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Enjoy this latest issue of Inside Certification. Remember to keep the PLANET certification team informed if your contact information has changed, or if you have questions regarding your certification. Recertify by the good-through date on your wallet card to remain active and in good standing. |
Greetings Landscape Industry Certified professionals!Looking for certification stars
Read the ongoing articles featuring certification achievers like you in each issue of Inside Certification. We’re always looking for people and stories to feature in Certification Spotlight, Inside Certification, on Facebook, and in other places.
Share your certification news and experiences with Karen Barnett. We’d like to headline you and your company in upcoming issues.
Promo Tip: If you’ve been featured in print or online, make sure to highlight your certification achievement on your company’s Web site, with customers, and in media communications.
Talking about highlighting your certification, Certification Administrator Marnie Main of Landscape Alberta Nursery Trades Association made up signs for two Landscape Industry Certified individuals who recently ran in a marathon in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. One of the runners is a member of the International Certification Council’s Test Revision Subcommittee — John van Roessel, Landscape Industry Certified Manager & Technician, JVR Landscape Inc., Calgary. The motivational signs included “Landscape Industry Certified Superstar” — now that’s showing your competitive edge and is a brilliant way to promote the brand, literally on the run. A photo of Main holding the sign ran in the Edmonton Journal.
Marketing certification can boost business
Michael Becker, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Estate Gardeners Inc., Elkhorn, Nebraska, gives great advice on marketing your certification in an upcoming issue of Landscape & Irrigation magazine. Becker, who chairs PLANET’s International Certification Council (ICC), discusses how winning bids, impressing customers, and earning the respect of crews and employers are just a few of the benefits of becoming and staying certified — when you promote your achievement.
“Certification can make you and your company more attractive and more in demand. You’ll stand out, but not if you keep it a secret. It’s up to certified individuals and companies with certified staff to do everything they can to promote their Landscape Industry Certified status. Otherwise, you’re sitting on what could be your best selling point.
PLANET gives you an online toolkit with logos, template press release, bid language, customizable consumer brochure, and other promotional items. Use these resources.”
Promo Tip: Be creative and bold, but don’t forget the obvious and easy places to insert that you and your staff are certified. For example, if you use on-hold messaging, don’t forget to announce that you have Landscape Industry Certified staff. The same goes for email signatures and business cards. Logos and more are included in the online certification toolkit. To access the toolkit, contact PLANET’s certification team at certification@landcarenetwork.org.
Certification highlights at GIC
Catch BYU’s Phil Allen, Ph.D., Landscape Industry Certified Manager, at the Green Industry Conference (GIC) giving a fast-paced, Landscape Industry Certified Manager mini-prep session, October 27, 2011, at the Kentucky Expo Center from 3 to 4:15 p.m. If you’re a Landscape Industry Certified Technician considering the Manager (CLP) designation or know of someone in your company who is interested, this session will give you a sweeping overview and help you map out your next steps.
If you’re ready to take the Manager or another select PLANET certification exam, you can save money by testing at GIC. Learn more on the certification specials page.
You can also earn CEUs at GIC toward your recertification. GIC is approved for PLANET Landscape Industry Certified recertification at 1 CEU per hour of instruction, including attendance at Breakfast With Champions. PGMS and HNA educational sessions offered during the conference also qualify toward PLANET recertification.
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Welcome to new ICC (International Certification Council) member Diane Andrews, executive director of the Michigan Green Industry Association. Andrews is the ICC Exterior Licensee chair, filling the position vacated by Kristen Fefes, and will complete the Exterior Licensee term through December 2012.
After serving nearly two terms, Fefes stepped aside because of numerous projects and scheduling priorities. She is considered a key player on the ICC and instrumental in advancing the certification program.
If your PLANET certification good-through date on your wallet card is December 31, 2011, you are due to recertify by this date. However, many are choosing to recertify earlier. Please feel free to submit your CEU Submission Form to PLANET now through the end of the year and check this important certification maintenance item off your to-do list.
