Ruppert Landscape Appoints Bob Jones as Chief Sales Officer
Jessica Schwartz
AGZA & NALP Collaborate On Responsible Transition To Zero-Emission Landscape Equipment
The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) announced this week that they will work together on an approach to the responsible transition from gas to zero-emission equipment in the landscape industry. “The industry is committed to making a transition to zero-emission equipment in a time frame that is feasible,” said Britt Wood, NALP CEO. “Unfortunately, this is not just a light switch to turn on and off as landscape businesses will have to invest in new and more expensive equipment and build the infrastructure required to power the batteries needed for commercial operations.” A long proponent of battery-powered equipment, AGZA helps promote and facilitate lower impact operations and sustainable land care through peer-to-peer engagement, training, and certification with the landscape industry. AGZA Green Zones are committed to more environmentally friendly solutions in lawn maintenance, while AGZA Service Pro Certification offers workforce training and education courses on operating and using low noise, zero-emission, low-emission equipment, and sustainable practices. (For more on their initiatives, read a full Turf article here.) “The American Green Zone Alliance is neutral on regulation, bans, and restrictions, but instead prefers a solutions-based approach that involves the carrot versus a stick approach to help the landscape industry transition into lower-impact technologies,” said Daniel Mabe, American Green Zone Alliance president. “We think this collaborative approach with the landscape industry is the fastest path to help us reduce emissions from outdoor power equipment.” AGZA and NALP believe that the transition to zero-emission equipment ...
NALP’s New Conference: ELEVATE Debuts September 2022
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) has announced its new annual conference and expo is ELEVATE. After more than 15 years in Louisville, KY, as part of the GIE + EXPO™, the rebranded NALP event will now be held in different locations each year, starting at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Conference Center in Orlando, FL on September 18-21. ELEVATE is designed by landscape and lawn care experts, influencers and contractors, specifically with the needs of NALP members and industry professionals in mind. “After a partnership with GIE+EXPO and 15 years in Louisville, it is time for a change,” says Britt Wood, NALP CEO. “So, we are creating an experience that will educate, entertain, and inspire lawn care and landscape contractors across the U.S. ELEVATE will do exactly what its name says; it will provide the education and networking to help contractors to elevate their businesses to the next level.” “Orlando sounds great,” says Miles Graves, regional manager for The Greenery, Inc. based in Hilton Head Island, SC. “It’s hard to convince your members that you’re getting outdated. I applaud them. It’s a thankless job, but to push the industry to new levels you got to do it.” The new ELEVATE Expo is designed to be a more focused experience. NALP is deliberately keeping the expo at a manageable size to better enable attendees to find the right tools and have focused conversations with industry suppliers. Here is the event schedule at a glance: Sunday, September 18 Morning – ...
Employees Enjoy Great Outdoors
The effects of COVID-19 on workplace trends has shined a spotlight on outdoor spaces. As employees return to their offices across the country, landscape contractors have found opportunities to serve commercial clients by creating or improving outdoor areas for both employees and visitors at a business. Here are ideas to consider. Britt Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), shares insights. As businesses welcome back employees and customers against the backdrop of COVID-19, it’s important to make people feel safe and ensure that workplaces are inviting. One way for property owners and businesses to achieve this is to take advantage of the site their building occupies and transform outdoor areas into occupant-friendly spaces. “If you can create some sort of outdoor amenity, I think that’s going to be one of those things that will really change the re-entry process,” says Gib Durden, vice president of business development for HighGrove Partners, LLC, a landscape maintenance, design-build, and water management service company based in Austell, GA. “That’s probably the biggest thing is just being able to utilize the property you have and have some area where people can congregate six feet away, but outside.” Choosing The Right Spot. If an outdoor area has to be created from scratch, take the time to consider the three site elements of shade, grading, and drainage first. “Every office or site has a potential spot for an outdoor space,” Durden says. “Look for somewhere on the property that already has ...
