This summer, the landscape contracting industry has faced what may be the tightest labor market in its history. With the economy running at full tilt, the unemployment rate at near all-time lows and a labor market that eschews working outside in an ever-hotter climate, many landscape contractors are making hard decisions about whether they can even stay in business. Getting... read more
This time of year always brings a sense of anticipation—of getting back into action after the summer months. As a student, it was all about stepping up to the next grade, new classes, new teachers, new friends and more. As a college football fan, it’s all about a new season, new players and hopes for a bowl game. And, as... read more
Last winter, I held a full day seminar on the topic of the CEO/COO partnership, with Frank Mariani, owner of Mariani Landscape, and his COO Fred Wacker. It also featured Paul Fraynd, CEO of Sun Valley Landscaping and his GM Ashly Neneman. The role of the COO and the GM are similar, depending on the size of the company. We... read more
For an industry that spends most of its time outside, the increase in diseases caused by ticks, mosquitoes and fleas should be a huge concern. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which tracks disease incidence nationally, show that diseases from ticks, mosquitoes and fleas almost doubled from 2015 to 2016, rising to 96,075 from 55,660, the... read more
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional networking site with more than 560 million users, making it the go-to social media for job seekers and job recruiters. If you’re looking for management candidates to help you grow your landscaping business, LinkedIn is a great place to create new relationships. Here’s a hint—it’s not just about posting jobs. These candidates probably aren’t... read more
