Education by Speaker’s Name
Phil Allen, Ph.D., Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Brigham Young University
What it Takes to Become a Certified Manager
Phil is an educator with Brigham Young University – Provo, Utah, serving as the program director for the Landscape Management degree. In addition to his 18 years in the industry, Phil has been an active volunteer in many arenas. He has been a member of the PLANET Board of Directors and has served on numerous PLANET committees, such as Student Career Days, Accreditation, Industry Recruitment, Education, and Governance. He has also been involved in the Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster and with the Rock Canyon Ecological Restoration as a director. Phil says his greatest strengths are faith, stamina, and energy, while his passion is maximizing human potential.
Richard Arlington, Rich Arlington and Associates
SIMA Build a Bid
Rich Arlington, a Certified Snow Professional (CSP) of Rich Arlington & Associates possesses over 25 years of landscape and snow and ice management experience. He assists business owners and managers of all sized companies to achieve their next level of service and revenue potential. In 2005, Rich went on to establish a consulting firm, Rich Arlington & Associates, which offers business training, risk management, and financial expertise to both exterior service contractors and facility owners and managers.
Phil Harwood, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, CSP has extensive business experience as an entrepreneur, executive manager, speaker, and writer. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in integrative management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing, and several professional designations. Phil was a co-owner in a large Michigan-based snow and ice management firm for many years before founding Pro-Motion Consulting, an internationally-recognized consulting firm that exists to help create healthy, profitable, and sustainable businesses.
Bill Arman, The Harvest Group
The Account Manager Guide: How to Attract, Get on Board, Keep and Grow the Best Account Managers
10 “Best” Practices that all Smaller Growing Companies Need to Know and Practice
Bill is trained and educated as a horticulturist along with a long career in corporate landscaping nurtured at one of the nation’s largest landscape companies. His expertise in human development and helping organizations thrive is rooted in thirty seven years of experience growing great programs and people.
After successfully leading ValleyCrest’s Southern California Region and overseeing the company’s multi-million-dollar portfolio, Bill developed and implemented a national training program, performance management system, and the recruiting program as ValleyCrest’s V.P. of Human Resources. In 2007, Arman co-founded a national landscape business consultancy called The Harvest Group, where he serves as The Head Harvester.
Kevin Bang, USI Insurance
How Much Will Health Care Reform Cost Your Organization?
Kevin Bang is Vice President and Employee Benefits Consultant at USI Insurance, where he works with middle-market companies to better understand, control and improve the risks and costs of their employee benefit plans. Kevin also helps employees identify the best ways to keep themselves healthy and minimize the money they spend on health care.
Prior to his tenure at USI, Kevin was Vice President and co-founder of Master Consulting Group, a firm established in 1992 to work with employers to face the challenges inherent with offering employee benefit plans. Kevin also served as Vice President at the Cleveland office of National City Insurance.
Kevin has delivered presentations in Northeast Ohio on various topics including Creative Health Plan Solutions, Benefits Considerations in Mergers and Acquisitions and Employee Benefit Committees. In 2006, Kevin spoke at the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (CEBS) Forum in Toronto, as well as the Employee Benefit News Benefits Management Forum and Expo in Chicago.
Mark Bradley, TBG Landscape
Do What, When? The Ultimate Business Management Calendar for Landscape Contractors
In this seminar, Mark will share the systems that have been instrumental in TBG’s growth and success as well as the best times of year for your company to focus on implementing and applying them.
Sponsored by:
Jeff Carowitz, Strategic Force, Inc.
Marketing Your Contracting Business on the Internet
Jeff Carowitz is two things in one small package. He’s an expert on our industry, having worked in almost all aspects from a landscape contracting firm, to a leading wholesaler, to one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of irrigation equipment.
He’s also a renowned expert on marketing, contributing to both academic research and advising firms of all sizes through his work as a professional marketing consultant. One of his clients put it best. “When Jeff talks, we listen and take notes….. We’ve learned to write fast!”
Mark Chisholm, Aspen Tree Expert Co.
