When the owners of Providence Forge, Virginia-based L.G. Scott announced they were going to enroll two apprentices in NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship program, Ryan Janney jumped at the opportunity to become a landscape apprentice. The chance to be able to “work and go to school at the same time without digging himself into total debt” […]
During National Apprentice Week, a nationwide celebration that gives businesses, communities and educators the opportunity to showcase their apprenticeship programs, seemed like the most fitting time for Fullerton Grounds Maintenance (FGM), headquartered in Kenvil, New Jersey, to officially launch the NALP Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program. The inaugural group will begin their journey with this career-shaping […]
Like a lot of landscape companies, the owners of L.G. Scott have struggled with finding good quality labor over the years. But with the introduction of the NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program, they see hope on the horizon … maybe even a solution to labor challenges. Luke Scott, who owns the business with his brother […]
For many industries, apprenticeship programs are creating viable workforce solutions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than 5 million people will be trained through apprenticeships in 1,000 industries over the next five years. Today, with the formalization of NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program, registered by the U.S. Department of Labor, the green industry […]
As NALP’s Landscape Management Apprenticeship Program™ has continued to gain traction with companies across the country signing on, there has been increased interest in how to choose the right people to participate in the program. Many companies are starting out with a small number of apprentices—often two or three—to see how it goes but are […]
Preparation is the key to conducting an effective interview. This is your opportunity to get to know a candidate, and to determine if this person is a fit for your company culture. First, prepare a job description so you can determine what qualifications you are interviewing for. You must also know what skills are needed […]
Building a team is a multi-step process that involves recruiting, interviewing, hiring and developing team members. Ideally, you work through this process from beginning to end, because we know from experience if you skip any one of these steps, the result could be a very expensive mistake. Because hiring and onboarding is a process, it […]
Selecting and installing an irrigation system is an important investment for any of your residential or commercial clients. An irrigation system ensures that their investments — their lawns and landscapes — are nurtured and sustained. When it comes to who your customers contract to do the work, your qualifications and expertise can matter. Certified irrigation […]
Though his son has grown up around the business—and the industry—Cody Whelchel, owner of Texas-based Cody Landscape, says the process of transitioning business ownership to his son has been more complicated than he anticipated. Currently in the midst of that process, Whelchel, who founded the landscape design, installation and maintenance business in 1986 along with […]
Switching companies—or even just positions within the same company—always brings a new set of challenges. For Bill Horn, East Branch Manager for Gachina Landscape Management in Menlo Park, California, 30-plus years with the same company had him used to a certain way of doing business. Horn brought his ideas to Gachina and had to find […]