0226TGC by Patty Lampert

TheConcernGrowing

A PUBLICATION OF THE OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

Navigating the Scary Side of

with Ed Hansen / March 12, 2026 / Columbus, OH (See page 35)

PREPARATION SEASON: Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Year

BRANDON BARKER

J. Barker Landscaping Company

February is a unique month in our industry. The snow may still be falling and spring can feel a long way off but make no mistake, this is one of the most important months of the year for landscape professionals. While crews may be focused on winter services or equipment maintenance, leadership teams should be focused on something equally critical: preparation. The companies that experience the smoothest, most profitable seasons are rarely the ones reacting in April. They are the ones planning in February.

Now is the time to finalize budgets, review last year’s performance and sharpen operational strategies. What worked well in 2025? Where did margins tighten? Were production rates realistic? Did scheduling inefficiencies create unnecessary overtime? Taking an honest look at these questions now allows adjustments to be made before the season begins, not in the middle of it.

Financial clarity is the foundation of a strong season. This is the month to review pricing structures, confirm contract renewals and ensure new proposals reflect rising input costs and realistic labor expectations. Waiting until spring to address pricing gaps can squeeze margins quickly. Proactive planning protects profitability and positions companies to reinvest in people, equipment, and growth.

Equally important is workforce readiness. Recruiting, onboarding, and training should already be underway. Waiting for warm weather to hire often leads to rushed decisions and inconsistent performance. February is the ideal time to solidify staffing plans, confirm returning team members and build

structured training programs. Safety meetings, equipment certifications and leadership development held now can significantly reduce incidents and inefficiencies later.

Another powerful way to prepare for the season is by investing in frontline leadership development. In March, our Association will be hosting Crew Leader Training events in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. These programs are designed for crew leaders and emerging supervisors These meetings will focus on communication, accountability, production efficiency and team leadership. Strong crew leaders directly impact job quality, safety performance and employee retention. I strongly encourage members to send their field leaders to participate.

Equipment planning also deserves attention this month. Fleet evaluations, preventive maintenance schedules and capital expenditure decisions should be finalized before the first major mobilization. Breakdowns in peak season are costly, not just financially but operationally. A disciplined inspection process in February can prevent downtime in May.

continued on page 6

COVER: Landscape Ohio! Awards submission by Sasak Landscaping, Merit Award, Residential Installation

OHIO’S PROFESSIONAL GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

9240 Broadview Road

Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

Phone: 440-717-0002

Toll Free: 1-800-335-6521

Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org

REGULAR WRITERS

Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management

Jim Funai, PhD, Cuyahoga Community College

Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Brandon Barker, J. Barker Landscaping Company

Patty Lampert, Ohio Landscape Association

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication. For advertising and ad specs, please call 440-717-0002, and ask for Patty Lampert.

DISCLAIMER

The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

OFFICERS

President

Brandon Barker

President – Elect

Matt Malone

Treasurer

Tom Rieder, LIC

Immediate Past President

Ryan Drake

DIRECTORS

Jeffrey Ardo

Jason Deuble, LIC, OCNT

Amy Gatoo

Gil Kupetz

Jess Kronenberger

Garrett McNeill

OLA STAFF

Executive Director

Patty Lampert

Membership Coordinator

Melissa Roberts

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

UPCOMING OLA MEETINGS, EDUCATION SEMINARS & EVENTS

FEBRUARY 2026

FEBRUARY 26, 2026

NETWORKING ROUNDTABLES EVENING MEETING (CLEVELAND)

Join us at the Winking Lizard in Bedford Heights to network and share ideas with other members on a variety of topics. You will have the opportunity to discuss strategies, solutions, and share ideas during these discussions. See page 7

MARCH 2026

MARCH 5, 19, 25 & 26, 2026

CREW LEADER TRAINING (3 Locations)

This training is intended to give crew leaders leadership skills such as how to coach and train, customer service skills, production management. Led by David Hupman of Natorp’s Landscape, participantswill learn from each other in role play and table topics for discussion. See page 33

MARCH 10, 2026

CUSTOMER SERVICE CLINIC (CLEVELAND):

OLA Massive Business Success

Designed for business people interested in personal & professional development, this workshop will offer actionable steps to get results. Join Scott Macmeans at this ActionCOACH SBL Workshop. See page 29

MARCH 12, 2026

OLA EVENING MEETING (COLUMBUS):

Navigating the Scary Side of Technology in the Landscape Industry

Please join Ed Hansen, President of Landscape Ontario and founder of EXT.TECH, as he discusses the complexities of navigating the scary side of technology while proposing strategies to overcome these hurdles. See page 35.

APRIL 2025

APRIL 3, 2026

DESIGN CLINIC WITH DR. LAURA DEETER

Secrest Arboretum

Stay tuned for more details on this event.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

The OLA is delighted to welcome the following new members to the association:

REGULAR MEMBERS

Whitacre Greer Co PO Box 2960 Alliance, OH 44601

330-206-6370

Vince Edwards

Maple Drive Landscaping 30701 Maple Dr. Bay Village, OH 44140 440-536-6267

Mark Elek

LandCare 6555 Plumb Rd. Galena, OH 43021

614-205-5438

Del Trigg

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

All Lift Service Co. Inc. 4607 Hamann Parkway Willoughby, OH 44094 440-585-1542

Ray Schentur

Abbey Brown Real of Ohio PO Box 266 London, OH 43140 614-582-3745

Abbey Brown

Visual Marking Systems

2097 East Aurora Rd. Twinsburg, OH 44087 330-425-7100

Angela Rodino

The Ponzani Landscape Co. 66741 Warnock – St Clairsville Rd. St Clairsville, OH 43950

740-695-0070

Chris Ponzani

Sowerscapes PO Box 283 Hudson, OH 44236

330-348-7084

Derek Berdysz

SCAN THE QR CODE TO SEE A FULL LIST OF EVENTS AND REGISTRATION.

continued from page 3

February is also an ideal month to refine operational systems. Job costing processes, routing efficiencies, production benchmarks, and communication protocols all benefit from pre-season review. Many frustrations during the season can be traced back to unclear expectations or inconsistent processes. Clear systems reduce stress, improve accountability and create consistency for both employees and clients.

Client communication should not be overlooked. Early outreach to confirm service expectations, enhancement opportunities and project timelines builds confidence and strengthens relationships. It also allows for realistic scheduling and better resource allocation once the season begins.

