tiano” Pupungatoa

Sepesitiano, whom we affectionately call “Tiano” or “T,” became a part of the Outdoor Innovations family in 2020. Tiano discovered his passion for landscape design when he started working for a landscape company at the young age of twelve.

Tiano attended South Dakota State University, where he studied Business and Landscape Architecture while also competing on their football team for five years.

After college, Tiano briefly pursued a football career by signing with the Minnesota Vikings. With his football career behind him, he now channels that same competitive spirit and drive into providing his clients with top-notch 2D and 3D designs, exceptional customer service, and outstanding results.

In his free time, Tiano enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, Maggie, and they love golfing, hiking, and going to the movies together.

Tiano is an invaluable asset to our team, and I’m not just referring to his impressive height and strength, which have come in handy on occasion!

Tiano brings his education, skills, and team spirit to the company, and is always ready to help with any task. His leadership, personality, and attention to detail make him an outstanding consultant and a valued member of our team.

CaseyHedeen
Sales & Design Consultant

Casey Hedeen

Casey is one of our Landscape design build consultants and aims to be a leader in the hardscape industry.

Casey previously owned Nature's Quest Inc. in Hastings for 21 years, and as of January 1, 2024, Casey’s company merged with Outdoor Innovations.

Casey has extensive experience in every facet of the landscaping industry and is dedicated to his customers, providing the best quality products, production, and care.

In Casey’s spare time, he enjoys exploring the great outdoors with his three kids!

Casey also enjoys hunting and fishing around the world. He's always up for a new adventure!

 

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Hardscape Foreman

Trenton Dockendorf

Trenton is a Hardscape Foreman and has been with the company since June 2014, joining right after graduating from high school. His journey with us began with a strong foundation, as he was trained directly by our owners. This early mentorship has equipped him with invaluable experience and skills that have played a significant role in our company's success.

In September 2024, Trenton married his wonderful wife Jaelyn. The newlyweds are enjoying their life together and share their home with their beloved Black Lab, Reggie. 

Outside of work, Trenton is an avid outdoorsman. He enjoys spending his free time hunting, fishing, and camping. 

Trenton is an invaluable member of our team. His dedication, hard work, and leadership qualities make him an excellent leader and a key asset to our organization. 

Hardscape Manager

Devin Quam

Devin joined our team in May of 2013. Prior to coming to Outdoor Innovations Landscaping, Devin worked in the oil fields in North Dakota.

Devin’s hobbies are camping and going for rides on the pontoon.

Devin is a great asset to our team and we are so blessed to have him.

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Hardscape Foreman

Blake Herold

Blake has been with Outdoor Innovations since April 2020. Prior to joining us, he was a member of the carpenters union.

Blake and his girlfriend Rachel have been together for three years and are proud parents to three beautiful children. Their household is quite lively with two toddlers and an infant!

However, when Blake finds some free time, he enjoys golfing, snowboarding, and cliff jumping.

Blake is an invaluable member of the Outdoor Innovations team. His skills and leadership significantly contribute to our success, and his meticulous quality control on every aspect of a project showcases his craftsmanship and expertise. We are incredibly grateful to have Blake on our team.

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Excavation & Heavy Equipment Foreman

Tyler Whitaker

Tyler has been with Outdoor Innovations since the summer of 2017. During the off-season, he pursued his welding diploma and basic welding certificate, which he completed in 2018. That same year, he joined Rosenbauer, working on generators for fire trucks but continued to help plow snow for Outdoor Innovations during the winter.

Tyler returned to Outdoor Innovations full-time in 2020 and is now our Excavation and Heavy Equipment Foreman.

Before entering the industry, Tyler proudly served four years of active duty in the Marine Corps. He has been happily married to his wife, Amanda, for four years, and together, they have a combined 17 years of service. We truly appreciate their service to our country.

Tyler and Amanda have a beautiful daughter, as well as a chocolate lab fur baby, Jake.

In his spare time, Tyler enjoys hockey, hunting, and whiskey tasting—not necessarily in that order.

His character, integrity, and leadership abilities are exemplary, and he is a huge asset to our team. His skills are incredible! If he is on your job site, you will see just how amazing he is at operating some of our heavy machinery!

Landscape Foreman

Tim Erb

Tim has been with Outdoor Innovations Landscaping since 2012. Before that, he owned and operated his own landscaping business for twelve years.

In his free time, Tim enjoys fishing.

Tim is an exceptional employee who consistently goes the extra mile to ensure tasks are completed. His expertise and meticulousness are invaluable to the company.

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Landscape Foreman

Ian Golladay

Ian has been with Outdoor Innovations since May of 2024. Ian enjoys molding both hard and softscape styles of landscape installations.

Ian grew up in Central Wisconsin where his family has deep roots in state forestry and Christmas Tree Farming.

Ian is very much a family man. He married his beautiful wife Maddie in 2018 and resides in St. Croix Falls, WI. They have two adorable children.

In his spare time, he loves spending time outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, swimming, and having bonfires. He also enjoys cooking and sharing meals with friends and family.

Ian is a great asset to our team and we are so blessed to have his vast knowledge and skills to help lead and teach others. As well as, providing amazing quality craftsmanship in all he does.