ALCA Influence Sept Oct 2013 by Association Outsource Services, Inc.

The

ALCA

A R I Z O N A L A N D S C A P E C O N T R AC TO R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

September/October 2013

Overseeding Warm Season Turf: Arizona Style

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The Affordable Care Act – How Many Employees Will Buy Employer Coverage?

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

September/October 2013

The

ALCA

ARIZONA LANDSCAPE C O N T R A C T O R S ’ A S S O C I AT I O N

INFLUENCE

President’s Message............................................................. 4 CEO Message..................................................................... 6 Membership Drive................................................................ 7 ALCA Calendar................................................................... 8 ALCA Sponsors.................................................................... 8 New Members..................................................................... 8 ACLP Workshops................................................................. 9 Member Updates................................................................. 9 ALCA Excellence Awards.................................................... 10 ALCA Profile: Toro.............................................................. 12 ALCA Profile: Evergreen Turf................................................ 13 ALCA Profile: Bingham Equipment........................................ 14 Overseeding Warm Season Turf: Arizona Style..................... 16 Safety is Free. Landscape Vehicle Load Security..................... 18 Affordable Care Act........................................................... 20 ALCA Mixer...................................................................... 21 Resource Guide................................................................. 22

2013 BOARD OF DIRECTORS President

Matthew Johnson

PUBLICATION Advertising

President Elect

Association Outsource Services, Inc. (916) 990-9999 www.aosinc.biz

Asset Landscaping

Design

All Year Round Trees

Tony Acosta

Vice President

Lori Mattas

ILM

Printing

Robert Clinkenbeard

Secretary Kim Kleski

Diversified Print Solutions

Treasurer

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association

Hill & Usher Insurance & Surety

5425 E Bell Road, Suite 105 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Phone: 602-626-7091 Fax: 602-626-7590 www.AZLCA.com

Steve Shields

Chief Executive Officer Judy Gausman

judy@AZLCA.com

You worK in all conditions... So does it.

The ALCA Influence is the official publication of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association. ALCA and The ALCA Influence assume no responsibility for the statements or opinions appearing in articles under an author’s name. The services of an attorney or accountant should be sought in legal and tax matters. For editorial information, contact the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association, 5425 E. Bell Road, Suite 105, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254; telephone, (602) 626-7091; facsimile, (602) 626-7590; e-mail, judy@AZLCA.com.

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September/October 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

50th Anniversary and 50 New Members

I Matthew Johnson 2013 ALCA President

cannot tell you what an honor it is to be serving the ALCA membership on the 50th Anniversary. As a board member, I have had a lot of time to reflect on how many people have served, volunteered, and genuinely helped ALCA be what it is today. For 50 years the organization has been a supporting entity for landscape contractors in Arizona and representing the state with PLANET, the national organization. In this issue you will find some of ALCA’s rich history in photos and print along with what is happening today. One exciting effort this year is the membership drive, intended to let Arizona Landscape Contractors know that many benefits can be found in an ALCA membership. From networking, to education, to family events, ALCA is putting together these opportunities to make the Arizona Landscape Contracting profession better than ever. We welcome new committee members with fresh ideas and new perspectives to help lead ALCA into the future. The goal has been set and the committees are working hard to roll out the 50/50 membership drive……50 new members for the 50th Anniversary! This is a lofty goal to reach; however, with the participation of the current membership and committees, I believe we can get the word out to those contractors that will bolster our membership with their desire for education, new

ideas, and political representation. Would you like to be a part of this? Let us know! As we continue to move forward with many programs that are successful, we are also taking a look at new ideas to provide a supporting role as the economy begins an upward trend. With maintenance and construction seeing the signs of a recovery, we, as contractors, need to know how to work smarter and more efficiently not only in running a business, but completing the day to day work. By educating yourself and your team, no matter how long you have been in the industry, you can be better prepared to help your customers and show them the value of a professional contractor. My message as always is to get involved, participate, and find the resources and benefits that fit your needs. If we don’t support each other, who will?

Matthew Johnson, ALCA President

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THE ALCA INFLUENCE

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CEO’S MESSAGE

50 Years and Growing

T Judy Gausman ALCA CEO

his year marks a major milestone in the life of the Arizona Landscape Contractors’ Association as we celebrate its 50th Anniversary. F.J. MacDonald had a vision and saw the need for representation and camaraderie in the landscape industry and accepted the role as ALCA’s first President in 1963. On October 18, 1985, under the leadership of Ron Mark, Sharon Dewey, Richard Underwood, Jack Hasbrouck, and Bob Underwood, ALCA became incorporated as a Non-Profit Corporation and established its 501 (c) (6) status by the IRS. The first ALCA-GRAM on file was published in March, 1988, with notices that the Executive Director’s position was open, and Sharon Dewey became the Interim ED. The first Professional Landscape exam (later named ACLP) drew 38 participants. There was a General Member’s “Hoedown” night at Old Tucson sponsored by Arid Zone Trees, Desert Trees, Ditch Witch, and Sprinkler World, who are still active supporters today. The first annual golf tournament was held at Rio Rico at a cost of $45 a person and a chance to win a brand new 1989 Buick Regal. Western Sod hosted ALCA Field Day ’89 with over 450 people in attendance. The winner of ALCA’s Truck Raffle was Tom Jones of Western Tree Company who gave the 1989 F150 Ford pickup truck to his brother Bill who was in an accident that left him without a vehicle. And in that same year, Bob Hawkins at Western Tree donated an electric typewriter to the ALCA office. The 1991 Board Planning Session was held in Prescott with a traditional softball game competition. I wonder if Bob & Rick Underwood, Tom Marshall, Kent Miller, Bud Stephenson, John Harlow, Bill Carls, Bill Keim, Bill Sandercock, Paul Bessey, C.C. Willis, Marc Shockley, Stan McKeown, and Sharon Dewey are ready for a rematch???? This Bud’s for you…Bud Stephenson (Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management) that is. He was installed as ALCA’s President in 1993. ALCA established Platinum, Gold and Bronze Sponsorships with Platinum sponsors including Turf Irrigation, Mesa Sprinkler, Ewing Irrigation and Garden West. In 1995, Bill Rademacher lead the Board as President and Don Keeton and Susan Stephenson were Co-Chairmen of the Awards

