In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest Andrew Bray, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Membership at NALP.  Andrew shares the recent changes in the political landscape and the impact on our industry. He also discussed the challenges and opportunities that arise with the new administration. Despite some concerns, Andrew acknowledges that the new administration presents both opportunities and obstacles for our industry. Andrew also shares his strategies for maintaining relationships with elected officials and staying informed, emphasizing the value of creating and maintaining relationships. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts talk about filling the gaps with new hires and some of the challenges they face when bringing on new team members - how to measure and quantify what we have asked them to achieve and how fast that should happen.  They also discuss knowing where you are as an organization and the balance of flexibility.  They talk about employee satisfaction and how our employees feel at our organizations but what’s most important is being willing to do something with that feedback. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare. 

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Erin Barr, HR Consulting with Erin Barr Consulting.  Erin talks about some of the struggles that the green industry has been facing when it comes to workforce.   Erin talks about strategies to make progress and how to approach your team with getting feedback.  She talks about the importance of making sure whatever you implement in your company, to make sure that you make it sustainable and buildable over a long period of time. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest Christianna Denelsbeck with Landscape Workshop. Christianna shares the importance of understanding and respecting different roles within an organization, the need for transparency and collaboration, and the significance of financial awareness and training.  She talks about building strong operations and accounting relationships and that it is crucial for smooth functioning of the organization.  She also highlighted the need to understand the needs of the operations team and how to support them, especially as a company grows.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Hope Smith with Plants Creative Landscape. Hope shares her story behind the Ultimate Experience Manager and talks about what the ultimate experience for Plants Creative is all about.  Hope talks about employee engagement and the one-on-one discussions she has with her team and how that helps build that employee trust.   She touches on the onboarding process, their core values and some of the benefits that they offers their team to include how they implemented their employee assistance program.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nalp-young-professionals

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest Bob Williamson with Cetane Associates.  Selling your company is a hot topic in our industry.  Bob shares how the conversation usually starts with wanting to sell your business.  He talks about many people not being ready to sell their company immediately, but Bob shares advice on the process of selling a business.  He talks about some of the risks and what buyers are looking for.  Even if you are not looking to sell your business, you should be thinking about the future.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In replay this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Skyler Westergard with LandCare.  Skyler shares his story about how he ended up in learning and development and how he went about creating new opportunities.  He talks about different ways that people learn and retain information as well as how we assess learning.  He also talks about the importance of investing in your team.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest CEO of the National Association Landscape Professionals, Britt Wood.  Britt shares his thoughts on our industries unique ability to network and share is like no other industry.  He talks about the value of attending educational events like ELEVATE and the new Executive Leadership Program with the University of Darden School of Business. Brett, Skylar and Britt all highlight the importance of building relationships and the energizing effect of such events. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest, Brandon Sheppard, Franchise Owner of Weed Man and President-Elect of NALP.  In this episode we also welcome our newest host, Skyler Westergard with LandCare.  Brandon shares his experience with volunteering at Renewal and Remembrance and how important the opportunity is to give back to those who give to the green industry.  Brandon also talks about his passion for transforming lives within his company and the power of investing and caring for your team as individuals.  He talks about representing yourself and company through recruiting, interviews and training and that you should be more than a company that gives just lip service but that invites people to bring a different part of themselves to work. Brandon, Skyler, and Brett also talk about the book, ⁠Setting the Table⁠ by Danny Meyer and the six hospitality quotient characteristics and building in those characteristics into the interview process.  They also mention the books ⁠Unreasonable Hospitality⁠ and ⁠Winning on Purpose⁠. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare. Listen here or on your favorite podcast app: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nalp-young-professionals

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest Anita Palmer with Sperber Landscape Companies. Anita discusses the importance of organic growth through acquiring new customers and developing employees' skills and careers. She shares her passion for landscaping, architecture, and community, which aligns with the industry's flexibility in pursuing various paths. Anita also touches on embracing discomfort for personal growth and engagement as well as balancing personal and professional team needs.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

This replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry is presented by the Women in Landscape Network and hosted by Beth Berry with Advanced Turf Solutions, Becca Presley with Senske and Gail Reinhart with Five Season Landscape Management. In this episode they discuss how to get more women involved in the industry. They also discuss some of the challenges that women go through in a male dominated industry – from clothing to equipment. They touch on where to seek more female candidates and the different opportunities to add value to your career. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome our guest Brad Hill with Par 3. Brad shares his journey from a landscape business owner to his current role at Par 3 Landscape. He discusses the challenges and strategies involved in establishing a successful irrigation business, with Brad sharing his insights on leadership, technical expertise, and the importance of persistence. Brad also talks about the unique challenges and rewards of working in the irrigation industry. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Paul Fraynd, CEO of Sun Valley Landscaping. Paul talks about setting clear expectations and handling the many ideas that come your way. He also dives into the subject of mental health and the importance of checking in with your team and how personal success breathes business success. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus, Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guest Jacob Hong with Woodlawns Landscape Company is a former landscape management student; discusses his career progression from sales to company leadership. They also talk about the importance of personal and professional growth, the balance between current roles and future opportunities, and the significance of understanding and aligning with a company's culture. Lastly, they shared their personal experiences and challenges, with a focus on leadership in a rapidly changing organization.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In replay this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Doug McDuff, President and Co-owner of Landscape America. Doug shares his perspective on open book management focusing on teaching your team the next steps in growth and accountability and the importance of transparent communication. Doug talks about shifting your business and sticking to the plan when other opportunities may arise. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guest Daniel Hill with Piedmont Technical College. This episode is Daniel shares his journey into education and his perspective on the green industry, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between educators and industry professionals.  They also discuss the role of teachers and mentors in shaping the lives and careers of their students, the value of recruiting both traditional and non-traditional students, and the importance of promoting opportunities in the industry. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Kristin Pontarelli, COO of Proscape Landcape Management Corp. Kristin was a Spanish teacher for over 25 years when she decided to start working for her husband’s company. During this episode, she shares her perspective on how having a Spanish speaker on staff in a management role has helped to bridge some of the gaps between staff members through her translating. She touches on cultural differences and how that factors into translations, helpful online translation tools, and creating a welcoming company culture that keeps employees coming back year after year. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench.

In this host episode of Growing in the Green Industry, Brett and Skyler talk discuss the challenges of maintaining productivity and motivation during the summer season. Brett emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between work and personal time, while Skyler expresses struggles with feelings of guilt for investing time in self-improvement. They both share that quality of work is more important than quantity, and that it's satisfactory to do what needs to be done to a high standard, rather than being everywhere and doing everything.  They also touch on work-life balance and strategic time off.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guest Richard Kuperus of the Farmside Landscape & Design discusses how he balances work, school, and family dynamics in business. Topics covered include how to navigate business relationships as a young professional, navigating shifting dynamics at work, and balancing ambition with humility. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperusand Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Luke Melograno at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Ed Furner with Mariani Landscape.  Ed shares his thoughts on challenges and strategies with handling difficult clients and the importance of seeing complaints as opportunities for education and relationship building rather than a threat.  He also talks about the importance of time management and having a hands-on approach. Ed emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning and time management to effectively handle client appointments and internal tasks.  He also shares suggestions for pre and post follow-up meetings with clients.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Bob Grover, President of Pacific Landscape Management. A long-time contributor and participant on state and national association leadership teams, Bob shares thoughts about past experiences and goals for the future, as he stepped into the NALP Board of Directors President role. The group also explores work/life integration, how young professionals can step into leadership, and how sustainability should continue to be a primary focus for our industry. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperus and Brett Lemcke at R.M. Landscape.

In this host episode of Growingn in the Green Industry, Brett and Skyler talk about the value of a degree in horticulture and the strengths and limitations.  They discuss building personal relationships and recruiting tactics along with touching on the importance of successful internships.  They also talk about what happens if you don’t have a connection to horticulture and the different techniques that can bring value to those individuals of all backgrounds.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts talk about mapping your customer journey. They discuss being an effective communicator and making the market more aware of who you are as well as knowing what to go after and being very specific. They touch on selling on value and always having a “plan B.”   This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus at Include Software, Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench.