Sponsored by: 
Tree Removal Tips & Techniques that Save Time & Make Money
One part acrobat, one part expert rope climber, one part tree physiologist, and several parts competitor and thrill seeker, Mark Chisholm is a third-generation, certified arborist with his family-owned Aspen Tree Expert Company in New Jersey. His expertise in tree care has made him a sought after consultant and industry spokesperson for the world of arboriculture, and he regularly travels the globe to consult with international arborist organizations.
Sponsored by STIHL, Chisholm has won every International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) New Jersey Chapter Tree Climbing Championship for the last 18 years and has conquered the wider tree-climbing world on three occasions, winning the ISA International Tree Climbing Championship in 1997, 2001 and 2010. Chisholm also currently holds the world record in the 50-foot secured footlock climbing event, with a time of 13.8 seconds
Bob Coulter, JP Horizons
Having Fun Delivering Great Service
Becoming An Exceptional Performance Coach
Bob Coulter joined the team at JP Horizons in 2002 after serving as a coach and developer of people for the last twenty two years in the hospitality industry. Bob has a unique background of operations and human resources/training that has helped him to play key leadership roles for ClubCorp, Marriott, and Radisson. He has been on the front lines with customers and in the board room contributing to executive committees.
In each stop of his career, Bob has helped individuals reach their potential and each organization to maximize their performance. He has been able to translate management theory into practical terms.
Mr. Coulter has been recognized for his delivery of training and development programs. These experiences have provided participants with concepts, systems and approaches that have produced long lasting behavior change.
Bob has delivered strategic planning, teambuilding, leadership development, performance coaching, and customer service training both inside his employer and to the external market. He has successfully impacted audiences in multiple industries, civic, community, and religious organizations.
Jason Cupp, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Kincaide, LTC
Your Biggest Asset: Your People and How to Create Maximum Efficiency with your Existing Team – (Ticketed Workshop)
Jason Cupp, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, is a former Green Industry Executive turned Growth Consultant and Professional Speaker. Jason has worked with 100’s of clients and 1000’s of team members across the world since beginning his consulting firm in 2006. He is the only Green Industry Consultant that is Kolbe Certified, and has served PLANET in various leadership roles, including its President. He currently sits on the GIE Board and the PAB, the governing body of the GIE/EXPO.
Jeff Dross, Kichler Lighting
LED Landscape Lighting Join the Revolution
Jeff Dross has over 30 years experience in the lighting industry including several key accomplishments as director of engineering and publications as well as chief market trend analyst. Jeff was integral in the company’s development and launch into LED technology in various categories including recent assignment as Senior Product manager for the landscape lighting category. Jeff is chief advisor and liaison to the US Department of Government’s Energy Star, Title 24, LEED’s and overall regulatory changes in technologically changing industry. Jeff’s recent promotion positions him in the lead of the company’s educational efforts in promoting professionalism, technical knowledge and important market developments.
Bernie Ervin, Ohio State University
Getting to “We”
Building An Effective Organizational Culture
Bernie Erven is professor emeritus of agricultural economics at Ohio State University. At Ohio State his teaching, extension and research work was in human resource management and family business management. His consulting work with small businesses through Erven HR Services LLC focuses on family business relations and human resource management.
For more than 40 years he has worked on issues such as hiring, training, motivation, discipline, compensation, and performance feedback. He also does workshops on succession and human relations in family businesses, communication, handling the stress of management, team building and time management. His work on these important topics has taken him to more than 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Eric Gilbey, Nemetschek Vectorworks
Advantages of Design Technologies for Design/Build Firms Implementing Sustainable Landscapes
Eric Gilbey, RLA is a Landscape Industry Specialist for Nemetschek Vectorworks, where he utilizes his professional experience and CAD skills to assist in the development, marketing and sales of Vectorworks Landmark. Eric received an AAS degree in Landscape Contracting and Construction and a BS degree in Landscape Architecture from the Ohio State University. Eric’s unique experience as a practicing landscape architect and user of various CAD programs allows him to help landscape architects and designers develop “best practices” including sustainable site design. Eric currently writes and speaks for several green industry associations on digital technology in site design.
Bob Grover, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Pacific Landscape Management
Sustainable Landscaping Toolbox
Bob Grover is truly a green industry veteran. Starting his first job at a local nursery as a sophomore in high school, he has never worked outside the green industry in his 30-year career. Bob graduated from Oregon State University in 1983 and joined Northwest Landscape Industries where he eventually became Vice President of Landscape Management of the $15 million, 200 employee firm.
