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

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diversity

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. “We have always had similar goals and values,” McGrady says. “He knew that this would be […]

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Faces of the Industry: Eddie Ramirez

“Yeah, why not?” was Eddie Ramirez’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 wasn’t until he was in college that he realized he could have a career in the landscape industry. “I felt it was the best of both worlds,” Hong says. “A 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. “Having 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 you’re not taking the time to understand your team’s cultural differences, you could fail to retain your workers long-term. “Any company or industry that has and embraces diversity can benefit tremendously,” says Pam Berrios, president of Infinity Group, LLC. “Diversity 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 isn’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. “NCLC 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

You’ve probably heard the quote, “If you build it, they will come.” This quote is particularly true when it comes to creating a landscape company that women want to work at. “We have made sure to create a professional atmosphere that is attractive to anyone that wants to be involved with a successful company,” says […]

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Faces of the Industry: Michael Davie

Michael Davie has always enjoyed landscaping, growing up working in the yard with his mother, but it wasn’t until after he worked at Men’s Wearhouse for 20 years that he decided he needed to change careers. Davie wanted to be involved in something he could be passionate about, so he went back to school and […]

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Utilize NALP Foundation Toolkits to Boost Company Diversity

To support a successful growing company, you need the most capable people on your team, regardless of their age, race, religion, gender or national origin. “In order to be competitive in the ever-changing landscape of business, new ideas, thoughts and ways of doing things need to be embraced and cultivated,” says Angela Hieronimus, director of […]

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