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The Florida Nursery, Growers’ and Landscape Association’s (FNGLA) Big Bend Chapter, representing the region around Tallahassee, took the honors as the FNGLA Certification Chapter Challenge: Survivor! champion. With 29 newly certified members, the chapter took home the honors by a margin of just one certified professional.
The contest pit FNGLA Chapters, called Tribes, against one another to see which region has the most members earn an FNGLA certification during the year, which ended June 30th. FNGLA Chapters were given credit for "survivors" of any of FNGLA's certification exams, including FNGLA Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP), Landscape Technician (FCLT), Landscape Contractor (FCLC) or Landscape Designer (FCLD).
The challenge came down to the wire with Big Bend Tribe barely squeezing out a win with 29 certified professionals over Pinellas Tribe with 28. Action Tribe (central Florida) was a close third with 21.
Big Bend took the championship mostly because of one company: Imperial Nurseries of Quincy. The company encouraged its employees to increase their knowledge and professionalism by offering training for the (FCHP) exam.
FNGLA represents Florida's environmental horticulture industry, with an estimated $9.9 billion in industrywide sales. FNGLA administers four industry certifications for horticulture and landscape professionals. More than 1,400 industry professionals are certified across the state.
For more information on how to utilize FNGLA's certification programs for your employee training, contact Merry Mott or Marilyn Sileven at FNGLA at 800-375-3642 or e-mail to mmott@fngla.org.