Growing In The Green Industry

In this host episode of Growing in the Green Industry, Brett and Skyler celebrate kicking off the 5th season of the podcast!   The hosts talk about the challenges they have faced over the spring months with weather challenges and the importance of staying ahead of the conditions and being proactive with clients about their properties.  They talk about managing both customer relations and employee...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Mike Bogan and Jensen Bogan with LandCare.  Mike and Jensen share their unique perspective on ways to operate a family business.  They talk about their personal stories, how they started working together and how Jensen fell into her fathers’ footsteps.  Jensen talks about how her skills from the hospitality industry transferred in...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Will McEwen, Technical Quality Advisor with Viriginia Green.  Will shares his inspiring story from his humble roots at a local golf course and culminating in his current pivotal role.  He shares invaluable wisdom on fostering early engagement with high school students and advocates for companies to prioritize involving youth. Will discus...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Dave Pacifico, co-founder of Team Engine.  Dave talks about thoughtful automation of keeping and building an engaging workforce. Dave discusses having a broad, diversified strategy for companies to adopt when it comes to looking for new talent. He talks about thinking about what makes you different as a company from other companie...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Mackenzie Chris with Southern Botanical.  Mackenzie tells her story on how she grew quickly into her current Branch Manager role.  She touches on her early career to where she is now.  As a Branch Manager, Mackenzie talks about what she shares with her field team to make sure that they are prepared.  Mackenzie talks about mentorship, tra...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Lewis, COO with Yard Solutions, Inc.  Joe talks stress management and setting expectations with your team.  He talks about the importance of taking care of your team as well as educating and training your team on how to manage stress.   Joe talks about being proactive vs. reactive and having a plan in advance to set your team...

In this special episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Hope Smith with Plants Creative Landscape, Terry Williams with Green Lawn Fertilizing and Jenny Girard with RM Landscape.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in this week’s episode, our guests share some of their stories and experiences around mental health personally and professionally.  This episode is hosted by Jenn Myer...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Paul Beblowski, Senior Product Manager with STIHL. Paul talks about the state of battery powered equipment. He touches on infrastructure and seeing the hard and soft payback moments in the move to battery. If you are considering battery-powered equipment, you don’t want to miss this episode. ⁠Click here⁠ for more information on ma...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Chad Diller with Landscape Leadership.  Chad shares his non-traditional path of how felt lost at times in his career and how he finally ended up in landscape industry.  He talks about what he learned in the past and taking those experiences and applying them to your next opportunities.  Chad also shares advise to stop minimizing the litt...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guests Vanessa McQuade, Senior Account Executive and Owner and Rob Murray, CEO and Co-owner of Intrigue Media discuss the bigger picture with sales and marketing. They talk about digital marketing and making the communication shift from company centric, and solution oriented to customer centric, and program oriented with their content. T...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome David Hanny with Virginia Green.  David shares his story of how he landed into the landscape industry and shares his advice on transitioning from one industry to the green industry.  He talks about being proactive in a leadership role and the importance of engaging with your team - he even gets a little technical and touches on soil scie...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our guest Jennifer Burnett, EVP of Organizational Development at LandCare discusses attracting and engaging talent and how it looked many years ago compared to how it is today.  She also talks about attracting talent from other industries.  Jennifer tells her story about exploring new opportunities and challenging and investing in yourself t...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Cate Deane with Ruppert Landscape.  Cate talks about finding your passion and being able to utilize the resources out there that are available to everyone.  Cate talks about finding the balance with training and mentoring and the importance of finding the best ways to keep your learners engaged.  She shares how important it is to have a...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Claire and Charlie Goldman, owners of R&R Landscaping. They talk about running a professional company with your spouse. They touch on the hustle, commitment, challenges, strategies and what makes it work. They share the importance of being present for your family and showing the way for your team. This episode is hosted by Mil...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Keenan Baird, Plant Healthcare and Fine Gardening Manager with Milosi.  Keenan talks about not letting money get in the way of your dreams as he shares his personal story of how he got into the landscape industry.   Keenan also talks about making mistakes - trying something new and making mistakes is ok and learning how to grow from your...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry our hosts discuss the hot topics of hiring, recruiting and retention. With the lack of available workforce being a primary concern for our industry, and spring right around the corner our hosts touch on best practices for finding qualified professionals, proactive approaches for keeping professionals on staff and adjusting to wage increases T...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Angela Hieronimus, Director of Engagement and Success with Blades of Green Lawn Care.  Angela talks about the importance of having those hard conversations and how her experiences have helped her be successful in her HR role.  She talks about recruiting, team member retention and engagement. She shares how they keep their team members en...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Bob Mann, Director, State and Local Government Relations with NALP.  Bob talks about the EPA changing the paradigm of how they are evaluating pesticides and how they are looking at pesticides under the Endangered Species Act.  He touches strategies on how the green industry can be more engaged in the political process. Bob talks a...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Marin Clark, Co-founder of Threadleaf Landscape Design.  Marin shares her experience with starting her own landscape design company, the gray areas and the advice of putting yourself out there and making that a priority.  She talks about making those connections and the huge opportunities that come with networking.  Marin also talks abou...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Keenan Baird, Plant Healthcare and Fine Gardening Manager with Milosi.  Keenan talks about not letting money get in the way of your dreams as he shares his personal story of how he got into the landscape industry.   Keenan also talks about making mistakes - trying something new and making mistakes is ok and learning how to grow from your...

As we approach NCLC in a few short months, in this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts are live from the 45th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition, where 600 students, 97 faculty members, and 347 industry professionals have gathered to learn, compete, and network. Discussion topics include charting your career path (and how it will change and evolve over time) an...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Ketterer, Director of Quality & Efficiency Maintenance Division with Ruppert Landscape. Joe shares his advice with training and execution is knowing what to do being one thing but doing what you know is another.  They talk about the difficulties of how to quantify or assess a role in training.  Joe also talks about how to make tr...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Jan Johnsen, Principal with Johnsen Landscapes & Pools. In this episode Jan talks about defining your market niche and how important referrals are. They talk about building strong relationships as well as touching on the labor shortages that so many are facing in the green industry. This episode is hosted by Brett Lemcke with...

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Joe Kujawa, Practice Leader of Bruce Wilson & Company. Joe talks about the power and value of peer groups.  Joe talks about the uniqueness that our industry has compared to other industries and how our industry is willing to share information – successes and failures.  He also shares how networking can be intimidating but the importa...

In this replay episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts talk about the different career wins they have had over the last few months! They discuss the power of learning how to say no and improving your work/life balance to see the positive changes it has. They also touch on the importance of having a process and making your services a system. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus and N...