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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     Contact: Vicki Bendure, APR
                                                                                                                       (540) 687-3360 or
                                                                                                                       Lisa Schaumann
                                                                                                                       (540) 687-5099

PROFESSIONAL LANDCARE NETWORK’S ANNUAL GREEN INDUSTRY CONFERENCE AND GIE+EXPO DEEMED A SUCCESS

HERNDON, Va., November 3, 2008 — This year’s Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Green Industry Conference (GIC) and the GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Kentucky, drew green industry professionals from across the country. In a Friday press conference, PLANET President Jason Cupp, CLP, acknowledged the success of the show and the fact that “together we have created the largest green industry show ever.” The show is ranked 16th in the nation in size.

To effectively comprehend the scope of this annual event consider some of the statistics from the week, more than 180,000 business cards were traded, and there were more than 92 hours of educational sessions and more than 75 hours of leadership meetings. More than 4,000 room nights were booked. PLANET’s Live Auction on Wednesday night included items donated by 40 companies and 71 items were auctioned off.

“GIC and GIE+EXPO provide the venue for an exceptional, must-attend industry meeting where PLANET has been able to successfully take the exceptional networking and educational seminars that have become hallmarks of PLANET’s GIC, and then add the dealer networking component,” says Cupp. “The result was the best possible industry event ever.”

“The highlight of this event for me is the education,” says Fred Haskett, CTP, managing partner/operations for U.S. Lawns/West St. Louis. “The educational sessions continue to offer a meaningful experience to all levels of expertise. There’s no question, there is something for everyone here.” Other PLANET members also extolled the scope and size of the trade show and the outdoor demonstrations. “I divide the (trade show) floor into three sections, and cover a section a day,” states John Gachina, CCLP, CLT, with Gachina Landscape Management. He brought four company branch managers, all first-timers to the event. “There’s so much equipment here that if you don’t have a strategy, you’ll likely miss something,” Gachina adds.

The big news this year at GIC was PLANET’s new event initiative in 2009, PLANET Day of Service — a day when PLANET members across the country will participate in green industry projects in their communities. The event is scheduled for April 22 (Earth Day). (For more information, go to planetdayofservice.org.)

Following are other PLANET successes:

PLANET’s membership numbers are strong this year with 4,395 member companies, representing more than 100,000 individuals.
PLANET’s Renewal & Remembrance event registered more than 400 participants (up 20 percent from 2007) who donated more than $350,000 in goods and services to Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries this past July. And once again, PLANET received an award from ASAE for Renewal & Remembrance.
PLANET’s Student Career Days also saw record member attendance and student participation.
PLANET’s certification program has grown, and there are now more than 6,500 certified professionals.

For more information, visit LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at
(800) 395-2522.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,200 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.