Growing up around his father Dave's business, Mike Fisher not only learned the finer points of stone masonry and creating remarkable outdoor living spaces, but also discovered that taking pride in his work and treating customers and coworkers alike with respect would serve him well throughout his career. He remains grateful for those lessons he applies daily.

"He's my biggest role model," Mike says of his dad. "I've seen him overcome challenges in the business, whether it was missing a couple of top guys or going through growing pains. At the end of the day, it's not just a job: It's something that he's passionate about and that he enjoys. I think he's done a really good job of giving different people, including me, the opportunity to take on different roles. His mindset is, 'It's not just my business, it's our business—let's grow it together.' He's really focused on the team rather than trying to do it on our own."

That mentality allowed Dutchies Stoneworks to thrive for two decades and now enter an exciting new era featuring Mike in a more prominent position alongside his father. Along with rebranding as Dutchies Stoneworks and Outdoor Living to better encapsulate the landscape architecture, design and build services they're known for, they've also finetuned their processes and updated their website to be more user-friendly.

Dave has specialized in elaborate outdoor living spaces since the early days of Dutchies. He's proud of the direction his company is headed, especially since his other son Jason and daughter Lydia Faith Stolztfus are also on the team.
"It's just a really good feeling to have them with us and to be able to see them all the time and work on projects together," he says. "Mike bought into the business in 2024 so he's part-owner now, and to see him learn and to grow in his role is fun. He has taken ownership of that position and built it even better than I ever could. It just seems like this next generation is more in tune with the technology and they can do it better."

From a young age, Mike knew he wanted to follow in his father's footsteps.

"I got a great opportunity when Dad entrusted me with leading a crew at 17," he says. "By 21 I was a project manager, and now I'm jumping into ownership and sales. It's been a fun challenge and the more I dive into it, I love not only transforming people's backyards so they can host family and friends, but also work culture is very important to me. I love the business, I love the challenges and I love the growth, so these are exciting times."

Among the benefits of a revamped website is that clients can log on and easily begin the process by scheduling a 15-minute exploratory call with Mike in which they can both determine if it's a good fit to move forward together. Then he will schedule an onsite meeting to develop a design by fully understanding their space and wants.

"Everyone's backyard is different and that creates unique challenges, but it's always fun," he says. "One of my favorite parts is presenting the 3D rendering because the light bulb usually goes off with the homeowner and they realize, 'Wow, we can really have this in our backyard.' That's been a game-changer for us as far as designing outdoor living spaces."

Dave notes that most projects start with a patio made with either natural stone or manufactured pavers and usually include a shade structure, along with an outdoor kitchen and lighting for those who love to entertain. His home has its own outdoor living space, so he's quick to share tips from both his personal experience and 20-plus years of industry insight.

"It's become much more of the norm where everyone loves spending time outdoors," he says. "Two years ago we built a covered patio with an outdoor kitchen, a pizza oven, a fireplace and a water feature, and it's a great place to entertain and hang out with family and friends. You can use it year round."

As the budget is always a concern, another website addition is a price page to help homeowners understand the costs of different amenities.

"It will help people determine if their budget is reasonable enough, because that's always a challenge," Mike says. "Some people are hesitant to share their budget, but the more I know about what you want to spend, the better I can design a space that works for you."

Being honest and upfront—doing what they say, when they say it—is one of Dutchies' five core values that Mike learned from his dad, along with being passionate about what they do, focusing on team and developing people. The final one is especially meaningful to Mike, and will remain at the core of the business as it continues to evolve.

"Dad always preaches the relentless pursuit of excellence," he says. "No matter what we do and how good we do it, we can always do it better."

Dutchies Stoneworks and Outdoor Living
Gap, Pa.
(717) 407-2235
DutchiesStoneworks.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 3 (March/April 2025)
For more info on House & Home magazine, click here.
To subscribe to House & Home magazine, click here.
To advertise in House & Home magazine, call 610-272-3120.