Landscape Industry to Explore Tree Care Industry Expo

The year 2007 might rightly be called “The Year of Firsts” to describe the level of partnership between the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).

This spring, in a new cooperative venture to advance safety in the green industry, the two organizations joined together to offer safety-related products to each other’s members at discounted prices. Videos, CDs, DVDs, manuals and training materials produced by each association are now available to all at lower prices.

This summer saw their first joint Legislative Day on the Hill, as members of both organizations brought their concerns to Washington in July. From comprehensive immigration reform to small business health care, elected officials heard a unified message from the green industry.

This fall, in recognition of the increasing number of landscape companies that have ventured into tree work, PLANET is bringing its certification exams (CLP, CLT-Interior, COLP, CTP-CSL) to TCI EXPO, the largest tree care trade show in the world. The show, which will be held this year in Hartford, Conn., November 8-10, is a conference in the traditional sense, with CEU-earning potential from more than 60 hours of education. But it is a trade show first – more than 800 booths stocked with the latest equipment and products from 185 of the biggest suppliers in tree care will be there.

TCI EXPO’s three diverse tracks focus on safety, business leadership and arboriculture. Landscape company owners, particularly, will find the business track is geared to growing and running a successful green industry service enterprise. A pre-conference ½ day workshop on “Results Selling: Overcoming Sales Resistance” starts a comprehensive four-day program.

Continuing education credits are approved for licensed pesticide applicators in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia. More states are being added every week.

For more information on PLANET’s certification exams or to register for the exams, call 800/395-2522 or go to landcarenetwork.org.

For more information on TCI EXPO education and hotels or to register for the show, call 800/733-2622 or go to tcia.org.