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Ceremony. Stevie Hann and John Flori purchased a “1st class table top display” to be used at various trade shows. Sadly, the display was retired just last year. In 1996, ALCA advanced technologically and began accepting credit card payments and set up the Fax network. An article in the ALCA-Gram explained “How the Landscape Industry Can Benefit from the World Wide Web”. In 1998, Glenn Fahringer passed the reigns over to John Flori who thought he was getting “Presents,” not “the Presidency.” The ALCA-Gram was renamed Land Marks. The Presidential Award in the Excellence in Landscaping awards program went to Arterra, Inc. and Earth Care “For All That’s Green”, Inc. for the Cave Creek medians. The Xeriscape Award was presented to AAA Landscape-Tucson for the Dove Mountain Road Project, while Dr. Jimmy Tipton was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. In April, 1999, the AOS Group became the management company to handle the daily management of ALCA and moved its office to 234 N Central, Phoenix. ALCA prepared for Y2K. Big changes were in store for ALCA in 2002 as Michael Rockwell with Azul Verde Design Group turned over the Presidency to Barbara Stropko with New Desert Gallery. I remember sitting nervously in front of both of them being interviewed for the Executive Director’s position. That same year, Dale Micetic of Terrain Systems was named finalist for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Land Marks was renamed The ALCA Influence. The ALCA membership was at 89 companies and FX Luminaire and Hunter Industries were the Platinum Sponsors. In 2003, all of ALCA’s Past Presidents were honored at the Excellence in Landscaping awards program, and Kent Miller was the recipient of the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. Fast forward 10 years… ALCA stands proud and strong with 373 members representing over 30,000 employees. President Matthew Johnson and the Board of Directors team continue to guide, govern and manage the day to day operations of ALCA. Robert Underwood presides over ALCA’s Board of Trustees that looks at the long range goals of the association and provides guidance and their infinite wisdom to the Directors. Congratulations to ALCA and all of its loyal members. To take a stroll down memory lane, please “like” the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association on Facebook and watch the YouTube video that celebrates ALCA — 50 Years and Growing.

Respectfully submitted, Judy Gausman, CEO

Arizona Landscape Contractors’ AssociaƟon

Training, Resources & Representa�on for landscape professionals

You are invited to become a member of ALCA and celebrate “50 years and growing” with us!

Would you like to become connected to a reliable network of nearly 400 professional landscape companies and aﬃliates?

By joining now, you will receive the following special benets:   

Payment of your annual dues will cover your membership un�l January, 2015 You will receive free admission to two future member mixers in 2014 You may a�end two educa�on workshops of your choice in 2014 at no charge Membership dues range between $275—$1,100 annually

Take pride in belonging to a credible associa�on that is recognized by your peers and whose goals are to elevate the quality and professionalism in the landscape industry.

REGISTER FOR MEMBERSHIP AT www.AZLCA.com/application 5425 E Bell Rd # 105 Sco�sdale, AZ 85254 602‐626‐7091  www.AZLCA.com

Thank you to the membership drive sponsors.

September/October 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

MEMBER UPDATES

New Members

2013 Calendar

of Events

Back to Nature Landcare, Inc

September 1 2

ALCA Membership Drive Kick Off Labor Day – ALCA Office CLOSED 12 Tucson Member Mixer 14 & 18 Irrigation Workshop – ALCA Office 18 Phoenix Member Mixer sponsored by The Synthetic Grass Store 19 Board of Trustees Meeting 19 Irrigation Workshop – Prescott 21 Irrigation Workshop – Tucson 27 SLM Workshop – ALCA Office

October 12 & 16 ACLP Plant Problems – ALCA Office 17 ACLP Plant Problems – Prescott 19 ACLP Plant Problems – Tucson 22 ALCA Board of Directors Meeting 23 Phoenix Member Mixer sponsored by Ewing Irrigation

November 23 23 28

Grand Materials & Supplies, Inc.

37th Annual Excellence in Landscaping Awards Program ALCA Annual Membership Meeting Thanksgiving – ALCA Office Closed

Visit us on the web AZLCA.com

Dave Londen 4303 W Van Buren St, Ste 1 Phoenix, AZ 85043 Phone: 602-363-8223 Fax: 602-926-8201 Email: dave@backtonaturelandcare.com Profile: Commercial maintenance and installation

Central Arizona Project

David Welch 23636 N 7th St Phoenix, AZ 85024 Phone: 623-869-2691 Fax: 623-869-2314 Email: dwelch@cap-az.com Profile: CAP supplies water from the Colorado River to three counties in Arizona.

