The Creative Leaders in Design and Construction

As the leaders in rockwork, water features and themed environments, Outside the Lines brings a team of knowledgeable and reputable designers, estimators and project managers to your project, no matter what its size and scope.

The World’s Finest Rockwork, Water Features and Themed Construction

OTL is headed by J. Wickham Zimmerman, a seasoned entrepreneur and industry leader. When Zimmerman founded OTL with Hugh F. Hughes, they focused on providing the world’s finest rockwork, themed construction and specialty water feature projects.

After its formation, OTL immediately established itself as the touchstone for the industry, and the company’s excellent reputation grew quickly throughout the architectural community.

We Make Projects Geo-Believable®

OTL is committed to providing and preserving the world’s finest habitats, waterscapes, landscapes, and natural environments.

We studied, learned and even coined the phrase “geo-believability®,” the art of making rockwork and water

features as geologically realistic as possible. If you’re seeking a realistic, natural setting, every stream we build will flow and bend the way nature intended, and every artificial stone we create will look indigenous to the area.

Or Out of This World

If you’re seeking an environment that’s more other-worldly, our rock, water and themed features make the mundane disappear and bring out the magic and wonder of your project.

The team at OTL has created some of the most imaginative and mind-bending themed environments in the industry. We’ve created water features that dance to the music of Frank Sinatra and re-created the snow-capped mountains of the Swiss Alps.

As skilled artisans, our work is restricted only by your imagination.

Leadership Team

  • J. Wickham Zimmerman Chief Executive Officer
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    J. Wickham Zimmerman Chief Executive Officer
    Wickham Zimmerman is the CEO and Co-Founder of OTL and has been at the helm of the firm’s exceptional growth from a single start-up in 2007 to a multi-locational success with projects in 16 U.S. states and several international destinations.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 A degreed civil engineer with a passion for business and law, Wick has more than three decades of experience in construction and financial management, with a career trajectory that includes executive positions representing owners, general contractors and specialty contractors, including industry powerhouses such as ValleyCrest Companies, and KHS&S Contractors, among others.                                                                                                                                                                   As CEO, Wick guides OTL’s vision and strategic direction, while also overseeing the firm’s business development, financial and operational systems. Under his leadership, OTL has been named one of the country’s “fastest-growing companies” by Inc. 500/5000 four times in the past ten years. Wick attributes this success to the tremendously talented team at OTL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       An Eastern U.S. native, Wick earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park. Before moving west, he received additional training in business and law at George Washington University and the University of Maryland School of Law.                                                                                                                                                                                   When he’s not guiding OTL’s future steps, Wick treasures time with his family and is actively involved in philanthropic activities in his community, including Taller San Jose in Santa Ana, California, an organization that helps disadvantaged youth escape poverty by providing training and job skills. He is also a 29-year pilot and holds an Airline Transport Pilot airman certificate.
  • Jack Larsen Vice President and Chief Estimator
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    Jack Larsen Vice President and Chief Estimator
    Jack Larsen is OTL vice president and chief estimator. Jack has a vast amount of experience and talent in the themed construction industry. Before joining OTL, he spent more than 30 years with one of the largest rockwork and water feature companies in the world. During that time, he completed more than 200 projects as chief estimator and senior project manager. After studying architecture at the University of Southern California, he returned several years later to oversee the construction of many of USC’s most recognizable fountains.
  • Thomas Real, PE Vice President of Engineering and Preconstruction
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    Thomas Real, PE Vice President of Engineering and Preconstruction
    Tom Real is OTL's Vice President of Engineering and Preconstruction. Armed with a degree in engineering and a strong sense of art and technology, Tom is well suited for the demands of this industry. He began his career in the specialty construction industry in 1982, working with one of the largest rockwork and water feature companies in the world. His resume reads like an adventure novel, completing projects in exotic locals such as Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Africa and the Bahamas. His work spans Europe, the Middle East, South America, Central America and the United States, where he’s overseen more than 100 projects. Tom has an engineering degree from Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York.
  • John S. Cunningham Regional Manager
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    John S. Cunningham Regional Manager
    John Cunningham is OTL regional manager for the Texas and Central U.S. markets. A respected construction professional with more than 20 years of experience, John brings to the team a unique blend of operational expertise, market knowledge and a long track record of delivering world-class projects to highly satisfied customers. Drawing on vast experience in scheduling, planning, logistics, Lean Construction and continuous improvement, John excels in working with all members of the design and construction team to define a goal, build consensus and put the process and structure in place to achieve that goal efficiently and with exceptional quality. Never satisfied with the status quo, John pushes himself to learn new ways to achieve better outcomes and he utilizes the leadership and teambuilding skills honed as a veteran of the U.S. Army to inspire those around him to do the same. John holds a Bachelor of Engineering in civil engineering from McGill University in Montreal and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. When he’s not on a job site, John volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and is a regional liaison / volunteer for On Target for Veterans (OT4V).
  • Barry Caylor Vice President of Business Development
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    Barry Caylor Vice President of Business Development
    Barry Caylor joined OTL in January 2020 as OTL’s Vice President of Business Development, responsible for managing the firm’s ongoing international expansion. A 30-plus-year water feature industry veteran, Barry has been instrumental in guiding the continued growth of the company to new heights. With a focus on the design, engineering, and construction of commercial water features, irrigation pumping systems, water-transfer pumping systems, and lake/pond management systems, Barry has spent his career developing relationships, educating, and servicing Clients. Prior to joining OTL, he served as executive vice president of business development for Greenscape Pump Services Inc. (GSPI), where he developed a methodical process for managing projects from the earliest stages through design and construction, remaining engaged through startup and calibration. He also consulted on projects in the discovery phase and guided Clients to ensure their projects were both constructible and cost effective. Before his role with GSPI, Barry spent 11 years honing his skills by working in the irrigation industry. Prior to entering the business world, he studied Environmental Science at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. When he is not at work, Barry has some exciting interests and hobbies. He has a love for the outdoors, playing as much golf in his spare time as possible, and for nine years, he was a heeler in a rodeo event known as team roping.
  • Sarah Shores Vice President of Administration
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    Sarah Shores Vice President of Administration
    Sarah Shores is OTL’s Vice President of Administration. As part of OTL’s core management team, she is responsible for office, HR, accounting, payroll, administrative, and project coordination for all our water features, rockwork, and themed environments. An innovative thinker and masterful problem-solver, Sarah held positions in recruiting, personnel management, and office management before joining OTL as an office manager in 2014. Her experience in the construction industry especially primed her for the detail-oriented, technical, and artistic amalgamation that is the essence of our company. Sarah consistently brings to the table a deep passion for her work and a sincere love of creativity.
  • Jerry West Director of Field Operations
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    Jerry West Director of Field Operations
    With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Jerry West is a vital member of the OTL team. Jerry oversees virtually every aspect of our projects, including safety, scheduling, labor, material, quality control and financials, while working alongside our project managers, coordinators, and team members. Prior to joining the OTL team, Jerry worked first as an electrician and then as a general superintendent for 17 years. In that role, he led hundreds of high-profile projects, including water feature work at the Dallas Cowboys/AT&T Stadium and the Texas Rangers/Globe Life Field Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as well as The Esplanade in Houston, Texas. Jerry is OSHA 30 certified and a certified heavy equipment operator.

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