Lessons to take home

This year’s GIE+EXPO will offer landscapers a chance to attend educational sessions on topics ranging from how to increase profits, how to hire the right employees and how to add services to your offerings.

Opening keynote

John Schnatter – Papa John’s

Thursday, Oct. 20 – 8 - 9 a.m.

John Schnatter is the founder and CEO of Papa John’s pizza. The business was founded in 1983 when “Papa” John Schnatter knocked out a broom closet in the back of his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He then sold his 1971 Z28 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern’s customers out of the converted closet. His pizzas proved so popular that one year later he was able to move into an adjoining space. In 2009, Schnatter got the Camaro back by contacting the family that he sold the car to in 1983.

Today, the company is the third largest take-out and pizza delivery restaurant chain in the world with headquarters in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, near Louisville.

Papa John’s success did not happen overnight. It took - and still takes - commitment, hard work, dedication and curiosity. Schnatter’s drive and passion for pizza and for the business stem from his respect and admiration that dates back three generations to his late father Robert Schnatter, grandfather Louis Ackerson and great-grandfather Martin G. Schnatter. They were his mentors and they were his motivators; each one instilled a core value that has shaped Papa John’s culture - always tinkering and striving for better.

Schnatter’s numerous business achievements and philanthropic efforts culminated in his induction into the Louisville Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2000, and the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 2007. In 2011, he was inducted into Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga Business School's Entrepreneur Hall of Fame.

Schnatter’s keynote will have a $15 registration fee, which will benefit the Louisville Zoo. Because the event is expected to sell out, it’s recommended you register early.

Hardscape Workshop

Secrets every contractor ought to know about the hardscape business – $50

Frank Gandora, president, Creative Hardscape Company

Thursday, Oct. 20 - 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Learn insider secrets of running a successful hardscape company. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Frank Gandora has worked with some of the best manufacturers, CEOs and contractors in the business. He combines their strategies and best practices to run his own successful business. In this session, you’ll learn the tips, tricks and secrets he and other top contractors use to set themselves apart as leading hardscape contractors.

NALP Workshop 1

50 shades of gray – Identifying, clarifying, and choosing marketing strategies that work – $85

Kent Kohn, Pro-Motion Consulting Inc., National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Thursday, Oct. 20 - 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Making efficient decisions regarding your marketing dollars is key to growing your business. Unfortunately, the marketing options can seem endless. This presentation will address the biggest marketing challenges by examining the latest trends and reviewing tried and proven methods. Attendees will learn about marketing strategies, target marketing and 5 simple practices to increase sales.

NALP Workshop 2

5 Steps to Increasing your profitability with QuickBooks – $85

Monica Muir, Muir & Associates, LLC, NALP consultant

Thursday, Oct. 20 – 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Frustrated with QuickBooks? Often the issues are due to features missed in setup and procedures which impact workflow and reporting. Learn five steps that can help you increase your profitability with desktop QuickBooks. With just a few changes in setup and procedure, you’ll have more reporting options and new ways to streamline your workflow.

NALP Workshop 3

How not to sell your business – $85

Ron Edmonds, Principium Group, NALP consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 – 8 - 9:30 a.m.

It is estimated that only 25 percent of businesses are successfully sold. For businesses under $1 million in sales or less than 10 employees, the percentage is even lower. A business is usually an owner’s most significant asset, and many are relying on their businesses to finance their retirement. But these statistics paint a challenging picture. Learn why businesses don’t sell, as well as why they do. This session will focus on how you can improve your odds of a successful exit from your business – on your terms and timetable.

NALP Workshop 4

Coach, evaluate, and manage your employees the right way – They will give you the results your company needs to go to the next level! – $85

Steve Cesare, The Harvest Group, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 - 8 – 9:30 a.m.

This hands-on workshop will give you the key components of employee discipline, performance management and evaluations. Participants will learn how to improve employee job performance, increase procedural consistency and sustain organizational success while being legally compliant and meaningful for the employees.

NALP Workshop 5

10 things every land care operator needs to know about financial statements – $85

Dan Gordon, Turfbooks.com, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 - 10 – 11:30 a.m.

This hands-on workshop will give you the key components of employee discipline, performance management and evaluations. Participants will learn how to improve employee job performance, increase procedural consistency and sustain organizational success while being legally compliant and meaningful for the employees.