From an OLA perspective, this month reinforces our goal to help members improve their operational excellence. Preparation is not about working harder; it’s about working smarter. The more disciplined we are in planning, the more resilient and profitable our businesses become. Sharing best practices, attending educational events and engaging with other members at evening meetings often leads to meaningful operational improvements.

There is also a leadership component to this time of year. February is when culture is reinforced. Clear goals should be

communicated to managers. Expectations for performance, safety, professionalism and client service should be defined before crews hit the field. When leaders provide clarity early, teams operate with greater confidence and accountability.

In many ways, February determines the tone of the entire year. The upcoming landscape season will bring its own challenges such as weather variability, labor pressures, material costs and evolving client demands. While many factors are outside of our control, preparation is not. Disciplined planning, strong communication, financial awareness and operational structure create stability even when conditions are unpredictable.

As we move closer to spring, I encourage every member to use this month intentionally. Review your numbers. Confirm your staffing plan. Inspect your equipment. Strengthen your systems. Invest in training. Engage with peers. The effort made now will pay dividends when schedules tighten and production ramps up.

Spring success is not built in April. It is built in February. Let’s use this time wisely and position our companies and our industry for a strong, efficient, and profitable 2026 season.

Walk life-size landscape plans with your clients before installation begins. Avoid costly change orders, protect your timeling and deliver a better client experience, every time.

Schedule your free demo or consultation today: www.walkyourplans.com

EVENT

INFORMATION

FEBRUARY 26, 2026

WINKING LIZARD

25380 Miles Road Bedford Heights, OH 44146

SCHEDULE

NETWORKING, HORS

D’OEUVRES, CASH BAR

5:00 - 6:30 pm

ROUNDTABLES

6:30 - 7:40 pm

SUMMARY DISCUSSION

Until approximately 8:30 pm

COST

MEMBERS: NO COST

Non-members, please call Melissa or Patty at 440-717-0002

OLA NETWORKING ROUNDTABLES

EVENING MEETING

OLA Members please join us to network and share ideas with other members on the topics below. You will have the opportunity to visit four different tables for 15 minutes each, and each table will give a short summary of their discussions at the end.

TOPICS INCLUDE:

• Recruiting & Retaining Employees

• Equipment Acquisition

• Supplier Relationships

• Project Planning, Training

• Customer Service

• New Trends

• Owner’s Role

• Team Development

• New Technologies.

You will have the opportunity to discuss strategies, solutions, and share ideas during these discussions.

EVENING MEETING SPONSORS

VENUE SPONSORS

BAR SPONSORS

PERENNIAL FOCUS

WINTER MUSINGS

I think the notion of a perennial garden is becoming obsolete. What I am seeing and what I think makes more sense is a mixed border/integrated landscape in which perennials soften an otherwise somewhat stiff landscape or in which shrubs, vines, annuals and bulbs complement perennials while minimizing maintenance. I am offering you some vignettes from my garden throughout the year as examples.

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD

MYOSOTIS

SYLVATICA, GEUM ‘MANGO LASSI’, TULIPS;

18405 right garage bed; 5/4/25

While the blue and yellow and orange of the Myosotis sylvatica and Geum ‘Mango Lassi’ and ‘Firestorm’ are lovely, all three are relatively short. What heightens interest in this combination are the height and color of the lily-flowered tulips.

The first example is in early May from my back garden, where I have encouraged Myosotis sylvatica to self-seed and create a flowing river of blue. The river of blue is countered by small clumps of Geum ‘Mango Lassi’ and ‘Firestorm’.

TRILLIUM GRANDIFLORUM, HEUCHERA ‘WILD

ROSE’, ATHYRIUM NIPONICUM ‘PICTUM’

18405 grass garden inner path edge; 5/12/25

Along the path from the driveway to the back yard in Mid-May, in the shade of an old Magnolia, are Trillium grandiflorum, Heuchera ‘Wild Rose’, and Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’. Although the Trillium blooms are initially stark white, they fade to a soft pink that is then a complement to the deep rose of the Heuchera and an echo of the purple in the fern.

Trillium grandiflorum, Heuchera ‘Wild Rose’, and Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’ along a shady path

Bobbie’s Green Thumb

Myosotis sylvatica, Geum ‘Mango Lassi’, tulips

continued from page 8

PERENNIAL FOCUS

LUPINUS

PERENNIS, ORNITHOGALUM MAGNUM, HEUCHERA ‘ORANGE DELIGHT’; 18405 left end of center front bed; 5/27/25

I despaired for years that any lupine I planted would die (even the gorgeous hybrids). Then I discovered the Texas Bluebonnet, Lupinus perennis. Not only did it live - since 2011, when I planted it for the first time - this lupine has seeded around the original and across a path. Sadly, it only blooms for three to four weeks, starting at the end of May, but the seedheads are attractive and the area is colorful twelve months of the year because of the orange Heuchera planted nearby. The white-flowering bulb in front of it is Ornithogalum magnum, a little-known but extremely hardy bulb that reseeds.

Fallopia japonica ‘Variegata’, Helleborus foiage, Thalictrum aquilegifolium ‘Nimbus White’ and Spiraea ‘Glow Girl’.

PINK/PURPLE;

FALLOPIA JAPONICA ‘VARIEGATA’, HELLEBORUS

FOIAGE, THALICTRUM

AQUILEGIFOLIUM

‘NIMBUS WHITE’, SPIRAEA ‘GLOW GIRL’

18405 entry bed; 5/30/25

Also blooming at the end of May, in another front bed that faces south but is partially shaded by a crabapple, are Fallopia japonica ‘Variegata’, Helleborus foliage, Thalictrum aquilegifolium ‘Nimbus White’ and Spiraea ‘Glow Girl’. The emphasis here is on repetition of white. The Thalictrum blooms are fleeting but echo the blooms of the Spiraea and the foliage of the Fallopia.

PERENNIAL/VINE; MONARDA ‘BLUE MOON’, CLEMATIS ‘SAPPHIRE INDIGO’

18405 upper east bed; 6/15/25

In mid-June, in the same front bed as the lupines but further east, the long-flowering Clematis ‘Sapphire Indigo’ begins to weave its way through shrubs and perennials such as Monarda ‘Blue Moon’.