Evelyn Worden 12912 W Santa Fe Dr Surprise, AZ 85378 Phone: 623-875-7000 Fax: 623-875-7007 Email: evelyn@grandmaterials.com Profile: We sell and deliver landscaping materials and supplies anywhere within the state of Arizona. We sell to contractors and homeowners from 5 locations in the metro-Phoenix area. We have large yards with materials for pick up by customers, or we deliver as needed with a fleet of 30 semi trucks.

Grounds Brothers Landscaping, LLC

Premier Irrigation

Chris Eastburn 14211 W Windrose Dr Surprise, AZ 85379 Phone: 623-337-5294 Fax: 623-337-5301 Email: premierirrigation@ premierirrigation.org Profile: Repair and installation of flood irrigation systems, both residential and commercial.

Premier Land Design, LLC

Charles Snyder 8723 E Posada Ave Mesa, AZ 85212 Phone: 602-750-8066 Email: PremierLandDesign@cox.net Profile: Commercial Landscape Contractor

Jon Baggett 13235 N Verde River Dr #375 Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 Service Direct Landscape Phone: 480-567-9767 Brian Connolly Email: jon@groundsbros.com 428 E Thunderbird Rd, Ste 144 Profile: We are a licensed, bonded, and Phoenix, AZ 85022 insured landscape company serving Phone: 602-843-1310 clients with commercial properties located E2 Safety, LLC Email: bc@sdl-az.com throughout Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Erna Patrawke Profile: Landscape Design, East Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Carefree, 4848 E Cactus, Ste 505-114 Build, Maintenance and Cave Creek. Our emphasis is Scottsdale, AZ 85254 serving property managers and owners Terrapro, Inc Phone: 602-714-0976 of facilities with a simple, fair priced James Haley Email: erna@e2safetygear.com landscape management service. 4856 E Baseline Rd, Ste 104 Profile: We provide Safety Products to Mesa, AZ 85206 the Construction, Mining, Landscaping John Hunt, Jr Phone: 480-355-1393 and Manufacturing companies. Products 2201 E Camelback Rd, Ste 400 Email: james@terraproaz.com include Personal Protection Equiptment, Phoenix, AZ 85016 Profile: Full service landscape hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, vests, Phone: 602-808-3416 maintenance first aid, fire extinguishers, Cooling Fax: 602-808-3431 products, Heat stress products, AEDs Email: john.hunt@nm.com Town of Buckeye Profile: Risk management for Fred Sanchez Foothills View Landscaping, LLC business owners and executives. 530 E Monroe Ave Gustavo Ibarra Buckeye, AZ 85326 2102 S Beverly Ave Moar Lawn and Landscape Phone: 623-349-6605 Tucson, AZ 85711 Chad Cranston Email: fsanchez@buckeyeaz.gov Phone: 520-887-7738 PO Box 143 Profile: Town of Buckeye is a Email: foothillsview@hotmail.com Gilbert, AZ 85299 Municipal Government located Profile: Residential and Commercial Phone: 480-336-2926 approximately 40 miles west of the landscaping installation. Irrigation system Email: chad@gotmoar.com City of Phoenix. The population at installation and repairs. Commercial Profile: We are a residential landscape this time is approximately 53,000. landscaping maintenance. maintenance company. We service residential clients in the east valley Turf America Freedom Landscaping AZ (Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek). Monte Wagner Angela Tauscher 811 W Warner Rd, Ste 208 PO Box 2002 Tempe, AZ 85284 Queen Creek, AZ 85142 Phone: 602-358-1089 Phone: 480-840-9266 Email: monte@turf-america.com Email: office@freedomlandscapingaz.com Profile: Turf America is a distributor Profile: maintenance/installs/irrigation and installer of artificial turf systems including artificial lawns and putting greens. We specialize in catering to the landscape contractor wholesale market.

Special Thank You

to our ALCA

Sponsored by:

Asset Landscaping Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Mountain Shadows Estates West Judges Award

CareScape, Inc. Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Oasis at Magic Ranch Community Association Judges Award

Clean Cut Landscape Management Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Jakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ranch Judges Award

Clean Cut Landscape Management Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Lagos Vistoso Judges Award

Caretaker Landscape & Tree Management Photograph provided by Scott Cosgrove

Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Ironwood Commons Judges Award

Asset Landscaping Commercial Maintenance $50-$150K Saguaro Canyon Association Judges Award

September/October 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

The Toro Company The Toro Company (NYSE: TTC) is a leading worldwide provider of innovative turf, landscape, rental and construction equipment, irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions. Toro’s global presence extends to more than 90 countries through strong relationships built on integrity and trust, constant innovation, and a commitment to helping customers enrich the beauty, productivity and sustainability of the land. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence to help customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, and agricultural fields. Building on a Legacy On August 1, 2012, Toro celebrated its 50th anniversary in the underground irrigation business. We are deeply honored to achieve this milestone and grateful to the numerous customers that count on Toro for all their irrigation needs. Though many things have changed over the last five decades, one thing has remained the same – Toro’s unending passion to raise the bar, advance our trade, and provide customers with high-quality, innovative solutions. That’s why, even through uncertain times, Toro has continued to invest in a portfolio of Precision™ Irrigation products that upgrade existing systems to the latest, water-saving technology available. The Toro Precision™ Irrigation Portfolio is: • Universal – products are designed to fit multiple manufacturers’ equipment • Simple – no digging, trenching or complicated wiring • Immediate – as soon as you install, you start using less water (no system adjustments) We have added new products to our portfolio including the multiple award winning Precision™ Soil Sensor and Precision™ Rotating Nozzles, along with the pressure compensating Precision™ Spray Nozzles, that immediately use less water and fit not only Toro threaded but also competitive threaded spray bodies.

