LM EAB: July 2020

Graphic: Landscape Management

What’s your advice for companies as they continue staffing and recruiting during this summer season?

Landscape Professionals

Richard Bare
Arbor-Nomics Turf
Norcross, Ga.

“This would be a good time to evaluate your staff and maybe see if you can replace your ‘C’ players with ‘A’ folks. I’m hearing that a lot of job seekers are looking at the green industry because it has been an essential service in most states and is a very stable career.”

Paul Fraynd
Sun Valley Landscaping
Omaha, Neb.

“In this environment, we are positioning ourselves as a positive and empathetic leader in the community. We are fortunate to work in the great outdoors, in safe conditions and in an industry that is in high demand. Tell this story to your current and future employees.”

Chris Joyce
Joyce Landscaping
Cape Cod, Mass.

“When recruiting and hiring employees during this summer season, look for candidates with positive attitudes first and experience second.”

Aaron Katerberg
Grapids Irrigation
Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Great companies are only great because of their people. If you ever quit recruiting, you are not a company that is reaching for greatness at that time. You are only trying to survive. Summer is the season that many green industry companies forget their bigger goals and try to breathe after a busy spring. They accept this as a stable recovery time to cruise instead of pushing the pedal towards greatness and remembering that the bottom line is easiest to increase once they reach their break-even point. In my years of being in this industry, I have more often forgotten to follow this advice than pursued it. Any time we have found great people it has always brought us one step closer to our goal.”

Jerry McKay
McKay Landscape Lighting
Omaha, Neb.

“Don’t stop looking for good people and hire them when you find them, even if there is not an immediate opening. I’ve hired my best people when they were available, not when I needed them.”

Industry Consultants

Marty Grunder
The Grow Group
Dayton, Ohio

“Whether it’s summer, fall, winter or spring, you should always be recruiting. Showing your people in action photos on your social media feeds and on the various recruiting platforms is very effective. Talking about why your firm is different, and hence, better, is also an effective strategy for staffing and recruiting. You never know who might appear in your inbox, lobby or call you as a result of your message. And, never, ever forget, the best way to recruit and keep people is to make your place a great place to work. Sounds trivial and a lot goes into that, but start by asking your team what they like and don’t like and listen and take action on everything you can that fits what you aspire your culture to be. We can all improve.”

Phil Harwood
Grow the Bench
Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Treat every new person as if they were the future of the company. They are.”