Bluewagon was founded in 2005 and has 25 employees serving the San Francisco Bay Area. We are engaged in landscape construction and collaborate with many of the top Landscape Architects and General Contractors in the Bay Area.

The "Blue" in the firms name, Bluewagon, is a reference to an influential business strategy book, Blue Ocean Strategy, that helps guide our thinking and approach. This book observed and explained that new businesses can be built by emphasizing the things customers value most while also de-emphasizing or eliminating the remaining attributes. As an example, think Cirque du Soleil  with its emphasis on acrobatics, illusion, and theater while eliminating the more traditional use of animals and star performers. 

Bluewagon's value emphases are close client interactions, responsiveness, transparency, and accurate project delivery timelines and costs. 

Kevin Bates

Kevin founded Bluewagon to pursue his lifelong interest in plants, gardens, and design. Kevin is a Bay Area native who grew up in Portola Valley (where his parents still reside). His interest in landscapes was influenced by the natural beauty of Northern California as well as the substantial efforts of leading bay area designers. Prior to founding Bluewagon, Kevin was a Partner in a "volatility arbitrage" (i.e., arcane Wall Street stuff) operation based in San Francisco with offices in New York and Philadelphia.

Kevin invests himself in building and maintaining close working relationships with clients that typically outlive a projects lifespan. Kevin is responsible for managing operations in the field where he oversees the execution of landscape designs as well as collaborating with clients and designers on any plan adjustments as work progresses. "I feel fortunate and privileged to spend my days interacting with interesting and enlightening people as they realize their project goals".

Kevin is married with two children and resides in Lafayette. Kevin has a BA from Chico State. 

Karim Tahawi

Karim joined Bluewagon in 2013 to bring his operational and finance expertise to the firm. Karim is responsible for managing operational details such as finance, purchasing, and project planning. Prior to joining Bluewagon, Karim spent the balance of his career working as a Portfolio Manager.

Karim has a deep interest in design in all its manifestations.

Karim is married with three children and resides in Piedmont. Karim has a Bachelor's degree from George Washington University and a Master's degree from London Business School.