To recertify, you’ll need to report 24 CEUs earned during 2010 and 2011. There are many options that count toward CEUs, from reading green industry or job-related publications to attending in-house training, events, and webinars. If the subject matter is green industry or job-related, it will count! Use the Recertification Requirements Sheet as your guide to earning CEUs and filling out your CEU Submission Form.
For more information on recertification, visit the Recertification Center or contact PLANET’s certification team at certification@landcarenetwork.org or call (800) 395-2522. Please note that if your good-through date is 2010 or earlier, contact the certification team immediately to reinstate your certification.
Certification: Good for industry, companies, and employees
With more than 20 Landscape Industry Certified employees on board, Bland Landscaping, Inc., believes in certification.
“In an industry as loosely organized and unregulated as ours is, voluntary certification is very important,” explains company General Manager and Senior Vice President Kurt Bland, Landscape Industry Certified Manager & Technician. “It demonstrates to customers a commitment to being trained and following industry-accepted standards. Certification also has an internal component for companies like ours, not the least of which is giving employees an important, value-added and tangible goal.”
Great training ground
Bland Landscaping’s certification numbers are inextricably tied to the company’s training program. Training within the company, from the time an employee becomes a foreman-in-training or is hired on as a foreman, prepares the groundwork for their certification. Bland explains.
“Foremen-in-training have 90 days to complete an in-house training program, and new employees hired into a foreman position have a year to do the same. The training has two goals: It ensures they will have the knowledge and skills to perform required tasks, and it introduces them to the tangible challenge of becoming Landscape Industry Certified.”
Those who accept the challenge and become certified enjoy the benefits of certification — confidence in their ability to perform at high industry standards and meet job requirements expected by their employer. Bland emphasizes that the company doesn’t penalize an employee for not taking the certification challenge but will hold back merit raises for those who are in a position that requires certification status. For example, branch managers are expected to be Landscape Industry Certified Managers. Account managers need to be Landscape Industry Certified Technicians.
Not there yet
When asked what the biggest benefit certification has brought to his company, Bland again focuses on its internal contribution, giving employees a tangible goal. As he points out, having a substantial number of certified employees on staff also demonstrates a certain level of professionalism that’s important to industry partners such as insurance companies and banks. In terms of being recognized by his customers, he says certification still takes a back seat to price.
“Customers, both residential and commercial alike, will say it’s nice that I have certified employees, but they quickly focus back to the price of the project.”
The economy hasn’t helped to draw attention to the merits of certification, but Bland notes that its awareness overall among customers, at least in his market, isn’t there yet either. “Part of the challenge in our market is the number of different certifications being offered by various groups,” he relates. “The sheer volume dilutes the value of our certification. Then there’s still work to be done getting the message out to consumers about what being a Landscape Industry Certified Manager or Technician means to them.”
Bland says for certification to truly have a dramatic impact in his market requires more landscape contractors to embrace the program and, in turn, l expose more customers to the merits of certification. This industry veteran and certification champion is doing his part by making certification an integral part of his company’s training program.
Certification champion leaves her mark
In 2000, when Kristen Fefes, CAE, became executive director of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC), industry certification was already a huge part of the association. The group had started giving the Landscape Industry Certified Technician-Exterior test in the mid-1990s, and it was ingrained as part of the culture. Eleven years later, thanks in large part to certification champions like herself, the program has both evolved and matured.
“My first experience with the Landscape Industry Certified Technician-Exterior test (then CLT) was in the summer of 2000 as ALCC’s assistant executive director,” Fefes recalls. “I was totally impressed by the commitment of all the participants — the judges, our committee, and the test candidates. It was obvious how closely aligned certification was with the mission statement of our association and the industry overall.”
Since then, Fefes has overseen the operation of the six-chapter, 600-member ALCC that certifies upwards of 200 applicants a year. For the past five years, she has also been a very active member of the ICC.