Toro’s full suite of Precision™ Irrigation Solutions is perfect for the retrofit market, and many antiquated systems are ripe for upgrade. Revolutionary Control Technology Toro hosted focus groups across the globe asking landscape contractors and homeowners what they liked - and didn’t like - about their irrigation control systems. The outcome was an investment in new additions to the Toro controller line: • Toro® EVOLUTION™ - a first-of-its-kind, menu-based controller that incorporates an easy-to-understand digital interface, which pushes the technological envelope regarding simple operation, expandability and smart control. Evolution provides shortcut menus dedicated to make interaction simpler for the homeowner, but also provides the most powerful feature set available for contractors to control entire landscapes, including pumps, water features and low voltage landscape lighting. • Toro® SENTINEL™ - a completely redesigned interface for easier standalone programming, as well as Precision™ ET for ET-based “smart” irrigation. Sentinel can also operate as both a repeater and base station for Turf Guard® wireless soil sensors, communicating directly with up to 16 sensors per controller (1 per program), continually measuring moisture, temperature, and salinity levels in the soil and adjusting irrigation as needed. Community The Toro Giving Program has built a legacy of environmental, educational and community support that is deeply rooted in our culture. • Provide annual financial support to environmental organizations. • Host employee activities to renovate parks and restore lakes, rivers and landscapes to their natural beauty. • Educate individuals of all ages on environmental issues - Toro’s annual WaterSmart® Symposium brings together customers and industry experts to discuss resource challenges, improved management practices, and advanced irrigation technologies. Toro has earned the Smart Marketing Award from the Irrigation Association for two years in a row (2011 & 2012) a demonstration of our commitment to smart, efficient water management products. • Fund and support environmental and turf management research projects to educate and improve the efficiency of the application of water. • Donate irrigation products and systems to nonprofits to maintain their landscapes and reduce water use.

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

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ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Evergreen Turf: Bringing Stress Relief to Arizona Researchers have found that a chemical released by freshly mowed grass can help people relax and make them cheerful. After seven years of rigorous research, scientists now claim to have made a perfume, the “eau de mow” which “smells like a freshly-cut lawn”, and helps relieve stress and enhance memory. It’s no wonder that Evergreen Turf’s customers always seem happy, cheerful, relaxed, and mentally sharp! We deliver freshly mowed, dark green, high quality sod everyday, bringing the “aroma” of freshly cut grass to Arizona. Evergreen Turf has a reputation for high quality turf, but one of the main reasons many people choose Evergreen when it comes to their projects, big or small, is that they truly are “stress relievers”. Here are few examples… #1 Rated Field in the NFL, Six Years in a Row! The Arizona Cardinal’s and Evergreen Turf have partnered up to produce the best field in the NFL – again! The NFL players take a poll at the end of the season to vote for their preferred playing surface - and the Cardinal’s won by a landslide! Evergreen Turf custom grows all of the sod for the field repairs, keeping the field in pristine condition during peak season play. More Sports Fields for Arizona! Evergreen was chosen to grass one of Arizona’s largest municipal recreation projects this year, Vekol Park in the town of Maricopa. Vekol Park will have 8 soccer fields, 4 softball fields, a dog park, and a large recreation lake surround by turf…over 50 acres of grass. A combination of sod, sprigging, and sand-base sod was used to grass this beautiful facility. In addition to this, Evergreen has teamed up with NFL Charities again. This year they are helping improve local high school football fields by giving much need face-lifts to Maryvale High School and Dobson High School. An added bonus, ALCA also teamed up with Evergreen to bring the final details of these projects together. Nice Team Work! More Good News for Arizona! Housing starts are on the rise and so the developments. Two of the largest turf projects in Arizona are at Eastmark and Morrison Ranch. Evergreen has provided more than 35 acres of sod to these master-planned communities. Midiron was the variety chosen for both sites, still Arizona’s number one low maintenance turf. TifGrand continues to perform. Finally, a hybrid bermudagrass, with true shade tolerance! The newest hybrid Bermuda from the University of Georgia brings the promise of shade tolerance and fine texture in a warm season turf. This will allow Arizona to have a fine textured turf (similar to Tifway 419 in texture and color), that can tolerate 60% shade and full sun. Arizona’s first all-purpose turf! Be on the watch for more news on this grass! Limited production is available, exclusively from Evergreen Turf. Products: Evergreen Turf grows a wide range of varieties; TifGrand, Tifway, Tifgreen, Midiron, Palmetto St. Augustine, sand-based sod for sports fields, and elite golf course greens grasses - TifEagle, TifDwarf, and MiniVerde. Each variety is mowed at the right height for its optimum performance and for the intended application of each variety. Evergreen Turf is Arizona’s Premier Sod Producer, growing quality sod for golf courses, sports fields, home lawns, and landscape contractors. While purity continues to be the cornerstone of Evergreen’s success, the real driving force behind their phenomenal growth is the ability of their people to bring “stress relief” to their customers. Every single manager, administrator, and customer service person has extensive background in the sod industry. Evergreen’s people are experienced in installing big rolls, hydro-sprigging, mechanical planting, large projects, or simply your very own backyard. So get a little stress relief – let Evergreen Turf handle your sod needs while you sit back and breathe in the aroma of fresh cut grass… and relax a little! Contact Evergreen Turf at (480) 456-1199 or online at www.evergreenturf.com. September/October 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

