MARIETTA, Ga. - Indianapolis was the hot spot for green industry professionals, Nov. 3-7, 2000, as more than 6,000 exhibitors and attendees converged at the "Crossroads of America" to participate in the national lawn and landscape event.
The Professional Lawn Care Association of America's (PLCAA) 21st Green Industry Conference and the Green Industry Expo featured sessions, PLCAA’s Annual Meeting and Dinner with award presentations, a live auction, Product Field Day and the two-day trade show.
The educational program offered presentations that ranged from business sessions to pesticide recertification workshops. In addition to education, attendees had the opportunity to tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and compete in Micro-Reality stock car racing at a kickoff party. Power Breakfast Roundtables also offered an interactive forum for idea and information exchange with fellow professionals. Additionally, PLCAA’s Live Auction raised more than $27,000 for PLCAA programs and the Evergreen Foundation.
PLCAA's Annual Meeting and Dinner served up award presentations and the changing of the guard as 2000 President Jerry Grossi, Arborlawn, Lansing, Mich., handed the presidential gavel to 2001 President Michael Kernaghan, Weed Man, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The 2001 Board was also announced and includes:
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President:
- Michael Kernaghan, Weed Man, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Bill Hoopes, Scotts Lawn Service, Marysville, Ohio
- Jon Cundiff, Turf's Up Lawn Service. Lee's Summit, Mo.
- Chuck McIntire, TurfPride Inc., Kennesaw, Ga.
- Jerry Grossi, Arborlawn Inc., Lansing, Mich.
- Richard I. Lehr Esq., Lehr, Middlebrooks, Price & Proctor. Birmingham, Ala.
- Ewald Altstadt, Lawn Doctor Inc., Holmdel, N.J.
- Dave Armitage, Centex Home Team Lawn Care, Dallas, Texas
- John Bass, Lawn Master Inc., West Jordan, Utah
- Rick Beard, Massey Services Inc., Maitland, Fla.
- Jim Campanella, The Lawn Dawg, Nashua, N.H.
- Dan A. Cheslock, Mountaineer Lawn Care Inc., Morgantown, W.V.
- Douglas E. Hague, Lawn Classics Inc., Findlay, Ohio
- Charles King, King Green Inc., Gainesville, Ga.
- Louis Kobus, Jr., Village Turf Inc., Mount Vernon, Va.
- Gregg Breningmeyer, John Deere Inc., Raleigh, N.C.
- Mike Dietrich, Lesco Inc., Rocky River, Ohio
- Ron Johnson, Syngenta Turf & Ornamentals, Columbia, S.C.
Award winners announced at the Annual Meeting include:
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Picture Perfect Award sponsored by Lawn & Landscape magazine:
- Cool Season Turf-Residential: Atwood Lawncare Inc., Sterling Hts., Mich.
- Cool Season Turf-Commercial: Yards "R" Us Landscape, N. Las Vegas, Nev.
- Warm Season Turf-Residential: Adam's Gardening Services Inc., Rocky Mount, N.C.
- Warm Season Turf-Commercial: Southeastern Outdoor Management Inc., Panama City, Fla.
- Swingle Tree & Landscape Care, Denver, Colo. Steve Geist accepted the award on behalf of Swingle Tree.
- Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA). Kim Kellogg accepted the ARA award on behalf of OLCA.
- a-Perm-O-Green, Wichita Falls, Texas
- Dave Steptoe, Great Outdoors (student at Michigan State University)
- Lou Kobus, Jr., Village Turf Inc., Mount Vernon, Va.
Green Industry Expo events were again successful. Attendees were able to shop 340 companies represented on the show floor and try out equipment from 90 exhibiting companies at the Product Field Day, which drew a record 2,500 people.
The next PLCAA Green Industry Conference, to be held in conjunction with next year’s GIE, will be in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 9-13, 2001. For more information contact PLCAA at 800/458-3466 or visit its web site at www.plcaa.org.