UAC Magazine - Spring 2024

Board of Directors

Pam Dooley

Plants Creative Landscapes

Jennifer Jorge King Green

Matt Lowe Swift Straw

Josh Morrow Athletic Fields, Inc.

Ken Morrow

The Turfgrass Group

Bob Scott

Irrigation Consultant Services

Ron White TurfPride

Ex Officio

Bodie Pennisi

UGA Extension Horticulturist

Clint Waltz

UGA Extension Turf Agronomist

Staff

Mary Kay Woodworth Executive Director

Kathy Johnson Marketing Director & Editor

Atlanta

Dear UAC Members and Supporters,

Blue skies, sunshine, warm days, cool nights. Spring is here. And boy, are we ready for it!

Spring 2024 will continue the pattern seen from 2020 forward – another banner year.

There are headwinds that potentially affect the landscape industry (and all businesses) that could impact client demand: the upcoming presidential election, talk of a potential recession and climate.

Inflation concerns continue, and the cost of doing business continues to rise. For a good discussion about this, I’ll refer you to Lawn and Landscape’s February “State of the Industry” report: https://www. lawnandlandscape.com/article/price-it-right

Design trends

Landscape design trends are always interesting to watch. In 2024 (from national surveys) homeowners are embracing the latest landscape design trends that combine aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and technology. Here are some themes that are buzzing throughout the landscape design industry this year.

Low maintenance. Spare time is a luxury that many don’t have. Low maintenance landscapes allow for more quality time spent with families, recreational activities, travel.

Tech savvy. Incorporate technology as the outdoor extension of the broader smart home movement. Uncluttered. A minimalist approach focusing on open space, rather than an abundance of elements. Biodiverse. Sustainability of ecosystems (including a variety of plant species, pollinator-friendly landscape, water management).

Next level. Blending functionality with creativity.

Georgia stats

Shifting back to Georgia, UGA’s Dr. Ben Campbell recently published these highlights from the 2022 Georgia Agriculture Census Survey related to Nursery, Greenhouse & Sod:

> Overall, floriculture was down from 2017 to 2022; however, nursery production was up over 13% which offset the loss in floriculture production.

> Floriculture, bedding crops and nursery acreage all increased from 2017 to 2022 with nursery having the largest increase at 44%.

> Sod acreage slightly declined from 16,793 to 16,012 acres or a 5% decrease.

> Overall nursery sales were up by 16%. Floriculture and bedding plants sales experienced a 5% and 10% decrease, respectively.

> Though sod production area decreased, overall sales increased by 34%. Most likely this was driven by increased home starts and increased demand coming out of COVID-19.

> The largest growth in sales was at the small and large acreage sod farms. Farms under 50 acres had sales growth of around 270% with farms over 400 acres having around 100% sales growth.

Georgia UAC events

We were happy to see many of our members at the 2024 Landscape Pro University (January), UAC “On the Road” in Savannah (February), at the UAC Student/Industry Networking Dinner at Gwinnett Tech (March) and our 40th Anniversary and GALA Celebration (March).

Please plan to join us April 19 at our annual Springtime in the Courtyard at Topiary Courtyard! Details are on page 19 and you can register online now at urbanagcouncil.com/events

See you soon and happy Spring!

Mary Kay Woodworth | Executive Director

Awards

Celebrate your colleagues who entered and won this year’s Georgia Landscape Awards!

Gold: For projects judged as greatly exceeding all criteria for the category

Silver: For projects judged as superior in their overall evaluation

Bronze: For projects that meet the standard in the category

Judges’ Choice: For projects that “WOW” the judges, a special designation that may be given, at the sole discretion of the judges

Newcomer of the Year: For a member who joined UAC in 2020 or later, a special designation that may be given, at the sole discretion of the judges

Design/Build/Installation - Residential, under $50k

Pitts and Armour Residence

SILVER

Designed Landscapes by HP Dutra Humberto Dutra

Judges: “This site was a challenge – high marks for degree of difficulty. Applaud the use of plant material instead of hardscape to deal with slope. Good job capturing runoff and directing away from the seating area.”

Design/Build/Installation - Residential, $50k - $150k

SILVER

Hargreaves Residence

Chatham Landscape Services Inc. Scott Chatham

Judges: “There was a high degree of difficulty with this project. Good job of capturing the client’s needs and goals. The strong consistent rectangular design theme ties in well with architecture of the home.”

Design/Build/Installation - Residential, $50k - $150k

SILVER

Mutch Backyard Oasis

Champion Landscaping Lawn Care

Mark Wells

Design/Build/Installation - Residential, over $150k

Crafton Mountain Home

SILVER

Art of Stone Gardening

Suzanne Brosche

SILVER

Lauerman

Chatham Landscape Services Inc.

Scott Chatham

Judges: “Very functional back yard. Pavilion and stonework are superior. A+ for hardscape.”

Judges: “Amazing transformation, very impressive. Boulder wall is a beautiful solution while not obstructing view –made the space more usable. Quality of construction is excellent.”

Judges: “Construction is excellent, fence is creative. The layout of the spaces ties everything together well. Great transformation, great value for the customer.”

Seasonal Color, Residential

GOLD

Seasonal Color, Commercial

Bagwell Residence

Gibbs Landscape Company

Hayley Davis

Crain Residence

Flowerworx

Scott Barnard

City of Alpharetta Streetscapes Urns •

Pots • Containers

Crabapple Landscape Experts

Michelle Coleman

SILVER

SILVER

Judges: “Excellent job of overcoming a challenging maintenance project. Proportions on Brooke Street Park pots are beautiful. Plants selections are good in terms of survival in this setting. Overall, a very successful project.”

Judges: “Excellent use of texture - strong and bold contrast. Simple color schemes tie things together well. Plants look very healthy. Nice use of tropicals. Large bed is beautiful. Really gave the homeowner a big bang for the buck.”

Judges: “Great job with trellises, went above and beyond. Nice texture between petunias and euphorbia. Very lush plantings.”

Seasonal Color, Commercial

GOLD JUDGES’ CHOICE

Park Avenue

Gibbs Landscape Company

Megan Galyas

Judges: “Showstopper, well done! Good variety of combinations. Both seasons look good. Excellent plant selection. Breathed life into dead spaces on the property. The continuity of the project is excellent.”

Design/Build/Installation - Commercial, under $75k

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

SILVER

The Tate House

Huckleberry Enterprises

Abigail Coultas

Judges: “There was a lot of attention to detail in this project. Good plant selections with a nice variety of colors and textures. The plantings have a very natural feeling that complements the historic charm of the mansion. The variegated iris really pop. This project will have even more impact once plants have been allowed to grow in. It will have an amazing cottage garden feel, which is very difficult to pull off.”

2024 Supplier of the Year

UAC values our vendor members and aims to recognize outstanding performance that enables our UAC contractor members to succeed.

Candidates for the UAC Supplier of the Year award are nominated by UAC members to recognize superior business practice in the areas of customer service, quality products and product knowledge, effective communication, after sales service and good business practice.

ServeScape: Mario Cambardella, CEO/Founder

Nominated by: Ed Castro

ServeScape has well trained staff, along with innovative applications and service. These men and women stand out. There isn’t a “no,” but, “yes we will take care of that.” They are super sincere and really do care about service and products, not just a sale. They use local markets and promote small businesses. They provide great ideas for specific plant selections for specialty gardens. We now have a unique service provider.

2024 Legislative Friend of the Industry

UAC presents this award to a dedicated Georgia legislator who advocates for Georgia’s urban ag industry.

Senator Shawn Still

Nominated by: Peter Thelen

Top on Georgia UAC’s list of industry advancements in 2023 was the proactive measure we took to stop the growing actions of local governments banning gasoline powered leaf blowers. Senator Shawn Still (Johns Creek) championed our bill from the very start and remained fully committed to the effort. With his leadership, we maneuvered the hotly contested bill through the Senate in February 2023. With the assistance of Representatives Brad Thomas, Victor Anderson, and Joseph Gullet, the House approved the bill in March to send HB 374 to the desk of Governor Kemp. On May 2, 2023 UAC joined Governor Kemp and key legislative leaders as he signed the Landscape Equipment and Agricultural Fairness (LEAF) into law.

Swan Lake

Mariani Enterprises DBA Ed Castro Landscape Brooke Schumacher

Landscape

SILVER

Judges: “Good job on removal of invasive species and non-natives in the wooded areas”.

With over a decade in development and research, Innovation® Zoysia’s cutting-edge qualities beat zoysias of the past. Deliver THE superior zoysiagrass to your clients.

