
An Inside Look
Outdoor Odyssey
Bring Paradise to Your Own Backyard
By Linda Sutherland
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Is your outdoor living space a little too open to the elements? Outdoor Odyssey has got you covered! Owner Tyler Carney and his team design and install all kinds of outdoor amenities, but they specialize in pergolas and automated screens. They work with hotels, bars, restaurants, and, of course, homeowners to enhance their outdoor spaces.
Tyler comes from a landscaping background and has been involved in the green industry since 2000. He earned an associate’s degree in landscaping and then a bachelor’s degree in horticulture with a minor in business. After college, Tyler says, he was hired by Mike Newcomer, who “took a chance on a farm kid from Iowa” to work with him at Eden Tree & Landscape. Mike took Tyler under his wing and became an irreplaceable mentor, helping to shape Tyler’s career. Eventually, Tyler branched out on his own, starting his own landscaping business in 2006.
In recent years, Tyler’s business has become much more specialized, focusing on the installation of StruXure automated pergolas and Progressive Screens. Outdoor Odyssey often works with other companies, combining their skills to provide their customers with the outdoor projects of their dreams. “Transitioning from a design/build company to being a viable partner with multiple landscaping companies to help enhance their projects with our skill sets has been a remarkable journey,” Tyler notes.
How did this journey from landscaping to pergolas begin? “I had a landscape customer with a pergola on their wish list,” Tyler recalls. “They did not want wood or steel, so they showed me a StruXure pergola catalog. I knew nothing about the company at the time, but it ended up being our first system, and here we are six years later.”
The StruXure automated pergola looks pretty awesome. These pergolas are known for their durability, versatility, and advanced technology. They are appropriate for both residential and commercial applications. They include a gutter system and have louvers that open and close with the touch of a button. One model has the option of a full sky view along with the protection of the pivoting louvers. A simpler model has a fixed ceiling panel for those who don’t need a fully automated pergola system.
Outdoor Odyssey also installs Progressive Screens that provide privacy, shade, and protection from the elements of each season. These screens are a fantastic addition to an outdoor living space. You can block the wind or the scorching sun…or just give yourself a little more privacy from your neighbors and passersby. These Progressive Screens can be installed between columns and posts, flush to a header, or in a hidden header or pocket. The screens come in different transparencies, colors, and size ranges to fit just about any scenario you come up with.
The screens are attached with the MagnaTrack system. Magnets keep the screens tight in the side tracks, and the extra-heavyweight bar on the bottom of the screen keeps the screen tight to the flooring surface. During the installation process, Tyler utilizes Keder Strand, the same material used in sails. This provides optimal results for screen installation. Outdoor Odyssey is totally committed to providing the best product and the best quality installation for commercial or residential needs.
“Because of our customizations, we can incorporate the products we represent just about anywhere,” Tyler attests. Though their primary service area is western Iowa and the Omaha metro area, Outdoor Odyssey has worked in various locations across the United States and in the Bahamas. In some cases, they join a corporate installation team on a large commercial job. Their latest travel project was a solo installation in Turks and Caicos (island chains north of the Dominican Republic).
In addition to StruXure pergolas and Progressive Screens, Outdoor Odyssey also designs and installs other popular outdoor amenities like heaters, speaker systems, and even entire outdoor kitchens. Features like these extend your residential living space, making your property the place where everyone wants to gather. Outdoor Odyssey also does great work for restaurants, bars, and hotels that need fantastic outdoor seating, as well as for corporations who want a private outdoor space for their employees and guests to enjoy.
The most important advice Tyler would offer to fellow business owners is to “treat your employees as you would wish to be treated.” It’s vital to be able to manage your business effectively, and that includes managing your employees effectively. A successful journey takes teamwork!
To learn more about Outdoor Odyssey or to schedule a quote, visit myoutdoorodyssey.com. The photo gallery of completed projects will amaze you! You can reach Tyler at 866-503-5693 or at tyler@csl-ia.com.
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Tyler Carney, Owner