In this host episode of Growing in the Green Industry, Brett and Skyler celebrate kicking off the 5th season of the podcast!   The hosts talk about the challenges they have faced over the spring months with weather challenges and the importance of staying ahead of the conditions and being proactive with clients about their properties.  They talk about managing both customer relations and employee well-being during the busy seasons of spring and summer emphasizing the importance for open communication and proactive management.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Mike Bogan and Jensen Bogan with LandCare.  Mike and Jensen share their unique perspective on ways to operate a family business.  They talk about their personal stories, how they started working together and how Jensen fell into her fathers’ footsteps.  Jensen talks about how her skills from the hospitality industry transferred into the green industry.  They both talk about the pros, the cons, and the challenges of working together.   This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Will McEwen, Technical Quality Advisor with Viriginia Green.  Will shares his inspiring story from his humble roots at a local golf course and culminating in his current pivotal role.  He shares invaluable wisdom on fostering early engagement with high school students and advocates for companies to prioritize involving youth. Will discusses his experiences of stepping outside his comfort zone during job interviews and reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his career trajectory.  He also dives into the training opportunities that propelled his professional growth, while also emphasizing the importance of effective communication and connection with customers. This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Dave Pacifico, co-founder of Team Engine.  Dave talks about thoughtful automation of keeping and building an engaging workforce. Dave discusses having a broad, diversified strategy for companies to adopt when it comes to looking for new talent. He talks about thinking about what makes you different as a company from other companies and how you sell that to the talent out there. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus at Include Software, Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench and Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Mackenzie Chris with Southern Botanical.  Mackenzie tells her story on how she grew quickly into her current Branch Manager role.  She touches on her early career to where she is now.  As a Branch Manager, Mackenzie talks about what she shares with her field team to make sure that they are prepared.  Mackenzie talks about mentorship, training, career paths and making sure her team feels seen.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Lewis, COO with Yard Solutions, Inc.  Joe talks stress management and setting expectations with your team.  He talks about the importance of taking care of your team as well as educating and training your team on how to manage stress.   Joe talks about being proactive vs. reactive and having a plan in advance to set your team up for success.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with R.M. Landscape.