From left: Moderator Bryan Tolar, Tolar Capitol Partners; Mary Kay

Council; Richard Ogawa, Towa Industries, Inc.; Greyson Walldorff, Lawn Capital; Senator Shaw Still, Georgia

Have you met...

Ryan Meadows

Meadows Landscapes, LLC

My first job in the green industry was...lawn maintenance in my neighborhood as a middle school student. I did this every summer until I decided to pursue a career in the landscape industry.

My biggest challenge in my career has been… effectively scaling our growth and not growing too fast.

I tend to be “all or nothing” and thus there have been times when we have needed to slow our growth to ensure our systems were adequate to facility the new growth effectively.

The people who have most influenced my career are…..my grandfather and my dad. My grandfather owned an LP gas service business and I used to go with him on calls. My organization and attention to detail on jobs is a result of working along side him. My determination and unwavering faith in the process came from my dad as he has put these attributes on display in his personal career.

My biggest career success so far has been…. creating a company culture that is visible to our team members, new and old, that they believe in and execute each day.

If I had it to do over again, I would…..go back and enjoy each different stage of our company’s growth. Through each of these stages there were challenges and my focus was on resolving those challenges. As a result I often didn’t take the time to celebrate our success through those stages of growth.

The thing I like most about my career is….. the impact we have on our customers’ lives outside of work. Our work facilitates the opportunity for family memories to be made and time to be spent enjoying each other’s company whether it be around a fire pit, in a garden or just the free time that our routine services give a client.

My least favorite part of my job is…the challenges with labor. Employee retention is a big focus of ours and we hate to see employees leave. We hire for long term and each employee quickly becomes a member of the “family” so we hate to see a “family member” leave.

Contact info:

Address: 10064 Main Street Woodstock, GA 30188

Phone: 678-909-3765

Email: ryanm@meadowslandscapes.com

Web: meadowslandscapes.com

One piece of advice I would give to someone entering the green industry today is…pace your growth. This isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Follow through with your commitments to your clients. Customer service tends to be an area in our industry that falls by the wayside when things get busy.

One thing that really annoys me is…disorganization. Everything has a place and when you’re done with something it should go back in its place.

Ryan and Ellie Meadows enjoy the Fall 2023 Atlanta Home Show with children Reid and Ryleigh.

The one thing most responsible for my success is…the support of my wife and kids. They understand my passion and that I’m all in mentality for Meadows Landscapes and the green industry. With out their support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

If I could change careers, just for a month, I would…be a row crop farmer, but it would be for just a month, it would be a career change. lol!

When I’m not working, I like to…fish. I love to crappie fish and now that my son is old enough to enjoy it, it has brought an entirely different joy to fishing.

One thing most people don’t know about me is… I played guitar throughout high school and local churches in their worship bands.

UGA TURFGRASS RESEARCH FIELD DAY

University of Georgia Turfgrass Research Field Day is hosted at the Griffin campus, offering the results of the latest turfgrass research and highlighting the newest turfgrass releases. Exhibit booths and display advertising are available.

DATE: Wednesday, August 7

PLACE: UGA Griffin Campus

1134 Experiment Street, Griffin GA 30223

For updates, visit urbanagcouncil.com/events

Box tree moth

An invasive pest on ornamentals

by Shimat V. Joseph and Will Hudson, University of Georgia Department of Entomology

Box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis (Fig. 1) is an invasive pest of boxwood (Buxus spp.). It was introduced into New York in 2021 and is now reported in Michigan, Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and South Carolina—and a distribution center in Tennessee. It is not reported in Georgia.

The native range of box tree moth is in Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, and India. This pest is reported as a serious problem in Canada, Europe, and Russia.

Boxwoods are an important ornamental evergreen shrub in the southeastern US that are widely planted in residential, commercial, and public landscapes in urban areas.

Description and life history

Adult box tree moths are mostly white, with a white comma on each forewing. The head, borders of wings, and tips of the abdomen are brown (Fig. 1A). However, approximately 10% of the moths are entirely brown with a comma-shaped mark on both forewings. Their wings are 1.6-1.8 inches wide with a slight iridescence.

Adults can live up to 30 days and spread over a radius of approximately six miles.

They lay translucent, flat yellowish eggs in a group of 5-10 eggs on the leaf surface (Fig. 2). These eggs appear as fish scales on the surface. The eggs hatch within 3-4 days, depending on local temperature. The neonates of box tree moth are pale brown with a black head (Fig. 3). The late

Fig.1. Adult of box tree moth.

Hannah Nadel at USDA (20210813-APHIS-HN-002)

Hannah Nadel at USDA (20210811-APHIS-HN-006)

Fig.2. Eggs of box tree moth.

Fig.3. Neonates of box tree moth.

Hannah Nadel at USDA (20210811-APHIS-HN-006)

Mujezinovic Osman, Faculty of Forestry, Bugwood.org

Fig.4. Early instars of box tree moth.

instars are green with black and yellow stripes and black spots (Fig. 4). The head of the late instars of box tree moth caterpillar is black.

They feed on the leaves for up to two weeks and pupate in silken webbing and leaves. The young pupa appears green with brown stripes (Fig. 5). After approximately two weeks, the moths eclose from the pupae.

Box tree moths overwinter as larvae in silken chambers built between leaves. As the weather warms in the spring, they emerge from the silken chambers and feed on leaves (Fig. 6) before pupating in the silk chamber. Multiple generations are possible as all stages may be present throughout the summer. There could be up to five generations per year. The overwintering caterpillars can tolerate temperatures as low as -22 °F and resume development when temperatures reach approximately 46°F in the spring.

Host plants

Boxwoods (Buxus spp.)

Damage

Extensive feeding of larval stages causes defoliation of boxwoods. The young instars scrape off the tissues from the underside of the foliage. The affected leaves appear bleached. As they grow into bigger caterpillars, they can eat the entire leaves but the midrib. Caterpillars produce extensive webbing on the foliage. When leaves are all defoliated, the larvae feed on the bark. Heavy infestations can cause plant death.

Management

After initial confirmation in Germany, box tree moth spread rapidly to most European countries in the last ten years through the movement of native boxwood

Fig.5. Late instars of box tree moth preparing silken chambers.

Hannah Nadel at USDA (20210810-APHIS-HN-005)

Hannah Nadel at USDA (20210816-APHIS-HN-008)

Fig.6. Late instars of box tree moth preparing silken chambers.

Ferenc Lakatos, University of Sopron, Bugwood.org

Fig. 7. Feeding damage from box tree moth.

species. In the USA, European boxwood cultivars are favored by the landscape industry and actively planted in new residential and commercial developments and widely grown in container nurseries. Boxwood materials are actively moved around in the USA and can likely contribute to this invasive pest’s spread. Because boxwood plants are not native to the USA, it is not present in natural wild habitats suggesting the spread could be restricted.

Contact insecticides, such as pyrethroids (e.g., permethrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin) or spinosad, should be effective against larval stages. Multiple applications during the growing season may be necessary.

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk), widely recommended for caterpillar pest management, should be effective against early instars of box tree moth. Multiple weekly applications should be required for effective management using Btk products.

What should I do if an infestation is suspected?

If you suspect a box tree moth infestation or damage, please collect a few moths, contact a local Extension agent or Georgia Department of Agriculture, and send the specimens for confirmation.

About the author

Shimat V. Joseph, PhD is Associate Professor in the UGA Department of Entomology. His research addresses existing, emerging, and invasive pest management issues of turfgrass and ornamentals, along with the principles of applied insect ecology.

Planning to renew your membership online?

Did you know that only your company's primary contact can make this transaction?

As a business-level member, your employees also are members of UAC. If you have employees who would like to be added to our system as additional contacts, just let us know. Those additional contacts will be able to log in as a member, edit their contact details, view member-only content and register for events at the member rate. However, they will not be able to edit or renew the company membership unless they use the email and password of the primary contact.

Need help with login? Call 706.750.0350 or email office@georgiauac.com.

Colette Walter, lepiforum.de/webbbs/images/forum_2/pic13983.jpg

Fig. 8. Damage caused by box tree moth.

Fig. 9. Boxwood shrub destroyed by caterpillars of box tree moth.

Mafalda Weldon, USDA

Springtime in the Courtyard Dinner

DATE: Tuesday, April 16

TIME: Buffet dinner: 6:15 pm

Sponsor/speaker presentations: 7:00 pm

PLACE: Topiary Courtyard

3045 Jones Mill Road | Peachtree Corners GA 30071

SPEAKERS:

> Jeremy Smearman, Founder and President of Planters, Inc.

