November 18, 2021 / St. Michael’s Woodside (Broadview Heights, OH

EVENT INFORMATION

DATE & LOCATION NOVEMBER 18, 2021

ST. MICHAEL’S WOODSIDE 5025 EAST MILL ROAD BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, OH

AGENDA REGISTRATION / NETWORKING FOOD / CASH BAR

6:00 PM TO 7:00 PM

OLA ANNUAL MEETING

7:00 PM TO 7:30 PM

PROGRAM

7:30 PM TO 9:00 PM

COST TO ATTEND

MEMBERS: NO CHARGE NON MEMBERS: $30

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

SPONSORED BY

EMERALD SPONSORS

KURTZ BROS, INC.

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

OLA ANNUAL MEETING

Growth Strategies to Accelerate Revenue

To create a high growth company business owners need the mindset, tools, and resources iconic CEOs use every day to take their corporations to the next level. Achieving high growth is a choice. Once the decision is made a new set of skills, focus and discipline are required to deliver and sustain high growth.

In addition to our Annual Business Meeting, Heidi Szeltner, Outreach Manager for Cuyahoga Community College and their Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Partnership will discuss how small business owners can identify their most pressing barriers to growth within their businesses. She will be joined by Rhoni Thompson, CEO of R.L. Cole Enterprise and a Green Industry Business Owner (TBD).

You’ll come away with practical hands-on action steps, new tools and resources, and a plan to put into motion that will effect change immediately in your organization.

Heidi and her guests will discuss: • The mindset that might be holding your company back. • Why different perspectives are necessary. • How to ensure that you are keeping your best employees. • How to ask your accountant the right questions. • Why negotiation is key.

Join us for our Annual Meeting on November 18, 2021!

GUEST SPEAKER

HEIDI SZELTNER / OUTREACH MANAGER FOR CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE - GOLDMAN SACHS 10,000 SMALL BUSINESSES PARTNERSHIP Heidi Szeltner is the Outreach Manager for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). She recruits small business owners that strive to grow their business, create jobs, and provide economic opportunity in Northeast Ohio. The Goldman Sachs 10KSB curriculum focuses on practical skills that business owners can immediately put into action within their company. Over the course of the program, owners gain the skills needed to recognize new opportunities, embrace practices that increase business growth, and ultimately develop a customized growth plan for their business

Prior to joining Tri-C, Heidi worked at Cleveland State University managing the CFO’s office and the Supplier Diversity Initiative for the University. Prior to working in higher education, Heidi worked in business development in the insurance industry, as well as a marketing specialist in the non-profit sector. She is a two-time alumna of Cleveland State University, having received her Master’s degree in CSU’s Diversity Management Program, as well as her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.

PRESENTED BY

The bright chartreuse of my Aralia ‘Sun King.’

BOBBIE SCHWARTZ, FAPLD

Bobbie’s Green Thumb

IN THE SHADE: YELLOW, CHARTREUSE, AND LIME

In general, I love to use plants with yellow foliage but they are especially invaluable in the shade where they pop against what is usually a sea of green. The problem is that, quite often, yellow becomes chartreuse, or lime in the shade. Many yellow-foliaged plants need sunlight to stay yellow.

I have been thrilled with the ability of my Aralia ‘Sun King’ to remain nearly yellow. Mine is in a bed that faces north and east but benefits from those morning hours of strong light. As such (see picture above), you can see that the bright chartreuse of my Aralia ‘Sun King’ is a stunning contrast to the reddish foliage of the other occupants of this bed, namely an Ensete and Acer palmatum ‘Viridis’.

Another option is Hakonechloa macra. While there are several cultivars, when I want yellow, I tend to use ‘All Gold’ rather than ‘Aureo-marginata’. My garage beds face south. In those beds, I have repeated yellow with shrubs, perennials, and

continued from page 8

grasses. Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ has been so effective in the left bed that this year, I planted some on the right side as well (although the photo was taken last year before I added one to the right side, above).

There are two yellow Carex that I design with on a regular basis. Although Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ supposedly grows in partial shade, mine died there twice. When I tried again in full sun, it thrived. Therefore, I suggest you use Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ if you want a shorter yellow grass. I only use it in the shade but very successfully. It also tolerates some drought so can be used under trees.

Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’ doesn’t always grow this large. Mine is irrigated.

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, owner of Bobbie’s Green Thumb in Shaker Hts., Ohio, is a landscape designer, consultant, freelance writer, and lecturer whose specialties are perennial gardens and four season landscapes. In addition to being an Ohio Landscape Association (OLA) member, she is an active member of the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) and Perennial Plant Association (PPA). Bobbie is a Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Carex ‘Everillo’ will eventually fill in and act as a very effective groundcover.

