diversity Archives - The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals

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diversity

Talking with Titans: Ivan Giraldo

Ivan Giraldo founded Clean Scapes Landscaping, based in Austin, Texas, with Rex Gore in 2005. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry and served as a branch manager with TruGreen before starting his company. In 2021, Giraldo and Gore transitioned Clean Scapes to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Did you […]

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Faces of the Industry: Jason Chang

After serving in the Army for four years, Jason Chang was looking for a refreshing career he was passionate about. He had worked for local landscapers when he was a teenager, and Green Lawn Fertilizing was right down the road from one of his previous employers. Chang says it was the fact that the business […]

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Faces of the Industry: Brian McGrady

Brian McGrady served in the Marine Corps for 20 years before retiring at the rank of gunnery sergeant. A fellow Marine introduced him to the landscape industry, and he has been in the industry for roughly five years now. ā€œWe have always had similar goals and values,ā€ McGrady says. ā€œHe knew that this would be […]

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Faces of the Industry: Eddie Ramirez

ā€œYeah, why not?ā€ was Eddie Ramirezā€™s response to Mark Chaffin when he suggested Ramirez join him as he started his own landscaping company. That was in 1979, when the two were working together at a restaurant. Chaffin left the restaurant industry and started EarthWorks, Inc., based in Lillian, Texas. Ramirez started as a laborer, then […]

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Faces of the Industry: Jacob Hong

Jacob Hong started mowing lawns with his brother when he was 13 years old, but it wasnā€™t until he was in college that he realized he could have a career in the landscape industry. ā€œI felt it was the best of both worlds,ā€ Hong says. ā€œA little bit of business along with working outside. Initially, […]

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Team Building: Ways to Foster Diversity in the Workforce

You can access untapped potential when you diversify your workforce. While fostering diversity is a never-ending objective that takes time and resources, the results are well worth the effort. ā€œHaving a diverse workforce means happier and healthier employees, customers feel more respected, and managers have greater access to the talent and skillsets they need for […]

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Team Building: Bridging the Culture Gap

Many lawn and landscape companies have a diverse workforce, but if youā€™re not taking the time to understand your teamā€™s cultural differences, you could fail to retain your workers long-term. ā€œAny company or industry that has and embraces diversity can benefit tremendously,ā€ says Pam Berrios, president of Infinity Group, LLC. ā€œDiversity helps companies grow and […]

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Team Building: Creating Employee Resource Groups

Employee resource groups, commonly called ERGs, are employee-led communities with shared identities and interests. They serve as a place employees can network, work on professional development and raise awareness of relevant issues. While you might think these are only for large corporate entities, ERGs can exist in businesses of any size, as their goal is […]

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NALP Welcomes First HBCU to the National Collegiate Landscape Competition

Diversity isnā€™t something that just starts in the workforce. NALP has been actively working to increase diversity among students, faculty and industry professionals at the National Collegiate Landscape Competition as well. ā€œNCLC is their first exposure to the sheer size and scope of the landscape and lawn care industry, the myriad of job opportunities available, […]

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Team Building: Growing Your Female Workforce

Youā€™ve probably heard the quote, ā€œIf you build it, they will come.ā€ This quote is particularly true when it comes to creating a landscape company that women want to work at. ā€œWe have made sure to create a professional atmosphere that is attractive to anyone that wants to be involved with a successful company,ā€ says […]

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