> Dan Whitehead, owner of HortSource LLC, a horticultural consulting and procurement firm based in Lincolnton, Georgia

REGISTRATION:

> UAC members: $40

> Guests: $50

> UGA Extension Agents: $25

Registration includes 1 drink ticket and dinner Cash bar: beer, wine, bottled water

Join us for this annual event!

You’ll have a chance to explore the nursery before the dinner and place orders – and receive 10% discount if purchased that evening for later pickup. Sponsored by APR

UGA Turfgrass Research Field Day

DATE:

Wednesday, August 7

PLACE: UGA Griffin Campus

1134 Experiment Street, Griffin GA 30223

Stay tuned for details!

Woodstock Arts Green event

DATE: Tuesday, September 24

PLACE: 111 Elm Street

Woodstock, GA 30188

Stay tuned for details!

UAC Sporting Clays Tournament

Clay shoot | Win prizes | Eat BBQ

DATE: Thursday, October 31

TIME: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

PLACE: Blalock Lakes

4075 New Corinth Road | Newnan GA 30263

Register as a team or an individual! Sponsorships available!

Trends to watch in 2024

Navigating the future of employee benefits

In the ever-evolving landscape of employee benefits, 2024 promises to be a year of significant change and adaptation. Several key themes are emerging that will shape the way companies approach technology, employee retention, client expectations, and the crucial topic of mental health.

To get to the bottom of it, we sat down with our team members Tara Byrd, Principal and Employee Benefits Consultant, and Barbra Chambers, Sr. Client Executive of Employee Benefits, for a closer look at the trends that are set to define the year.

Technology adoption

Streamlining pain points

The adoption of technology in the employee benefits space is accelerating, and telemedicine, in particular, has seen remarkable growth.

As we all learned to adapt to new methods of communication and engagement, one area that has seen tremendous change is in virtual doctor appointments and follow-ups. From what we’ve seen, employees are increasingly willing to embrace telemedicine because it offers convenience, safety, and efficiency, which many were able to experience first-hand.

Beyond telemedicine, pricing transparency tools are gaining traction. As the cost of healthcare continues to rise, American consumers are seeking more affordable options. These tools provide answers to questions like,

“Should I pay $4,000 for an MRI at the hospital, or is there a $400 alternative?” This increased transparency empowers individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare, alleviating a significant pain point.

Employee retention

The quest for top talent

Employee retention remains a paramount concern for businesses in 2024. The strategies that are most likely to attract and retain top talent are centered on minimizing employee disruption and avoiding cost increases for employees. The truth is, employees often focus on the cost of their benefits package when considering job offers. To retain top talent, it’s crucial to effectively communicate the strength of these perks. After all, if employees aren’t aware of the investment made in their well-being, they may not perceive it as a genuine benefit.

In this context, top-tier benefits programs are not about offering a slew of expensive wellness initiatives. Instead, they revolve around providing robust medical and ancillary benefits while ensuring employees fully grasp their value. Open, transparent communication is key to fostering loyalty, creating a better employee experience, and promoting a trusting work environment.

Client expectations

The pursuit of cost efficiency

Clients’ expectations have undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The primary focus is on reducing costs while still offering robust benefits.

More companies are transitioning from fully insured to self-funded health plans, and this shift presents unique challenges. Self-funding is complex, and not all brokers specialize in it. That’s why more and more clients are seeking expert guidance to navigate self-funded plans efficiently.

Moreover, the specter of inflation looms large, affecting employees’ financial wellness. Employers are keen on keeping healthcare costs stable and providing tools to help employees become savvy healthcare consumers—to teach them how to save money for themselves and their families. Across all industries, clients are looking to their benefits advisors for leadership on achieving these objectives and fulfilling employee needs.

Image courtesy of Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Employee mental health benefits

Recognizing the need

The demand for mental health coverage has never been more pronounced. There is a heightened awareness of the importance of mental well-being as burnout is reaching new heights.

One helpful benefit that’s gaining traction? Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Employers are now trying to highlight EAPs to their employees, recognizing the extensive benefits these wellness programs offer at a relatively low cost.

Still, data shows that EAPs are severely underutilized. That’s why in 2024, education is likely to become a crucial tool in ensuring employees are aware of the mental health resources available to them. Employers are taking proactive steps to address this need, as they promote a more holistic approach to work-life balance and employee well-being.

Moving forward together

All signs show that 2024 is poised to be a year of significant transformation in the realm of employee benefits. Telemedicine is saving time and money, employee retention and benefits education are becoming more focused, and mental health support is gaining the recognition it deserves.

As businesses adapt to these trends, employees and organizations alike stand to benefit. Contact our team to learn more about how we can help your organization navigate your health benefits with confidence in the year ahead — and beyond.

Tara Byrd, CIC, is an Employee Benefits Consultant with Snellings Walters.

E: tbyrd@snellingswalters.com

P: 770-268-3688

W: snellingswalters.com

Client tracker or client tracking system?

What’s the difference?

by Cal Haynes for manta.com

A client tracker is a useful tool that many small businesses take advantage of to understand their customers better and meet their needs.

In this article, Manta explains what a client tracker is and how it relates to customer relationship management. We will also provide six key features you should look for, and we offer six different alternatives your business can start using. Let’s dive in!

What Is a client tracker?

A client tracker is a system that helps businesses to organize customer, client, or user data. Important kinds of customer data include contact information, business activity, purchase history, financial records, and communications with your business. Some client tracking systems will also allow you to communicate directly with customers via email marketing or SMS marketing.

Why tracking clients is important

No matter what type of business you run or what industry you compete in, you need customers. You need potential customers, new customers, and repeat customers. And every customer is different: they will have different interests, behaviors, needs, and purchasing patterns.

So, in order to offer your services to those customers, you need to understand them. You will want to know their spending habits, how often they visit your website, where they are from, how old they are, and why they are interested in your company in the first place. You want to know how they found out about your business, how long it takes them to make a purchase, what convinced them in the end, and what their price points are for your products and services.

Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash

Additionally, client tracking can help you understand how customers feel about your brand. Are they satisfied with your product or service? Is your messaging convincing and consistent? Can they trust your brand to deliver?

In short, the more information about your customers you track, the better you will understand their needs. And the better you understand their needs, the better you will be able to meet them.

What’s the difference between a client tracker and CRM software?

A client tracker tool is an important part of a broader CRM or customer relationship management strategy. As such, CRM tools will likely include tools for tracking customer information.

But what is CRM? CRM can best be described as a comprehensive approach to how a business manages and analyzes potential and current customer interactions. The goals of CRM include enhancing customer satisfaction, building brand loyalty, and driving business growth by better understanding what customers want and need.

Six key features of a client tracker or CRM platform

There are many different types of CRM systems or client trackers. Some key components you should look for include:

> Data collection

> Customer analysis

> Sales automation

> Marketing automation

> Customer support

> Integration

Let’s go through each of these!

Data collection. Gathering customer data is important, but it is even more important that businesses are able to safely and securely store that information. This is especially true in certain industries, like legal services or health and medical practices.

Customer analysis. Once you have the data, you need to be able to understand it. CRM platforms should provide analytics tools to help you gain insights into customer behavior and identify opportunities for personalization and improvement.

Sales automation. Automation works to alleviate a lot of the manual tasks that slow down your sales processes. There are many tools for automating lead generation, tracking sales activities, or even managing follow-ups. By implementing automation tools, your sales teams can focus on the strategies that will help them close deals.

Marketing automation. Like sales automation, marketing automation can make running marketing campaigns even easier. By using customer data to create better-targeted, more personalized messaging, you can increase your chances of customer engagement and interest.

Customer support. A centralized dashboard for all your customer interactions can help you provide exceptional customer support and customer service. With more personalized communication, you can build better relationships with your clients and foster brand loyalty.

Integration. One of the most important things to look for is the ability to integrate with other tools. You do not want to have to switch between ten different apps or web pages to answer a client’s question. Your customers will be much happier if all of your interactions can take place on one dashboard that includes email marketing, scheduling, billing, and more.

Six best client tracker systems

There are a lot of different options out there for client tracker systems. Identifying the right one for your business will depend on factors such as your budget, team size, number of customers, and more.

Manta’s Business Management Software. As an all-in-one business productivity suite, Manta’s Business Management Software can do more than just track client data. Our cloud-based system is ideal for small-to-medium sized businesses of all kinds and comes with a variety of features your company will want to take advantage of.