The vision
When asked why Colorado is so successful with certification, Fefes talks about the vision volunteers had early on to improve the professionalism within the industry. “There are few, if any, prerequisites for starting a landscaping company in Colorado. In the absence of any formalized or required training, certification fills the gap. Becoming certified, then, tells consumers that company employees have the skill sets and training necessary for the job, and that’s a big step toward enhancing our industry’s professionalism.”
She notes that in Colorado more than a half dozen municipal and special districts already specify having Landscape Industry Certified employees either on staff or on site, and she expects that number to grow. “Our goal is to increase that number dramatically in both the municipal and commercial markets,” says Fefes.
Getting better all the time
The numbers of new Landscape Industry Certified Technicians and growing awareness among consumers are only partial indicators of the program’s success. In her roles on the ICC as Exterior Licensee Chair and liaison for licensees, Fefes has been heavily involved in the recent revision of the exterior test.
“With any certification program, it’s very important to have the correct underpinnings,” she emphasizes. “The exterior exam has not only improved over the years, it has been updated and revised according to national standards and validated by industry experts from all over North America. The exam has also evolved to accommodate the many changes the industry has witnessed over the last decade”
She continues: “Colorado was the pilot for the revised exterior exam that we worked on in 2007 and 2008. Again, it was impressive to see so many people dedicated to certification and making the industry more professional. If you’ve never attended the test, you’ve truly missed something. ALCC hosts two tests in Denver and each one transforms the setting into its own community. You may have 100 candidates and near equal number of judges, along with several other support personnel speaking a special language with everyone pulling together in a giant team effort.”
New study materials
A revised exam requires updated study materials and resources. Three new recommended study books on installation, maintenance, and irrigation for the Landscape Industry Certified Technician-Exterior exam will debut at this year’s Green Industry Conference (GIC). “The books have a new format and a ton of new content from new technologies and equipment, to new strategies to conserve energy and promote sustainable landscapes,” Fefes explains. “Advances in technology alone as it relates to the development of ‘smart’ controllers have required some dramatic changes in the irrigation study material, and all the books continue to emphasize the safe and productive operation of equipment.”
A series of Web-based videos will also debut at GIC. “This is a very exciting project that began in June 2010,” Fefes adds. “The videos demonstrate tasks such as how to plant a tree, how to install pavers, and how to operate equipment. There will be a dozen or so videos, and both the videos and the book will be in English and Spanish. The new material will provide even better training for applicants and hopefully inspire more employees to become certified.”
Certification is only one of several items on the executive director’s agenda. Under her leadership, the ALCC has been proactive in addressing state water issues and immigration concerns. Her six-member staff also publishes the bi-monthly Colorado Green magazine, puts together the annual Excellence in Landscape Awards Program, and continually updates the association’s popular Web site that posts toolkits to help members market their services.
PLANET’s 2008 Association Executive Partner of the Year notes that the Web site’s “find a professional” link helps site visitors locate landscape contractors in their area, and, like certification, is part of ALCC’s ongoing effort to promote the value of hiring professionals.
Our thanks to Kristen Fefes for her commitment to the industry, involvement on the ICC, and support of PLANET and our many shared goals.
