40 Under 40: Matt Tanksley, landscaper

Matt Tanksley

AGE: 35

FAMILY: Wife Carol

EMPLOYER: Tanksley Lawn and Landscape

POSITION: Owner

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Cape Girardeau Kiwanis Club

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

Because of the weather, no day is ever the same.

MOST SATISFYING PART OF HIS JOB:

Seeing a customer's smile at the end of a project.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

Mullet

HIS FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

"Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi

HIS BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

Turning a tractor over.

HIS MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

I had a new piece of equipment on a job. One of the other contractors had relieved himself behind and sort of under the equipment. A few minutes later, that same contractor informed me that my equipment was leaking fluid. In order to determine the type of fluid that was leaking, I bent down, stuck my fingertips in it, and smelled my fingertips. I then realized that the joke was on me.