Laytonsville, Md. – Ruppert Landscape is pleased to announce the addition of Randy Given as Facility Manager.  

Given brings to Ruppert Landscape over 20 years of commercial and residential contractor experience. He also previously served in the United States Army. In his current role as facility manager, he will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all Ruppert Landscape facilities, including managing labor, materials, and subcontractors on all facility projects.

“Randy has the right mix of management and hands on experience in the construction field that will make him a great fit for our organization,” said Jay Long, Director of People and Organizational Development. “We are looking forward to the contributions he will make to our current and future facility needs.”

Given currently resides in Damascus, MD, with his wife, Victoria, and daughter, Cara.

TUCSON, Ariz. – During its 24th annual meeting, RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) recognized Mark Schlossberg, president of Pro-Lawn-Plus, with the 2014 Grassroots Excellence Award for his work on the front line in Maryland’s legislature and his advocacy for the industry on the local, state and federal levels.

As this year’s honoree, he’s been the catalyst for grassroots in Montgomery County, Md., providing the contacts, organization and sense of urgency needed as we work to defeat lawn and turf restrictions being proposed in the county. Although Schlossberg resides in Baltimore County, he remains actively engaged by speaking with policymakers all across Maryland about green industry concerns.

Schlossberg provided written testimony to the House Small Business Committee about the potential negative consequences on small green industry businesses due to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed rule expanding the definition of "waters of the U.S." under Clean Water Act jurisdiction.

"The most important part about engaging at the grassroots advocacy level is proactively speaking with our elected officials and regulators before a crisis occurs. Then, it’s about keeping in regular contact with those officials and regulators," said Schlossberg.

"All sectors of the specialty pesticide industry should communicate and stick together. Even though a particular piece of legislation might not affect you directly or right now, you need to realize our adversaries may target your sector next," he said. 

Schlossberg has been president of the Maryland Association of Green Industries since 1994 and treasurer of the Maryland Green Industry Council – both long-time RISE allies. He is also the past president of the Maryland Turfgrass Council, a board member of the Maryland Agricultural Council and a member of the Baltimore County Planning Board.

RISE congratulates Mark Schlossberg on being elected this year’s Grassroots Excellence Award recipient for his exceptional commitment to industry advocacy.

TUCSON, Ariz. — The Irrigation Association recently designated Rain Bird Academy program’s four Boot Camp classes as part of the IA Select program for quality irrigation education. This marks the first time that the Irrigation Association has awarded the IA Select designation to classes offered by an external training services provider.
 
“One of the IA’s strategic initiatives is to provide professionally developed irrigation education,” said Sherrie Schulte, professional development director for the Irrigation Association. “The IA applauds members, like Rain Bird Services, who invest in providing quality training that promotes efficient irrigation to the industry.”
 
The four Boot Camp classes that are now part of the IA Select program also provide attendees with valuable continuing education credits. These non-manufacturer-specific classes include:
• Introduction to Irrigation and Installation (8 CEUs)
• Irrigation Technician (16 CEUs)
• Landscape Irrigation Design Process (8 CEUs)
• Efficient Irrigation Scheduling (4 CEUs)

“We’ve worked diligently to provide well-rounded training that focuses on the importance of installing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems that use less water in the pursuit of healthy landscapes,” said Paul Lierheimer, director of Rain Bird’s Contractor Division. “That focus is especially important considering the prevalence of water restrictions and the need for water conservation. By attending our training, both new and seasoned irrigation professionals can learn how to help their customers make the most of every drop.”
 
Having a course approved as part of the IA Select program is a significant achievement. All IA Select classes must adhere to the IA’s best management practices standards (BMPS) in the design, installation and service of irrigation systems. Providers submit course material to an IA review committee, and those providers with courses meeting specified criteria become members of the IA Select program and bear the IA Select label.
 
Rain Bird Services will be offering its unique four-and-a-half-day irrigation Boot Camps at 30 locations throughout the United States beginning October 2014 through March 2015, and registrations are now being accepted online. To register for an event or to learn more about Rain Bird training events throughout the United States and internationally, visit www.rainbirdservices.com or call 1-800-498-1942.

This past winter was brutal. It was tough on employees, equipment and systems, and in some cases it impacted cash flow and profits. Many snow contractors prayed for snow, and learned to be careful for what they wished for.
 

Looking back.

The past few winters found snowfalls below average. This trend began four or five years back, and snow contractors reacted accordingly.

Savvy contractors sought ways to increase revenues in low-snowfall years. Here are a couple of ways: Sell more seasonal contracts so that money flows even if the snow doesn't fall from the sky; push “zero tolerance” to give the contractor more opportunity to perform and charge for services and tighten up specs. This leaves customers and facility managers with little choice but to allow contractors to service sites even with minimal amounts of snow on the pavement.
 

Winter 2013-14.

This past winter season was anything but “average” for those who live and work east of the Mississippi. It started snowing early. In some areas it just never stopped.

Some looked back longingly at the blizzards that graced their geographic market. Blizzards meant increased revenues. However, those revenues came in short periods. Such snowfalls would hit and leave, dumping sometimes feet of snow. But, they were over and done in a day or so, leaving contractors to do clean-up work over the following few days.

Customers tolerated some snow on the pavement because they, too, listened to the forecasts, knew the storm would depart quickly and that their snow management contractors would be there to clean up the resulting mess left behind by the quick-hitting storm. Even if 26 inches of snow fell, in a matter of days the sun would shine again and contractors scurried around like squirrels in search for acorns in the snow.

There was an end in sight for everyone involved. But last winter also saw a different animal come to the forefront. It snowed, and snowed, and snowed. It came in small increments. Snow contractors know that it takes almost as much effort to plow 5 inches of snow as it does 12 inches – at least in terms of the total amount of days involved in fighting the storm.

But, four inches of snow over 24 hours, and 12 inches of snow over three days without any sort of break takes its toll. For a majority of the professional snow contractors, this winter severely taxed their tried-and-true managerial systems. Field staff started to fall asleep at the wheel after three days of non-stop working in the snow.

Internal systems came close to crumbling under the weight of the ongoing, continual reporting. Invoicing fell behind to make room for “getting the work done.” In some cases winter invoicing was six to eight weeks behind because there simply was not enough time to devote to “the paperwork.”
 

The future.

Many will rethink next year’s contract language to protect themselves if this type of winter season scenario ever happens again. A few will look into crystal balls and opine that this type of continually snowy winter will never occur again, so they don’t have to worry about it. Of course, this would be foolish – it will happen.

Those who ignore the lessons of the past are destined to relive it. And then, snow contractors will again moan and groan about how mother nature is to blame.

Snow industry veteran John Allin is an author, consultant and educator.