HEMEROCALLIS ‘LAVENDER TWIST’, ALLIUM SPHAEROCEPHALON, ECHINACEA

18405 west bed; 7/6/22

I have always loved trying to coordinate the timing of bulb bloom with that of perennials. As you can see in this early July photo, this allium is a summer bloomer that appears at the same time as Hemerocallis ‘Lavender Twist’ and one of the pink coneflowers.

Hemerocallis ‘Lavender Twist’, Allium sphaerocephalon and Echinacea are another study in pink and purple.

Pink and purple are a color combo favored by many gardeners and this vignette is enhanced the difference in the shape of the blooms.

Lupinus perennis, Ornithogalum magnum, and Heuchera ‘Orange Delight’

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN M3 Wealth Management

FAMOUS QUOTES About Money and Investing

“Remember that time is money.”

--Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer and publisher. His other quotes about money include:

• “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

• “Our necessities never equal our wants.”

• “He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”

“Too

many people spend money they earned … to buy things they don’t want … to impress people they don’t like.”

--Will Rogers

Will Rogers (1879–1935) was an American humorist, actor, cowboy, newspaper columnist and social commentator from Oklahoma. Best known for saying “I never met a man I didn’t like,” Will Rogers had many pithy quotes about money, including:

• “Don’t gamble! Take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don’t go up, don’t buy it.”

• “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

• “Never let yesterday use up too much of today.”

continued on page 14

continued from page 12

“ Don’t look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack! ” --Jack Bogle

John Clifton “Jack” Bogle (1929–2019) was an American investor, business magnate and philanthropist. As founder and chief executive of The Vanguard Group, he’s credited with creating the first index fund. More Bogle quotes:

• “The greatest enemy of a good plan is the dream of a perfect plan. Stik to the good plan.”

• “If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in life, you’ll never have enough.”

“I will tell you the secret to getting rich on Wall Street. You try to be greedy when others are fearful. And you try to be fearful when others are greedy.”

--Warren Buffett

There is little argument that Warren Buffett (born 1930) is the most successful investor in history. Known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” he has thousands of followers that hang on his every word. Buffett runs Berkshire Hathaway and has a net worth of over $100 billion. Other Buffett quotes about money include:

• “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

• “It’s only when the tide goes out that you discover who’s been swimming naked.”

• “Our favorite holding period is forever.”

• “The stock market is a device to transfer money from the impatient to the patient.”

“The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.”

--Benjamin Graham

Benjamin Graham (1894–1976) was a British-born American economist and investor who has influenced virtually every successful investor. He is widely known as the father of value investing. His influence has been noted by Warren Buffett, Irving Kahn and Sir John Templeton. Here are just a few of his most enlightening quotes:

• “The investor’s chief problem and even his worst enemy— is likely to be himself.”

• “Successful investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it.”

“The big money is not in the buying or selling, but in the waiting.” --Charlie Munger

Charles “Charlie” Thomas Munger (born 1924) is vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and, next to Warren Buffett, the greatest investor in America. Under the teamwork of Munger and Buffett, the value of Berkshire Hathaway has increased by a factor of 20,000. Here are some more of Munger’s quotations:

• “Take a simple idea and take it seriously.”

• “It takes character to sit with all that cash and to do nothing.”

• “I always say I want to know where I would die so I can never go there.”

Download the “Davis Tree Farm” app in the App Store or Google Play Access our catalog, pricing, current availability, and more!

“The four most dangerous words in investing are, ‘this time it’s different.’”

--Sir

John Templeton

Sir John Templeton (1912–2008) is widely considered to be one of the greatest investors of the 20th century. He is perhaps best known as an early proponent of contrarian investing, betting on growth opportunities beyond the United States. Other Templeton quotes include:

• “I never ask if the market is going to go up or down because I don’t know, and besides it doesn’t matter.”

• “Share prices fluctuate more than share values.”

• “Invest at the point of maximum pessimism.”

Wholesale Grower of Quality Nurser y Stock

Container & B&B Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, and Ornamental Grasses

Bulk Materials

Blended Topsoil, Mulch, and Gravel

Ph: 330-483-3324

Fax: 330-483-4483

Sales@davistreefarm.com www.davistreefarm.com

“Know what you own and know why you own it.”

--Peter Lynch

Peter Lynch (born 1944) is a highly regarded investor, mutual fund manager and philanthropist. As the manager of the Magellan Fund at Fidelity Investments between 1977 and 1990, Lynch averaged a 29.2 percent annual return, making The Magellan Fund the best-performing mutual fund in the world. In his many books such as One Up on Wall Street, several Lynch money quotes pop out, including:

• “Remember, things are never clear until it’s too late.”

6126 Neff Road Valley City, OH 44280 The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice.

• “The trick is not to learn to trust your gut feelings, but rather to discipline yourself to ignore them. Stand by your stocks as long as the fundamental story of the company hasn’t changed.”

Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management Office at 17601 W. 130th Street – Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. (440) 652-6370 | donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com

OSHA INJURY TRACKING APPLICATION (ITA)

Online Submission

Now that 2025 is behind us, hopefully you have finalized your OSHA Injury and Illness Log for 2025 and printed, signed and posted the 300A Summary form in a conspicuous location. This was due on February 1st and the Summary form must remain posted until April 30th. Excellent work if you have this completed, however, some employers may still have one more step – submitting their injury and illness information online to OSHA.

If you are unsure whether or not you are required to complete this online submission, the best way to check this is by going to OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application (ITA) Coverage Application. Input the required information on company size, location and industry type, then hit the “Submit” button and it will tell you what reports, if any, will need to be submitted. You may be required to submit information from your OSHA 300A Summary Form and possibly, information from your OSHA 300 Log and OSHA 301 “Injury and Illness Incident Report”. If your establishment is required to submit online, you must go to OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application

If you are a New User to the website, you will first need to create an ITA account. Once that has been completed, the second step is “Sign in with Login.Gov“ account. You must use the same email address when setting up your ITA Account and your Login.Gov Account. Be sure to follow the steps under “Get help submitting your injury and illness date”. The page allows you to access:

• OSHA’s Injury Reporting Page

• ITA Frequently Asked Questions

• OSHA’s Recordkeeping Page

• Help Desk Ticket

• OSHA’s ITA Data Page

continued on page 18

continued from page 16

Once you have successfully set up an account, then you can submit the required information. This may just be the OSHA 300A Summary information or it may also include information from your OSHA 300 Log and OSHA Form 301 (remember, you can determine what data is required for submission from the ITA Coverage Application we discussed above). The online submission is a fairly straight forward process, but you will need a little patience. Some of the documents or information you need will include your NAICS number, average number of employees, total work hours, OSHA 300A Summary report and, if required, your OSHA Log and OSHA 301 Form(s).

