Attendees at the PLANET GIC Awards Banquet and Reception witnessed something never seen before: On stage, at the front of the room, stood a speechless Phil Fogarty.
Overcome with surprise and emotion, the president of Weed Man (Euclid, Ohio) accepted the Lifetime Leadership Award from his wife Sally and Jason Cupp, CLP, Planet President and Master of Ceremonies.
“I told Phil we had a meeting Sunday morning,” Cupp told the audience while Fogarty collected his thoughts. “He asked, ‘So, what’s on the agenda for this meeting?’”
Not only did Cupp manage to keep the real purpose for Fogarty’s presence a secret, but he also managed to smuggle Sally Fogarty into the ceremony, unbeknownst to her husband. Phil Fogarty expressed his gratitude Phil Fogarty expressed his gratitude before the crowd of about 125 landscape professionals.
“When you get an award like that, you realize you don’t do anything on your own,” he said afterwards. “It’s very collaborative. All the people at Project Evergreen and all the volunteers at Renewal and Remembrance – I feel lucky to be a part of these things. I feel very fortunate to get singled out, and I’ve learned so much from the folks at PLANET. All the committee work is nothing compared to what you get back.”
Fogarty succeeds Eldon Dyk, CCLP, who received the 2007 Lifetime Leadership award.
Other honors included:
• The Partner in Success Award to sponsor Husqvarna.
• The Most Improved Fleet Safety award to CSI Landscaping, Inc. and Raimondi Horticultural Group, Inc.
• The 2008 PLANET Promise Award to John Van Roessel, CLP, CHT, of JVR Landscape, Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
• The Most Improved Employee Safety award to Dutch Boy Landscaping.
• PLANET’s 39th Annual Environmental Improvement awards for more than 50 projects in various categories, including commercial landscape management, residential design/build, exterior landscape management, erosion control/ecological restoration and interior installation. (Read about “The Preserve,” recipient of the Distinction Award for Commercial Design/Build and created by Green Island Design in Deer Park, NY – exclusively in Lawn & Landscape magazine.)
• Certificates for PLANET’s Safety Recognition Award were given to landscape businesses with no vehicle accidents, no injuries or illnesses and no days away from work.
For a complete list of awards, visit www.LandcareNetwork.org.
