President’s Message

What Direction are you Going?

As we start a new year, many in the lawn and landscape industry are reviewing the past year and working to identify their strengths and potential areas for improvement. Every successful business must make decisions to focus on actions that ensure profitability and longevity. Just because you’ve been doing things for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean you should keep doing them.

A couple of years ago our company decided to exit the commercial landscape maintenance sector and focus on the high-end residential market in the oceanfront area, an area that we have been very successful in. That decision allowed us to increase our market share and profitability. The decision was not easy as several of our commercial accounts had been good clients for decades. Most were understanding and wished us good luck.

The VTC and VTC-EI must also evaluate their mission and efforts to provide maximum benefits to our members. Certain industry events over the past several years have resulted in drastic changes that many of us did not see coming and forced us to take a critical look at the organization and re-define our goals, a process that continues today.

One goal we attained was forming the Virginia Turfgrass Council Environmental Institute. The goal was to provide a bridge between the green industry and environmental groups that didn’t see the value of the many varied services we provide.

Other goals of the VTC-EI were to work with government officials and regulators to better understand our needs and challenges to comply with laws and regulations.

Working closely with universities and schools to highlight ongoing research and educational opportunities that allow the green industry to continue to improve was another stated goal.

I’m proud to say that we have met those goals, and our success is recognized by many.

Now, what are our goals moving forward? How do we work with other industry groups that share our concerns and benefit from our actions? What is the VTC and VTC-EI good at? What are we doing that other industry groups aren’t doing? Why should other industry groups want to work with us? What can we do to help other industry groups? What direction should we go?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Email me at wemows@aol.com and share your ideas. Together we can continue to improve.

Wes Bray

VTC President