MICHAEL J. DONNELLAN

M3 Wealth Management

KNOW YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

Did you know Friday, September 10th, was National 401(k) Day? The Friday after Labor Day was chosen so Americans can celebrate the achievements of the labor movements on Monday and celebrate retirement at the end of the week.

Whether your employer-sponsored retirement plan is a 401(k), 403(b), 457 Plan, SEP, Simple Plan or other, the purpose of this national holiday is to promote retirement savings education. For business owners, it’s a great opportunity to promote your company’s benefits package and work to increase employee engagement with your business retirement plan offerings.

While that date has passed – and as we approach the end of the year – now is a good time for anyone to be reviewing their retirement plan. Some things to consider… – Do you know how your plan is invested? Are your investments balanced? As markets swing, some assets can become a larger (or smaller) percentage of the overall portfolio. It is important to rebalance to keep investments in check.

– Are you in an actively-managed account, or something set up for a targeted retirement date?

– Is your retirement plan meeting your risk comfort level, or is it time to reevaluate your investments as part of your overall portfolio? Are you invested properly according to your goals?

continued from page 12

And your goals should be centered around your risk tolerance and time frame.

– Also, are beneficiaries up to date? Choosing who will receive your assets or the payout (called a “death benefit”) from your retirement plan is a decision you should consider carefully, because a beneficiary designation can’t be changed or corrected after you’re gone. It’s important to keep beneficiary designations up to date as your life changes (marriage, children, divorce, etc.).

– Are you fully funding your plan, funding it enough to get your employer match, or needing to make changes in your contributions?

These are all good questions to consider on National 401(k) Day or anytime throughout the year. For many families, their employer plan is one part of a larger investment and retirement savings plan. It’s important to evaluate your plan both as an individual item and part of your entire financial picture.

Another aspect to consider is strategizing your withdrawals from your retirement plan. Generally, withdrawals are available penalty-free starting after you reach age 59½. In a 401(k) there is an exception to allow withdrawals at age 55 penalty-free if you have separated from service, but many plan administrators allow this with a one-time only withdrawal. If you are interested in pursuing early withdrawals, you’d have to determine what annual income you would need from your 401(k), how many years you’d need it before other incomes may become available (Social Security for example), and if the tax burden on the amount for multiple years is worth the price of the withdrawal.

When you reach age 72, required minimum distributions (RMDs) come into play. RMDs are on retirement accounts where pre-tax funds are contributed and the investments are allowed to grow tax-deferred. The stipulation is that at age 72, retirees must begin taking annual income (based on life expectancy) out of these accounts. That income is taxed at the current tax rate. Note, RMDs are also required of IRAs, so if you plan to roll your 401(k) over into a traditional IRA when you leave your company, you will still need to plan for RMDs.

Set up a meeting with your financial professional to review your overall retirement savings plan and be sure to include your 401(k).

Beauty QualityFences of &

• Cedar fences (Many styles available). • Aluminum & Vinyl fences (In stock). • Several styles and colors to choose from.

Wholesale Prices to OLA Members, or Professional Installation by our Crews.

1053 Bank St. Akron,OH 44305 330-784-0456

www.acmefence.com

Scenarios illustrated are hypothetical in nature, results may vary. Investing is subject to risk which may involve loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The M3 Wealth Management Office does not provide legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Trust services are provided by third parties. Neither our firm nor our financial professionals can serve as trustee.

Michael J. Donnellan specializes in stock selection and retirement planning. Feel free to contact him with any questions or comments at the M3 Wealth Management Office at: 17601 W. 130th Street, Suite 1 in North Royalton, Ohio. Phone number (440) 652-6370 Email: donnellan@m3wealthmanagement.com

Securities and advisory services offered through: L.M. Kohn & Company Registered Broker/Dealer Member FINRA/SIPC/MSRB 10151 Carver Rd. Suite 100 – Cincinnati, Ohio 45242 (800) 478-0788

BUYANSKY BROTHERS

Dyed Black & Brown Mulch

Screened Topsoil

Double Shred Organic Bark Mulch

* Volume price discounts available

Mon – Fri 8am – 5pm Saturday 8am – 12pm 9400 Broadview Rd. Broadview Heights, OH

(216) 524-3100

The Landscape Materials You Need, From a Name You Can Trust

MATERIALS

• Black, Brown, Red Mulches • Natural Organic Bark Mulch • Screened Topsoil • Leaf Humus • Limestone and Wash Gravels • Recycled Concrete • Aggregates • Granite and Sandstone • Boulders • Seed & Straw

BUYANSKYMATERIALS.COM

THE 4 MOST COMMON WINTER SAFETY CONCERNS FOR YOUR PROPERTY MANAGERS

Winter can keep your property managers up at night, and we’re not just talking about howling winds and ice pelting the windows. When you’re in charge of a commercial property and deal directly with the property manager, the safety of everyone who visits their property is also in your hands. What are the top winter safety concerns for your property manager? And how do you help prevent them? Paul Wisniewski, Level Green Landscaping division manager, walks us through the slippery scenarios.

