The Accredited Snow Contractor’s Association (ASCA) announced it has expanded its advisory board with the addition of two snow industry leaders.
The new advisory board members include Ken Hutcheson, president, U.S. Lawns, Orlando, Fla.; and Richard Churchill, president, The GroundsKeeper Inc., Ashland, Mass. The announcement was made at the ASCA’s 2012 Executive Summit, which took place Aug. 9-11 in Ft. Lauderdale.
ASCA Executive Director Kevin Gilbride says the association’s six-member board as worked very well together during its first year, turning the fledgling snow industry group’s initial challenges into successes. However, adding two additional members with the combined industry experiences and business acumen that Hutcheson and Churchill bring to the table was an opportunity not to pass up, Gilbride says.
“I’ve know both Ken and Richard for some time,” he says. “I couldn’t think of a better place for them to help ASCA other than on our advisory board. I am thrilled to have so many successful individuals providing input and guidance to ASCA.”
Hutcheson is a numbers guy by nature, and he has taken U.S. Lawns from about 15 franchisees in a few states to over 234 franchisees in 34 states across the country, Gilbride says.
“Ken has more than 30 years of experience in the green industry and his passion is immeasurable,” he says. “When Ken speaks, people listen. I am thrilled Ken will be guiding ASCA down the same path to success that he has taken his own organization.”
Churchill has been serving the greater Boston marketplace since 1994. The GroundsKeeper offers a full range of year-round maintenance services and specializes in the development of individual maintenance programs suited to the unique needs of each client, Gilbride says.
“The GroundsKeeper has grown into a leader in both landscape and snow and ice management services and the company is a regular on Snow Magazine’s Top 100 list,” Gilbride says. “Dick is that guy who sits in the room and listens. And when he speaks, he speaks humbly yet directly.
Dick’s knowledge and understanding of business will help guide ASCA to success.
On the ASCA Advisory Board, Hutcheson and Churchill join Troy Clogg, Troy Clogg Landscape Associates; Kyle Rose, Rose Property Maintenance; Jeff Herold, Brickman Group; Peter Smolka, Everest Snow Management; John Allin, PJA, Inc.; and Tom Nastasi, Mills Insurance Group.
There is a lot of excitement and interest from snow industry leaders to take part in the momentum of change that the ASCA has created over the last year, Gilbride adds.
“Over the past year, we have grown to 45 committee members and we have a number of individuals who have volunteered to serve,” he says. “As the requests to participate come in I have the opportunity to talk with these individuals, many of whom I already know well and we find the best fit for them provide their time knowledge to ASCA.”
If you are interested in joining the ASCA, or serving on one of its committees, contact ASCA Executive Director Kevin Gilbride at kgilbride@gie.net.
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Contractors become certified The association’s “ASCA Certified” program is the result of establishing the first “industry standards” for the professional snow and ice management industry. The overall goal of establishing standards and a certification process is to lower instances of baseless slip-and-fall claims and get a handle on controlling insurance premiums. It is believed that the “ASCA Certified” designation, along with ISO9001/SN9001 certifications, will serve as a strong deterrent to litigators pursuing frivolous slip-and-fall lawsuits. In addition to reinforcing the ASCA’s Industry Standards and certification program, “ASCA Certified” status will allow contractors to participate in special insurance programs through ASCA partner Mills Insurance.
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