News

ValleyCrest named to Training Top 125 list
Calabasas, Calif. – ValleyCrest Landscape Cos. was selected as one of the best companies in the nation for training by Training magazine.

In its first year entering the recognition program, ValleyCrest earned a ranking of No. 118 and is the only landscape services firm named on the list. The annual ranking recognizes organizations with operations across the world for outstanding employer-sponsored workforce training and development.

“We are extremely pleased to be selected for this honor,” said Parke Kallenberg, vice president of training at ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance. “We have always believed that properly training employees results in improved productivity, enhanced job quality and higher job satisfaction. Being selected for this award validates that we are on the right road in regards to employee training and development.”

The Top 125 ranking is determined by assessing a range of qualitative and quantitative factors including financial investment in employee development, the scope of development programs and how closely such development efforts are linked to the company’s business goals and objectives.

Georgia associations to merge this month
ATLANTA–The Metro Atlanta Landscape & Turf Association and two other associations are in the last stages of finalizing a merger with the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council (UAC), forming a truly statewide organization.

At press time, the last legal details were being finalized by MALTA, the Georgia Turfgrass Association, the Georgia Sod Producers Association and UAC. The merger is expected to go into effect April 1.

Upon approval by each board of directors, MALTA, GTA and GSPA proposed the merger to its members.
 
The votes resulted in a 98 percent approval, said Mary Kay Woodworth.

Woodworth, executive director of MALTA and president of UAC, will become executive director of UAC with the new organization.

“We’re excited because we’ll be able to offer so much more to all of our members,” Woodworth said. “All of the existing services, events, educational opportunities that each individual association has will stay – nothing is going to change in that regard. They’ll just be bigger and better and open to a larger audience.”

Woodworth added that in the next few months, members of the associations will not see much of a change until processes are streamlined.

The merger gives UAC a membership of 1,100. But Woodworth expects that number to grow.

“I think there were many companies, because Atlanta was in the name of MALTA, that felt that it was only for Atlanta companies, and I think by removing that obstacle it will make a big difference,” she said. Also, the different types of outreach the organizations offer will be a boost. For instance, MALTA offered monthly education sessions, while GTA hosted a yearly tradeshow.

“There will just be a lot more opportunities for people to learn about the association and interact, so I think it will definitely drive membership,” she said.

UAC was founded in 2005 to provide an industry voice on legislative and regulatory matters for multiple Georgia associations. Because UAC is a more recognizable name throughout the state, it made sense for the three associations to merge and maintain the UAC name, Woodworth said.

“As an advocacy group for the industry, we more than double our size now,” Woodworth said. “And (we) just create a bigger power and a bigger voice – one voice for the industry.”  

Swingle acquires LawnCare Aeration Plus
GREELEY, Colo. – Swingle Lawn, Tree & Landscape Care, has acquired LawnCare Aeration Plus. 

Larry Torrez, former owner of LawnCare Aeration Plus, said after deciding to retire, he looked for a landscape business known for customer service to buy his company.

“Swingle’s recognition over the past 64 years for receiving many industry and business ethics awards was a key factor in my selection process,” he said. “Swingle also offers an expanded service line that will allow my former customers to use a single point of contact for their lawns, trees and holiday décor services.” 

Swingle has recently acquired several landscape and holiday décor service companies, including three in the fall of 2010, said President John Gibson.

The acquisitions have allowed the company to expand its services to all Front Range communities. The Font Range is the most populous area in the state of Colorado, extending from Fort Collins in the north and south through Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs.  This acquisition of LawnCare Aeration Plus will be supported by Swingle’s Fort Collins branch.

“We will focus on continuing to give great service to Larry Torrez’s customers at LawnCare Aerations Plus and developing even stronger customer loyalty by offering a host of new services supported by a highly trained team ...,” said Thomas R. Tolkacz, Swingle’s CEO. “We look forward to servicing even more Colorado communities as we grow and develop the Swingle brand in these new market segments along Colorado’s Front Range communities.”

Arboretum receives education grant
LISLE, Ill. – The Exelon Foundation has donated $100,000 to The Morton Arboretum to promote several teen mentoring, career exploration and learning programs.

“The Morton Arboretum’s programs combine science education and environmental stewardship – two key areas that the Exelon Foundation is dedicated to supporting,” said Steve Solomon, president of the Exelon Foundation. “The Foundation is pleased to help advance the Arboretum’s efforts to provide young people hands-on experience in the natural sciences and produce the next generation of scientists.”