NALP Workshop 6

Make more profits, create more free time, and grow your landscape business organically by avoiding these three massive mistakes – $85

Domenic Chiarella, 7 of 7 BEST Business and Life Strategies, LLC, NALP consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 – 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Learn the three mistakes that are present in every company, how to avoid them and tools for solving them. Find out why it is important to have these areas working for you in order to grow profits and gain an understanding of real tools in each area that can be implemented immediately into your business.

NALP Workshop 7

Building your proposal from the ground up – $85

Richard Arlington, of Rich Arlington & Associates, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 - 1 – 2:30 p.m.

Want to know how your financial statement can help you get to the price that makes money? Show customers and your staff that you know what you’re doing using simple steps to achieve success. In this session, attendees will learn how to calculate their breakeven point, the difference between markup and margin, and how to account for efficient factors.

NALP Workshop 8

Optimize your cash flow and get paid faster – $85

David Tulkin, Fundbox, NALP consultant

Friday, Oct. 21 – 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Cash flow is essential to business success. 64 percent of small businesses experience late payments, and landscapers are no exception. Chances are if you invoice on net-terms, you have funds tied up in receivables that you need to make payroll, buy supplies or take on the next big job. This informative session will cover key steps to taking control of your cash flow and utilizing technology to optimize your invoicing workflow. It will also cover traditional and alternative types of financing available to landscape owners.

Latino Link for landscape contractors

Presented by the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA)

Free to GIE+EXPO attendees (unless otherwise noted)

To meet growing demand, the National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA) is expanding its seminar offerings during GIE+EXPO. Sessions will be in English and in Spanish. Whether you are a Hispanic contractors eager to achieve greater success or a non-Hispanic wishing to better engage Hispanic employees, you’ll want to attend an NHLA session.

Connecting-the-dots for more profits and growth (in English)

Thursday, Oct. 20 – 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.

Moderator: Domenic Chiarella, 7 of 7 Best Business & Life Strategies

Panel: Rafael Diaz, Diaz Group

Jose Arroyo, Jose’s Landscaping

Pam Berrios, ALS Services

Keys to Succeeding as an H-2B Employer (in English)

Thursday, Oct. 20 – 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Moderator: Raul Berrios, Rulyscapes

Panel: Josh Dennison, Denison Landscaping

Mari Medrano, CoCal Landscape

Domestic Staffing Solutions; the H-2B Alternatives (in English)

Thursday, Oct. 20 – 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.

Moderator: Pam Berrios, ALS Services

Panel: Josh Dennison, Denison Landscaping

Mari Medrano, CoCal Landscape

Domenic Chiarella, 7 of 7 Best Business & Life Strategies

Creating a winning culture through staff development (In Spanish)

Mejorando el ambiente laboral a través de entrenamiento

Friday, Oct. 21 – 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.

Moderator: Pam Berrios, ALS Services

Panel: Rafael Diaz, Diaz Group

Jose Arroyo, Jose’s Landscaping

Marcos Berrios, Rulyscapes

NHLA lunch & learn roundtable discussions (In Spanish & English)

Growing your company by better engaging local Hispanics

Como avanzar en nuestra industria

Friday, Oct. 21 – 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Pre-registration is required. $30 includes lunch.

Whether you’re a company owner or leader struggling to better engage and grow your Hispanic workforce, or a Hispanic wanting to grow in the industry, you won’t want to miss this opportunity.

Protecting yourself and your team; Creating a culture that values safety (In Spanish)

La Seguridad Personal; Creando los Buenos Hábitos más Claves

Friday, Oct. 21 – 1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Speaker: Juan Torres, Next Step Solutions

Guided tour of GIE indoor and outdoor exhibits in Spanish (In Spanish)

Visita el show con nosotros y descubrirás todas las últimas innovaciones

Friday, Oct. 21 – 3:00 – 4:15 p.m.

NHLA leaders will help you navigate the show floor and outdoor exhibits and will translate along the way to enhance your understanding of the latest advances and new equipment offerings.

Drawing for Apple® iPad® Air 2

Friday, Oct. 21 – 4:30 p.m.

NHLA booth #291

Registration for this session includes access to the Hardscape Demonstrations