Outdoor Design Group, LLC started as a brainchild between John Gamba, RLA, APLD, ASLA and Dick Ratcliff, ASI, APLD. The partners met while working as in-house designers for a large landscape contractor in central Maryland. After getting to know each other over several years, they realized that they shared similar design methodologies, personalities and general outlook on life. They decided to share this love for design in another realm. The partners wanted to take their extensive design and installation experience to a higher level by creating an independent design consultation company that custom tailors the landscape process for the homeowner, as well as, for the contractor. Although, no longer working "in-house" for contractors themselves, the field experience that John and Dick bring to the table enables their designs to be more realistic and able to be built easily by any homeowner or contractor who reads their plans.

John is a Maryland and Virginia licensed landscape architect. He has extensive knowledge in landscape and construction techniques from all across the country. He helps with his eye for detail to make sure that no small infraction is missed during the process.

Dick is a certified arborist, landscape designer and horticulturist. He has extensive knowledge in landscape and construction techniques from the mid-west and eastern regions of the country. He is a multi-faceted wealth of knowledge in the residential and commercial markets. Dick also helps by sharing his extensive knowledge in business management.

The team, created by their partnership, allows more flexible time to meet their client's strict time constraints in comparison to designers who choose to work alone. John and Dick, the principal designers, have a comprehensive support staff that can handle any scope of work. Since a lot of the services that Outdoor Design Group, LLC provides are in-the-field consultations, there needs to be a large amount of flexibility to be available when the client needs their help. The support staff keeps the work moving forward while John and Dick are out of the office and on site.

Outdoor Design Group, LLC has grown into a full service company that can address any type of landscape and/or construction project. We are the advocate that a client needs to guarantee that the project comes to fruition in the manner in which it is intended.