What’s included in our BMS? First and foremost, our CRM solution is the ideal client tracker tool for managing customer interactions. We ensure that you will be able to successfully generate, nurture, and convert leads into paying customers. Our system instantly notifies you of new leads and allows you to engage with them immediately, and all customer and potential customer data is safely stored in one place.

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Additionally, our BMS platform includes the following features:

> Automated SMS and Email Marketing that allows you to create targeted, personalized campaigns to different market segments.

> Automated Client Billing allows you to quote, invoice, and bill clients effortlessly from a single dashboard.

> Online Scheduling and Team Calendar Management fills your calendar quickly and easily and automate appointment reminders for customers.

> Mobile and Desktop Accessibility ensures that both you and your clients can access notifications and data from anywhere, at any time, on any device.

ClickUp. ClickUp describes itself as a “productivity platform to help teams of all sizes organize tasks, accounts, deals, documentation, and customers in a single location.” It aims to integrate a variety of business management tasks. Some of ClickUp’s key features include:

> Task management dashboard

> “Whiteboards” for visual collaboration

> Notes, labels, and tags for advanced sorting

> Integrations with over 1,000 apps

> Reporting and Dashboards

> AI integration

> And more

HubSpot CRM. One of the more famous CRM tools, HubSpot CRM is a platform designed to supplement business growth. It does this by offering a comprehensive suite of tools and integration capabilities to help teams manage client relationships and interactions. HubSpot CRM also offers automation options to streamline workflows for sales, customer service, and marketing teams.

Salesforce. Salesforce helps businesses manage their contacts, store data, create customized reports, track customer interactions, and automate workflow processes. Additionally, it offers tools for marketing automation, analytics, lead generation, and more.

Freshsales. Freshsales, a CRM tool from Freshworks, makes it easy to automate marketing campaigns, track leads, manage customer data, and segment customers into different categories. One of Freshsales’s most important features is a pipeline management tool to help your team visualize the entire sales process.

Pipedrive. Like the other tools on this list, Pipedrive is a CRM system designed to help your companies to augment their productivity and turn leads into sales. It offers a variety of tools and features you can use to grow your business, like:

> Contact management

> Email tracking

> Call logging

> Lead scoring

> Sales forecasting

> And automated workflows

Choosing the right client tracker

Selecting the right client tracker to help your business reach its goals is essential. The right CRM system can help your business grow, and the wrong one can cost you. Pound for pound, Manta’s Business Management Software is the best bang for your buck. With a variety of tools aimed at helping your business to thrive, our BMS can help you save time, energy, and money. That way, you focus on what you do best: providing value to your customers. Let’s get started today!

About the author

Cal Haynes is a little bit of a marketing jack-of-all-trades, master of some. After graduating with a degree in advertising with an emphasis in copywriting, Cal has worked in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. Cal has also done graphic design, video production, social media management, and now, content management for an SEO company. Outside of work, you can find Cal at the movies, thrifting, or baking bread.

Manta is one of the largest online resources dedicated to small business. We deliver products, services and educational opportunities that are effective, easy to understand and geared to help business owners become more competitive in their respective industries.

Learn more at manta.com/resources.

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Safety culture

The art of an effective equipment rodeo

by Jill Odom, National Association of Landscape Professionals

Whether you call them safety rodeos, equipment rodeos, or some other name, spring training kickoff events can set your team off on the right foot and ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to safety and equipment operations.

Kristin Hunt, safety rodeo coordinator for Monarch Landscape Management, based in Houston, Texas, says their company started conducting safety rodeos in 2020. She says the team appreciates the emphasis on safety, reviewing policies, and acquiring new skills.

“Initially, when we introduced the rodeo, we learned some team members, who had been with us for years, had not operated certain equipment,” Hunt says. “Now, each year, we ensure that everyone gains proficiency in using all types of equipment. This approach prevents team members from feeling limited to a specific role.” Hunt says that while rodeos demand a commitment of time and finances, no one complains because the event is enjoyable and rewarding.

Will Dutton, director of workforce safety and training for Russell Landscape Group, based in Sugar Hill, Georgia and long-time Georgia UAC member, says that they’ve been doing equipment rodeos for as long as he’s been with the company, but they became more intentional about these events 10 years ago. He says that rodeos bring more safety awareness to their team and help employees become more effective in operating and maintaining equipment.

“The obvious answer is we do them to prevent injuries, prevent damage, but it saves us money in the long run,” Dutton says.

Plan ahead

Hunt says that the planning process for their first rodeo took six months as they mapped out topics, assignments and stations.

“Year after year, we continue to enhance the information shared,” Hunt says. “The agenda undergoes an annual review by our managers and assigned trainers for updates. The team eagerly anticipates both the event and the annual fish fry!”

Dutton says they spend around six months intentionally planning their upcoming rodeo. He says they start assessing last year’s rodeo’s success and downfalls the day after the event. They ask for feedback from their managers about the rodeo, and also have a suggestion box where people can submit their thoughts on the event.

“This particular year, we’ve taken four past rodeos and condensed them into one,” Dutton says. “It typically is about a six-hour to seven-hour event.”

Dutton says this year, they have outlined five different stations that will each last an hour. They will focus on two-cycle equipment operation and safety, mower operation and safety, equipment maintenance, plant identification and care, and job costing.

Russell Landscape starts their rodeo with an orientation time where they introduce new hires to the company.

“We’ll have employee reminders at that time and that’s about a 45-minute process,” Dutton says. “Typically, that morning, there’ll be coffee and doughnuts served to the guys and girls.”

During lunchtime, the teams start conversing about what they learned at the rodeo. Dutton says they’ll ask their people what they came away with.

If you’ve never hosted a rodeo before, survey your team members to figure out what’s important to them and what they’d like to be trained on more.

Dutton notes you should have a budget in mind for training and get involved in a peer group to learn how other companies do their rodeos.

“Make sure you’re intentional with your time and get feedback from your employees on what they need to be trained on,” Dutton says.

Hunt adds that having a planning and rodeo champion is key.

“Think through what you want to cover, plan it out and do not be afraid to fail because it’s a long-term commitment,” Hunt says. “If you’re considering hosting a safety rodeo, collaborate or visit a company that has an established safety rodeo. It’ll provide a clear picture of the effort required for such an event.”

Keep it interesting

Dutton says one of the keys to a successful rodeo is ensuring everyone is bought in, from the leadership team to the managers leading the stations. He says their rodeo is a paid event and estimates that if it wasn’t a paid event, 65 to 70 percent of the workers might not even attend. Dutton says this is one of the ways they communicate to their team they are doing this because they care.

Having hands-on stations can also bring people out of their comfort zone.

“We make it fun,” Dutton says. “There’s going to be laughter. There’s going to be seriousness. There’s going to be people making mistakes, and it could be an account manager or even myself. These guys are going to notice it and I’m going to own it. They’re going to say, ‘Oh, well, we all make mistakes.’ What better place to make that mistake than at the rodeo, where we can retrain it.”

Hunt says they partner with key vendors who share their values of safety and education.

“They typically provide technical training on safe equipment operation or maintenance,” Hunt says. “For example, our Longhorn Irrigation representative provided new irrigation products and technical training too.”

This year Russell Landscape is working with a vendor who will be supplying them the plants they work with a lot for the plant ID stations.

“That’s another thing why we do it so early because I’ve got different areas to reach out to vendors in the area and let them know, ‘Hey, we’re having this. We’d love to have your involvement. We need you here,’” Dutton says. “This year, it’s going to be working with the people that we buy our plants from and having them come in because who knows the plant better than the vendor.”

Overcoming challenges

Some of the challenges of hosting rodeos include ensuring new hires who come on later are still brought up to speed and making sure everyone is on the same page during the rodeo.

Dutton says they try to schedule their rodeo around new hiring, but it’s not solely based on that, as they have Russell Landscape University as well to help train new employees. Hunt says they, too, try to have their rodeo take place following spring onboarding.

All photos courtesy of Russell Landscape Group

“Those that join the team after the rodeo may not receive the comprehensive, in-depth training but do receive departmental training by those department leaders,” Hunt says.

Dutton and Hunt say that the translation from English to Spanish is another obstacle. Russell Landscape breaks their teams into English and Spanish groups to hold their rodeo in both languages.

“We want everybody to take away what we’re trying to instill in them,” Dutton says. “We have to make sure that the ones that are translating, are translating exactly what we need to get out, which is important. We don’t want one team member to hear one thing and another one to hear something else. Things can get lost in translation.”

