Login

USERNAME
PASSWORD

Become a Registered Guest Login Help Lost Password?

Summer Leadership Meeting was flat out … incredible 

As I traveled back to Kansas City from this year’s Summer Leadership Meeting in Stowe, Vermont, I found myself thinking, “Wow, what an incredible experience.” The meeting rooms were filled with energy, attendees were engaged in the discussions, and, as always at these types of events, networking with each other was second to none!

There are two highlights in particular, though, that I want to share you. First, this meeting was the launching pad for TEAM PLANET. These two words define the essence of our new governance — that all PLANET members are working together toward the same goal of delivering value to our association and the industry. The new governance redefines PLANET as a “flat organization” with everyone having an equal say and an equal vote — from membership to staff to leadership to the board. 

TEAM PLANET is working, which means our new governance is working. You could feel it in the meeting rooms. You could sense it at the receptions. Many, who know me well, know that sports and team playing take a high priority in my life. Well folks, TEAM PLANET is on the field and together we’re moving the ball forward; and the best news, we’re winning the game.

Our new governance not only levels the playing field, it also charges the PLANET board to be more strategically oriented, to spend more of its time addressing “bigger” issues that will have a long-term impact on our members and the industry. In Vermont, the board identified what I like to call five strategic “conversations” — five high-level concerns that need to be on the radar screen. They are:

1. Digital age — what new technologies are out there and how should the industry embrace them
2. Pesticides — what is our role and voice to be as we move forward on this important issue
3. Focus on PLANET membership — both recruiting and retention
4. The labor issue, including H-2B and middle management
5. Energy, including the high cost of fuel and supplies

Identifying the importance of these five issues doesn’t imply that the board will take action on all of them or any of them for that matter. It just means that these are key industry concerns that should be on our agenda and monitored, and, if appropriate, we should work together to ensure that no single issue will side track our growth as an association and as an industry. Our desire is to be proactive, rather than reactive.  To use an industry metaphor, when mowing near a curb, operators can pay attention to the close-up details and risk running off the curb or look ahead to monitor twist and turns in the road that will keep them on the right track. The board, by having less operational and more strategic responsibility, is working to keep us on track. 

Just a couple of other thoughts. It was great to see more supplier members at this year’s meeting than ever before. They were actively engaged at all levels, which served to reinforce our “team” concept and the importance of building relationships and working together to improve our industry. Attendees tell me that Saturday evening was a magical time, with great food, beautiful weather, and lots of entertainment and fun going around. I missed the event to attend the wedding of Mitch Benjamin (and of course his beautiful new wife, Shannon), one of my lead landscape designers at my design/build firm.

Some may think it strange that the PLANET president would excuse himself from an important annual gathering to attend a celebration back home. However, I was more than confident that TEAM PLANET was on the field, and we wouldn’t miss a beat when one team member couldn’t be in the game … and we didn’t.


Jason Cupp, CLP
PLANET President

 

---