GROW! 2024

Breakout Session I

Gamify Your Company Culture: Competition Creates Engagement
Everyone likes to win, but do they know the score? Competition brings out the best in people​ and motivates team members to strive to hit new​ levels of performance. In this session, Michael Bosco and Chris Psencik will discuss building your culture based on sharing more not less.
Grand Ballroom

Guiding Lights: How Mentorship Propels Your Career
In this session, GROW! 2023 Tour Host Jonathan Peterson of Summit Landscape and Design will walk through the challenges he has faced as a young professional in the landscape industry. He will share how mentors have impacted his career and personal life as he’s navigated running his landscaping company alongside his brother, Josiah. You will leave this session with steps to follow to find a mentor, no matter your position, and make the most out of that relationship.
Room 302

Driving Success: Leveraging Sales Strategies and Technology to Achieve Your Goals Presented by Aspire Software
Staying ahead in today’s market means staying connected and informed. In this session, Gage Roberts will explain how implementing technology-driven sales strategies will allow you to equip your team with insights that empower them to not only reach but exceed your sales goals.
Room 310

Get Social: 4 Tips for Building a Cohesive Social Strategy
Creating a consistent and engaging social strategy is a recipe for success. In this session, the team behind Grunder Landscaping's social media, Kendall Covitz, Cheri Stammen, and Emily Lindley, will share 4 tips to help you build a cohesive social media strategy that helps you find more leads for the upcoming busy season.
Room 312

Facility Must Haves: What Are the Best Companies Doing When Designing their Facility?
Your facility represents your brand, your work, and your team. In this session, you will see the non-negotiable and must haves for having an award-winning facility. This session is led by Tommy Cole and Jason New.
Room 314

The Liquid Advantage presented by BOSS
Liquid Deicing is a major part of the present and future of the snow and ice industry. Liquids offer substantial benefits and advantages over conventional rock salt or other granular products. In this session, Jordan Smith, a fellow snow contractor and inventor of the VSI line of liquid deicing products, will go through the benefits, science, and implementation of liquids for your business with plenty of time for Q&A after the session.
Room 316

Organizing Your People Team For Success: HR vs Office Manager vs Chief People Officer
In this session, we will look at building out your people success team and discuss when you need key HR and office positions. You'll see who you need at what stage in your company to help your people be set up for success. Led by Barrett Chow and Jim Cali. 
Room 317

Financial Benchmarking: How Do You Stack Up Against Your Peers?
In our ACE Peer Group Program, we benchmark companies so they can compare their performance to other landscaping companies nationwide. In this session, we'll share the metrics we watch, what numbers we like to see companies hitting, and our recommendations on fixes if you are missing the mark. This will be led by Steven Allie and Liz Helton, with Vince Torchia. 
Room 319

Breakout Session II

Hunting for Enhancements: What Marty Looks for When He Walks a Maintenance Property
Walk through Grunder Landscaping Co. properties with Marty Grunder in this session: we'll show you what we look for when we do site visits at both a commercial and residential property and will highlight the additional projects we would recommend to each client. You'll leave this session with tips for finding enhancement-type projects to drum up more work without expanding your client base.
Grand Ballroom

Continuous Improvement presented by Vermeer
For over a quarter of a century, Vermeer Corporation has been on a path of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. In this session, guided by Kyle Newendorp and Brandon Nelson, Product Specialist for Vermeer and experts in landscape machinery, you’ll gain insights into how to evaluate your existing business processes. This involves posing the “5 whys” to yourself and understanding how the stages of continuous improvement can boost both efficiency and team spirit for you and your crew.
Room 302

Standardize It: How to Simplify Your AR, AP, and Payroll Processes
Traditionally, finance teams are great at hitting deadlines and sticking to a process. After all, we have to hit payroll, don't we? In this session led by Liz Helton and Steven Allie, you will learn how to apply systems thinking to other areas of the business so that all your finance functions happen like clockwork.
Room 310

The GROW Meeting: How to Share Information with Your Team
Open book management can help your team understand how they contribute to the company's success. It's been a powerful source of growth at Grunder Landscaping Co., where the company has increased revenue by 200%+ since 2020. In this session, GLC President & COO Seth Pflum will share the company's philosophy on information sharing, what metrics they share with which team members, and how they make the presentation on metrics easy for everyone to understand.
Room 312

Productivity Booster: How to Harness AI to Make Your Job Easier
We all want to be able to get more done in less time. AI may be the secret to making that happen. In this session, John Dalton and Tommy Cole will share how you can use AI like ChatGPT, Prompt Engineering, and more to save time on some of the basic tasks landscaping companies have on their to-do lists. 
Room 314