Dutton notes that one training does not fit all, even beyond languages, so they have to work to speak to different branches and different learning styles.

“It’s an accumulation of all learning styles,” Dutton says. “There’s audio, there’s visual, there’s going to be handson.”

Reprinted with permission from the National Association of Landscape Professionals. Learn more at landscapeprofessionals.org

About the author

Jill Odom is Senior Content Manager for the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Safety training at your fingertips

Visit UAC's Safety School to get training materials (training notes, slide presentation, attendance sheets) on a variety of safety topics.

UAC Safety School is available online to all businesslevel UAC members.

Here's how to access:

> Go to urbanagcouncil.com

> Use the "MEMBERSHIP" menu tab

> Click on "Members-only content"

> Log in as a member

> Use the email address and password that is associated with your UAC membership

> Need help? Contact us: Call 706.750.0350 or email office@georgiauac.com

> Scroll to the "Safety" category on that list and click on "Visit UAC Safety School"

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Leading through the rush Maintaining morale through the busy season

by Erin Saunders, Leica Geosystems

Image by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash

As a manager, leading a team through a hectic, high-pressure season can be challenging. When the work is demanding, maintaining productivity and morale among you and your employees is key. With effective organization, time management, and empathetic leadership, you can successfully guide your team through even the busiest of times.

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First, it’s essential for managers to prioritize their own organization and time management. When the workload increases, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of priorities. You could start by creating a detailed schedule outlining key tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. Use time management techniques such as time blocking to maintain focus and productivity throughout the day. Remember to allocate time for breaks and self-care to prevent burnout, setting a positive example for your team. Different strategies work for different people, so experiment and find what works best for you.

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Communication is also crucial during busy seasons. Keep your team informed about any changes, updates, or challenges they may face. Help them understand what to expect during busy days and weeks and let them know as things change. Consider having a master or shared calendar. Encourage open dialogue and be receptive to feedback from your employees. Actively listen to their concerns and provide support where needed. By maintaining clear and consistent communication, you can prevent misunderstandings and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Empathy plays a key role in effective leadership, particularly during stressful periods. Acknowledge the challenges your employees may be facing and demonstrate understanding and compassion. Recognize their hard work and efforts, even amidst the chaos. Offer words of encouragement and motivation to boost morale and keep spirits high. Remember that everyone responds differently to stress, so be patient and accommodating with individual needs. Consider ways to recognize team members who are going above and beyond, or who have had to manage a particularly difficult or stressful situations.

Humor can also be an important tool. Laughter can relieve stress, boost engagement and well-being and help foster creativity and collaboration. Remember, humor is subjective, so it’s important to make sure it’s appropriate and landing without offending. Be careful not to “punch down” and make fun or tease those reporting to you. There are a few tried and true safe ways to use humor. Self-depreciating stories are usually well received. Don’t be afraid to chuckle at yourself. It signals that everything is okay. Be honest and authentic.

In addition to supporting your team’s mental well-being, provide practical assistance to help them manage their workload. Help them prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance, delegating responsibilities where possible. Empower employees to take ownership of their work and encourage collaboration among team members. Offer resources and tools to streamline processes and increase efficiency. By empowering your team and fostering a sense of

autonomy, you can alleviate some of the pressure they may be feeling.

Flexibility is also important when navigating busy seasons. Recognize that unexpected challenges may arise, requiring adjustments to plans and priorities. Be adaptable and willing to reassess strategies as needed. Avoid micromanaging your team and trust them to make decisions autonomously. By empowering employees to take initiative and problem-solve independently, you promote a sense of ownership and accountability within the team.

Navigating busy seasons as a manager requires a combination of organization, communication, empathy, and flexibility. By prioritizing your own time management and leading by example, you can effectively

support your team through even the most challenging of times. Remember to celebrate successes and recognize the hard work of your team members, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and collaboration within the organization. With strategic leadership and a supportive approach, you can guide your team through busy seasons with confidence and resilience.

P: 770.326.9517

E: erin.saunders@leica-geosystems.com

Diamond Platinum

Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act

A comprehensive guide for business owners

by Peter Thelen Sr., CPA, FMC, President of Thelen Financial Certified Public Accountants

In an era marked by increased government interventions, business owners find themselves navigating a new regulatory landscape with the introduction of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and Beneficial Ownership reporting. Once, states allowed businesses to operate in relative anonymity, making it difficult to trace corporations back to individuals. Privacy concerns, litigation protection, and various valid reasons often drove business owners to prefer this anonymity.

However, recent legislative initiatives like the CTA aim to enhance transparency and combat financial crimes. This comprehensive guide aims to provide business owners with a detailed understanding of the CTA, addressing challenges related to obscured ownership within companies and its implications.

Understanding the CTA

The CTA is a legislative initiative in the United States designed to address the challenge of obscured ownership within companies. Enacted to combat financial crimes such as money laundering, terrorism financing, and tax evasion, the CTA mandates that companies disclose crucial information about their beneficial owners.

This disclosure, known as Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI), encompasses details concerning individuals who hold substantial control over a reporting company or possess at least 25% ownership interests.

Recent developments:

Access Rule and privacy concerns

Recent developments, such as the Access Rule, have addressed privacy concerns surrounding the CTA. This rule narrows down the agencies that can access data and specifies procedures for obtaining it. Government interventions, especially those requiring extensive reporting, often raise concerns about the privacy and security of sensitive business information. The Access Rule aims to strike a balance between transparency and privacy by limiting access to specified entities.

Cost implications for small businesses

Despite concerns about compliance costs and the risk of confidential information exposure, the CTA serves to empower authorities in combating financial crimes.

FinCEN’s extensive cost studies estimate that small businesses may spend up to 11 hours filing a BOI report. The cost is projected to be around $2,500 for advice and filing through legal or CPA firms.

More complex ownership structures may face an annual compliance cost of approximately $8,000, contributing to an estimated total of $5.6 billion annually for U.S. companies to stay compliant.

Key terminology:

Reporting company and beneficial owner

To understand the CTA fully, business owners must grasp key terminology.

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A reporting company, as defined by the CTA, includes any entities created or formed under state, Indian Tribe, or foreign country laws. These entities are obligated to file BOI reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

Beneficial owners, in the context of the CTA, include Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) or senior-level managers meeting specified criteria, such as exercising substantial control or owning at least 25% of a reporting company.

Filing a BOI report: Procedures and deadlines

Filing a BOI report can be done directly through the FinCen website’s portal, offering efficiency in updates triggered without redoing all information. Understanding

Photo by Joe Shields on Unsplash

the deadlines is crucial for compliance. Deadlines for BOI reporting varies based on the formation or registration date, ranging from December 31, 2024, for companies formed before January 1, 2024, to 30 days after formation for those formed on or after January 1, 2025.

Penalties for non-compliance

The CTA imposes penalties for willful violations, emphasizing the importance of compliance. Civil fines of up to $500 per day (up to $10,000) and imprisonment for up to two years are the consequences for willful failure to report complete or updated beneficial ownership information to FinCEN or the provision of false or fraudulent information. Understanding these penalties becomes paramount for businesses aiming to navigate the changing regulatory landscape effectively.

Resources for guidance

Considering the complexity and potential consequences, businesses are encouraged to seek guidance. Resources such as FinCEN’s FAQs and step-by-step instructions are available for those unsure of their status or responsibilities (fincen.gov/boi). Consulting with attorneys or CPAs can provide further assistance.

Formation/Registration Date Deadline for BOI Reporting

Before Jan. 1, 2024 Dec. 31, 2024

Between Jan. 1, 2024 - Jan. 1, 2025 90 days after formation

On or after Jan. 1, 2025 30 days after formation

Conclusion

As the CTA reshapes transparency requirements, staying informed and seeking professional advice becomes paramount for businesses. With a comprehensive understanding of the CTA, its recent developments, cost implications, key terminology, filing procedures, and penalties for non-compliance, business owners can proactively ensure compliance and contribute to the broader objectives of combating financial crimes. With the right resources and guidance, businesses can adapt to these regulatory changes seamlessly.

About the author

Peter Thelen is Founder of Thelen Financial Certified Public Accountants, A Georgia Urban Ag Council member.

3625 Brookside Parkway Suite 535 | Alpharetta GA 30022 678-526-6885 ext 13 | pthelen@thelenfinancial.com

Low voltage license Georgia requirements for irrigation and lighting contractors

by Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Director, Georgia Urban Ag Council

Did you know that the state of Georgia requires all companies who install or repair low voltage lighting and irrigation systems to be licensed?

