Sometimes, it takes the benefit of hindsight to realize how fortunate you are. Late last year, Ryan Jardine and his crews at Quality Irrigation made a well-timed switch from a server-based software system to Service Titan, a cloud-based service platform. A couple months later, COVID-19 struck the U.S., and implementing the cloud-based system when it did allowed Quality to work... read more
James Martin Associates (JMA), a landscape firm headquartered in Vernon Hills, Ill., has found a unique way to apply its in-house expertise to give back to the community through“potting parties.” The company donates these parties to nonprofits who can then auction them off to raise funds for their causes. Over the last 15 years, the company has donated more than... read more
When Doug McGregor looked at adding solar panels to his landscape company five years ago, the return on investment (ROI) didn’t make sense. The tax breaks were not guaranteed, and the cost of installation was high. Since that time, a lot has changed. In April 2018, Earth Works installed 124 new solar panels to its garden center and McGregor, president... read more
The team at Timberline Landscaping in Colorado Springs, Colo., created an in-person opportunity for employees to pitch ideas to help the company grow strategically. Sound familiar? The company modeled the initiative after the hit TV show “Shark Tank,” on which entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to celebrity business people in an effort to get them to sign on as investors.... read more
How Cagwin & Dorward builds future leaders. At Cagwin & Dorward, a full-service landscape provider specializing in maintenance for primarily commercial clients, there has always been a strong focus on providing leadership training and development for managers. But a little over a year ago, Steve Glennon, president, CEO and COO of the Novato, Calif.-based firm, says the company also began... read more
One of the biggest training challenges is consistency. Based on who facilitates the training and even how busy things are, the experience at a landscape company can differ from trainee to trainee. To streamline messaging and make training more accessible, Perficut Cos., based in Des Moines, Iowa, launched Perficut University, a multifaceted approach that includes training videos. The idea for... read more