SiteOne Landscape Supply Project Services & Commercial Projects
Chad Rowley and Steve Albrecht of SiteOne will lead this session on how SiteOne's Project Services can help you to win work, do designs, takeoffs, and quotes, and include various landscape features in your projects. 
Room 316

Green Flags: How to Interview New Team Members and Set Them Up for Success
Finding the right people to add to your team can be a challenge, and asking the right questions during the interview can help avoid hiring mistakes. In this session, you'll learn the Green Flags that GROW! 2023 Tour Host Summit Landscape & Design looks for when interviewing team members to ensure they fit their company culture, and the steps they take to retain the right people on their team. This session will be taught by Joel Templeton.
Room 317

Award Winners: Learn From Our Top Performing Award-Winning Owners.
In this session, you will learn from award winning owners who each earned an award for excelling in different areas of their business in 2023. Jim Cali and Jason New will guide the discussion and will have time for your questions, too. Interested in joining a peer group in 2024? This session will end with information about our ACE Peer Group Program and how you can join.
Room 319

Break

Breakout III

Structuring Your Maintenance Team: Setting People to Your Revenue
If growing your maintenance division is a priority, this session will show you how to structure your maintenance teams for success. Wondered what your crew size should be? When to have a dedicated account manager? Add a business developer? Learn from Barrett Chow and Jason New how to structure your maintenance department optimally based on the size of your company. 
Grand Ballroom

Strategic Leadership: Unleashing Potential Through Goal Setting and Time Mastery Presented by LMN
In this presentation, Mark Bradley delves into the art of strategic leadership, revealing the dynamic interplay between mission, strategy, and goal setting. Learn firsthand how Mark aligns organizational goals with the overarching mission, fostering a culture of execution and continual improvement. Discover his strategies for setting goals that resonate throughout the company, ultimately enhancing both customer experiences and employee development and satisfaction. Join us to unravel the keys to success in driving business forward through purposeful goal setting and daily commitment to customer and employee excellence.
Room 302

Banking Relationships: Getting Your Banker to Swipe Right On You
In this session led by Jennifer Murray, you will learn what Bankers are looking for when they look for successful companies to work with. Don't make the mistake of looking unattractive to your banker and set yourself for success when you need them most. 
Room 310

Design Trends: How Mariani Landscape Designs Award-Winning Landscapes
Taking a client’s initial idea, finding inspiration, and creating a design they’ll love is an art form. In this session, Colleen Barkley of Mariani Landscape will share how designers, or aspiring designers, can define the big ideas behind the design, move through the design process with inspiration, curate details, and then effectively present their inspired designs to clients. If you’re a landscape pro looking to take your landscape designs to the next level, this is the session to attend.
Room 312

Pest Curious: Adding New Lines to Your Business
Have you ever thought about pest control to your existing business? In this session led by Michael Bosco and Kevin Keim you will an overview of the business and learn why so many companies have added this vertical to their existing landscape and lawn care companies as an additional profit center.
Room 314

Turning Irrigation from an Irritation into a Profit Center presented by Weathermatic
For the leading landscape maintenance companies, irrigation repairs contribute >20% to their overall revenue mix. In this session, you will hear from a landscaping company about how they have partnered with SmartLink by Weathermatic to turn their irrigation division into a profit center. Parry Webb, VP of Strategic Accounts, and Ben Mason, VP of Sales, will explain how you can increase renewals, land new accounts, maximize repairs and enhancements, and drive labor efficiencies by transforming the four key functions of irrigation.
Room 316

The Anatomy of Printed Materials: How to Create Postcards, Door Hangers, and Other Collateral That Works
Print is far from dead, especially when marketing landscaping work. Beautiful images of your work paired with messaging that hits home for your ideal client is the recipe for success. In this session, Emily Lindley, Content & Events Manager at The Grow Group and Marketing Manager at Grunder Landscaping Co. will walk you through what to consider and how to create printed materials that drive qualified leads.
Room 317

P&L 101: Driving Business Success by Managing your P&L
It has been and always will be true: The Profit and Loss Statement drives much of what happens in the business. Whether you are a CEO or a new divisional leader, learning how to manage by the line item in the P&L is the surest way to make and save more money at your company. This session is led by Steven Allie and Liz Helton. 
Room 319

Tour of RJ Lawn & Landscape
Take a deep dive into RJ Lawn & Landscape. We'll visit and tour their facility and see firsthand how they're set up for success and growth. You'll learn how their team manages:

Recruiting
Nick Paoli

Turf & Irrigation Maintenance
Jake Newman

Project Management
Jason Barney & James McNeal

Sales and Account Management
Brad Sanders & Jesse Sage

Fleet and Facility
Ryan McCarthy

Leadership & Company Culture
Jordan Kapple

Finance
Annette McCarthy

Tour of RJ Lawn & Landscape
Take a deep dive into RJ Lawn & Landscape. We'll visit and tour their facility and see firsthand how they're set up for success and growth. You'll learn how their team manages:

Recruiting
Nick Paoli

Turf & Irrigation Maintenance
Jake Newman

Project Management
Jason Barney & James McNeal

Sales and Account Management
Brad Sanders & Jesse Sage

Fleet and Facility
Ryan McCarthy

Leadership & Company Culture
Jordan Kapple

Finance
Annette McCarthy

Breakout III

Structuring Your Maintenance Team: Setting People to Your Revenue
If growing your maintenance division is a priority, this session will show you how to structure your maintenance teams for success. Wondered what your crew size should be? When to have a dedicated account manager? Add a business developer? Learn from Barrett Chow and Jason New how to structure your maintenance department optimally based on the size of your company. 
Grand Ballroom

Strategic Leadership: Unleashing Potential Through Goal Setting and Time Mastery Presented by LMN
In this presentation, Mark Bradley delves into the art of strategic leadership, revealing the dynamic interplay between mission, strategy, and goal setting. Learn firsthand how Mark aligns organizational goals with the overarching mission, fostering a culture of execution and continual improvement. Discover his strategies for setting goals that resonate throughout the company, ultimately enhancing both customer experiences and employee development and satisfaction. Join us to unravel the keys to success in driving business forward through purposeful goal setting and daily commitment to customer and employee excellence.
Room 302

Banking Relationships: Getting Your Banker to Swipe Right On You
In this session led by Jennifer Murray, you will learn what Bankers are looking for when they look for successful companies to work with. Don't make the mistake of looking unattractive to your banker and set yourself for success when you need them most. 
Room 310

Design Trends: How Mariani Landscape Designs Award-Winning Landscapes
Taking a client’s initial idea, finding inspiration, and creating a design they’ll love is an art form. In this session, Colleen Barkley of Mariani Landscape will share how designers, or aspiring designers, can define the big ideas behind the design, move through the design process with inspiration, curate details, and then effectively present their inspired designs to clients. If you’re a landscape pro looking to take your landscape designs to the next level, this is the session to attend.
Room 312

Pest Curious: Adding New Lines to Your Business
Have you ever thought about pest control to your existing business? In this session led by Michael Bosco and Kevin Keim you will an overview of the business and learn why so many companies have added this vertical to their existing landscape and lawn care companies as an additional profit center.
Room 314

Turning Irrigation from an Irritation into a Profit Center presented by Weathermatic
For the leading landscape maintenance companies, irrigation repairs contribute >20% to their overall revenue mix. In this session, you will hear from a landscaping company about how they have partnered with SmartLink by Weathermatic to turn their irrigation division into a profit center. Parry Webb, VP of Strategic Accounts, and Ben Mason, VP of Sales, will explain how you can increase renewals, land new accounts, maximize repairs and enhancements, and drive labor efficiencies by transforming the four key functions of irrigation.
Room 316

The Anatomy of Printed Materials: How to Create Postcards, Door Hangers, and Other Collateral That Works
Print is far from dead, especially when marketing landscaping work. Beautiful images of your work paired with messaging that hits home for your ideal client is the recipe for success. In this session, Emily Lindley, Content & Events Manager at The Grow Group and Marketing Manager at Grunder Landscaping Co. will walk you through what to consider and how to create printed materials that drive qualified leads.
Room 317

P&L 101: Driving Business Success by Managing your P&L
It has been and always will be true: The Profit and Loss Statement drives much of what happens in the business. Whether you are a CEO or a new divisional leader, learning how to manage by the line item in the P&L is the surest way to make and save more money at your company. This session is led by Steven Allie and Liz Helton. 
Room 319

Breakout Session IV

Q&A with the RJ Lawn & Landscape Team
This is your chance: any questions you had for the RJ Lawn & Landscape team that weren't answered during the tour or during our Start, Stop, Keep session can be answered here. Their leadership team will be available to take your questions and this session will be moderated by Tommy Cole. 
Grand Ballroom