SEDGWICK OHIO REBRANDING

We have exciting news to share! Sedgwick Ohio is rebranding effective February 2, 2026.

What will change is how our brand looks, sounds and feels. This is to better reflect the growth of Sedgwick’s global footprint, solution offerings and investments in technology. Under our new branding, we’ll continue to build on our capabilities, so we can be the forward-looking, consultative partner you need to navigate the unexpected in today’s evolving risk landscape.

What won’t change due to this rebranding is our commitment to helping you thrive by delivering the very best experience and outcomes. We understand the importance of continuity, rest assured knowing that your Sedgwick contacts will remain in place.

If you have any questions, contact our Sedgwick program manager, Dominic Potina at 614-579-4723 or dominic.potina@sedgwick.com

From OSHA

In January, I received an email from Alexis Ocasio, Compliance Assistance Specialist at OSHA, that I wanted to share with you. It is a reminder about the online submission and other OSHA links you might find helpful.

In the email, Ocasio writes:

OSHA’s recording and reporting requirements are important in protecting workers’ safety and health. These recordkeeping requirements help employers, employees, and OSHA in identifying and eliminating workplace hazards, which, in turn, can help prevent future workplace injuries and illnesses. As you might already know, establishments that meet certain size and industry criteria are required to electronically submit certain injury and illness data once per year to OSHA from January 2 – March 2. OSHA collects this work-related injury and illness data through the Injury Tracking Application (ITA).

The purpose of this communication is to provide guidance and information about ITA submission requirements, processes, trouble shooting and available resources. You can access the information by clicking on the links provided below.

You can also forward, print or post the information to share with your coworkers, stakeholders and contacts.

Cordially, Compliance Assistance Specialists

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

New York City Region

U.S. Department of Labor

If you have further questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Sedgwick Safety Team.

Andy Sawan, Andrew.Sawan@sedgwick.com, 330-819-4728

Craig Lanken, Craig.Lanken@sedgwick.com 330-472-1656

ITA RELATED LINKS

1. ITA Information and Other Helpful Resources

2. ITA Login Page for existing and new users

3. ITA User Guide downloadable PDF document

4. ITA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

5. ITA Help Request Form

6. ITA Website Error Report Form

Important Notice: If you already have an ITA account, please use the email address associated with that account. Do not use the ITA Help Request Form to submit website error reports or ask OSHA questions. For website error reports, use the above-mentioned Website Error Report Form

To submit other inquiries or reports to OSHA, not directly related to ITA, use the following links:

1. To Report a Fatality or Severe Injury (Failure to report within the required time frame could result in penalties) or call 1-800-321-6742 (OSHA), TTY 1-877889-5627.

2. For Safety or Health Complaints

3. Whistleblower Complaints

4. To ask Workplace Safety and Health Questions

5. To access existing Letters of Interpretation

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College

SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

PTELEA TRIFOLIATA

HOPTREE, WAFER-ASH, STINKING-ASH

Plants in the family of Rutaceae are a vast, interesting group of plants. With at least 160 genera in the family, there is a lot to learn. By far the most famous genus is Citrus, which is one of the most economically-important, woody plants in the world. A deep dive into the family Rutaceae reveals a lot of unique plants, all with a common trait – they smell.

In fact, other than Citrus and a few other obscure tropicals, most plants in this family downright stink! That said, we’d still like to share a Native-to-Ohio member of the family with you, which we believe deserves more love in our landscapes, despite its odorous traits. We’d also like to mention – before you turn your nose up at our plant of the month – that you would really have to crush the leaves or scrape the bark of this plant to bring out its smell, so unless you are pruning the plant, you will never notice it.

Ptelea trifoliata is the only member of the genus Ptelea, so

perhaps out of pity of being a loner, we’ve given it numerous common names including Hoptree (fruits were a substitute for hops), Wafer-Ash (fruits look like little flat wafers), and Stinking-Ash (kind of looks like an Ash tree and it smells).

Hoptree is a small, low-branched, rounded-crown tree reaching around 15 feet tall and wide. It is a fairly adaptable plant, but will perform best in a soil that drains well. It does fine in full sun to a fair amount of shade. The specific epithet is a direct reference to the three-part, compound leaf that resembles three separate leaves (tri = three, foliate = leaves). continued on page 22

Landscaping crews work on real ground – not perfect conditions. All Lift Tires & Tracks helps you reduce downtime, improve performance, and get more life out of your equipment by matching the right tires and tracks to how and where you actually work. From turf to mud to snow, we deliver traction that holds up season after season.

We supply tires and tracks for landscaping, construction, forklifts and more:

>> Skid steer loaders

>> Compact track loaders (CTLs)

>> Mini excavators

>> Compact wheel loaders

>> Compact utility tractors

>> Mini skid steers/stand-on loaders

>> Snow-removal equipment

>> Forklifts, aerial equipment & more

DEDICATED TO KEEPING YOU ON TRACK

continued from page 20

Some references describe the flower as fragrant, but we find that word to have a connotation of pleasant smelling, which this flower is not. While it isn’t a very powerful scent, the flower is pollinated by Carrion Flies, a group of flies that like to eat dead meat. It’s probably safe to surmise that because the pollinator is attracted to dead animals, this may explain the attraction to the flower. These flowers, greenish-yellow in color, form in panicles in June and are not overly showy. (We’re really selling the flowers here if you haven’t noticed.)

In August the fruit becomes apparent in a very well-ordered, round, flat wafer. With a small seed in the middle, this fruit will dry to a light brown and persist into winter. They are really an interesting winter feature, for a small native tree.

While this isn’t a tree that is going to knock people over with ornamental features, we think it is important to remember that we are also planting to improve our failing ecosystems. As this plant is the sole member of the genus, that lends

to some evolutionary benefits. Think of the major, species limiting, insects and diseases that have come through our country. They are all foreign pests/diseases that our native species have never been exposed to, thus don’t know how to defend against. The trouble is, these foreign pests figure out how to attack our natives by training on cousins to our plants. Dutch Elm? Yeah, it had Ulmus species to figure it out. Emerald Ash Borer? There were Asian Fraxinus to help figure ours out.

