LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Hispanic Landscape Alliance has planned a seminar program during GIE+EXPO with sessions for both dealers and contractors. Attendees at GIE+EXPO will have the opportunity to attend Latino Link sessions all three days of the show. GIE+EXPO is scheduled from Oct. 18-20 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
With sessions in English and Spanish, topics have been designed to appeal to a range of attendees, including dealers seeking to increase sales to area Hispanics; Hispanic contractors eager to achieve greater success; and non-Hispanics wanting to better engage Hispanic employees.
New this year, a three-part series on the Certified Landscape Technician maintenance content will be presented by Henry Mayer, bilingual horticulture instructor with the University of Florida Extension Service. The three sessions, which will take four hours, will help prepare native Spanish speakers for the CLT exam while helping experienced and novice crew members, foremen and others increase knowledge and professionalism. The following is a schedule of events:
Wednesday, Oct. 18
8:30-10:30 a.m.
Latino Link Dealer Breakfast: Gaining Market Dominance by Building Customers for Life (in English). Pre-registration is required, and $25 cost includes breakfast. Dealers on the panel will share how they have found success through selling, leasing and renting equipment as a way to alleviate customer’s pain; fleet management consulting to help customers maximize the value of their equipment dollars; timely communication to set or reset expectations; offering and providing education on solution options to best address customer needs; and making the most of everyday opportunities to build relationships.
Thursday, Oct. 19
9:45-11:15 a.m.
Seminar in Spanish: Loving Your Grass so it Loves You Back. Henry Mayer, commercial urban horticulture extension agent at the University of Florida Extension Service, will serve as the presenter. This session covers the do’s and don’ts of turf installation and turf maintenance. It will also address the keys to safe turf equipment operation.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Latino Link Lunch & Learn. This costs $30 per person, and that includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Use this time to network with other show attendees over lunch at tables featuring discussions facilitated by NHLA leaders and others. Each table will feature a different theme either in English or Spanish. Register to attend on Thursday, Friday or both days.
1:30-2:45 p.m.
Seminar in Spanish: Landscaping: Creating Beauty from the Ground to the Sky. Henry Mayer, commercial urban horticulture extension agent at the University of Florida Extension Service, will serve as the presenter. This session will cover plants and how to plant them, as well as tree and shrub maintenance.
3-4:15 p.m.
Seminar in Spanish: Workplace Safety, the Mark of a Professional Operation. Henry Mayer, commercial urban horticulture extension agent at the University of Florida Extension Service, will serve as the presenter. This session will cover the keys to achieving greater workplace safety.
Friday, Oct. 20
9:45-11:15 a.m.
Rooted & Connected: How New Contacts Provided the Roadmap to Greater Success (in English). Attendees will learn how industry leaders across the country found inspiration, solutions to operations, marketing and staffing challenges, and help with getting through difficult times through networking made possible by NHLA.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Latino Link Lunch & Learn. This costs $30 per person, and that includes lunch. Pre-registration is required. Use this time to network with other show attendees over lunch at tables featuring discussions facilitated by NHLA leaders and others. Each table will feature a different theme either in English or Spanish. Register to attend on Thursday, Friday or both days.
1:15-5 p.m.
GIE+EXPO Guided Tours: NHLA leaders to lead small-group VIP tours. Don’t be overwhelmed by the show. Go to East Hall Room 4 at 1:15 p.m. to participate in guided small-group tours of the show floor and the Outdoor Demonstration Area. NHLA leaders will conduct tours for small groups in English or Spanish and will introduce participants to manufacturer representatives at each stop.
For more information about Latino Link events, visit the GIE+EXPO website here.