In 1998, NLI sold to TruGreen and for the next 2 ½ years, Bob was their Regional Manager for the Northwest, overseeing 9 branches and 500 employees. In 2000, Bob left TruGreen and partnered with Ron Knesal and Elias Godinez to form Pacific Landscape Management. In 10 years, they have grown their new company to manage over 300 commercial properties with a staff of 100.
Recently Pacific has re-engineered their company to become more sustainable as well as offering a more sustainable service. In 2009 and 2010, Pacific Landscape Management was name as one of Oregon’s Greenest Companies by Oregon Business Magazine.
Phil Harwood, Pro-Motion Consulting, LLC
Creating a Customer-Focused Culture
SIMA Build a Bid Clinic
Phil Harwood is the President and CEO of Pro-Motion Consulting, a management consulting firm dedicated to helping create healthy, profitable, and sustainable businesses, with clients throughout the United States and Canada.
Phil is a Landscape Industry Certified Manager, PLANET Trailblazer PLANET Member Consultant, Certified Snow Professional, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Master’s degree in Business Administration from Michigan State University.
Tim Johnson, Penn State University
How to use the iPad to Sell Clients on New Projects
Tim Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Landscape Architecture Department at Penn State where he has been teaching design communication courses for over 25 years. He has written numerous articles for Landscape Architecture magazine and given many presentations and workshops on the use of digital tools for landscape architecture, including the use of Photoshop, SketchUp, interactive pen displays and multimedia.
Kevin Kehoe, Three Points Group
Creating a Sales Machine: How to Grow Your Business
Post 2008 – 2011 Economy - What Can You Expect for 2012? Planning Essentials
Kevin Kehoe brings twenty-six years of consulting and training experience to the green industry. He has worked with hundreds of companies in the Services Industry helping them increase profits by setting up sales systems, defining pricing strategy and implementing sales training and customer management systems. His expertise also includes helping businesses acquire companies and set up exit plans.
Jim Martin and Gary Clevenger, CNA
Compliance, Safety and Accountability - What is CSA?
Gary Clevenger is the National Risk Control Director of Construction for CNA Insurance. Gary is an experienced presenter and facilitator of convention programs and speaks frequently to industry experts at risk management and safety conferences on topics ranging from management accountability to efficiency and productivity. Prior to joining CNA Gary was the Risk Manager for the Sheet Metal Contractors National Association, where he provided risk management services to contractors and union employees. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Construction Risk Insurance Specialist (CRIS) and a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Jim McCutcheon, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, HighGrove Partners, LLC
Stop Thinking Like a Landscaper!
With twenty two years of experience in all facets of landscape design, installation, and maintenance and an intense focus on exceeding customer expectations, Jim is widely regarded by industry experts and the local Atlanta marketplace as a visionary leader and dynamic pioneer in the landscape industry.
Jim received his Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia and began his career with Post Properties as a Landscape Designer. He later moved on to direct all Post Landscape Group operations in Atlanta and Charlotte, overseeing installation and maintenance activities as well as managing all sales and marketing functions.
As an active member of the landscape industry, Jim serves as a chairperson for the Crystal Ball Committee of PLANET and board member of the PLANET Academic Excellence Foundation. A gregarious presenter, Jim is a frequent speaker at various industry events throughout the country.
Patrick McManamon, Sandler Training
Qualify, Close, and Present
Why Sales Efforts Fail, and What You Can Do About It!
Patrick McManamon is the founder and President of Sandler Training?, Jacksonville, Florida. He is certified by Sales and Marketing International. Pat has trained salespeople with diversified backgrounds and experience levels. His career spans 30 plus years of sales experience with progressive growth in sales and management with Fortune 500 companies, and 13 years as a business owner. He has experience in sales force development and management practices.
David Minor, The Landscape Partners
Success in Business
To Sell or Not to Sell?...That is the Question
David is the William M. Dickey Entrepreneur in Residence and was the Founding Director of the now nationally recognized Neeley Entrepreneurship Center at TCU where he was named one of the top 10 entrepreneurship center directors in the country by Entrepreneur Magazine.