The Low Voltage General license (LVG) covers any electrical systems, other than alarm or telecommunication systems, involving low-voltage wiring, including, but not limited to:

> stand alone intercom systems and call alert systems (audio or visual);

> distribution wiring for alarm systems and telecommunications systems including local area network systems;

> sound systems;

> public address systems;

> the low voltage side of energy management systems;

> antenna systems and satellite dish systems;

> irrigation system wiring; and

> low voltage lighting.

From O.C.G.A. § 43-14-8.1 (effective 12/31/1984):

An individual desiring to obtain a Low-voltage Contractor Class LV-G license shall submit to the division an affidavit which outlines the experience of said individual in the practice of low-voltage wiring relating to general systems. Each such affidavit for licensure shall describe in detail the installation of at least three complete low-voltage wiring jobs which shall demonstrate that the individual has successfully performed low-voltage wiring in the area of licensure requested for a period of at least one year immediately prior to the time of application.

The Georgia Secretary of State has updated their licensure website to provide detailed information about requirements, application and testing. Visit: https://sos.ga.gov/georgia-state-board-low-voltagecontractors for information.

There are many for-profit companies that offer both online and in-person test prep for this exam, Google the term “training for Georgia low voltage license” to explore options.

The pesticide applicator license What you need to know

by Timothy Daly, Agricultural and Natural Resource Agent, UGA Extension

Most green industry professionals use pesticides as part of their services. While beneficial in controlling pests, these chemicals are hazardous and can cause great harm if misused. If you apply pesticides for payment, you must obtain the Georgia Commercial Pesticide Applicator License in the appropriate category.

Pesticides are classified as either restricted use or general use:

> Restricted-use pesticides are more hazardous in that they can cause serious injury or illness and are detrimental to the environment if applied inappropriately. They require a license to purchase.

> General-use pesticides do not require a license for purchase and are commonly sold at local garden centers.

However, the pesticide license is required to apply either type of pesticide. Even if you’re applying only Round-Up, you have to have the license.

To obtain the license, you must pass the computerized commercial applicator examination provided by numerous Georgia technical colleges at several locations around the state. The cost is $45, with the check payable to the technical college.

The exam consists of two parts:

The first part is the general standards section, designed to test general knowledge on the use of pesticides.

For the second part of the test, you must take and pass one of the categories specific to the type of pesticide being applied.

There are 20 categories, but most will need Category 24 Ornamental and Turf. If you apply pesticides for mosquitoes, you will need Category 41 Mosquito Control.

How to register

To register for the exam, go to www.gapestexam.com You will have to create an account, choose the type of category you want, and sign up to take the exam at a date and time at one of the test sites.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has a new requirement that you are only permitted to test in any category once per month or twice in six months. A score of 70% on both is necessary to pass and receive the license.

Please note: UGA Extension has nothing to do with the administration of the exam.

You can order the study books, one for the Core Manual (General Standards) and another for the category 24 Ornamental and Turf, from the registration website. The manuals are $35 each. Carefully read each chapter and answer the study questions. Occasionally, UGA Extension has classes to help people prepare to take and pass the exam. To find one, go to the Extension event calendar at https://extension.uga.edu/calendar.html

The Georgia Urban Agriculture Council and the Georgia Green Industry Association offer a study session at their annual conferences.

The exam

When taking the exam, you must present a valid government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license. If you pass the exam, you will receive a form to fill out and send to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. You must include a check for $90 made payable to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Also, you will mail in a completed Verification of Lawful Citizenship form that has been signed and notarized. You can download the form at https://bitly.ws/3cJN8.

You will also need a photocopy of a government-issued photographic identification such as a driver’s license, military identification, or passport.

You will receive your pesticide license within two weeks if all documents and fees have been submitted.

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Continuing education

Once you have your license, you must get ten continuing education recertification hours every five years. You can get them at conferences, UGA Extension programs, private training events offering credits, or online sources. These hours must be completed within 90 days of your expiration date; however, the Georgia Department of Agriculture will accept them up to the expiration date. Failure to get all ten hours by the expiration date will require retaking the test. Those who obtain the needed recertification credit hours will be mailed a renewal notice approximately 90 days before license expiration and will have to pay the $90 fee.

If you have questions, contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture by calling 404-586-1411 or emailing gdalicensing@agr.georgia.gov.

About the author

Celebrating 50 years

Georgia 811 plans tributes for 2024

2024 marks Georgia 811’s 50th Anniversary. With the mission to promote safety and prevent utility damage, Georgia 811 will celebrate the occasion with various events, initiatives, and tributes to remind stakeholders and the general public of the importance of contacting 811 before digging.

In 1968, a tragic natural gas incident claimed the lives of several people at a daycare in Hapeville, Georgia. Georgia 811, originally doing business as the Utilities Protection Center, was formed in response. Housed at BellSouth, seven founding members including Atlanta Gas Light, BellSouth, Georgia Power, Colonial/Plantation/Transco Pipelines and Clayton County Water Authority began the process of creating a call center to help coordinate the locating of underground utility lines when digging was to occur in seven metro Atlanta counties. In 1974, the first locate tickets were processed.

Fifty years later, Georgia 811 now has over 850 utility members and processes more than 1.3 million tickets annually. Georgia 811 continues to provide notification services and educational resources to promote damage prevention of underground utility lines.

Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Henry County. He can be contacted at 770288-8421 or tdaly@uga.edu.

Homeowners, landscapers, and professional excavators are all encouraged to contact Georgia 811, either online or by dialing 811, at least three business days prior to digging. After submitting a ticket, Georgia 811 notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested dig site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin around marked lines.

Georgia 811 will debut a video tribute to the victims of the 1968 Hapeville accident during their 2024 Damage Prevention Summits:

> September 19: University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center

> October 3: Braselton Civic Center on October 3

> November 7: Dalton Convention Center

Detailed information and registration will be available on the Georgia 811 website, Georgia811.com, beginning in July.

From interview prep to making an offer 2024 hiring cheat sheet for small businesses

by Cindi Filer

Hiring is not easy; however, if you do 75% of our suggestions from this list, we guarantee that you will have a leg up on other small businesses. Here we go:

Preparation for the interview

Let the candidate know what to expect.

No one wants a surprise. No one wants to wait around and wonder what comes next. So, tell your candidates at the very beginning of the process what is likely to happen. This can help to alleviate any anxiety they may have and ensure that they are well-prepared.

Get the logistics right.

Ensure that parking, reception, and other logistics are in order. This will help to create a smooth and seamless experience for the candidate, and also ensure that they arrive at the interview feeling relaxed and focused. You would think this is self-explanatory. However, we hear from candidates all the time about how there was no direction and they did not know where to go.

Don’t overload the candidate.

As you plan the interview day, here are some tips:

1. Plan on the interview being around 30-45 minutes.

2. Plan on interviews never being more than a 3-1 ratio (interviewers to interviewee). Large panel interviews just don’t work well and totally stress the candidate. We get the feedback that it feels like a firing squad when there are more than 3!

3. Plan for a break with a snack or coffee if the person will have multiple interviews.

Be prepared.

We always tell the candidate to be prepared but the interviewer should be as well! Here are some easy items to check along the way:

1. Make sure you have reviewed the resume and highlight a couple of interesting things.

3. Have 2-3 questions written about their background and 2-3 more questions to help you determine culture fit and skills fit! 4

2. Look at their LinkedIn to see what you might have in common.

Onsite interview guide

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Don’t tell the candidate everything bad about your company.

We agree that it is crazy we need to remind people about this, but we do. An old strategy was to let them know the good, bad and the ugly. Focus on the positive aspects of the company and the role.

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A candidate can catch your love for the company. Tell the candidate why you love working there and sell them on the company! It is important to show the candidate why your company is a great place to work and to create a positive and engaging environment.

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Be on time.

It is essential to be punctual and ready to start the interview at the scheduled time. Being late can create a negative impression and may cause the candidate to feel disrespected.

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Shut off your phone and your computer during the interview.

We get it - you are important and things are happening. However, the number of interviewees that get turned off by interviewers who are “not paying attention” is a large one.

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Pay attention.

It is important to engage with the candidate and show genuine interest in what they have to say. Actively listen and ask follow-up questions to gain a better understanding of their skills, experience, and potential.

