Scott Landes

Entrepreneur, Author, Marketing Junkie, and Trail Enthusiast

Founded, built, and sold two companies. Dedicated to safe trail & recreational marking, reducing damages to buried infrastructure globally and recognized as an industry expert. Scott has published over 100 articles in multiple publications and spoke in the U.S., Canada, Argentina, Australia, Italy, the UK, and Turkey. With 10 patents on marking products. Scott is passionate about marketing, new ideas, and helping others.

• American Trails Board Member since 2019

• Vistage Legacy Award winner: 2023

• Founded Rhino Marking & Protection Systems in 1990, sold in 2021

• Founded Infrastructure Resources in 2003, sold in 2024

• Founded the Global Excavation Safety Conference

• Co-founded the Oceania Damage Prevention Conference

• Founder of the dp-PRO, formerly Damage Prevention Professional Magazine

• Created the 811 Runs and 811 Mudder public awareness events

• Created the annual Excavation Safety Guide (over 10 million published)

• Common Ground Alliance Jim Barron Award: 2007

Publishing two books in 2026. One book, Jimmy Buffett: Brand Genius, is an in-depth case study of building an authentic lifestyle brand, and why this marketing strategy can be so effective. This book mixes in plenty of stories about the events that shaped the brand and lifestyle along my personal experiences.

The second book, Holding Back Disaster, was written with Benjamin Dierker. This book shines a spotlight on the value of our nation's utility infrastructure and the difficult task of protecting it.