There are no other Ptelea in the world, which means that the only pests that attempt to attack this plant are native and thus have evolved with the plant. Hoptree is virtually pest free and will likely stay that way. Add to this a native range from South-East Canada south down to Florida, reaching in bands west towards Arizona and into Southern Mexico, and it becomes apparent that global warming should not become an issue either.

There may be some medicinal properties yet to be discovered in this plant. Many plants in Rutaceae have been found to

Local deer behavior expertise

Deer-aware plant selection strategy

Customer confidence

More closed landscaping sales

Local deer pressure patterns

Referral Incentives given

have unique properties including high amounts of vitamin C in Citrus. Another member of the family, Angostura, has been used in some traditional medicines for centuries, with the bark still being the primary flavoring agent in Angostura Bitters, used in a number of cocktail drinks including a nice Old Fashioned (muddle sugar and bitters, then add whiskey) or perhaps you fancy a Manhattan, for less effort (bitters and sweet vermouth with a rye whiskey). Another member of the family, Orixa, has been found to produce compounds that can kill the protozoan pest that causes malaria in humans.

There are a few other members of this family – also ornamental in size – that are deserving of a place in the landscape, such as Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy Orange), especially the cultivar ‘Flying Dragon’. If you find yourself starting conversations at your own parties, plant one of these in the middle of your landscape and it will have the entire party talking about its crazy curved stems and medieval thorny branches. Or perhaps plant the arguably-native Phellodendron amurense (Amur corktree). While it is considered to be native to the Amur River Valley in Mongolia, there are fossil records

of this plant in North America from the Early Oligocene period. (OK, so maybe that was around 30 million years ago) But, it helps prove the point that “native” is a moving target and to fix a line in the ground now is pretty silly of us.

Fact of the matter is, we need more plants, we need more trees, and we desperately need to increase the urban canopy. Ptelea trifoliate is a plant that has trained for millennia to rise to the challenge of global climate change and increasing global trade – which is how the invasive pests arrive in the first place.

Jim Funai, PhD, is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.

Deer Damage Protected Tulips

Building Your Team: The Importance of Advocating for the H-2B Program

In markets where finding sufficient labor is extremely challenging, landscape companies have turned to the H-2B temporary visa program for assistance. However, this program is particularly volatile as Congress has failed to fully address permanent reforms due to intense political pressure from multiple angles.

While landscape companies strive to limit their dependence on the program by only having H-2B workers make up anywhere from 15% to 30% of their workforce, the years they don’t receive their workers are still hard on businesses. Brad Swortzel, president of BWS Landscaping, based in Ashland, Virginia, says they have participated in the program for three years and didn’t receive their workers in 2024.

“There was a chance we would get the workers in July, but that would have been too late for us, so we did not move forward once we were assigned our group,” Swortzel says.

He says that year their requested visas made up around 10% of their workforce. He says it hurt, but they were able to pivot before the growing season started.

Keven Stratton Jr., attorney for Stratton Landscape Group, based in St. George, Utah, says they nearly lost contracts in the years they didn’t received their H-2B workers.

“Not only does this workforce account for a good percentage of our in-field labor, but when the workforce arrives, it seems like our whole attitude changes,” Stratton says. “Everything is just better when this program works, but when it doesn’t work, it’s really detrimental.”

Nick Brummel, ambassador for Landscape Workshop and the former owner of Brummel Lawn & Landscape LLC, based in Blue Springs, Missouri, says in 2021, they didn’t receive their 24 temporary employees until October, and they still had those 24 positions open then.

“We went through 168 folks throughout the year for those 24 positions, and had more work comp injuries, more turnover with customers, and had to have the conversation with customers,” Brummel says. “Since that day, customers have asked, ‘Do you have your H-2B people?’ We’ve educated them enough that they’ll ask, ‘Hey, do you have your folks for next year?’”

Brummel says they also lost two managers that year due to burnout, as they were working seven days a week trying to satisfy customers.

“You end up putting in a lot of overtime, and it’s really difficult for those who are here,” Stratton says. “It’s just a really stressful time for managers. It’s really difficult for those who are here, because you always feel like you’re three steps behind without having that extra shot in the arm.”

WHAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO HEAR

One of the main reasons the H-2B program is maligned is due to misconceptions surrounding it. This is why it is critical for landscape professionals to educate lawmakers on the facts.

Andrew Bray, NALP senior vice president of government relations and membership, notes that without landscape professionals’ voices, there is the very real threat of the landscape industry no longer being eligible to use the H-2B program. The main misconception with the H-2B program is that it is ‘taking jobs from Americans.’

“That is not the case at all,” Stratton says. “We’ve got to advertise, we’ve got to get out, and we’ve got to take every step that we can to hire locally. Frankly, it’s an expensive program for us to be involved in, and it comes at a great cost. If we could get local workers, we would.”

Additionally, data shows that each H-2B visa holder a company employs supports between 2.7 and 4.5 U.S. domestic jobs in that company.

“When you have more H-2B workers, it means you can hire more domestic workers,” Bray says. “Because you’re growing your business, you can hire another marketing person. You have to hire another accountant, and also you’re going to buy more equipment. You’re actually benefiting the economy, both up and down the logistical channels.”

Another challenge is how H-2B often gets lumped in as an immigration matter, despite the workers utilizing temporary visas. “Help people understand these workers are here legally,” Bray says. “They want to work. They don’t want to live here. They want to work for an honest wage and then return to their country, and they have tremendous economic value to their community and to their businesses.”

Brummel says lawmakers often assume H-2B workers are paid lower wages or are being exploited.

“You start educating them, like ‘Hey, you guys set the wage,’” Brummel says. “They’re only here for a certain time period. We let you know if they left early. We let you know when they come in. You guys do a background check. You start explaining every single step that we take, that they’ve been vetted more than most of our American workers, that they want to come here, that they want to go home.”

Brummel also shares with lawmakers how their H-2B workers spend their checks on Christmas presents to take back home with them, putting money back into the economy. He says this is when it starts clicking and representatives begin to understand it’s not an immigration issue.

