Jody Shilan steps down from NJLCA

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. – After managing the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) for the past seven years, industry veteran, Jody Shilan, MLA, has decided to step down from his position as executive director of the NJLCA, so that he can focus his energies working as an industry consultant, speaker and writer on a full-time basis.

This seems to be a natural progression for Shilan, who started out like many in the industry, with a push mower and a can of gas. Now some 40 years later, you're more likely to find him speaking at a landscape industry trade show about how to charge design fees; training landscape design/build contractors how to increase their sales using his "Ultimate Design/Build Sales Process;" or writing a new trade secret for his membership website www.FromDesign2Build.com, at a local Starbucks.

"I am extremely proud of the accomplishments that I have achieved as both a past president of the NJLCA and its executive director," said Shilan. "I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to manage such a wonderful organization for so long. Working for the association, I have had the opportunity to meet some incredible people and also give back to an industry that I have dedicated my life to. I am proud to say that during my tenure, the NJLCA has become a more professional, more social and politically active association, growing in both size and stature, along with a very solid balance sheet. However the requests for private consulting, public speaking and sales webinars have grown so significantly that I knew I had to refocus my efforts and make some decisions."

"Jody has done an outstanding job as executive director of the NJLCA," said Dr. Bruce Clarke, director of the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science. "Under Jody's guidance, the NJLCA/Rutgers Partnership has grown tremendously, resulting in increases in student scholarships and support for projects from the NJLCA Board that will greatly benefit the turfgrass industry."

"The main reason that I rejoined the NJLCA after almost a 10-year hiatus was because I saw all of the changes Jody was making to the association," said NJLCA Past President Tom Canete. "Under his watch, membership meeting attendance grew significantly and meetings became very social and highly productive. This atmosphere encouraged member participation, adding to the overall success of the organization."

"In 2016 we proudly celebrated our 50th anniversary as a trade association, so I really feel like I'm leaving on a high note," said Shilan. "Even though I am moving up, I am not moving out. I look forward to seeing NJLCA members at many of our upcoming events. However, next time, it will be from the sidelines."