the Bluegrass Boys
Dedicated to Superior Craftsmanship
Ryan Chocholousek – Owner/President @Bluegrass_ryan
Born and raised on a 100+ year old family farm north of Gregory, SD, Ryan grew up watching his Dad and Grandpa tend to the land and livestock. He saw firsthand the hard work that was required to be successful. These men were the root of his drive and inspiration to work for himself, and he credits them for his entrepreneurial spirit. I guess you could say it’s in the blood…or maybe he’s just too stubborn to work for someone else! Regardless, Ryan learned, and holds onto, those small-town family values: work hard, love God, and help out others.
After attending both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, Ryan began his career in the golf course business. He held positions ranging from Summer Intern to Golf Course Superintendent at some of the top clubs in the Western US before landing back in South Dakota. Today he lives in Rapid City with his wife Kelly and two children, Charlie and Cora, and landscaping has become his new obsession. When he’s not playing in the dirt, you can often find him exploring the beautiful Black Hills, a place he loves to call home.
Ryan’s background:
- B.S. Biology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD.
- B.S Horticulture – Turf and Landscape Mgmt., Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.
- Intern – Emerald Valley Golf Club, Creswell, OR.
- Intern – The Valley Club, Hailey, ID.
- Assistant Superintendent – The Glacier Club, Durango, CO.
- Superintendent – The Golf Club at Devils Tower, Hulett, WY.
- Club Manager – Boulder Canyon Country Club, Sturgis, SD.
- Participant – Leadership Rapid City – 2012 class.
- Member – Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce – 2017-present.
- Member – Arbor Day Foundation – 2017-present.
- Dirt Monkey Certified Contractor– 2018-present. (what is this?)
John Malik – Landscape Designer
Also hailing from the mighty Missouri River Valley of South Dakota is John Malik, the first face you’ll see and the source of our creativity.
John received a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Design – Park Management and Horticulture from South Dakota State University in Brookings. He served as Landscape Designer in Cross Lake, MN before settling down in Rapid City. He has served as President of the Nebraska/Dakotas Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. He and his wife Mary were blessed with four children.
John brings a unique perspective, both in design and life. He understands that every client has a unique story that drives the design process. John loves meeting new clients and welcomes the challenges and rewards of collaborating with them to create outdoor living spaces unique to their needs and lifestyles. He handcrafts designs that add both functionality and beauty to the world. He understands that details make the difference. And hand-renderings are just more appealing, don’t you think?
In his free time, you will find John cherishing time with his family, golfing, and sportfishing on that same Mighty Missouri – constantly drawing inspiration from nature and contemplating the next design on the horizon. John loves God and loves his family. We are certainly proud that he is part of ours.
Ben Clark – Project Manager
They say “surround yourself with good people”. Well, we feel we did this in spades when we brought Ben in to lead the team. A Rapid City native, Ben is not only the manager of day-to day operations, he is a true Jack-of-all-trades. We rely on Ben to tackle anything from plumbing and electric, to to carpentry, fabrication and masonry. Above all he is our problem solver!
Ben is a graduate of both Rapid City Stevens High School and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He and his wife Cari have three children Alivia, Grant, and Hudson, hence he spends most of his non-working hours as a shuttle driver! He is a family-first guy and we love that! When given the chance, he’ll spend his free time camping with family, rock climbing, fishing or mountain biking.