ALCA MEMBER PROFILE

Bingham Equipment Company Norman Jay Bingham, founder of Bingham Equipment Company, was born Oct. 1, 1926, a 2nd generation Arizonan to parents Glen and Lydia Bingham. For his entire life, Bingham has called the Arizona desert his home, with deep roots in the ranching communities of the Tucson and San Pedro River valleys. It was in Tucson where the Bingham family operated their dairy farm on East Fort Lowell Road during Norm’s childhood. The Catalina dairy and the S4 Ranch belonged to Norm’s father who ran a mix of cattle with about 150 cows for dairy and about 350 head raised for beef. Norm was no loaf on the dairy and was responsible for his fair

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

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share of work, feeding the cattle and seeing to it they were milked twice a day were among his responsibilities. The S4 brand produced and delivered milk daily for the area, which called for the occasional milk truck expedition. This chore was as good as it got to the young dairy boy! He recalls, without doubt, his fondness for the early mornings away from the dairy. Of course, this was all the beginning of a typical day; the sun had yet to come up. Norm and some of the neighborhood kids pictured here enjoying what could be early forms of Arizona’s public transportation! Beyond the dairy, Bingham spent his days chasing two passions that carried on from childhood through his college years: rodeo and football. Tucson High’s football Coach Rollin T. Gridley explains here! Staying the course, Bingham did join the Navy immediately after high school at age 18 and football would have to wait. In the fall of 1945, Norm boarded the U.S.S. Alaska in San Francisco, Calif. The ship’s mission was in the South Pacific protecting a fleet of fast carriers, battleships, and destroyers. The Alaska and her crew saw their fair share of enemy action while at sea and are credited for stopping numerous Japanese suicide attacks on the U.S. Naval Fleet. After Japanese surrender, Norman was discharged in August 1946 and headed back to Tucson with some big plans. Fall semester of 1946, he enrolled at the University of Arizona and rekindled his football spirit, wearing number 27 and playing guard for the U of A football team.

In addition to football, Norm took a liking to calf roping at an early age. “When you grow up on a ranch, you don’t really know exactly when you started to ride and rope, but I remember as a child always having a rope in my hand. I would rope the fence posts, anything I could.” At the age of 12, roping brought on Norm’s first business enterprise: chasing calves out of a shoot for the U of A rodeo team for a buck a turn. Making a dollar a calf wasn’t what you call a cash cow, but helped pay for the arena Norm built with his father and brother Lamar. The passion for roping ultimately grew with the man and eventually earned Norm and team roping partner Jack Spilsbury teamroping titles while at the U of A. Norm also went on to win the individual calf roping title. Roping even caught Norm a beautiful wife! As a dating couple, Norm was notorious for politely charming his girlfriend, Audrey, into practicing with him before any big rodeos. Her job was to run! He finally roped her in and they have been married almost 60 years now. Throughout Norm’s youth, dedication to family and friends and his fighting work ethic set the premise for his future in business, and Arizona’s future in agriculture. Norm has since been inducted into the University of Arizona’s Rodeo Hall of Fame and more recently received a lifetime achievement award from the University of Arizona’s Agribusiness College for his accomplishments and support of Arizona’s agriculture community. Norm has a continual drive for excellence in business and beyond, so award or not, he is far from calling it quits. As Chris LeDoux would say, “He’s the last to quit, the first to buy the refreshments”.

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Overseeding Warm Season Turf: Arizona Style Article provided by Mike Blume, John Deere Landscapes

ost Arizona contractors are keenly aware of the need to overseed warm season turf with cool season grass varieties. An overseeded turf area produces a brilliant green color in the winter months, but more importantly enhances the overall landscape quality. There are many different methods that are used for establishing and maintaining overseed turf areas. This article reviews some of the key steps. Planning: A good first step might be to figure out how many square feet of turf you are proposing to overseed and what type of budget you have to work with. Let’s assume a moderate budget and desire to have high quality turf. Ground Preparation: As the night time temperatures begin to cool in late August and early September, the first step you will need to take is the “scalping” of the proposed areas. This requires dropping the mower blades to a level much lower than your usual mowing height. The goal is to remove thatch and excess debris to provide a better chance for soil to seed contact. There is a local debate on whether a core aerification is better

to perform prior to overseed or in the spring to promote transition back to warm season turf. No standard answer here, try both and see what works best for you. Seed Selection: Selecting seed can be the most important decision you can make as there are several options available to you. “Perennial” ryegrass is often preferred and there are several levels of quality. Safest bet is use quality seed varieties with little or no weed seed. Yes, it will cost a few more cents per pound to use the good stuff but it will be worth it in the end. Consult your local supplier for their “good, better and best” options. For those on a tighter budget annual ryegrass can be an option, but you give up a lot of quality features such as color and overall turf quality. Perennial ryegrass seeding rates can vary from 7 #’s to 20 #’s / 1000 sq. ft of area. Here is where your budget comes into play. I suggest that you use at least a 12 # / 1000 sq. ft rate. Why? This will produce a nice tight stand and suppress unwanted weeds from ruining the stand. Let’s begin! After you have scalped your area

