Publisher's Focus: Sept. 1997

How big can TruGreen grow? That remains to be seen. There are always rumors of more acquisitions.

What the move means to the industry at large remains to be seen. You’ll always hear pros and cons when the large firms take over smaller firms. What remains important, though, is the care and maintenance of the customers’ properties and the image these companies project in the industry.

What we see is a business industry that continues to grow and take shape. The professional lawn and landscape market is gaining recognition in dramatic fashion, and it’s well-deserved recognition.

If the economy remains strong - and all indicators confirm that it will - the professional contracting market will ride the upward curve well into next season. We’ll provide you with the industry’s most comprehensive state of the industry report next month. You won’t want to miss it.

Just as the industry continues to change, so do we. We’ve recently implemented some exciting staff changes in the Lawn & Landscape Media Group.

Bob West has been promoted to Editor of Lawn & Landscape magazine. Bob has been with the magazine almost two years and has shown a keen understanding of the intricacies of the green industry. Bob has good editorial instincts and will lead Lawn & Landscape into the next century. Give him a call with your thoughts on what we’re doing in the magazine and any story ideas you might have.

Managing Editor Paul Schrimpf will direct his primary editorial energies to the continued growth and development of our new publication, T&O Service Tech. Paul will continue to be very active in the industry, both at the supplier and technician levels, and will continue to grow the industry’s only magazine for the mid-level manager and front-line service technician. He will also continue to serve as Managing Editor of Lawn & Landscape.

Kevin Gilbride, another two-year veteran at Lawn & Landscape, has been promoted to Account Manager/Midwest. He will handle all advertising and marketing concerns in this territory, and he is joined by the newest member of our staff, Vince Ricci, who joins us as Account Manager/West Coast.

Look for our staff at upcoming trade shows including the Irrigation Association International Exposition and The Green Industry Expo. You can also reach us by e-mail at ccode@lawnandlandscape.com.