Congrats to newest Landscape Industry Certified professionals
From June 15, 2011 to September 9, 2011, the following individuals earned their PLANET certification:
Landscape Industry Certified Manager - Exterior (formerly CLP-E)
Miguel Aguilar, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
Irving Arevalo, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
Zoe Baird, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
Matthew Cloud, Prestonwood Landscape Services, Grapevine, TX
Douglass T. Delano, Level Green Landscape, Washington, DC
Sean Fillmore, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
Erinn Miller, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
John Rost, Anewalt's Landscape Contracting, Bernville, PA
Michael S. Secrist, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Phoenix, AZ
James M. Shaffer, Becker Landscape Contractors, Inc., Zionsville, IN
David Shea, Gothic Grounds Management, Inc., Valencia, CA
Landscape Industry Certified Technician - Exterior (formerly CLT-E)
Hardscape Installation
Michael Culp, Lawrence, KS
Jesse Edwards, Sterling, VA
Shane Edwards, Oswego, IL
Omar Garcia, Belcamp, MD
Matt Hiner, Colorado Springs, CO
Kyle Merkling, Itasca, IL
Lindsay Ruderman, Raleigh, NC
Kenneth Stewart, Arden, NC
Irrigation
Burton H. Baine, II, Littleton, CO
Mathew Blondo, Lochbuie, CO
Anthony Dalimonte, Apex, NC
Joseph M. DiBlasi, Centennial, CO
John Fugatt, Fort Collins, CO
Tasso D. Harris, Erie, CO
Chris Holthouser, Fort Collins, CO
Kristopher D. Huber, Fort Collins, CO
Samuel Ibarra, Lenexa, KS
Tara Jordan, Greenwood Village, CO
Bradley L. Kane, Thornton, CO
Gerald A. Kissinger, Longmont, CO
Russell Lund, Salem, OR
Javier Martinez, Salem, OR
Eric D. Moore, Longmont, CO
Denise L. Neahusan, Englewood, CO
Lauro Nilo, Waipahu, HI
Sean T. O'Brien, Loveland, CO
Juan Prado, Olathe, KS
Eliot Schmidt, Greeley, CO
Chuck Sherman, Aurora, CO
Dennis Thacker, Coleville, CA
Randy Turpin, Salem, OR
Jason Ward, Holly Springs, NC
Kirby Clint Watts, Apex, NC
Ornamental Maintenance
Kelly D. Badger, Fort Collins, CO
Darryl Barbadillo, Wahiawa, HI
Frank Blevins, North Wilkesboro, NC
Michele Branham, Holly Springs, NC
Brian Carpenter, Raleigh, NC
Patrick Carson, Tualatin, OR
Aaron Cole, Englewood, CO
Ronald DeSilva, Ewa Beach, HI
Steve Ebisuya, Kaneohe, HI
Lake Gibby, Kaneohe, HI
Jonathan Glab, Carson City, NV
Santiago Gomez, Temecula, CA
John Holtzinger, Baltimore, MD
Daryl Key, Apex, NC
J.B. Lundemo, Reno, NV
Edgar Maglay, Ewa Beach, HI
Daniel Marsh, Kailua, HI
Tim Mendenko, Apex, NC
David Mollman, Junction City, OR
Keana Mossman, Honolulu, HI
Jason Nusbaum, Sterling, VA
David Ohai, Honolulu, HI
Adam Owen, Raleigh, NC
Andrew Roland, Apex, NC
Shaun Snodgrass, Annapolis, MD
Marshall Soto, Annapolis, MD
Michael Swisher, Frederick, MD
Noah Van Kooten, Chicago, IL
Jason Ward, Holly Springs, NC
William Wolfe, Holly Springs, NC
Nexter Zepeda, Owings Mills, MD
Softscape Installation
Andrew Austin, Raleigh, NC
Matthew R. Bailey, Winter Park, CO
Lorin Bridger, Fort Collins, CO
Cesar Cervantes Palacios, Denver, CO
David J. Evans, Aurora, CO
Zak George, Fort Collins, CO
Raul Gomez Gonzalez, Denver, CO
Dallas E. Gustafson, Keenesburg, CO
Jonathan Travis Hester, Apex, NC
Chris Holthouser, Fort Collins, CO
Carol H. Kawula, Chapel Hill, NC
Shelley Kowalenko, Aurora, CO
Juan B. Luna Trujillo, Colorado Springs, CO
Mark McGinnis, Lorton, VA
Owen M. Mestas, Fort Collins, CO