Scalping warm season

Rotary spreader

and are ready to go, it is time to apply the seed with a rotary or drop spreader. Probably a couple of passes are needed. A well calibrated spreader will deliver an even and uniform amount of seed to your area. Don’t skimp on the spreader quality, get a good one. Be sure to keep seed free from non-target areas. If your budget allows, the use an organic “seed cover” like compost or fir bark will keep moisture levels consistent for your germinating seed. Fertilization: Plan for (3) applications. I recommend that a “starter” fertilizer be applied prior to seeding. Although this is an added expense, consider it an “investment” in establishing high quality turf. In the long run it is worth it. For example starter fertilizers like, 6-24-24, 8-25-10, etc. will help establish good root structure and maintain overall plant health. A second application of slow release fertilizer is absolutely essential for creating a dense stand of turf. Mowing frequently will also aid in creating the proper density. Finally, the 3rd application of a “cool season” fertilizer should be applied sometime in December / January to maintain that green color. If you have done the above steps and stayed within your budget, you now are a hero for enhancyour customer’s and put money into Document1 2/29/04 ing2:44 AM Pagelandscape 1 Project completed! your pocket!

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SAFETY

Safety is Free. Landscape Vehicle Load Security. First article in a series on landscape equipment safety. Article provided by Andrew Greess.

afety is not just a good idea, it’s a great investment. Inattention to safety has huge financial implications: increased expenses (workers comp, clean ups, medical bills, lawsuits, repairs, etc.), lost productivity, employee turnover, customer impacts, bad publicity, etc. This issue we will discuss vehicle load security. Equipment that is not secure poses a risk to: • The driver – flying equipment could injure the driver or interfere with his/her ability to control the vehicle. • Other people on the road – equipment flying out of a vehicle going 60 miles an hour will do damage if it hits someone or something. Can you say lawsuit? • The equipment itself – loose equipment causes damage to the equipment itself or other equipment on the vehicle. We see lots of completely avoidable problems caused by unsecured equipment. There are better ways to spend your money. Here are some key points to keep in mind: • Just because it is in the truck, don’t assume it is secure! • Just because it was secured five years ago when you installed it, doesn’t mean it is secure today. • Just because it is secure at 25 miles per hour under normal driving conditions doesn’t mean it will be secure in an emergency situation. Examples of emergency situations include: • Collisions • Hard stops • Evasive maneuvers to avoid accidents • Train technicians to check their load BEFORE starting their route. A minute or two spent this way can save money; prevent injuries, downtime and lawsuits. • Small equipment (backpack sprayers, line trimmers, etc.) should be checked by the technician every day to ensure it is secure.

• Small equipment should be placed in security racks or otherwise secured. These racks can help prevent theft. It is not recommend using bungee cords but they are better than nothing. Just cramming stuff together is not securing it. • Large equipment (power spray rigs, toolboxes, etc.) should be checked periodically. Examples: • Tool Box – Tool boxes are usually bolted through the bottom of the tool box to the truck. Inspect for rust, fatigue, or other wear around the bolts. If the material around the bolts is weak, the box may break loose in the event of an accident. • Spray Rig – Is it securely bolted to the truck? Are bolts intact and nuts tight? Is the correct fastening system being used (e.g., stainless steel bolts won’t corrode and nylock nuts are unlikely to come loose)? • Spray Tank - Are tank straps snug and secure, or loose and worn? Checking small equipment should be the tech’s daily responsibility. Checking large equipment should be the company’s responsibility. Use a regular schedule. For example, check the large equipment during the regularly scheduled vehicle oil changes. Supervisors should spot check vehicles to ensure employees are securing their equipment. We never expect problems to occur, but they do. Be prepared. Conduct these inspections periodically to ensure you and your employees are being as safe as possible to protect your business. Andrew Greess is the President of Quality Equipment & Spray, which designs and builds custom weed control & landscape spray equipment solutions. He can be reached at andrew@ qspray.com. For more information on this topic or to share your comments, visit www. SprayEquipmentBlog.com.

Dream With Colors is proud to announce that Monica Vega is taking over as our new Chief Financial Officer. Monica was formerly Vice President of Sales and she’s been with the company for over 10 years. In her new position, she will be overseeing the corporate office, which is now located at our Southern facility. Please note that our billing address and corporate phone numbers will remain the same. Please Join us in wishing Monica the best in her new position at Dream With Colors. You may contact Monica at monicavega@dreamwithcolors.com or calling her office at 602-266-1814.

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Small tools should be placed in security racks.

This is clearly a problem. Note improperly used bungee cord. If the driver were to stop suddenly the backpack can be damaged or worse, it could cause expensive damage to the spray pump.

Inspect toolboxes to ensure they are well secured. Pay particular attention to the area around the securing bolts.

These rusted bolts were all that was securing a 200 gallon power sprayer. There were no nuts. Inspect for this type of problem. Use quality stainless steel bolts and nylock nuts to prevent hardware from vibrating off.