SNOW Obviously, this is a no-brainer. Snow drifts over parking lots block loading docks and create pedestrian slick spots. When it starts to pile up, well... you just can’t have it piling up.

“We watch the weather constantly, checking multiple websites,” Wisniewski says. “Then, we send frequent updates to our clients about the weather situation, and our plan.” You, or your managers should frequently reach out to property managers, he says, to see if they have extra needs as the snow moves in. Property managers get a chance to approve additional attention, he says, even before the snow accumulates to the amount specified in their contract. Everybody stays safe, and no one loses any sleep.

continued from page 16

ICE Another no brainer! When an ice storm hits, sidewalks and parking lots quickly glaze up in a treacherous slick. That means slips, falls, traffic accidents and property damage. The goal should be to create strategic plans that prevent ice before it forms and melt it when it starts to accumulate.

Melting, Then More Melting

Wisniewski’s crews don’t use straight rock salt. Instead, they use an engineered ice melt mixture that’s less corrosive than straight salt and friendlier to the environment. When preapplied, it prevents ice and snow from bonding to the surface area. Because it’s a time-released formula, the ice melt stays on the surface longer, helping to reduce the freeze and thaw cycle. Less ice, safer pavement.

The Beauty Of Brine

Wisniewski’s crews also pretreat surfaces with brine, which helps keep snow from sticking and ice from forming. Brine is a liquid mixture of water and salt that’s sprayed on roads, parking lots and walkways, usually before a snow or ice storm, to prevent snow and ice from sticking.

Salt doesn’t work until the snow or ice starts to melt and it mixes with that liquid and activates. But brine is already in solution form, so as soon as we put it down, it starts to work. FALLING TREE LIMBS Frail or damaged branches, once coated with heavy snow or ice, could topple, posing a safety hazard on your client’s property. Thus, it’s important to prune and thin tree branches before winter, so remaining branches are sturdy enough to hold up to winter weather.

“We let our property managers know throughout the year what trees pose a risk factor,” Wisniewski says. “That way, we can prevent these problems before they happen.”

LEAVES CLOGGING DRAINS It doesn’t take many wayward leaves, or downed branches to clog a drain. When drains are clogged by leaves and other debris, parking lots can flood, creating an inconvenience and a safety hazard. Crews should be instructed to clean up any debris that has collected, keeping drains clear year round, but especially during the fall and winter months.

“That standing water can also freeze,” Wisniewski says, “causing dangerous ice issues. If you take care of a client’s property year round, you’re in a better postion to know where water may puddle up and stand on their property. Pay attention to those areas, as they will likely freeze and need extra ice melt.”

This article courtesy of Level Green Landscaping. Level Green offers reliable commercial landscape maintenance services in the Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia areas. Check out more on their blog located at www.levelgreenlandscaping.com/blog

Custom Cut Stone Fabrication

Valley City Supply specializes in custom cut limestone and sandstone fabrication and engraving. SAVE on time and labor and let our expert stone fabricators help put the finishing touches on your projects!

◆ Wall & Pillar Caps ◆ Step Treads ◆ Hearth Stones ◆ Pool Coping ◆ Fire Pit Caps ◆ Water Feature Spillways

Call Today! 330-483-3400 • ValleyCitySupply.com

A staple of the Hendricks’ Experience is learning what tricks he has up his sleeve when it comes to new and underused plants.

JIM FUNAI, PhD

Cuyahoga Community College SHELLEY FUNAI, LIC

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

PARROTIA SUBAEQUALIS

CHINESE PARROTIA

Those of you who are familiar with Parrotia may be thinking, “Great, they changed another botanical name.” Fear not! This is actually a separate species of the much more widely known Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood). Bill was extremely excited to share this plant in this month’s installment of the Hendricks’ Experience – almost as excited as he was to show off his collection of seed-grown specimens (photo above) – which he intends to be the catalyst towards improved varieties and cultivars. Let’s start with the more familiar Persian Ironwood to help us better understand why Bill has selected the Chinese version as this month’s Plant of the Month (POM).

Parrotia persica (Persian Ironwood) is an ornamental tree ranging around 30 feet tall and wide. It is planted for its ornamental peeling bark and incredible fall color display. The Parrotias are in the Hamamelidaceae (Witch Hazel) family, a unique family comprised of plants with odd flowers and ridiculous fall color potential. Parrotia species have leaves that look very similar to Witch Hazel, featuring a rounded base, minimal incision on the margins for the bottom half, and forward pointing dentation on the upper half. As it applies to Persian Ironwood, it’s also important for us to discuss a little bit of the plant’s geography.