Another misconception is that teenagers can easily fill these roles. Stratton argues that often labor laws and insurance restrictions prevent them from hiring high schoolers. Also, they are unable to hold the roles for the entirety of the season. “Those are some of the misconceptions that are important to help to break down when you’re meeting with your legislators,” Stratton says.

EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY STRATEGIES

One of the best ways to advocate for the H-2B program is to tell your story. Share specific instances of what happens to your company when you don’t receive your visas. Also, communicating the positive impact H-2B workers have when they arrive drives home to legislators the effect the program has on their constituents.

continued from page 25

“Nobody knows your story quite like you do, and your members of Congress and the regulatory departments, they need to hear your story and how it impacts your business, day to day, day in and day out,” Stratton says.

Brummel encourages participating in the NALP fly-ins, as these serve as a time to build rapport with representatives. “A lot of our elected officials who have been there for years know who we are,” Brummel says. “They know our faces. They understand the issue, and we just got to wait for the right time, but we have to stay in front of them and keep going, and when the right time hits, hopefully we can get change.”

Stratton acknowledges that it’s easy to think you’re just one voice, but if you don’t take the time to share your story, no one else will. “You don’t have to be an expert, you don’t have to have all of the legal knowledge,” Stratton says. “You just need to start and talk about how this is impacting you.”

Brummel says advocacy is no different from attaining new business. You have to get to know your elected officials and talk to them regularly. He says it’s also important to talk to representatives on both sides of the aisle.

“If you don’t agree, shake their hand on your way out the door and keep that door open and just keep having those conversations,” Brummel says. “You’re probably not going to change their opinion, but if you still have that relationship and open dialogue, there’s respect there.”

Brummel suggests educating clients about the H-2B program as well, so they can advocate as well. “When they’re talking about it, then it builds up momentum,” Brummel says. “From going national and letting all our elected officials know to our local people, it just builds up momentum. Otherwise, we’re just a small issue in the big scheme of everything.”

Another effective advocacy method is to tell your story through the letter-writing campaigns NALP organizes.

“Those calls to action make it really simple,” Stratton says.

“If you just sign up for the alerts, you can send it out to your team members and make sure that as many times as your message can be spread and spoken, it can be heard.”

Swortzel says he’s written letters to their representatives with the help of NALP. Bray explains that staffers are responsible for tracking emails, mail and phone calls and giving a weekly report to their Congressperson about specific issues. He encourages landscape companies to also attend the H-2B townhalls, join the H-2B work group, and sign up for The Advocate newsletter.

NALP’S ADVOCACY EFFORTS

Since 2018, NALP has helped increase or maintain the number of additional visas available. “We’ve had the administration assert their discretionary authority at an earlier date, which is critical to allowing people to get their visas when they really need them,” Bray says.

NALP’s advocacy goals for H-2B in 2026 are to have the supplemental visas released, to have the certified seasonal employer language enacted into the appropriations for FY 2026 and to introduce a separate bill that permanently includes the certified season employer language.

“We were also being very active in the immigration debate right now,” Bray says. “While we know H-2B is a labor issue, not an immigration issue, that’s not the way it’s always perceived on Capitol Hill. We are staying very active and involved in conversations on immigration so that A) regardless of H-2B, there could be more legal workers here, and B) if something moves on immigration, it’s a good opportunity to tie H-2B to it.”

continued on page 27

-Bob Ramser,

Brummel acknowledges that the state of the program is frustrating, but unless the industry keeps fighting for H-2B, nothing will change.

“If we take our foot off the gas, or if we try to change our direction on it, it’s going to fall off the radar and we have momentum,” Brummel says. “We have the buy-in. We’re getting somewhere. It’s just definitely not as quick as any of us want.”

Brummel encourages more companies to participate in sending emails to their representatives and attending the fly-ins.

“The more voices we can add on all our issues, the better off we are versus letting everybody else carry the weight,” Brummel says. “When you go to the fly-ins, it’s the same 200 people. But if we got a fly-in where we had 800 or 1,000 people, that’d make a huge difference. Also, realize that one fly-in is not going to make a difference. You got to keep going. You’ve got to keep in front of them when they’re back in the district.”

This article was written by Jill Odom and published in the January/February issue of The Edge magazine

EVENT INFORMATION

MARCH 10, 2026

TALENT LAUNCH

8001 Sweet Valley Drive #4 Valley View, OH 44125

SCHEDULE

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

8:00 - 8:30 am

SESSION 1

8:30 - 10:30 am

SESSION 2

10:45 - 12:00 pm

LUNCH

12:00 - 12:45 pm

SESSION 3

12:45 - 3:00 pm

COURSE EVALUATION & QUESTIONS

COST

MEMBERS: $99

NON-MEMBERS: $149

Please call Patty at 440-717-0002

REGISTER

OLA MASSIVE BUSINESS SUCCESS:

6 STEPS TO RESULTS, LEADERSHIP & ULTIMATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES

Designed for business people interested in personal & professional development, the OLA-Massive Business Success will offer actionable steps to get results.

This ActionCOACH SBL Workshop provides education on general and specific business topics in a welcoming group setting. Attendees actively participate in exercises, applying lessons learned to real-world business situations.

ATTENDEES CAN EXPECT TO LEARN HOW TO:

• Drive high growth to get maximum business value so you can plan for scaling your business, selling your business, or retirement.

• Create repeatable systems so your business can run without you.

• Create Leaders that build an inspired, accountable team that produces consistent results.

• Maximize profitability through implementing proven Sales, Marketing, & Financial formulas.

• Create Your Signature Ultimate Customer experience.

SCOTT MACMEANS, ActionCOACH SBL

Scott grew up in Cleveland and is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College. Scott had a successful corporate career in Sales & Marketing and Operations. His experience spans a medical device fortune 500 company, Covidien, to distribution of commercial & residential equipment, Carrier, and owning his own businesses.

Scott MacMeans is “THE” winning Business & Executive Coach recognized for his years of experience and unique way of connecting with clients. As a business and executive coach, speaker and entrepreneur, Scott has found the way to combine his 35 years of experience in Sales, Marketing, Operations, and business ownership to be a dream fulfiller for his clients. With clients across the spectrum of markets and industries, Scott is able to focus on the challenges they face and bring a real, grounded approach to learning, growing, and building success; that is how winning is done and dreams are fulfilled.

reason, the course is canceled, enrollees will be notified, and fees refunded in full. Register early as class size is limited and will sell out quickly.

