Green Industry Roll Call: Updates from Yanmar, Empower Brands and more

champion the success of its owners is inspiring to me and aligns perfectly with the way I think about growth,” said Sutton. “Last year, the company saw record-breaking success across its roster, and the unification of Empower Brands creates opportunities for unparalleled growth in 2023. I am thrilled to be joining the team at this pivotal moment in the brand’s history, and I’m looking forward to the developments to come.”

Check out the latest news and updates from people and companies around the green industry, including Yanmar, Empower Brands and more.

Hundreds of New Jobs Available with Yanmar’s Expansion

Yanmar Compact Equipment plans to expand its Minnesota facility by 32,000 square feet. It will also be hiring hundreds of new workers in the future.

“We received a lot of support through the investment of Yanmar Co. Ltd, and several city, county and state grants and loans to help make this expansion happen,” said Tate Johnson, president of Yanmar CE NA. “The expansion will improve efficiency, allowing us to better serve our customers as we continue to grow as a leader in compact equipment.”

The Grand Rapids, Minn., expansion and a subsequent paint system will increase paint capacity by up to three times with maximum automation and allow a parts manufacturing capacity increase of up to two times of the previously occupied space. This project sets an example for future capacity increases with company officials projecting the addition of hundreds of full-time positions over the next five years.

Empower Brands Hires a New Chief Development Officer

Empower Brands has appointed franchise development expert R. Scott Sutton as its new chief development officer.

“Empower’s ‘Franchisee First’ culture and mission to

Sutton has more than two decades of franchising experience and will play a critical role in capitalizing on each brand’s growth potential through the expansion and execution of franchise development strategies across Empower Brands’ portfolio. Sutton holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and is both a certified franchise executive and a certified merger and acquisition adviser. He also serves as an elected member of the Board of Trustees of the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Foundation and is a member of the IFA’s Legislative Action Group. He is a former chairman of the Emerging Franchisor Conference and served on the Board of the International Institute of Franchise Education at the Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University. In 2019, Sutton was named by the M&A Adviser organization as the Corporate Development Professional of the Year.

The Integra Group Welcomes Simon Prine as Executive Sales Consutant

In his new role as an executive sales consultant for the Boss team, Simon Prine will work with companies in the landscape and snow removal industries.

“I’m thrilled to join the Boss team,” said Prine. “My experience selling and using business management software in the field has given me a great understanding of its capabilities. I can’t wait to help Boss clients improve their operations and increase their profitability while giving them more time in their day.”

Prine has more than 30 years of experience in the landscape and snow industry. He started his own one-man lawn operation called Simon Says Lawn Maintenance with just a pickup truck and a mower. Prine worked his way up through the ranks at Clintar, eventually managing six branches. In addition to his extensive operations experience, he also has 15 years of sales experience in the landscape industry.

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Landscape Management Network Releases 2023 Industry Report

Landscape Management Network (LMN) unveiled the results of its State of the Landscaping Industry survey, which is part of an ongoing educational series to help landscapers benchmark against the competition, grow profits and run successful businesses. Below are key findings: https://gpros.co/q0ybcj

• Ninety-six percent of landscapers grew their revenue in 2022, with nearly a quarter of respondents reporting they grew revenue by 20 percent to 50 percent.

• The most pressing issue facing business owners remains a shortage of skilled labor, with more than half (51 percent) unable to hire enough staff to fill vacant roles in 2022. However, this response is drastically lower than responses to LMN’s 2022 State of the Industry Report, when 92 percent of respondents expressed concern about workforce shortages. To make seasonal roles more appealing and boost retention, respondents report using bonus systems and prioritizing career development.

• While landscapers say training is a top priority, 58 percent of survey respondents allow new hires to work without any formal training. Of the respondents who maintain a training program, only 8 percent spend more than a full day training new employees.

• Eighty-five percent of respondents report using landscape business management software to create annual budgets, know how much they can spend on staff pay increases, bonuses and training and maintain a healthy profit.

SnowCare for Troops Helps More Military Families This Winter

Project EverGreen and Boss Snowplow celebrated SnowCare for Troops week Jan. 22-28.

Project EverGreen’s SnowCare for Troops program provides complementary snow and ice removal services for the families of deployed military personnel.

More from Project EverGreen about the SnowCare for Troops program includes: https://gpros.co/5htuz7

• SnowCare for Troops has been running for more than 13 years.

• SnowCare for Troops has evolved into more than just a service to clear driveways and sidewalks of snow and ice. It’s a lifeline for military families in need to help maintain their independence and go about their daily routines taking care of family, work and school. Professional contractors, groups and individuals volunteer their time and provide their own equipment and materials to clear the snow for military families in need.

• GreenCare for Troops is SnowCare for Troops’ sister program. It has delivered an estimated $15 million in donated lawn, landscape and snow removal services and peace of mind to thousands of military families in need across the country.

We Want to Hear Your Efficiency Tips

This upcoming issue of SnowPRO will focus on efficiency tips and tricks to make snow operations run smoothly, and we want to hear from you. No matter where you’re located in the country, you’ve probably found the right systems and processes that work for your company each snow season.

@PiLensPhoto.stock.adobe.com

Why not share them with your fellow SnowPRO readers? We’re sure they would love to hear them.

Has your company used software to streamline operations? Have your crews come up with any efficiency hacks while on the job? Do you have any sort of checklist crews work through before they roll out? What about in the offseason—is there any maintenance your team performs during the summer months to make sure your trucks and equipment are ready to go by the first snow?

Whatever the case, we want to know it all!

If you have efficiency hacks you would like to share with the readers of SnowPRO and your professional peers, reach out to Editor Sarah Webb at swebb@acbusinessmedia.com, and you may be featured in an upcoming issue of SnowPRO.