The arboretum offers exploration that students cannot experience in a traditional classroom, said Susan Wagner, vice president of education and information at The Morton Arboretum.

Students aged 12-18 will have the opportunity to work alongside scientists and master educators.

The Arboretum’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Pathways Program is designed as a successive stepping-stone to careers such as forestry, natural science interpretation and botany.

“Research shows that positive early experiences in nature foster a lifelong appreciation and respect for living things,” Wagner said. “By providing a deeper understanding of trees and nature, children grow up to be adults who are more inclined to make decisions that protect the environment.”

The Arboretum Education Program was founded in 1922 and is one of the oldest and largest of its kind.

Case launches rodeo competition
RACINE, Wis. – Case Construction Equipment has launched the Case Triple Threat Rodeo Competition, a yearlong rodeo competition featuring Case loader/backhoes, wheel loaders and skid-steers.

The operators who win rodeo events at Case dealerships across North America will compete in a final event during the 2012 World of Concrete tradeshow to determine the champion. The grand prize winner receives a new Case compact track loader for the sponsoring company and a Ram truck for themselves. Fully loaded with a quick coupler, pilot controls and Ride Control, the compact track loader is valued at $59,000. The Ram 2500SLT truck features a 5.76 V8 Hemi and is valued at $42,000.

“Operators demonstrate their skills on the job every day,” said Rob Marringa, Case marketing manager. “They’re placing pipe in narrow trenches, maneuvering equipment around job site obstacles and leveling ground to exact specifications. The Triple Threat Rodeo gives the very best operators a chance to show off their skills.”

Operators participating in the local rodeo events are eligible to win up to $500 in cash prizes and Case gear.First-prize winners also will win a trip for two to Las Vegas and the opportunity to compete in the Case North American Triple Threat Rodeo Championship.

Case dealer events benefit local charities, such as Habitat for Humanity. Each participating Case dealership will make a donation to its local Habitat affiliate or other local charities and provide the opportunity to recruit skilled volunteers at the events.

The rodeo events also will promote the Case Community Challenge program, which honors contractors who donate their time and energy to participate in local community improvement and organizational projects.

The Case Triple Threat Rodeo begins this month. For more information about the competition including a calendar of events, visit www.caserodeoseries.com.

Coalition releases EAB management recommendations
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – A new set of recommendations has been released by experts on how to approach emerald ash borer management in urban landscape.

The newly-formed Coalition for Urban Tree Conservation released the EAB statement after a summit hosted by Valent Professional Products. The coalition, which comprise university researchers, tree and land care company representatives, nongovernmental organizations, municipal arborists and foresters and a Valent representative, developed a consensus document to clarify the misconceptions about the effects of EAB and management options.

“This document will help increase alignment between different groups – governmental, scientific and the arborists – regarding EAB management,” said Joe Chamberlin, regional field development manager at Valent. “It emphasizes the point that conservation of healthy ash trees is more sensible in many cases, from economic, environmental and public safety perspectives, than tree removal.”

The statement describes the economic and ecosystem incentives that ash trees provide. For instance, the trees provide increased property value, storm water mitigation and decrease energy demands. Consequently, EAB, which is now in 15 states, is predicted to cause $10 billion to $20 billion in losses to urban forests during the next 10 years.

University scientists have developed and refined treatment protocols to protect the healthy ash trees, which can be more effective, economical and environmentally sound than actually cutting down the ash trees. The coalition supports three means for EAB control.

Dinotefuran is registered for basal trunk bark or soil application, emamectin benzoate for trunk injection only and imidacloprid for soil application or trunk injection.

NEW HIRES
Jim Houston was promoted by The Davey Tree Expert Co. to vice president of Midwest operations for its residential and commercial services division. Most recently Houston serves as operations manager for the Northeast region.

Dain Charbonneau was named business development manager for Austin Outdoor in Northeast Orlando, Fla. He’ll be responsible for focusing and developing relationships with commercial properties.

DJ’s Landscape Management, a Michigan-based company, named James Sheely sales account manager for the Holland and Kalamazoo markets. He will be responsible for developing opportunities from existing and new client relationships.

Arysta LifeScience hired Matthew Siebel as its Midwest territory sales manager. He’ll oversee Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois and the Pittsburgh areas.

Jon Ackerman was appointed a field sales representative in BFG Supply Co.’s Western region. Ackerman will mainly handle the Minneapolis area as his territory.
Jacobsen has named Ric Stone vice president of sales. Stone will be responsible for sales in North, Central and South America and will oversee customer service and parts support.