So, where is Persia? Persia is the ancient name for the region that is mostly modern-day Iran. The region is varied with desert, mountains, seas, and everything in between. Here, there are plenty of Parrotia on the market selected from seeds found in lower elevations where winters are typically mild, which is why they rarely succeed overly cold winters.

Entries for this year’s Landscape Ohio! Awards Program are now being accepted.

Help us celebrate your company’s great projects & the 25th Anniversary of the Landscape Ohio! Awards Program. We’re hoping to have record participation this year and NOW is the time to begin preparing your award-worthy projects for consideration The deadline for entries is Friday, December 17, 2021. As always, winning projects will be featured in Landscape Ohio! Magazine, a supplement to Ohio Magazine and Cleveland Magazine. For full details and tips on how to enter, visit 440. www.ohiolandscapers.org/awards-program.r call

continued from page 20

This brings us to one very important point. Often, we discuss with you the importance of knowing how your plant supplier selects the plants they sell you. Are they just purchasing the cheapest liners they can find and growing them, or are they studying them over time to select the best genes possible? Using our observations of Parrotia as an example, this is exactly why you want to buy from a nursery who has taken the time to select plants from higher elevations where they’ve evolved to survive colder temps and heavy snowfall.

This is one of Bill’s strong suits. For example, during the winter of 76-77, the coldest on record in Ohio, a devastating number of plants across the state died, most of which were not hardy to prolonged negative temperatures. During the same period, Bill observed a Redbud (Cercis canadensis) in the nursery that not only survived, but had full blooms the following spring. Since then, he has propagated that strain to provide the industry with a bomb-proof Redbud.

Now, let’s talk about this month’s plant – Parrotia subaequalis. As noted prior, this tree is from Eastern China. More specifically, this plant has only been found in a few locations of Yixing county, in the Jiangsu Province, which is an area of China just north of Shanghai. It is a coastally temperate climate that doesn’t see the cold we do here, yet these trees seem to express unexpected cold tolerance. In fact, after the Polar Vortex of 2013 - 2014, trees at Brotzman Nursery only exhibited tip-burn, in contrast to some severely injured P. persica specimens.

First described in 1960, P. subaequalis was initially listed as a species of Hamamelis because the specimen sample was preserved in its fruiting stage, and those fruits resembled Witch Hazel. The plant was assumed extinct after 1960, yet in 1988 researchers from the Jiangsu Institute of Botany found a population of them in Yixing. They returned every spring, thru 1992, when they found the trees blooming and realized this was no Witch Hazel (which have petals). Instead, it was a brand-new species. They named it Shaniodendron subaequalis, and after DNA analysis in 1997, at University of New Hampshire, this plant was placed in Parrotia, as a close cousin to the Persian Ironwood. Finally, it made its American debut in 2004, thus it’s relatively new to our gardens.

So, why do Bill, Jim, and Shelley think you need to plant this tree? (Like, other than it’s cool?) P. subaequalis is more compact than P. persica. Expect the plant to grow to around 25 feet tall and 15 feet wide, making it a candidate for under tall wires. Couple this with a moderate growth rate and it becomes a

LAKESIDE SAND& GRAVEL

• Screened Topsoil (Stored in a hoop house on site.) • Granite & Sandstone Boulders

From 8” to 12’+ priced per ton and per piece on request. 1’-2’ granite and 2’-3’ granite available, presorted, for immediate pick up. • Mixed Boulders (Available for immediate pick up.) • Washed Gravel, Concrete & Mason Sand. • Crushed Gravel & Limestone products available.

- ALL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP OR DELIVERY Call: (330) 274-2569 3498 Frost Road, Mantua, Oh., 44255

winner for the urbanized landscape. The bark on this Chinese cousin also tends to have a better peeling effect – think, old school camo – which makes for better winter interest.

Sticking with its family’s traits, fall color is a beautiful range of reds, pinks, and burgundies. New growth is a deep-green, often with a purple margin highlighting it. Bloom will take place in very early spring before leaves emerge, but have no petals, just stamens sticking out in a group. Flowers are similar to P. persicia, going virtually unnoticed, but perhaps a true plant nerd might enjoy them. The same goes when it comes to its fruits. We are really suggesting this plant specifically for its striking foliage and great bark.

Think about adding this tree to your selection for tighter gardens where you want some bark effect, fall color, and perhaps you don’t want to have too many bees nearby (think patio).

Jim Funai, PhD is full-time faculty at Cuyahoga Community College, a NALP accredited associate of applied science in hoticulture degree program. He has a PhD in Landscape Engineering and Forestry and is a Licensed Arborist. Shelley Funai is Grounds Manager at Stan Hywett Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio, which offers a historic estate designed by Warren H. Manning and a beautiful manor house museum. She is Landscape Industry Certified in Ornamental Plant Care.