Gigging With Gals In The Green Industry

"We were talking about how there were several women-owned exterior landscape company owners that might be interested in networking with some of the interior landscape contractors," explained Balint, president of Buckingham Greenery Inc., Buckingham, Va., and a Certified Landscape Professional. "We thought that it would be good to have a cocktail reception where we could meet people and start networking." Young is the owner of Greenery Office Interiors Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

And so was born Gals in the Green Industry (GIG) with a mission statement of: "Networking opportunity for gals in the green industry." The group held its inaugural cocktail reception during last November’s Green Industry Conference (GIC), which is presented jointly by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), the Professional Lawn Care Association of America and the Professional Grounds Management Society. GIG is once again holding a gig at this year’s GIC on Nov. 10, 2001, at the Marriott Hotel, Tampa, Fla.

NETWORKING RECEPTION. The inaugural cocktail reception, which had an attendance of about 60 people, served to promote women’s involvement in the industry and helped establish relationships that can be used to promote business growth among industry females. "When you’re by yourself, you think that you’re the only one," noted Balint, "and when you meet other people who are having the same problems and concerns, it gives you comfort."

Networking is the primary goal of GIG. "Networking is meeting someone else in a comfortable atmosphere and being able to exchange business cards and know that you can call somebody when you’re in a bind or when you need to find out how someone else is doing something," explained Balint.

She said it is key to present networking opportunities specifically to female business owners and managers in the industry and those women interested in joining the industry because it can be a viable career for women. It has proven to be one over the past decade or more as a growing number of women have started careers as exterior and interior contractors, landscape architects and designers. Many have managerial positions or own companies themselves. "As more women were getting into the green industry we [decided GIG] could be a support group," said Balint. "At least you can place a face with a person and know that you’re supporting the industry as a whole."

The annual cocktail receptions and other fund-raising efforts by GIG - such as selling GIG hats -serve to raise money for the ALCA Educational Foundation (AEF) and for complimentary registrations to the GIC.

Joanne Young (center) and Connie Balint (right) present a check in the amount of $500 to ALCA Educational Foundation Chair Dick Ott on behalf of Gals In the Green Industry.

AEF DONATION. With less than one year in existence, GIG raised enough funds to donate $500 to AEF at ALCA’s Summer Leadership Conference this year. AEF awards scholarships to FFA and college students in the landscape industry to provide educational opportunities to the future leaders in the industry.

GIG chose AEF for the charitable donation based on the growing number of women involved in ALCA’s annual Student Career Days, which is an opportunity for industry students to practice their skills, compete with others and learn more about the industry. Not only do women attend the event, they shine there. "For Student Career Days, the superstar has been a woman, and she has won it twice in a row," noted Balint.

Although not able to specify the GIG donation to be made available to a female student, Balint said the organization was pleased to be able to help the advancement of the industry. Through support of landscape contractors, industry suppliers, students and groups like GIG, AEF raised $600,000 in its first year, and the foundation is shooting for a goal of $1,000,000 in raised funds by 2002.

GIC REGISTRATION. Also at the Summer Leadership Conference, GIG presented two women with complimentary registrations to the 2001 GIC. Conference registrations also serve to promote networking and industry education as the GIC includes face-to-face interaction with industry peers and a variety of educational sessions.

The two winners of complimentary GIC registrations were Andee Bechtold, president, Longhorn Maintenance Inc., Allen, Texas, and Christine Skene, owner, Southern Tropic of Plants Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

GIG FUTURE. "We didn’t know what kind of response we were going to get when we put things down on a cocktail napkin and said, ‘I think we can do this,’" said Balint. "The fact that we were able to generate enough revenue to provide two full registrations and provide a donation to AEF, [made us feel] pretty successful the first time, and the second time we hope to have more success."