Prior to joining TCU David was the president and CEO of Minors Landscape Services, a company he founded in 1980 which became an Inc. 500 award-winning enterprise and one of the most respected in the landscape industry.
He is a Past President of ALCA, was recognized as the landscape industry's Professional of the Year and also received the lifetime achievement award from that organization.
Clifton Pieters
DON’T ASK FOR REFERRALS!
Clifton Pieters has been a successful Salesman and Sales Trainer for over 30 years. He has focused his training exclusively in the Green Industry for the past 15 years working with great organizations like Brickman, Dennis 7 Dees Landscaping, Planet and numerous State landcare associations.
Monroe Porter, PROOF Management Consultants
Transitioning an Install Company to Maintenance and Vice Versa
How to Win Jobs and Close Deals
How to Survive, Prosper and Grow Profits in the Landscape Business
Renowned for his innovative, practical solutions to the problems that businesses face, Monroe Porter’s entertaining and insightful style has earned him an international reputation as a top convention speaker. Monroe came to work at PROOF Management following employment as a manager for an international construction company and used his energetic speaking style, construction family background and innovative consulting skills to build PROOF Management into an international consulting company. He also founded the PROSULT™ Networking Groups concept that brings small businesses together for support, group sharing and business development. Monroe is more than a talking head. He works every day with real businesses offering real and practical advice.
Mike Rorie, GIS Dynamics
The Advantage of Great Systems
Why Become a Great Employer?
Mike Rorie has been a participant in the Commercial Landscape and Snow Industry for the past 3 decades. His experience from startup to scaled regional (GroundMasters) multi branch multi city operation to national provider (Brickman Group) has provided a unique and insightful experience.
Mike's ability to build a Dominant Regional Brand thru both organic growth and small acquisitions makes his experience more insightful for the average size contractor. His actual experience in this industry journey is a live shared experience that continues to this day.
Mike's ability to understand and share segments of landscape and snow contracting are both understandable and implementable. Having participated in Industry trade associations (ALCA & SIMA, Glory Days 1992-1999) and served on the ALCA board, Mike's industry experience with fellow industry contractors of every size from coast to coast is vast.
Kathy Rudnyk, Monrovia
Design Inspiration…Exploring Design Styles With Plants
Katherine has been with Monrovia for 21 years in various marketing and sales positions. Currently, she heads up Monrovia’s sales efforts for the design community, where she has visited over 60 southern California firms within the past year.
She is a member of APLD. ASLA, USGBC, PLANET and CLCA. She has her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Tulane University and a horticultural degree from Mount San Antonio College. She is an advocate for landscape preservation and is active in the Cultural Landscape Foundation.
Safety Training that Works! – Ticketed Workshop
Rod Wolford & Beth Larson, FOF Communications
Presenters are course developers Rod Wolford and Beth Larson of FOF Communications. Other FOF products include the award-winning Medicare Fraud videos for the U.S. Administration on Aging, The Handbook of Skin Protection for The Aberdeen Group, the employee orientation video for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the Roadway Safety Program for the Federal Highway Administration, the Smart Mark Safety Training Program of the BCTD-AFL-CIO, and dozens of nationally used books, DVDs, and CDs.
Jeffrey Scott, Landscape Success Systems
The 7 Habits of Highly Successful CEOs
Marketing to the Affluent - How to Find, Sell and Keep the Wealthy Client
Jeffrey Scott is a published author and successful business coach. He helps landscape business owners get clarity, get their team productive and focused, and execute business practices needed to grow sales and profitability.
He also coaches groups of business owners together in a peer group format-an effective method for increasing results while having more fun in the process. Last year his members enjoyed a 27% profit growth. Jeffrey grew up in a 3rd generation design-build-maintenance business, took it over at age 34 and grew it into a $10 million enterprise. He raised client retention to 98%, grew margins, lifted referrals by 2000%, and built it into one of the top 3 brands in his region. He has written 100's of articles and two business books for our industry: The Leader's Edge and The Referral Advantage.
Param Srikantia, Ph.D., Baldwin-Wallace College
Are We Sleepwalking Through Life? Jokes and Stories to Caffeinate your Afternoon!