Legal Considerations as Your Company Grows
Legal matters typically aren’t top of mind when operating your lawn care or landscape business, but understanding the law can help you tremendously when you are on a path to grow your business. In this session, The Grow Group's Vince Torchia will outline things you should keep in mind as you grow. 
Room 302

The FAQs on H2B: Is the Program Right For You?
In this session, you will get an overview of the H2B process and see how program operates and what you can expect as you travel into the process of adding visa workers to your team. Led by Barrett Chow.
Room 310

Soft Skills: The Interpersonal Skills Everyone Should Have to Be Successful in Life and Business
Grunder Landscaping has focused on teaching their team members work skills for years, but they recently added soft-skills workshops to their training program. They've found that a little bit of training helps their team to work more cohesively and communicate better with clients. In this session, Marty Grunder will teach the soft skills that he teaches his own team and will give you the tools to lay out your own soft skills workshop for your team.
Room 312

Big Hair Aggressive Goals: GOALRILLAs
You all have Big, Hairy, Aggressive Goals; what is standing in your way of achieving them? A Big Hairy Aggressive GOALRILLA! In this session, we will show you how to tackle the big goals you have as a company and navigate around the GOALRILLAs. Led by Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford.
Room 314

The Price is Right: Valuations and Their Impact on Your Business
While valuations are typically a word associated with mergers and acquisitions, understanding your company's value is useful beyond those functions. Join Jennifer Murray and Jim Cali to learn how the valuation process should work. She'll arm you with knowledge so you know what to expect and what warning signs to look for. This is not just for those looking to buy or sell their company, but for those who want to understand what their company is worth and how they can drive more value.
Room 316

Order Making: Cold Calling, Warm Calling, and Where to Find New Leads
It's time to get the sales you need to hit your 2024 goals, but what do you do if the leads aren't coming in organically? In this session, Chris Psencik, executive coach at McFarlin Stanford and The Grow Group will walk you through how you can look for leads yourself and then what to do to warm and cold call without the commission breath.
Room 317

Finding the Funny in Failure
We all make mistakes. It's time to learn, laugh, and move on. In this session led by Michael Bosco and Kevin Keim, learn to how lead by finding the Funny in Failure.
Room 319

Breakout Session V

Operational Excellence: Must Have Innovations and Standards in Operations
In this session, led by Tommy Cole, you will learn about 10 things you should be leveraging in your operations. This is a can't-miss for operations leaders looking to drive margins, increase efficiency, and reduce headaches for them and their direct reports.
Grand Ballroom

Compensation Planning: Strategies to Align Your Goals with Compensation
In this session we will cover the philosophy of compensation, how to align that philosophy with your goals, and how to execute and monitor the plan you have. This is a comprehensive session on aligning your team's compensation plan up with your business goals so that everyone succeeds! It'll be led by Barrett Chow and Vince Torchia
Room 302

How Connectivity Can Benefit Your Business Today, and in the Future, presented by John Deere
How could your business be improved if you could see the productivity of your crews? What if you had automated documentation for every job that detailed where your crews were mowing and at what time? What if you could have visibility to machine health and maintenance schedules? With tools like the John Deere Operations Center, you can make informed decisions more quickly and easily to see where you're making money, and where you're not, while maintaining your fleet of machines.
Room 310

Green Connections: Cultivating Success through Networking
Master networkers have build businesses based on their connections in the community. In this session, they'll talk about what they do to meet new people and leverage their relationships to find work for their companies.
Room 312

Check Your Owner Blind Spot with 180 Review: A Case Study of RJ Lawn and Landscape
As leaders, we all have blindspots. That's part of life. What is not okay is not being aware of yours. In this session, we will show you how to close the gaps between what you think you need to work on as a leader and what you truly need to work on. Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford will work from a live case study review of the owners of our tour host company, Ryan and Annette McCarthy.
Room 314

Cash Flow is King: How Do We Keep More?
Understanding your cash flow, where you cash is going, and how to get more when you need it is a critical function of a successful landscaping company. In this session, Jennifer Murray will share best practices for managing your company's cash flow.
Room 316

A Whole New World: Recruiting Tactics to Stand Out in 2024
We are in a new world of recruiting, and in this session, Jason New and Chris Psencik will show you what the top companies are doing to bring new people into their doors. Learn tips and tricks for growing your team by adding great team members. 
Room 317

Rolling in White Gold: How to Set Your Snow Removal Crews Up for Success
Preparing a team to tackle a snowstorm is no simple task, and cleaning up properties efficiently is the key to profitability when the winter weather rolls in. In this session, join a panel of SNOW experts to ensure that you are set up for success for snow. 
Room 319