M. Alexandra Noble, Castle Rock, CO
Julius Tripp Ozment, III, Holly Springs, NC
John Polizos, Silver Spring, MD
Jacob Ritchie, Apex, NC
James Robinson, Washington, DC
Lindsay Ruderman, Raleigh, NC
Joey Schneider, Laurel, MD
Kenneth Stewart, Arden, NC
Justin Taylor, Vernon Hills, IL
Benjamin Toler, Clayton, NC
Robert Turner, Holly Springs, NC
Daniel E. Watson, Thornton, CO
Turf Maintenance
Francisco Acosta-Reyes, Colorado Springs, CO
John Alexander, Chicago, IL
James Andersen, Colorado Springs, CO
Brad Andrews, Sterling, VA
Jessica Bahorich, Clarksburg, MD
Nathan T. Barrie, Washington, DC
Joseph Bone, Apex, NC
Joshua Brown, Reno, NV
Brian Carpenter, Raleigh, NC
Anthony Carr, Sykesville, MD
Joe Cosby, Reno, NV
James DeFratias, Grandview, MO
Tyler Rex Ellison, Fort Collins, CO
Sean Fong, Mililani, HI
Robert George, Chicago, IL
Stevin M. Hardin, Aurora, CO
Jake Hennelly, Cherry Hills Village, CO
Paul W. Hernandez, Colorado Springs, CO
Daniel H. Hughes, Windsor, CO
Johnathan Huke, Olathe, KS
Randy Huneycutt, New London, NC
Lee Ivy, Pinehurst, NC
Daryl Key, Apex, NC
Taylor Kim, Ewa Beach, HI
Daniery Lopez, Holly Springs, NC
Juan B. Luna Trujillo, Colorado Springs, CO
Mark Magarifuji, Mililani, HI
David Marks, Wahiawa, HI
Estiby Marquez, Laurel, MD
Herberth Marquez, Laurel, MD
Easton Martin, Ewa Beach, HI
Matt McCloskey, Sterling, VA
Tim Mendenko, Apex, NC
Seamas Mercado, Honolulu, HI
Tyler S. Miller, Fort Collins, CO
David Mollman, Junction City, OR
William Moore, Washington, DC
Ryan Morgan, Reno, NV
Jesus Muñoz Casillas, Denver, CO
Sunsiree Nauka, Waianae, HI
Kanoa Nelson, Honolulu, HI
Lauro Nilo, Waipahu, HI
Sheena Nuuanu, Waianae, HI
Adam Owen, Raleigh, NC
Julius Tripp Ozment, III, Holly Springs, NC
Jesse Perez, Colorado Springs, CO
Jose Portillo, Tualatin, OR
Zachary Riddleberger, Apex, NC
Alejandro Rivera, Westminster, CA
Andrew Roland, Apex, NC
Jack Ruppert, Laytonsville, MD
David Dean Sanchez, Sr., Denver, CO
Chester Stello, Fulton, MD
William A. Stewart, IV, Alexandria, VA
William Sweet, Aurora, CO
Frank Sydnor, Jr., Raleigh, NC
Lucio Torres, Jr., Libertyville, IL
Tony Whipple, Kansas City, MO
William Wolfe, Holly Springs, NC
Rodney Young, Honolulu, HI
Landscape Industry Certified Horticultural Technician (formerly COLP)
Bryan K. Randall, Brigham Young University - Idaho, Rexburg, ID
Landscape Industry Certified Interior Technician (formerly CLT-I)
Paul Bradley, Plant Interscapes, Inc., San Antonio, TX
Laura Dean, Plantasia Interiors, Inc., Seekonk, MA
Jessica Pinette, Plantasia Interiors, Inc., Seekonk, MA
Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Manager (formerly CTP)
Drew Atkins, Clovis, CA
Wong Kok Choon, National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore
Jonathan Gregory, Weed Man, Fresno, CA
Dona S. Hall, Fredericksburg, VA
Kok Yuen Hee, National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore
Loo Yune Hoang, National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore
Lai Ching Hwa, National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore
Lim Kah Hwee, National Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore
Jason Morel, Weed Man, Fresno, CA
Alejandro Reyes Cirera, La Torre Golf Resort, Roldán, Murcia, Spain
Kirk Shafer, Acme, PA
Paul West, Weed Man, Fresno, CA
Landscape Industry Certified Lawn Care Technician (formerly CTP-CSL)
Richard F. Daily, Friendship Village of Dublin, Dublin, OH