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We want to help you make the most of your time in Louisville. An event like LANDSCAPES can be daunting, so we’ve compiled this guide specifically for our student members. You’ll find recommendations for seminars, networking events and some helpful tips for navigating the conference.
Don’t miss out! The LANDSCAPES schedule can be overwhelming! With 4 days of educational sessions, networking events, seminars and fun, even veteran attendees have trouble deciding what to attend. So, how do you choose? Below, we’ve selected our top 4 essential events of LANDSCAPES.
Young Professionals Reception October 16th, 7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. at Omni Louisville Hotel Rooftop Pool Deck Get advice and insight from people who have been in your shoes recently. The Young Professionals Reception is designed for landscape professionals 40 and younger.
Student/Employer Roundtable October 18th, 9:00 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. at Omni Louisville Hotel-Olmstead 1-4 Companies looking to hire the next generation of landscape industry professionals can meet top students at NALP’s annual student/employer roundtable recruiting event. Employers will be seated at tables and students will visit companies they’re interested in working with.
Equipment Expo and Trade Show October 16th, 3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. October 17th, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. October 18th, 8:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Outdoor Demo Area Hours October 17th, 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. October 18th, 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Make sure you’ve got your work boots on! At the 20+ acre outdoor demonstration area, you’ll have a chance to play in the dirt while checking out new equipment. Many exhibitors host competitions and games to encourage use of their newest products. Make sure to take time to walk the GIE+Expo floor and get a look at new technology and solutions.
Recommended Educational Sessions October 16th THE TOP 5 MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR GROWTH IN 2020 10:30 A.M. - 11:45 A.M. Christopher Yates, Success Landscape Marketing Learn how to increase leads, boost sales, and grow your bottom line in 2020 and beyond, both online and offline.
October 17th DON’T PLANT A $300 TREE IN A $30 HOLE 9:45 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Marcus Duck, Michigan State University A major issue in the landscape industry is plant stress and death due to poor planting practices. Learn how to ensure healthy plant establishment by using proper planting techniques for trees, shrubs and perennials.
TURNING A CUSTOMER FOR A SEASON INTO A CLIENT FOR LIFE: A STEP BY STEP SYSTEM FOR REPEAT BUSINESS 1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. Marty Grunder, The Grow Group Discover how to generate repeat business, deliver exceptional customer service and maximize the power of referrals.
Recommended Educational Sessions October 17th KEYS TO GETTING AHEAD IN THE LAWN AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSION 2:30 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. Join NALP’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winners as they share their secrets and lessons learned in succeeding in the landscape industry at a young age.
October 18th THE SUCCESS LIE: A PROVEN SYSTEM TO CREATE THE MINDSET SHIFT TO OVERCOME OVERWHELM 8:00 A.M. – 9:15 A.M. Janelle Bruland MSNW, LLC Learn how a simple shift in mindset can maximize productivity and improve results. Discover how to keep your organization laser focused on goals and create the conditions for continuous improvement, both for your team and for yourself as a leader. You’ll come away from this unique presentation with specific, relevant examples that you can implement immediately.
CAREER PATH PLANNING: HOW THE UNEXPECTED CAN WORK FOR THE BEST 10:45 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Sponsored by: NALP Young Professionals Networking Group Are you a student or recent graduate? Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to earn from other young professionals in the landscape industry. Hear how your most successful peers achieved success and ask your most pressing questions from how to chart a career path to dealing with managers and owners. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to put the big picture into perspective!
Expand your Network Newcomer Reception Tuesday, October 15th 5:30 P.M. - 6:30 PM
NALP Kickoff and Opening Reception
If you’re attending LANDSCAPES for the first time, this is your change to meet other new attendees and learn the ropes from conference veterans. Our team will be on hand to answer any questions.
Join us as we celebrate and kick off the conference!
Tuesday, October 15th 6:45 P.M. - 8:15 P.M.
Free Concerts on 4th Street Live Tuesday, October 15th Wednesday, October 16th Thursday, October 17th 8:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M.
Breakfast with Champions Wednesday, October 16th Thursday, October 17th 7:00 A.M. - 8:30 A.M
Keynote Speaker Lt. Col. Rob “Waldo” Waldman Wednesday, October 16th 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
We know it’s not a formal networking event but the free concerts on 4th Street Live can be a great way to meet a wide variety of people in the industry…plus it’s free!
Our annual Breakfast with Champions gives you a one-of-akind opportunity to talk shop with leading industry experts. Grab your hot breakfast from the epic buffet and head to the table with the topic that interests you most - from employee retention and financial planning, to management and operations, there’s something for everyone. It’s an unrivalled opportunity to learn from industry leaders and build your network.
Never Fly Solo: The Power of Partnership to Reach New Heights in Business and Life. In today’s highly competitive world, those who build trust and work as a team will dodge the missiles of business and win. This keynote is about focusing on what really matters in business: building high-performance, trusting teams and serving your customers and colleagues. It’s about winning with integrity through disciplined training, dedicated teamwork and courageous leadership.
Winning at Networking While the free food is often great, networking is truly about meeting people, sharing your story, and gaining valuable contacts and information that can impact your career now and in the future. To ensure your time is well spent, do a little prep work before you head to each networking event.
BEFORE THE EVENT
HAVE A GOAL
DRESS APPROPRIATELY
BRING BUSINESS CARDS
Why are you attending this event? Are you hoping to meet fellow students you can connect with? Or possibly an employer for a job or internship?
While a suit or dress is not required, you do want to make a good first impression. Business casual is a good rule of thumb for most landscapes networking events. Try to avoid wearing dirty work boots or something too casual, like a t-shirt.
Yes, students can have business cards too! Make sure to include your name, school, and current contact information.
DURING THE EVENT
FIRST IMPRESSION Introduce yourself by making strong eye contact, smiling, stating your first and last name, and giving a firm but brief handshake. At most landscapes networking events, attendees will be wearing their conference nametag – this will help with the name game!
Winning at Networking DURING THE EVENT CONT
LISTEN UP! While you are anxious to share your story, don’t forget to listen to what others have to say! To help drive the conversation, try some of the questions below: How do you like working for your company? What’s your current position? Can you tell me about your career path to get to that position? How did you get involved in our industry?
DON’T HESITATE TO TAKE NOTES When you’re attending a busy networking event, it can be hard to keep track of everything you’ve talked about! After you’ve met a few folks, try finding a quiet corner to jot down details of each conversion you’ve had. Use the back of their business card to keep it all straight.
AFTER THE EVENT
FOLLOW UP A few days after the event, send a follow-up email to anyone you’d like to continue networking with. Make sure to send personalized emails, and if possible, mention details of something you spoke about.
GOOD LUCK, AND HAVE FUN!
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT LANDSCAPES 2019!
landscapesconvention.org 800.395.2522