BOOSTING YOUR BUSINESS:

Turn Clients Into Advocates for Your Brand

There’s a reason why word of mouth is one of the most common ways lawn and landscape companies get new business. While your traditional marketing efforts can convey what sets your business apart, it is often the recommendation from peers that converts leads into customers.

“In or outside of the industry, a company is going to tell you they’re the best – nothing less – whether that’s true or not,” says Nicole Marsiglia, director of marketing for Borst Landscape & Design, based in Allendale, New Jersey. “A trusted friend or neighbor is going to tell you their truth, no strings attached.”

EARNING REFERRALS

If you want to boost the number of referrals your company receives, you have to first give your clients the best experience possible. “It’s all about reputation,” says Tim Hawkins,

branch manager of Brookstone Landscape & Design, a Sperber company, based in Kirkland, Washington. “If we have a reputation for following through on commitments, doing what we say we’re going to do, delivering on intense deadlines and important things for the clients, it means more to that client. We are going to do whatever is necessary to make sure that the client’s needs are taken care of.”

Hawkins says putting the customer’s interests and needs first should be at the forefront of your business. “You have to earn

continued on page 32

continued from page 30

that trust, earn that loyalty, earn that respect and earn that referral, and you don’t earn that by showing up and just checking the boxes with the current contract,” Hawkins says. “You earn it by going the extra mile and doing the little extra things that a lot of people would say, ‘That’s not my job.’”

When your clients understand that you have their back and consistently go the extra mile, they will be far more likely to recommend your business to others as well.

Hawkins adds being transparent and setting realistic expectations is another driver behind their strong internal customer referral base. “They know what they’re going to get with us,” Hawkins says. “They know that we’re professional. They know that we are the same size as any other big company out there. What a lot of other companies don’t have is the ability to handhold and care for the customers the way we can. That’s what drives those referrals. They know if they call Brookstone, they’re going to get taken care of. Their needs will be met, and they’re going to look good in front of their customers.”

Also, don’t be afraid to ask clients for a positive review after a job well done. Jeff Rossen, CEO of Rossen Landscape, based in Great Falls, Virginia, says they send out a request to leave a review as a matter of process after finishing every job.

If we know that this client is overly happy, we immediately ask them for a Google review, or they’ll provide us feedback unprompted, and we’ll just say, ‘Hey, can you copy and paste that into a Google review?’

Marsiglia agrees if the timing is right and the client is happy, just ask clients to share their positive experience with your business.

“If we get a compliment from a customer, we ask if they wouldn’t mind taking the time to share the review online,” Marsiglia says.

METHODS TO ADVOCACY

Beyond simply asking for reviews in the moment, another way to encourage word of mouth is to develop incentive programs. Borst has a client referral program that has evolved over the years. Marsiglia says their team will periodically evaluate it to see how they can improve it for their loyal clients.

“If a client refers us a new lead, and that new lead signs a contract with Borst, our client – the referrer – gets a monetary credit towards their next invoice,” Marsiglia says. “With every five referrals, that monetary bonus increases. There isn’t a limit! The more you refer, the more you earn.”

Rossen says they will occasionally run social media promotions with other local brands, such as a restaurant, where if they like Rossen Landscape’s Facebook page and share the post with someone else, they’ll be entered for a drawing to win a $200 gift card for the restaurant and a Japanese maple.

Hawkins says while they don’t have a formal loyalty program, they do make a point to adapt to customer needs if budgets are tight. For instance, one customer’s upcoming project needs to start in October, but their budget can’t be billed until January.

“They’ve been worried that we’re not going to be able to kick this project off,” Hawkins says. “Instead, we’re going to do journal entries internally, and then we’ll bill you come January 1 for what we’ve done for the past couple of months. That broke the tension for everybody, and it showed them, ‘Look, let’s roll our sleeves up, but let’s work on a solution together. Let’s figure this out where it works for both parties.’”

You can also consider hosting customer appreciation events. Hawkins says this is something he’ll start doing with their top customers in 2026. “I think starting with an activity, an event that encourages and promotes the things that they’re doing, and isn’t a pushy, ‘Hey, give us more opportunities and leads.’ It’s a ‘We just want to say thank you,’” Hawkins says. “Let’s go to a baseball game, or let’s go to dinner or some other type of event that just gives them and us the opportunity to just hang, talk, get to know each other, and they walk away knowing that we are genuinely appreciative of them and what they do for us.”

Marsiglia says they hosted their first client appreciation event in recent years this past summer and it was a success. “Our clients graciously let us co-host a ‘summer fling’ gathering at their home with friends, neighbors, and our landscape team,” she says. “Our team designed, installed, and now maintain the property, so it was incredible to spend time in the beautiful space we created. There was a private chef/caterer, live acoustic music, and a

continued on page 34

EVENT INFORMATION

MARCH 5 - CINCINNATI

Natrop’s Landscaping

MARCH 19 - COLUMBUS* Ohio CAT

MARCH 25 & 26CLEVELAND

Indiana Wesleyan University

SCHEDULE

REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

8:30 - 9:00 am

CLINIC

9:00 - 12:00 pm

LUNCH

12:00 - 12:30 pm

CLINIC CONT.

12:30 - 2:00 pm

*OHIO CAT TOUR

2:00-3:00 pm (Columbus event only)

COST

MEMBERS: $199

NON-MEMBERS: $249

Please call Patty at 440-717-0002

REGISTER

Class size is limited, visit the OLA Calendar for specific dates and registration. OhioLandscapers.org

CREW LEADER TRAININGS

CINCINNATI

COLUMBUS | CLEVELAND

This training is not about how to plant a tree or mow grass. This training is intended to give crew leaders leadership skills. How to coach and train, customer service skills, production management. We will learn from each other in role play, and table topics for discussion.

THE PRESENTATION WILL COVER:

1. Production Planning

2. Customer Service

3. Leadership Skills i.e., Coaching, Training, Problem Solving

TRAINING DATES/LOCATIONS:

This training is being offered a total of four times. Each date will cover the same material, choose the date and location that best suits your schedule.