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Quit asking impossibly hard questions. Avoid asking unnecessarily difficult questions. While it is important to assess the candidate’s skills and experience, it is equally important to create a comfortable and nonthreatening environment.

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Next interviews need to happen quickly.

If you determine to bring the candidate back in for a follow up interview, plan that for the next couple of days. You have a very high chance of losing your candidate if that next interview isn’t FAST.

In Conclusion...

We would love to talk to you about your hiring process. We coach our clients through every step when we work with them in recruiting. It’s just part of what we do and why our clients like to work with us! Our survey scores are 5 out of 5 on the client and candidate side. We know that sounds like bragging, and it is. Hiring and HR is what we do best!

P: 678-881-0023 | W: innovative-outsourcing.com

Best practices when making an offer

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Call the candidate with excitement!

The hiring manager (or CEO if appropriate) needs to call the candidate with excitement! This is the moment that the candidate has been waiting for, and it’s important to create a positive and enthusiastic experience for them. By conveying your excitement and interest in the candidate, you are more likely to create a positive impression and increase the likelihood of acceptance.

Put an offer in writing that same day.

The offer should come on the same day and preferably within an hour of the phone call (not before the phone call - that is not recommended at all!). This provides the candidate with the necessary details regarding the offer, such as salary, benefits, start date, and other relevant information. This also shows the candidate that you are organized, professional, and value their time.

Meet or exceed their salary expectations.

Don’t offer less than they thought was coming. If you have discussed salary expectations with the candidate or posted a range, it’s important to ensure that the offer meets or exceeds their expectations. Offering less than what they anticipated can create a negative impression and may cause the candidate to reconsider their interest in the position. Even if they take the job at the lesser rate, you have communicated to them that they weren’t even good enough for the lower end of the range and you will be starting off poorly.

Keep communicating!

If there is much time between offer acceptance and start, continue to communicate with the candidate. This can include sending them a company t-shirt, newsletter, or welcome emails from staff. This helps to keep the candidate engaged and excited about the opportunity to work with your organization and may squash any other offers that may be coming in behind yours. Surprise and delight them with gifts, communication, excitement from current team members, etc. It doesn’t cost much - but is important if there is more than a couple of weeks prior to their start date.

Innovative Outsourcing began 25 years ago with one woman who dared to think out of the box about corporate staffing. Cindi Filer, founder and CEO, started Innovative Outsourcing to give small businesses guidance in building their teams.

Public policy is a contact sport

Four reasons why your membership investment matters

by Mary Kay Woodworth, Executive Director of the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council

Politics and policy may not be the first things that our members think of when they are heavily into their business planning, hiring, training and execution to serve their customers. Policy issues are constantly appearing and changing, and the Georgia Urban Agriculture Council (UAC) is active and engaged on your behalf. It is important to be a part of a group of colleagues with a desire to see the industry flourish and provide input in these very important discussions in the public policy arena.

UAC is proud to be a voice for our members in the policy arena, having been an advocate for the landscape and green industries for many years. It can only be done with member support and financial backing.

Today we want to share with you four key reasons why your membership investment in the Georgia UAC advocacy is an investment in your business now and in the future.

The process.

Just like having a map to get from point A to point B, the same is true for moving policy from start to finish. It’s a nuanced process, including timing and relationships that go into passing new laws or stopping legislation that could be harmful. Familiarity is key and having someone with our industry’s interests, the right

experience, and being a respected presence during the legislative session provides the best foundation for being engaged in policy development.

The players.

Politics and policies are always changing. That’s why it is so important to have knowledge of who is a member of the legislature as well as capitol staff. While there is no single way to accomplish this other than through investment of time, one thing is for sure - being present is what matters most.

It has been said that lobbyists may work only 15 minutes a day during the legislative session, but the trick is you never know when that 15 minutes is going to kick in. Being visible, being engaged, and being trusted are ways to find success. The legislative process is no different. UAC’s governmental affairs representative is not on a three-month contract. He is there for us 365 days a year.

The relationships.

For any business, the ones that are successful are the ones that build relationships within their community and with their neighbors. The legislative process is a giant social experiment. The more you know about the neighborhood and the people who make it work, the more apt you are to have your voice heard.

Relationships are also important to open doors to be a resource to other allies, including legislators. UAC must have the necessary relationships among legislative leaders to advance and defend our policy positions in these policy discussions.

Promote and advocate for our industry.

There are over 1,000 registered lobbyists in Georgia, all pushing for their respective interests among a broad list of industry sectors. If your voice isn’t present, others will fill the void.

While agriculture is well recognized as a very important economic driver in our state, those conversations are often void of the landscape and green industry sectors. These represent nearly $11 billion annually. While UAC often partners with allies that help advance big-picture issues for agriculture, many of our areas of concern are specific to our industry sectors. For instance, no one has been more vocal on workforce development for our industry. The same was true for handling the leaf blower issue in recent years.

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We heard from you and responded, which led to Georgia being the first state in the nation to pass a law that protects the use of gasoline-powered equipment.

Industry promotion must be constant. UAC is pleased to share the story and importance of our growing business sectors at the capitol and with state leaders on your behalf. As a member, your conversations with us at events and other outreach help us develop the messages we need to protect and advance our industry. We listen to your needs and this year continues to bear that out. We are working with others on tort reforms, funding for education, including initiatives at technical colleges and the university system, plus continuing to focus on environmental issues such as water rights and more.

During the ten weeks of the Georgia General Assembly, UAC provides weekly updates via email in our Capitol Connection legislative reports. These reports are among the most popular notifications we distribute - and they are crafted just for you.

Advocacy is not a spectator sport. It is something we take very seriously and are proud to provide for our members. Together, we will keep working, educating, fighting, and advancing opportunities for our industry. It needs us and we need you. Thank you for being a member. We work for you. If you ever have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Bryan Tolar, Principal Tolar Capitol Partners

“Lobbying starts with relationships, and we are proud to work each day to be a resource for legislators and share with them our UAC challenges, environmental benefits, and economic opportunities.”

UAC works closely with Tolar Capitol Partners, monitoring and reporting weekly during each legislative session through Capitol Connection updates. These e-newsletters also include short surveys to "take the pulse" of our UAC members on important issues. If you work for a UAC member company and would like to be added to this email list, please contact us at office@georgiauac.com or 706-750-0350.

As we start this new year, how do you feel about the

Some lawmakers are betting they can get some form of gambling signed into law this year. What are your thoughts on legalizing gambling in Georgia?

you pulling for in the Super

Have you ever visited Georgia’s State Capitol?

Preparing students for the workforce

Georgia State Botanical Garden leadership program

by Laurel Clark

Since the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia piloted the Learning by Leading program in 2018, 171 UGA students have gained skills preparing them to enter the workforce after college.

Learning by Leading at the University of Georgia is a hands-on program developed for the botanical garden to increase leadership skills through a comprehensive experiential learning program. Students progress through a leadership ladder, gaining technical, human and conceptual skills while working alongside staff mentors at the State Botanical Garden.

“A goal of the University of Georgia is to help prepare the next generation’s workforce,” said Cora Keber, director of education at the State Botanical Garden. “Learning by Leading helps fulfill that university mission in a meaningful experiential capacity. “

“We’re aligning ourselves with the outcomes of the university and supporting the green industry by preparing students to enter that workforce.”

~ Cora Keber, Director of Education State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Learning by Leading is an approved program for Service, Leadership and Intern experiential learning credits, a university requirement for all undergraduate students. Students work on teams, ranging from horticulture, environmental education, conservation, visitor services and more. A staff mentor guides them, and as students progress through the program they can become student leaders in their teams.

Students in the State Botanical Garden’s Learning by Leading program install a pollinator garden at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.

Photo by Jaime DeRevere

The idea for the program began when the garden’s director, Jenny Cruse-Sanders, attended the American Public Garden Association’s annual conference in 2017 and learned of the program created by the UC Davis Public Garden and Arboretum.

Since its inception at the garden in 2018, students have worked on projects including mapping the garden collections, heirloom apple production, plant propagation, creating education programming and curriculum and environmental interpretation materials. It is estimated that students in the Learning by Leading program have contributed over 20,600 hours of work to improving the State Botanical Garden for its estimated 360,000 annual visitors.

The first Learning by Leading student at the State Botanical Garden was Emory Perry. Perry was a student worker at the garden when Keber approached her and asked if she would be interested in being the student who was part of the pilot Learning by Leading program.

“It was fun, and I loved it,” Perry said. “It was exciting to be a part of something new, and I didn’t realize how big of a program it would be.”

