NALP Members in the News: Halstead Media, McHale Landscape Design, Davey Tree, Ruppert Landscape - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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NALP Members in the News: Halstead Media, McHale Landscape Design, Davey Tree, Ruppert Landscape

Read more about these NALP members and partners in the news.

Halstead Media Launches CrewRecruiter

Halstead Media, a digital marketing agency, has launched CrewRecruiter, a comprehensive recruiting solution designed exclusively for the landscape industry.

CrewRecruiter uses a robust but easy-to-use application tracking system (ATS) to provide unlimited candidate text messaging capabilities so landscape contractors can send automated texts and speed up their hiring process.

ā€œLandscape contractors are struggling to find the employees they need to sustain and grow,ā€ says Corey Halstead, co-owner at Halstead Media. ā€œTheyā€™ve tried many solutions and spent precious budget with the same result each year ā€” empty promises and little to no results. We decided it was time to change all that.ā€

CrewRecruiter auto-screens candidates and custom tagging within the job application form brings the most qualified candidates to the top of the list. Landscape contractors can filter out unqualified applicants for issues like improper licenses, unresponsiveness after the initial application, inexperience, and more.

It also builds upon Halstead Mediaā€™s social-first recruiting experience to modernize and broaden contractorsā€™ outreach to job candidates. CrewRecruiter combines all the latest recruiting strategies for landscapers including culture videography, employer branding, cutting-edge ATS, and targeted ads under one roof.

ā€œGreat talent chooses great companies. In tight labor markets, many of the key employees companies need to sustain or grow their landscaping firms are already employed by other companies,ā€ Halstead says. ā€œTheyā€™re not sitting around waiting, searching on job boards all day.ā€

McHale Landscape Design Acquires Hawkins Landscape Service LLC

McHale Landscape Design has acquired Hawkins Landscape Service, a high-end residential design/build and estate gardening firm in the DC metro area.

ā€œWe are thrilled to welcome the Hawkins Landscape Service team into the McHale family,ā€ says Keith Bowman, director of business development at McHale Landscape Design. ā€œThe agreement aligns with our long-term vision for growth ā€” for further market share in a region we have a presence, as well as opportunities for McHale associates to grow and develop their careers with a leader in residential estate gardening throughout the greater DC region.ā€

McHale currently operates in five locations throughout the DC region: Upper Marlboro, Annapolis, McLean, Easton and Clarksburg. The Hawkins Landscape Service was founded by Bob Hawkins, a veteran of the landscape industry for more than three decades. Hawkins Landscape Service creates memorable outdoor living spaces by uniting architecture and landscape design, quality installation, renovation, and meticulously managed grounds throughout the DC region.

ā€œMcHale Landscape Design shares our passion for design, quality service delivery, customer satisfaction, and employee development,ā€ Hawkins says. ā€œAs such, we believe McHale is the best fit to carry on the Hawkins legacy and uphold my commitment to employees and clients for a seamless marriage of the two companies.ā€Ā 

Davey Tree Expert Company Promotes Dan Roppolo

Dan Roppolo

The Davey Tree Expert Company has promoted Don Roppolo to director of arborist training within the Davey Institute.

He earned a bachelorā€™s degree in agriculture with an emphasis in urban forestry and a masterā€™s degree in natural resources with a concentration in urban forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

He joined Davey as a crew leader in 2008 through The Care of Trees acquisition after starting his career in arboriculture at the Morton Arboretum in Illinois. Roppolo held various positions before becoming a recruiter trainer in 2011. In 2016, he was promoted to manager of arboricultural training for the education and training department.

ā€œThroughout his career, Don has held an array of positions in tree care, and he found his passion helping others through training,ā€ says Greg Ina, executive vice president, Davey Institute and employee development. ā€œHe leads by example and always operates with integrity and an authentic concern for his colleagues, all of which makes me very excited for him and Davey arborists moving forward.ā€

He is an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and holds ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist and Certified Tree Worker Aerial Lift Specialist certifications.

Craig Ruppert Inducted into Washington Business Hall of Fame

Craig Ruppert (left) with Alex Orfinger

Craig Ruppert, founder and chief executive of Ruppert Companies was among the 2021 Laureate class inducted in the Washington Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement of Greater Washington.

Since its founding in 1988, more than 125 Laureates have been inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame. Laureates are selected for consistently demonstrating excellence in business, visionary leadership, and an ongoing commitment to community engagement.

Ruppert was inducted alongside Virginia Ali, owner of Benā€™s Chili Bowl; Russ Ramsey, chairman and CEO of Ramsey Asset Management; and Deborah Ratner-Salzberg, principal of Uplands Real Estate Partners.

ā€œI am very honored to be sharing this recognition with Virginia, Debby and Russ ā€” who each in their own way have helped shape their respective industries ā€” and am grateful to be following in the footsteps of past laureates who have made their own indelible mark on this regionā€™s business community,ā€ Ruppert says. ā€œMost of all, I want to commend Junior Achievement and their volunteers for all theyā€™re doing to inspire students and prepare them with the tools and experiences they need for a fulfilling and productive future.ā€

Jill Odom

Jill Odom is the senior content manager for NALP.