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September/October 2013

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BUSINESS

The Affordable Care Act – How Many Employees Will Buy Employer-Coverage? By Joanna Morrow

The Onus to Buy Health Insurance Is Still On the Individual

As most of us are now aware the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Employer Mandate requires that large employers OFFER health insurance coverage. Initially a requirement for 2014, this has now been delayed until 2015. There is still one largely unspoken side of the equation. For months now I have been working with employers and their accountants to review the legislation in conjunction with an analysis of the number of employees within their company who will actually purchase the coverage once it is offered. Let us be reminded that the Affordable Care Act does not mean health insurance is free in 2014 and beyond. If anything, it is only going to be more costly. Whether subsidized by the government or the employer, people are still going to have to pay something for it. The number of employees who buy into your employer-sponsored plan is the most significant factor that will impact your future health insurance costs. If you are under the impression you should be downsizing, splitting off the company, dropping health insurance all together, or drastically reducing your full-time workforce then you are most likely working off of poor advice. The good news is that it’s not too late to re-think your strategy.

Pay or Play Calculator Tools Flawed

Many of the “Pay or Play” calculator tools on which employers are basing important business decisions were designed by accounting or actuarial firms that are looking at the employer mandate strictly from a numbers standpoint. Unfortunately the financial experts who designed these tools are not experts in Human Resources and

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

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employee behavior which in the end is the factor that is going to have the biggest impact on your costs. As an example, carwashes, restaurants, convenience stores, and landscape companies employ a vast majority of low income earners who do not buy medical insurance today. Because today many of their employees pay $0.00 for health insurance, very few are going to be motivated to pay even $25.00 or $50.00 a month for it in the future whether subsidized by the government or the employer. The penalties charged by the Individual Mandate requirement are simply not steep enough to affect a change in behavior.

Can I Be Fined If My Employees Don’t Buy Health Insurance?

The answer to the above questions is “No. Not if you design the right kind of plan.” There are two fines that can be charged under the Employer Mandate requirement. One is a $2,000 per employee fine (minus the first 30 employees) for failure to offer coverage, and the other is a $3,000 fine on each employee who qualifies for a government subsidy if the coverage you offer is not affordable. The good news is that you can avoid both fines fairly easily. I have yet to perform an analysis where it made sense for an employer to drop coverage - the reason being that the majority of your employees are not going to purchase coverage when you do offer it, and this is going to be cheaper for you in the long run. Example – Let’s say that today you insure a management carve out of 20 employees out of 100 and the employer contribution totals $48,000 a year, which, in a 35% corporate tax bracket, really only costs you $35,500. Why would you pay a non-taxable $2,000 penalty on 70

MEMBER MIXER of your 100 employees or $140,000 a year when you can offer affordable coverage to everyone and only pick up an additional 10 employees during open enrollment? Worst case, maybe now you are paying for 30 employees out of 100 when you almost went ahead and paid a fine on 70. It makes absolutely no sense financially or otherwise. I am not going to go into great detail here on the fines other than to say that they are fairly simple to avoid once you have a good understanding of your workforce and the safe harbor plan requirements. Work with your insurance professional to determine your future insurance costs.

Relaxed Participation Requirements by Health Insurance Carriers

Finally, in today’s environment the carriers have participation requirements that must be met in order to offer a group policy. This is a risk management tactic used by underwriters to control what is known as “adverse selection”, (industry speak for “only sick people electing coverage”). Adverse selection is widely diminished in 2014 because of the fact that there are no longer pre-existing limitations imposed by insurers. Everyone will have access to coverage. Because of this fact, it makes sense that carrier participation requirements will be relaxed moving forward if they want to stay in business. Two of Arizona’s largest carriers have already announced relaxed participation requirements beginning in 2014 supporting the prediction that they are going to make every effort to continue to write your business regardless of how many employees participate in your plan. Industry experts anticipate that most if not all of the major carriers will eventually follow suit. In summary, if you don’t insure all of your employees today, most business owners will breathe a huge sigh of relief when they realize how very few employees are going to be interested in securing health insurance coverage, particularly in industries like landscape that employ a predominantly young, male workforce. Joanna Morrow is an Employee Benefit Consultant at Arizona Benefit Consultants in Phoenix, Arizona. She can be reached at jmorrow@abcllc.org or (602) 903-4047.

Member Mixer Thank you to Chris Hudson with VPC Sales, and the manufacturers listed below that he represents, for sponsoring the ALCA Member Mixer in June. DIG Corp. provides advanced, eco-friendly irrigation technology solutions including drip irrigation, drip line, battery operated controllers and ambient light (solar) powered irrigation controllers. Made in California by DIG Corp., LEIT Controllers provide an advance “ambient light powered” water management irrigation control system. Power is derived by a time tested internal photovoltaic module and microelectronic energy management system that is fueled by ambient light (solar). LASCO Fittings Inc. now has a quick and simple solution for your irrigation needs - Push Fittings, and a Flexible Repair Coupling, for Schedule 40 PVC pipe available in 1⁄2”, 3⁄4” and 1” sizes. For more information, contact Chris Hudson at 480-772-0651 or email at chudson@ vpcsales.com.