During Perry’s time in Learning by Leading, she helped develop the Garden Earth Explorers, now called Sweet Pea Club, a weekly program for children ages 3-5 to learn about nature. She also helped develop the garden’s newest family festival, Georgia Questival, which showcases Georgia’s natural history and resources through a series of adventurous activities.

Perry said her work with Learning by Leading encouraged her to add the education degree to her studies and gave her a clearer path for what she wanted to do after graduation. She graduated in 2020 with degrees in physics and science education and went on to teach high school physics and environmental science for two years. Recently, Perry joined the State Botanical Garden staff full time as the adult program coordinator, bringing her Learning by Leading journey full circle.

“Experiential learning is so important because it’s the stuff you don’t learn in class,” Perry said. “Learning by Leading got me involved in the community and helped me make connections. I’m thrilled to be working at the garden again, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Learning by Leading.”

Since its inception, Learning by Leading has continued to grow and evolve to serve the needs of students, student leaders, interns and staff mentors. Initial funding support came from UGA’s Office of Experiential Learning through an Innovation Grant. Later, support has come from the Friends of the Garden at the State Botanical

Garden of Georgia and the UGA Parents Leadership Council.

James Anderson of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication served as a UGA Public Service and Outreach Faculty Fellow and led a six-series leadership training for staff mentors during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Professional development programs such as science communication, branding and marketing, environmental interpretation and True Colors training have been offered to students and staff mentors throughout the past five years.

“As a PSO Fellow, I had the opportunity to work with the garden to develop a mentor training program,” Anderson said. “This was a unique project because many mentoring programs rarely focus on the development of the mentor; the focus is usually on the development of the protégé. This unique quality is just one of many that make this program special. It is designed to transform everyone involved.”

For more information about the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and Learning by Leading, visit botgarden.uga.edu.

Pantone goes peach A perfect color for the garden

by Norman Winter, Horticulturist, Author and Speaker

Amelia Nash wrote an article for printmag.com and her headline captured my thoughts exactly: “Pantone is Keeping Things Warm, Fuzzy and Peachy Keen for 2024.” The article is great, and you could sense her excitement over the new color of the year, and The Garden Guy couldn’t agree more!

So, if you haven’t seen the announcement anywhere, Pantone, the gurus of all things color, has designated Peach Fuzz the 2024 Color of the Year.

I’ve been writing about the Pantone’s Color of the Year and giving the selections a relationship to the garden and flowers for several years. I have felt a bit lonely in this endeavor as only a few companies joined in to promote their flowers that were a good match. This year, however, it has been like a wake-up call. Even before I knew about Peach Fuzz, I was getting posts from all of the major suppliers showing off their varieties that were a close match to Peach Fuzz.

This is where Amelia Nash hit it out of the park with her headline stating “Peachy Keen.” Peach - and particularly the Pantone designation of Peach Fuzz 13-1023 - has to be one of the rarest colors in the garden. It is the color suggested to garden club ladies who get heart palpitations at the thought of flaming colors like Electric Orange.

Peachy Keen, you see, is a variety of Superbena verbena. The initial florets of the flower cluster may show a richer, more saturated peach but it is not long before you see the array which Proven Winners describes as “peach tones from apricot to cream.” This verbena gets up to 12-inches tall with a 24-inch spread. In my zone 8 garden I expect it to be perennial until it’s not. Usually, I will get 3 to 4 years of glorious color and butterflies. It would probably go longer if I did a better job at cutting it back.

The website, www.colorxs.com has the best explanation and visual examples teaching the color scheme and harmonies with Peach Fuzz.

Their monochromatic chart or display is the perfect lesson on what horticulturists try to teach on toning down hot oranges with peach, coral, salmon and cream.

As you look at what is really similar to a paint store chip card you realize Superbena Peachy Keen blossoms have all of the colors on the monochromatic card.

Then there is yarrow. It is among the toughest flowers for the garden - persevering, colorful and magical with pollinators. Did you know they are not on the Bambi menu? I find it amazing that garden centers don’t have shelves of yarrow. Firefly Peach Sky may be new to you, but start sourcing it. It can reach almost 3-feet in height and with a 32-inch spread. It will bloom most of the summer and is perennial from zones 3a-8b.

Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine agastache is a must-have plant, even if you aren’t a color scheme aficionado. You will be able to tell your clients, “Oh yes, it is the Pantone Color of the Year,” when all the while you will be sourcing it for its beauty, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It is an award winner, and will reach 3-feet tall and wide. It is perennial in zones 5a-9b.

If you look at the analogous color scheme on the www. colorxs.com site you will notice that Meant to Bee Royal Raspberry agastache is a perfect partner with Queen Nectarine or whatever your peach flower choice.

There is one more flower however that will bring rose lovers to their knees: Flavorette Honey-Apricot is making its debut in 2024. It looks as antique or heirloom as any rose on the market. Its fragrance demands to be cut and

Firefly Peach Sky yarrow is a terrific match for those wanting to celebrate Pantone’s Peach Fuzz 2024 Color of the Year for 2024.

brought indoors. It is disease resistant and believe it or not, its petals are edible and delightful for the culinary artist. It can reach 8-feet tall and 4-feet wide, providing a focal point in the garden.

Plan and source your landscapes to join the celebration of Peach Fuzz, the Pantone Color of the Year.

Flavorette Honey-Apricot is a new shrub rose making its debut in 2024. The heirloom look and Peach Fuzz color make this rose a winner. But when you consider it is both fragrant and edible it becomes a must-have plant.

About the author

Norman Winter is an author and speaker on horticultural topics. Follow him on Facebook for more photos and garden inspiration: Norman Winter The Garden Guy

Superbena Peachy Keen verbena is a perfect match for Pantone’s Peach Fuzz Color of the Year and offers a floral ground cover as seen here in between ColorBlaze El Brighto coleus and Lemon Coral sedum.

Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine is a rare and colorful agastache or anise hyssop perfect for pollinators and color of the year celebrations too!

Meant to Bee Queen Nectarine and Meant to Bee Royal Raspberry anise hyssops pair perfectly for a Peach Fuzz analogous color scheme.

UGA Trial Gardens

2023 performance ratings for annuals

The Gardens at Athens were started in 1982, when the then young and foolish Allan Armitage and Michael Dirr, along with a number of confused students, plowed some ground and built a wobbly lathe area. PanAmerican Seed company was the first believer, and with a bunch of PanAm seed and a few dollars, the gardens were born.

Today, the gardens receive plants or seeds from almost all the plant breeding companies in the world, along with material from perennial plant nurseries, individual growers and gardeners, as well as material from Dr. Ruter’s breeding program.

The primary functions of the garden have always been research, teaching, and new crop introduction and that continues today. The garden is open to the public and professionals alike and detailed information on the plants we trial is available to all who are interested by visiting Garden Trials at ugatrial.hort.uga.edu/index.cfm/ fuseaction/plants.main/index.htm

Every two weeks, every annual cultivar is evaluated for “horticultural” performance.

The performance ratings are based on:

> number of flowers

> leaf color

> uniformity of habit and flower

> resistance to insects and diseases

> overall appearance

This allows us to follow the performance of each cultivar through “good times and bad.” The data are combined into a single performance rating, based on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being exceptional, 1 being almost dead. The ratings are then used to generate a graph of performance over time, and are updated at every evaluation date. This allows a real-time viewing of performance and more importantly, an in-depth understanding of how a plant performed from spring to fall.

The seven plants pictured here received the highest rating (5.0) for 2023.

Angelonia: AloniaTM ‘Big Cherry’ from Danziger

Caladium: Classic ‘White Majesty’ from Classic Caladiums

Calibrachoa: MiniFamous® ‘Uno Rose+Eye’ from Selecta

Catharanthus: Soiree Kawaii® ‘Red Shades’ from Suntory Flowers

Echinacea: Double ScoopTM ‘Watermelon Deluxe’ from Darwin Perennials

Scaevola: BlessingTM ‘Lavender’ from Danziger

Scaevola: Whirlwind® ‘Blue’ from Proven Winners

SPRING GROVE ®

Evergreen USDA 5-8

25-30’ tall + 12-15’ wide

Native Species | Evergreen | Fast Growing FIND

Spring Grove® is a fast-growing selection of Western arborvitae that shows excellent resistance to deer browsing. The tight pyramidal habit makes it an especially nice choice for creating privacy quickly.

Available from Proven Winner s ® ColorChoice® growers www.provenwinners-shrubs.com

Thuja plicata ‘Grovepli’