In this special episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Hope Smith with Plants Creative Landscape, Terry Williams with Green Lawn Fertilizing and Jenny Girard with RM Landscape.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in this week’s episode, our guests share some of their stories and experiences around mental health personally and professionally.  This episode is hosted by Jenn Myers with the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Paul Beblowski, Senior Product Manager with STIHL. Paul talks about the state of battery powered equipment. He touches on infrastructure and seeing the hard and soft payback moments in the move to battery. If you are considering battery-powered equipment, you don’t want to miss this episode. ⁠Click here⁠ for more information on materials of trade exceptions. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Chad Diller with Landscape Leadership.  Chad shares his non-traditional path of how felt lost at times in his career and how he finally ended up in landscape industry.  He talks about what he learned in the past and taking those experiences and applying them to your next opportunities.  Chad also shares advise to stop minimizing the little things that make a big difference. This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guests Vanessa McQuade, Senior Account Executive and Owner and Rob Murray, CEO and Co-owner of Intrigue Media discuss the bigger picture with sales and marketing. They talk about digital marketing and making the communication shift from company centric, and solution oriented to customer centric, and program oriented with their content. They also talk about the steps to help contractors get past pushing marketing off year after year as well as how to get started with their marketing efforts with starting small and how not to overwhelm yourself.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome David Hanny with Virginia Green.  David shares his story of how he landed into the landscape industry and shares his advice on transitioning from one industry to the green industry.  He talks about being proactive in a leadership role and the importance of engaging with your team - he even gets a little technical and touches on soil science and the health of the environment. This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guest Jennifer Burnett, EVP of Organizational Development at LandCare discusses attracting and engaging talent and how it looked many years ago compared to how it is today.  She also talks about attracting talent from other industries.  Jennifer tells her story about exploring new opportunities and challenging and investing in yourself to achieve your goals.  She also touches on family life and how she handles work/life balance as a working mother.  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape, Macey Robison with LandCare and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Cate Deane with Ruppert Landscape.  Cate talks about finding your passion and being able to utilize the resources out there that are available to everyone.  Cate talks about finding the balance with training and mentoring and the importance of finding the best ways to keep your learners engaged.  She shares how important it is to have a safe space when it comes to learning and not assuming that the learner knows all – assume they do not know.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Claire and Charlie Goldman, owners of R&R Landscaping. They talk about running a professional company with your spouse. They touch on the hustle, commitment, challenges, strategies and what makes it work. They share the importance of being present for your family and showing the way for your team. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus at Include Software and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Keenan Baird, Plant Healthcare and Fine Gardening Manager with Milosi.  Keenan talks about not letting money get in the way of your dreams as he shares his personal story of how he got into the landscape industry.   Keenan also talks about making mistakes - trying something new and making mistakes is ok and learning how to grow from your mistakes.  He also shares the importance of communication with your customers. This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry our hosts discuss the hot topics of hiring, recruiting and retention. With the lack of available workforce being a primary concern for our industry, and spring right around the corner our hosts touch on best practices for finding qualified professionals, proactive approaches for keeping professionals on staff and adjusting to wage increases This episode is hosted by Macey Robinson with LandCare, Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench and Luke Melograno with Mariani Landscape. We would love to hear from you! Feel free to email any questions, comments, or feedback to ⁠[email protected]⁠.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Angela Hieronimus, Director of Engagement and Success with Blades of Green Lawn Care.  Angela talks about the importance of having those hard conversations and how her experiences have helped her be successful in her HR role.  She talks about recruiting, team member retention and engagement. She shares how they keep their team members engaged throughout the year through benefits, team gatherings and conversations.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Bob Mann, Director, State and Local Government Relations with NALP.  Bob talks about the EPA changing the paradigm of how they are evaluating pesticides and how they are looking at pesticides under the Endangered Species Act.  He touches strategies on how the green industry can be more engaged in the political process. Bob talks about what you can do to get more involved and the big threats that our industry is facing right now. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Marin Clark, Co-founder of Threadleaf Landscape Design.  Marin shares her experience with starting her own landscape design company, the gray areas and the advice of putting yourself out there and making that a priority.  She talks about making those connections and the huge opportunities that come with networking.  Marin also talks about their company values and making sure your goals are tied to your values.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

As we approach NCLC in a few short months, in this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts are live from the 45th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition, where 600 students, 97 faculty members, and 347 industry professionals have gathered to learn, compete, and network. Discussion topics include charting your career path (and how it will change and evolve over time) and best practices for networking, interviewing, and follow up. The hosts also share personal interviewing, internship, and onboarding experiences and what they have learned. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperus at Include Software, Brett Lemcke of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Ketterer, Director of Quality & Efficiency Maintenance Division with Ruppert Landscape. Joe shares his advice with training and execution is knowing what to do being one thing but doing what you know is another.  They talk about the difficulties of how to quantify or assess a role in training.  Joe also talks about how to make training more scalable and the challenges behind that. This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Jan Johnsen, Principal with Johnsen Landscapes & Pools. In this episode Jan talks about defining your market niche and how important referrals are. They talk about building strong relationships as well as touching on the labor shortages that so many are facing in the green industry. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape, Luke Melegrano with Mariani Landscape and Neal Glatt with GrowTheBench. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Kujawa, Practice Leader of Bruce Wilson & Company. Joe talks about the power and value of peer groups.  Joe talks about the uniqueness that our industry has compared to other industries and how our industry is willing to share information – successes and failures.  He also shares how networking can be intimidating but the importance of it.  This episode is hosted by Skyler Westergard with LandCare and Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape.

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts talk about the different career wins they have had over the last few months! They discuss the power of learning how to say no and improving your work/life balance to see the positive changes it has. They also touch on the importance of having a process and making your services a system. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus and Neal Glatt at GrowTheBench and Luke Melograno with Mariani Landscape. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals

In this special episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we want to wish you and your families a Happy Holidays!  This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with RM Landscape and Skyler Westergard with LandCare. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: https://anchor.fm/nalp-young-professionals