Member Mixer

First of all, I would like to say thank you to everyone for making our July mixer a hit! I think we all had a good time. It is always nice to get together and talk about things, to hear each other’s thoughts and concerns, and partner up to help each other. I wanted to take an opportunity to say a few things on behalf of EnviroControl, LLC. A little background, we have been in business for eight years and are qualified in weed and pest management. And yes, we are certified in termite also! At EnviroControl, we support many landscape companies that may not have the capacity, resources or qualifications to offer spray services, pest management, plant fertility or diagnostic services by providing these services on their behalf. By assuming the costs of licensing, recordkeeping and continuing education, you can devote more time to your own core services, while expanding the services you offer your clientele. Most companies do not want to have the expense of insurance costs alone to spray chemical on properties, well, that has been taken off of you as well. Services from EnviroControl include, pre and post emergent weed control, pest management including termites, plant and soil management, fruit control, plant growth regulation, deep root fertilization, tree injections, specialty fertilizers and of course consulting to you or your client to offer them complete property health management. We want to help you expand your services offered, increase your capabilities and also attract more clients. We do offer our services to our partners as well! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you again for everything and we look forward to helping you in the future! Glenn Pifer, General Manager EnviroControl, LLC. (480) 776-0079 gpifer@envirocontrol-llc.com September/October 2013

THE ALCA INFLUENCE

RESOURCE GUIDE/AD INDEX

EROSION CONTROL/HYDROSEEDING Western Sere

(888) 448-SERE (7373) • www.westernsere.com Please see our ad on page.........................................3 INSURANCE SERVICES Hill & Usher

Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc.

(800) 628-8735 • www.lcisinc.com Please see our ad on page.......................................23 IRRIGATION PRODUCTS & SYSTEMS DIG Corporation

(800) 322-9146 • www.digcorp.com Please see our ad on page.........................................3 Ewing Irrigation

(800) 343-9464 • www.ewing1.com Please see our ad on page.........................................4 Horizon

(800) PVCTURF (782-8873) • www.horizononline.com Please see our ad on page.........................................5 Hunter Industries

(760) 744-5340 • www.hunterindustries.com Please see our ad on page.........................................2 John Deere Landscapes

(800) 347-4272 • www.johndeerelandscapes.com Please see our ad on page.......................................19 Netafim

(888) 638-2346 • www.netafimusa.com Please see our ad on page.......................................15 LANDSCAPE CERTIFICATION TRAINING/TESTING Metro Institute

(602) 452-2901 • www.metroinstitute.com Please see our ad on page.......................................16

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(602) 917-1530 • www.arizonamachinery.com Please see our ad on page.......................................15 LANDSCAPING BOULDERS AND GRANITE We Rock AZ, Inc.

(602) 956-4220 • www.trimrisk.com Please see our ad on page.......................................17

LANDSCAPE EQUIPMENT Arizona Machinery

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(602) 569-3000 • www.we-rock-az.com Please see our ad on page.......................................20 LIGHTING Brilliance LED, LLC

(800) 867-2108 • www.brillianceled.com Please see our ad on page.......................................22 FX Luminaire

(858) 535-8000 • www.fxl.com Please see our ad on page.........................................2 NURSERIES All Season Wholesale Growers

(602) 276-0230 • www.allseasongrowers.com Please see our ad on page.......................................23 Arid Zone Trees

(480) 987-9094 • www.aridzonetrees.com Please see our ad on page.......................................16 Cox Cactus Farm

(480) 220-1848 • www.coxcactusfarm.com Please see our ad on page.........................................8 POTTERY International Wholesale Pottery

SOD/TURF Evergreen Turf, Inc.

(480) 456-1199 • www.evergreenturf.com Please see our ad on page......................... Back Cover Western Sod

(800) 832-TURF (8873) • www.westernsod.com Please see our ad on page.........................................5 SUPPLIER TO LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS Wilbur Ellis

(480) 921-8500 • www.wilburellis.com Please see our ad on page.......................................23 TREE MOVERS AZ Big Tree Movers

(888) 761-0249 Please see our ad on page.......................................23 TRUCKS Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu

(866) 412-2712 • www.chapmanchevrolet.com Please see our ad on page.......................................19 Sun Country Truck Equipment

(602) 438-4956 • www.suncountrytruck.net Please see our ad on page.......................................19 WHOLESALE NURSERY & GROWER Desert Tree Farm

(602) 569-6604 • www.deserttreefarm.com Please see our ad on page.......................................19

(602) 454-0528 • www.iwpottery.net Please see our ad on page.......................................17 PRINT, APPAREL & PROMOTIONAL ITEMS Diversified Print Solutions

(520) 393-3551 • www.diversifiedprintsolutions.com Please see our ad on page.......................................19

AD INDEX

All Season Wholesale Growers...................................... 23 Arid Zone Trees............................................................. 16 Arizona Machinery........................................................ 15 AZ Big Tree Movers....................................................... 23 Brilliance LED, LLC....................................................... 22 Chapman Chevrolet & Isuzu.......................................... 19 Cox Cactus Farm............................................................. 8 Desert Tree Farm.......................................................... 19 DIG Corporation.............................................................. 3 Diversified Print Solutions.............................................. 19 Evergreen Turf, Inc...........................................Back Cover Ewing Irrigation............................................................... 4 FX Luminaire................................................................... 2 Hill & Usher.................................................................. 17 Horizon........................................................................... 5 Hunter Industries............................................................. 2 International Wholesale Pottery...................................... 17 John Deere Landscapes................................................ 19 Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc............. 23 Metro Institute............................................................... 16 Netafim......................................................................... 15 Sun Country Truck Equipment....................................... 19 We Rock AZ, Inc........................................................... 20 Western Sere.................................................................. 3 Western Sod................................................................... 5 Wilbur Ellis.................................................................... 23