New Business Profile: Londoner Finds Paradise

Today Shaf Patel, Operations Director of Greenscapes, is a happy man.  “Running my own business, working in the sun every day, living in Paradise, what more can I ask for?”

Shaf was born in West Yorkshire and brought up in London, England.  He and his wife, Nas, both worked in central London, he as a Property Maintenance Manager and she as a Marketing Manager for a charity.  His dream was to own his own business and, “Be the master of my destiny”.

Opportunity arose when Shaf’s friend, Tony, a Finance Director, told him he was considering buying a business and invited him to become his business partner.  Shaf’s skills were an excellent match to the demands of the business which was up for sale.  Shaf’s years of experience of managing property management services were directly relevant to Greenscapes which is a full service horticultural company.  Shaf’s background combined with Tony’s financial skills seemed a recipe for success.

“The only issue was the business was in Sarasota, nearly 5,000 miles away”, laughs Shaf.  Shaf and Nas visited Sarasota and immediately felt at home.  “We love the bright, fresh feel of the town and, of course, the beautiful beaches.  There is so much to do.  Sarasota has big city facilities with a small town, community vibe”.  Shaf and Nas decided to leap into a new life.

Shaf approached Chris Jaensch to help.  “Chris had a great reputation and he was so friendly and helpful.  He explained the complexities of the visa process and guided me though the application”. Although the application process took many months and some of Shaf’s friends and relatives thought he was mad, Shaf was determined.

Finally Shaf and Nas received their passports back from the London embassy and inside was their E2 visa stamp.  “It was a thrilling moment’.  They flew out from Gatwick on February 26, 2012 and on March 1, 2012 the sale of Greenscapes was finalized.

Shaf now spends his days managing teams of horticultural workers, from irrigation specialists to fertilization experts, to maintain green spaces across Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice.  “Whether we are working with commercial customers or homeowners, people are entrusting us to make and keep their landscapes beautiful.  I take that responsibility really seriously”, says Shaf.  “Excellent landscaping can promote the right image of a business and increase the value of a home, as well as bring great pleasure to people.  I cannot imagine a better job’.

So was it worth it?  “Absolutely.  It was tough waiting to hear about our visas, but Chris made it as painless as possible and now I spend my days making Sarasota even more beautiful and my evenings enjoying the sunsets”.

Greenscapes is a full service horticultural company.  Their services include grounds management, irrigation maintenance and installation, professional lawn care and landscape design and installation.  Their office is located at 8000 Fruitville Rd their phone number is (941) 379-8320.  The company has been in operation for over 20 years.  Their clients range from individual residences to large companies.  To learn more visit their website: http://www.greenscapessrq.com/default.asp.

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Written by Chris Jaensch

Attorney P. Christopher Jaensch received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1992 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1995 from the University of Florida. While at UF, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa Society and Florida Blue Key, the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the state of Florida.

Mr. Jaensch is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the Sarasota Bar Association. He has served as President of the Sarasota-Manatee International Trade Club and served as Regional Vice Chair, Tampa Bay, for the Central Florida Chapter of AILA. He was a member of City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee and has been active in several local organizations, including the influential Laurel Park Neighborhood Association in downtown Sarasota.

Mr. Jaensch has over 18 years of experience in the field of immigration and nationality law and focuses his practice on four primary categories (a) investors and entrepreneurs, (b) business executives, managers and professionals, (c) amateur and professional athletes and coaches and (d) performing artists and immigrants with extraordinary ability.