Daniel Cornacchia is making his mark in the industry at a young age
Daniel Cornacchia’s career is a clear example of how passion and skill are the key drivers in nurturing a successful business, proving that age is not a barrier to success. Cornacchia designs clients’ dream outdoor spaces that feel like an extension of their home, and provides a voice for the next generation of landscapers.
His connection to the landscape industry felt like a natural path from a young age. As a child, Cornacchia would play in the sand with his favourite toy: a mini excavator. By age six, he was already testing equipment with his father at his construction yard. “My grandfather and dad have always been my inspiration,” Cornacchia said. “I have learned from them since I was little. My goal was that one day I would work alongside my grandfather and contribute to his incredible hardscaping projects.”
After gaining experience throughout high school at various landscaping jobs, Cornacchia earned his degree in landscape architecture from the University of Guelph in April 2019. By then, his grandfather had retired, pushing Cornacchia to take the leap and open Dancor Landscapes at the age of 21.
Like many start-ups, Dancor Landscapes began as a solo operation, relying on a pickup truck and basic tools. Cornacchia recalled the foundational work: “One of my first projects was removing and replacing 1,500 square feet of sod, which I did by hand with a shovel, my truck and a one-ton trailer.”
He continued to grow his reputation, taking on everything from pulling weeds to powerwashing interlock. Eventually, he felt ready to tackle larger-scale design/build projects, which had always been his goal.
In 2019, he started Dancor and ran a crew ranging from three to five people. During this time, Cornacchia would both design and help with the building on the project. However, after deciding to relocate, he thought it was also time to transition the business fully to design and project management. Here, he began to develop relationships with subcontractors which he eventually hired for his first design/build project in the affluent Rosedale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ont., in 2024.
At the same time, his girlfriend, Madison Kohut, was busy building her interior design studio, and the couple would often collaborate on professional projects. “It quickly became apparent that we are stronger as a team and should combine forces,” Cornacchia said. From there, Moss and Oak Design Studio was born in 2025.
Moss and Oak Design Studio focuses on creating outdoor spaces that feel like an extension of a client’s home. The goal is to design spaces that are not only beautiful, but meaningful, enduring and deeply connected to place.
This is achieved through a six-stage process Cornacchia and Kohut created. From the initial consultations to the concept development and refinement, they take their clients with them each step of the way to ensure the client’s vision is executed to the fullest. This also means considering how the space is meant to make the client feel, and creating a plan that breaks down everything from planting selections, hardscape elements and material recommendations. This care doesn’t stop after the project is completed. Moss and Oak also provide seasonal check-up services so the space continues to thrive.
While they don’t personally participate in the building process, Cornacchia emphasizes he has forged strong relationships with contractors and remains closely involved with every project. Their usual clients are architects, custom home builders and homeowners.
Learning the ropes
As a recent graduate and the first entrepreneur in his family, Cornacchia understood the necessity of formal business education to maximize his company’s success.
“I remembered taking some professional development seminars at Landscape Ontario when I was with another company during school,” he said. “When I started Dancor, I knew I should sign up for Landscape Ontario. The main reason was to take every course I could find to get my footing in the industry. Education and training are so important to give those just starting out the confidence to say ‘I can do this’ or ‘I was trained for this.’”
From there his interest in Landscape Ontario only grew. He participated in an event with the Toronto Chapter before moving to Georgian Lakelands last summer and is interested in getting more involved with various events, like golf tournaments. He is also the chair of the Landscape Contractor Sector Group, where he is spearheading a couple of new initiatives, including finding ways to deliver more educational content and support contractors across the province.
The power of mentorship
In a recent blog post on the Moss and Oak Studio website, Cornacchia shared this perspective: “One of the most valuable decisions I made early on was actively seeking mentors. I looked for people I respected not just for what they’d built, but for how they approached their work and relationships. Reaching out felt intimidating at first, and showing vulnerability never came easily, but I quickly realized that those living the life I aspired to build were often the most generous with their time.”
One of the mentors Cornacchia says was pivotal in his career is Randy Tumber, who is also a longtime member of Landscape Ontario. He met Tumber after participating in one of his seminars, which was presented by Landscape Ontario, and they have stayed connected since.
He was able to make valuable connections through Landscape Ontario’s Peer to Peer Network for landscape business owners and senior management.
Through the Peer to Peer Network, members of the Landscape Ontario community are able to connect with each other for support, guidance, advice and tips to help each other make informed decisions in their daily business operations. In addition to a private online forum, members of the peer group connect at an annual spring event and a fall event. These collaborative workshops provide landscape business owners like Cornacchia a forum to solve real business challenges together and share practical ideas and perspectives to take back and implement in their own business.
“It’s really such a valuable experience to be in a room with people of the same or similar professions and be able to not only connect about shared experiences but also become friends. It makes me feel like I am not alone in the challenges I face as a business owner,” Cornacchia said.
Inspiring the next generation
On Jan. 6, 2026, in front of a sold-out crowd of over 600 landscape horticulture professionals, Cornacchia was presented with Landscape Ontario’s Young Entrepreneur Award at the annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony. The award recognizes a Landscape Ontario member under the age of 35 for their outstanding achievement in establishing and growing a successful horticultural business. His first thought was how proud his grandfather would be. With that also came reflection of how far he has come in his short career. “When I first started my business, it was only me, so I felt a lot of pressure to be perfect at everything,” he said. “I quickly learned that it is essential to understand that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses and that getting help didn’t make me weaker, but instead made my business stronger.”
For young professionals looking to get involved, Cornacchia’s main advice is to remain coachable. He emphasizes the importance of not seeking recognition, but understanding the reality of the work and the various challenges that may arise. With that, credibility grows and will benefit the business more in the future.
Cornacchia continues to seek ways to strengthen his knowledge and credibility. In April 2025, he received his Landscape Architect stamp through the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects.
“It took a lot of hard work. In total, the program lasted about two and a half years, but it was fully worth it and I am proud of myself. Now I have the confidence to push some boundaries within design and it has opened us up to a lot of opportunities for more complex projects,” Cornacchia said.
World outside of work
Work remains a passion for Cornacchia, but when he’s off the clock, he stays active through sports like hockey, golf and baseball. His new Great Dane puppy, Norman, also keeps him busy. The pair frequently walk nature trails together — an activity that helps Cornacchia manage the stress of owning a business.