• MARCH 5 - CINCINNATI (Registration)

Natrop’s Landscaping, 8601 Snider Road, Cincinnati, OH 45040

• MARCH 19 - COLUMBUS* (Registration) Columbus, Ohio CAT, 5232 Walcutt Court, Columbus, OH 43228

* Will include tour from 2:00 - 3:00

• MARCH 25 - CLEVELAND (Registration)

• MARCH 26 - CLEVELAND (Registration) Indiana Wesleyan University, 4100 Rockside Road, Independence, 44131

DAVID HUPMAN, LIC Landscape Consultant at Natorp’s Landscape

With over 40 years of experience and having trained crew leaders to get ready for the next level of management David brings a wealth of knowledge to give crew leaders the leadership skills they need. Having served in many leadership roles such as Landscape Manager, Account Manager, Production Specialist and Branch Manager with national companies David will help crew leaders develop the leadership skills they need to be effective leaders in the field.

bartender – it was a night to enjoy their outdoor living space and say ‘thank you’ for their business, referrals, and overall loyalty.”

Rossen says they have been hosting client appreciation events for the past 10 years. They hold two events during the year. One is a concert they sponsor and hold an open house at their design studio, and the other one rotates as a wine tasting or a potting workshop. Rossen’s clients are encouraged to bring guests with them to these events. He says these events allow them to build relationships with their customers and make clients more likely to want to refer the company.

All of these different practices can inspire loyalty and continued referrals with your customer base. Marsiglia says you shouldn’t worry about whether offering a reward will impact the authenticity of a client’s word of mouth.

“From the client’s perspective, I don’t think it’s natural to recommend a company or service you don’t believe in, specifically when it’s one that comes at a higher price, such as recurring maintenance or design/build services,” Marsiglia says.

MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS

No matter what methods you choose to implement to encourage more referrals, it’s important to understand your current percentage of business that comes from word of mouth. This way, you can accurately gauge what’s working and take note if referrals suddenly drop off. Hawkins says for the first eight years of his business, 100 percent of his leads came from word of mouth.

“That’s how we built our book of business,” Hawkins says. “We did a really good job for a client and then they suddenly refer us to their friends or we’re asking, ‘Hey, do you know of anybody else who could benefit from our services?’ but really, we let our work do our speaking for us. Just recently, we’ve had to branch out a little bit and try to establish additional relationships because of the growth that we’ve had over the past few years.”

Rossen estimates about 30% of their business is from referrals. Marsiglia says they track everything in their CRM. From January to October 2025, 23% of their leads came from word of mouth. She notes, knowing exactly where your leads are coming from is not always black and white, so this percentage could be higher.

“If they don’t tell us naturally, we make sure to ask, ‘How did you hear about us?’ when we’re on the phone,” Marsiglia says. “If it’s a referral, they will let us know the name of their friend, family, or neighbor that has used or still uses our services.”

All three companies say they have repeat referrers, but most of their referrals come from a wide variety of customers. At the end of the day, it all comes back to giving clients an experience they want to tell others about.

It doesn’t matter to me if you spend a million dollars a year or if you spend $10,000 a year, I am looking for long-term relationships and people who want to invest in us because we want to invest in them.

“What we’ve seen is that as we’ve done that, as we focused on all of our clients and tried to treat them that way we’ve developed very solid relationships. We have customers that come to us for everything. They oftentimes will come to us and say, ‘Hey, what do you think of this? What are your thoughts?’ It gives us the opportunity to not only collaborate with them, but also be a partner and be a trusted ally and a friend, and that’s been a game changer for us.”

This article was written by Jill Odom and published in the January/February issue of The Edge magazine.

EVENT INFORMATION

MARCH 12, 2026

NORTHSTAR GOLF CLUB 1150 Wilson Road Sunbury, OH 43074

SCHEDULE

NETWORKING, HORS

D’OEUVRES, CASH BAR

5:30 - 7:00 pm

PRESENTATION/Q&A

7:00 - 8:30 pm

COST

MEMBERS: NO COST

NON-MEMBERS: $99

Please call Patty at 440-717-0002

REGISTER

NAVIGATING THE SCARY SIDE OF TECHNOLOGY

IN THE LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY COLUMBUS EVENING MEETING

THE PRESENTATION WILL COVER:

• How to turn technology from a threat into your greatest asset.

• How to unlock the secrets to staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry.

• Identifying hidden barriers holding you back and learning how to break through them.

• Positioning yourself as a leader who isn’t just surviving in a digital world but thriving and shaping the future.

• Practical strategies to accelerate growth by embracing innovation and overcoming resistance.

ED HANSEN,

President of Landscape Ontario and founder of EXT.TECH

Ed Hansen is a renowned leader and entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in landscape construction/ maintenance/ snow operations and technology. As the TEC Canada Chair and CEO of EXT. TECH Software, Ed drives innovation in landscape software solutions. He founded Hansen Ottawa, building it into a multimillion-dollar landscape business over 35 years before successfully exiting.

As a President of Landscape Ontario, the largest horticultural association in North America, Ed advocates for industry growth. A popular keynote speaker, he shares his insights on entrepreneurship, mindset and technology, embodying a commitment to excellence and integrity. Known for his mentorship and positive spirit, Ed is admired as an all-around good guy in both his professional and personal endeavors.

EVENING MEETING & SPEAKER SPONSOR

VENUE SPONSORS

EXCITING EVENTS AT OLA!

We have several upcoming educational events and evening meetings designed to help you improve your skills and network with other green industry professionals. When these events are open, information and registration can be found on the OLA website calendar. Please mark your calendars for these exciting industry events.

• February 26th, Networking Roundtables

• March 5th, Cincinnati Crew Leader Training

• March 10th, Customer Service Clinic

• March 12th, Ed Hansen Presentation & Networking

• March 19th, Columbus Crew Leader Training

• March 25th & 26th, Cleveland Crew Leader Training

• April 3rd, Design Clinic with Dr. Laura Deeter

Stay tuned for upcoming clinics on pavers, irrigation, lighting, business development, plant healthcare, dormant pruning, and facility tours.

• July 8th, Plant ID in Columbus

• July 15th Plant ID in Cleveland

• August 6th Golf Outing

• October 8th Landscape Awards

Submissions for The Landscape Ohio! Awards are open until March 27th, when your company can be recognized and celebrated for excellence in landscape design, installation, and maintenance projects.

We are grateful for the generous support of all of our Sponsors, Committee Members, Judges, Board, Staff, and the OLA Community who come together to make it possible for everyone to experience this incredible evening.