MENTORMOMENT
Blessed with fun STEVE SNIDER operates Snider Turf
very proud of my staff and providing them with a work and home life balance. Balance of life is important to me and our family.
and Landscaping Care in Waterloo, Ont. Snider launched the company in 2007, but his horticulture roots extend deeper to his father’s landscape equipment business, as well as time spent working What is the toughest part with the late Paul Grobe (Snider’s fatherof running your business? in-law) at Grobe Nursery in Breslau, Ont. The hardest part is staffing; finding the Snider TLC was the proud recipient of right people to fit the company and STEVE SNIDER the top maintenance award — Don blend well with our existing staff. New Salivan Grounds Management Award — staff may not have the experience, at the 2020 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence. but we can train them on that. But if they don’t have the right attitude, it doesn’t seem to work. Even if they have How would you describe your leadership style? 10 years experience, if they don’t have the right attitude, I want our staff to understand what the expectations are, it’s not going to work for us. without micromanaging so they have some free reign on how to complete certain tasks. Most properties just go What do you enjoy most about operating easier if you have a plan and complete them it an orgaa landscape business? nized efficient manner, and I like for the guys to try to I love what we do; I am very passionate about it and I get find what works for themselves. I love when they come a lot of pleasure from it. I love the excitement we bring back and say they’ve found new solutions. That makes to our clients. We like to exceed expectations. I really me so proud and them feel a part of some ownership in enjoy our company culture of working together as a big what we do. family. Our fantastic staff are always trying to improve and help each other get even better. Did you have mentors along the way? After every job, I enjoy looking back and thinking, Absolutely. One of my mentors was Paul Grobe. The big ‘wow, that looks great. That’s what drives me. I also love things I learned from Paul were to have fun and that the relationships and friendships that I have had the quality counts. We want to provide a good, quality cusopportunity to develop over the years within Landscape tomer service experience, but want to have fun doing it. Ontario. I am truly grateful. LT I was so blessed to have such a great mentor, like Paul, I want to pay it forward. I try to just be who I am, and to inspire others to be their best and to have fun doing it. I’m Do you have a mentor to recommend, or a question to suggest? very proud that we are carrying on Paul Grobe’s legacy Please write to editor@landscapetrades.com. as well as creating one of our own. I’m also grateful and
30 | FEBRUARY 2020 | LANDSCAPE TRADES