Why Life Sucks: Ten Pathways to Greatness in a Troubled World
Dr. Param Srikantia is currently a Professor in the Division of Business Administration at Baldwin-Wallace College. Earlier, Dr. Srikantia was consultant to The World Bank Group designing workshops on poverty reduction strategies for Finance Ministers of over 30 countries.
As Program Officer for a global consulting organization established by the United States Agency for International Development, he also delivered workshops on strategic planning to top management teams of global non-governmental organizations from nearly 70 countries. Previously, in India, he was country Head of Human Resources for American Cyanamid Company and Personnel Manager for the Unilever Group.
Dr. Srikantia has also taught as Lead Faculty at the Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, leading a team of instructors in delivering the core managerial competency courses in the MBA Program. Dr. Srikantia has authored over 35 papers that have been published or presented at conferences and workshops in the United States, Asia, and Africa.
Sponsored by:
Rich Arlington, a Certified Snow Professional (CSP) of Rich Arlington & Associates possesses over 25 years of landscape and snow and ice management experience. He assists business owners and managers of all sized companies to achieve their next level of service and revenue potential. In 2005, Rich went on to establish a consulting firm, Rich Arlington & Associates, which offers business training, risk management, and financial expertise to both exterior service contractors and facility owners and managers.
Phil Harwood, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, CSP has extensive business experience as an entrepreneur, executive manager, speaker, and writer. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree in integrative management, a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing, and several professional designations. Phil was a co-owner in a large Michigan-based snow and ice management firm for many years before founding Pro-Motion Consulting, an internationally-recognized consulting firm that exists to help create healthy, profitable, and sustainable businesses.
Sustainability Panel
Real World Applications of Sustainability
Panel Discussion: Paul Fields, Lambert Landscape Company, ASLA, serves as president and director of design of the over ninety year-old firm. Jud Griggs, Certified Landscape Manager, is the director of garden development . This group constructs and installs the gardens that Paul’s group designs. Lara Moffat, MLA, as director of Marketing & Recruitment, of Lambert Landscaping develops the marketing of all entities.
Sustainable Landscape Management
Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden is Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University and an Extension specialist for the Iowa nursery and landscape industry. Her extensive background in teaching landscape design, landscape contracting and estimating, and sustainable horticulture is combined with years of green industry experience. A common theme in her teaching and research is sustainability and she works to incorporate sustainable concepts in her courses and Extension programming. Ann Marie is a frequent contributor to regional and national horticulture magazines and television programming, and has an extensive speaking schedule on a variety of horticultural topics. Her latest textbook Sustainable Landscape Management was published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. in January 2011.
Bill Vogel, Spring Valley
Management Toolbox!
Bill is CEO of Spring Valley which has been formulating fertilizer and ice melt products for the lawn care and landscape markets for over 50 years. Spring Valley has production facilities in Wisconsin and Ohio.
Bruce Wilson and Tom Oyler, Wilson Oyler Group
How to use Business in a Box to Reduce Costs
How to Use Business in a Box Tools to Attract, Retain and Develop Supervisory Employees
How to Use Business in a Box to Grow and Market Your Business
Bruce Wilson and Tom Oyler formed Wilson-Oyler Group and became industry consultants after successful careers as Landscape Contractors.
Bruce Wilson was President of Environmental Care Inc (now Called Valley Crest Maintenance) and under his leadership grew it to the industry’s first 100 million maintenance company. Tom Oyler founded Oyler Brothers Landscape company and US Lawns the Industry’s first Franchise Company in his contracting career. Together they possess over 51 years contracting experience helping to grow successful businesses and are uniquely qualified to help contractors of all sizes grow and prosper.
Lynda Wightman, Hunter Industries, Inc.
Creating Sustainable Landscapes with Efficient, Water Conserving Irrigation Systems and How They Can Make You Profitable!
Sylvia Hoehns Wright, The Wright Scoop
Seven Steps to Grow Green (Planet & Profit) Market Share
An eco business/communications specialist, The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright is published by lifestyle and business media, author of eco books, conducts workshops and teaches adult education classes. She is listed in the Who’s Who of America and International Professionals.
