LANDSCAPES 2017 Highlights - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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LANDSCAPES 2017 Highlights

LANDSCAPES 2017 is in the books, and nearly 2,000 landscape professionals are now back at their offices implementing some of the strategies they learned at the education sessions in Louisville – and that is what it is all about – actionable knowledge!

Sold out crowds attended the CEO Forum and the Account Managers workshop as well as many standing room crowds at other sessions. Through classes, workshops, and panel discussions, 360 degrees of landscape and lawn care business topics were covered, and so much more!

In addition to the education, the networking was productive (and fun!), including a sold-out Breakfast With Champions.

Employee recruiting was on tap at Friday morning’s Recruiting Roundtables where 45 recruiters met with 86 college landscape and horticulture students (and future employees!).

The NALP-PAC hosted a party at the Muhammad Ali Museum and raised nearly $9,000 to further the industry’s legislative agenda.

The NALP Young Professionals had a blow-out networking session on the rooftop bar EI8THUp. Approximately 100 Young Professionals turned out to network at the 2nd annual event.

We know that the first time you come to LANDSCAPES and GIE+EXPO it can be overwhelming – in a good way! So each year we invite all the first-timers to the Newcomers Rally to network and learn more about how to take advantage of the event. It was another great chance to talk to industry veterans.

Ron Jaworski was a huge hit as the Keynote speaker, offering great insights and fun football insider knowledge and he stayed to sign John Deere footballs and take photos with everyone at the party.  Thanks “Jaws!” If you weren’t there – you’ll probably never know what “really” happens inside an NFL huddle!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and visited us in the NALP Booth at the GIE+EXPO to talk with staff about programs and learn more about membership.  Thirty-three companies joined as new members during the show and in case you were wondering who won the Yeti cooler full of beer – it went to Craig Perry of Perry Pest Lawn.

Attendees also helped grow the industry by pledging more than $106,000 to support the Industry Growth Initiative. Attendees were impressed with the initiative’s goals and progress including, most recently:

  • a new market penetration study that showed 40% of homeowners reported using a professional in the past year,
  • the new Landscape Career Day (scheduled for spring) that will encourage students and others to touch and feel the industry,
  • advertising that is driving 20,000 business buyers to the NALP Find-a-Professional page monthly, the advertising blitz that will drive tens of thousands of job seekers to the NALP Job Board between November and February, and more.

NALP’s Foundation Board also voted to earmark $100,000 to support initiative projects which will help industry companies with their workforce challenges.

We were thrilled to celebrate all the work you do!  We gave out about 150 awards for exceptional landscape projects, community & environmental stewardship service and we recognized professionalism. See who took home the highest honors.

All the incredible parties, education, and give-aways couldn’t happen without the support of our LANDSCAPES sponsors: JOHN DEERE (Platinum), Caterpillar (Gold), and Bayer (Silver), and all the other important LANDSCAPES sponsors.

View and download photos of LANDSCAPES.

We hope you’ll join us next October 17-19 for LANDSCAPES 2018! We’ll be at the brand new Omni Hotel and we’ll be mixing things up to create an all new experience for next year’s convention!