FROM THE EDITOR

from SYNKD West Spring 2024

by SYNKD—Landscape design, build and maintain all on the same page

HEATHER DIRKSEN

Welcome to the 2024 Spring Green Issue, SYNKD community! Did you miss the sun as much as I did?

Before you roll out and get swept into the seasonal action, we hope you meditate on the insights packed in this publication. On second thought, why not carry it with you?

Like those folding road maps people once kept in their glove boxes, you never know when a resource like this could point you in the right direction.

Long-time readers may be surprised to see my face appear in place of SYNKD founder Angelique Robb. I can assure you that Angelique’s influence still flows throughout this magazine. While she focuses more on leading our team, planning SYNKD Live 2025, hosting our SYNKD On Air podcast and managing the growth of our company, my role has expanded. I am honored to add the word editor to my title as a full-time journalist with SYNKD

Some of you may recognize me from SYNKD Live 2024. I was the brunette in the green vest, walking around with the camera guy and introducing herself as the writer from Montana. That week, I saw a magnolia tree for the first time, but that was far from the most memorable part of the trip.

Behind the conspicuous blue van displaying the phrase “100% Electric Landscaping,” I spoke with innovators leading the way to a battery-powered future. From the main stage, I caught a glimpse of the state of the

Making Connections

& Exploring Solutions

Pam Dooley on the Business Buzz Stage

industry through the lens of a minority business owner. Among countless landscape stewardship topics, I absorbed knowledge about water, design and leadership—themes reflected in this very magazine.

The most valuable part of the event for everyone in attendance seemed to be the connections formed there. We are pleased to witness the ripples on social media and look forward to watching them morph into waves. At SYNKD, we are constantly reassessing what it means to synchronize the sectors of the landscaping industry. As an editor, I see our quarterly magazines as a vehicle to keep the momentum rising year-round.

If you are new to SYNKD, we expect these pages will demonstrate how deeply we care about the green industry. Amplifying traditionally overlooked yet knowledgeable voices is at the core of who we are as a company. Do you have something to say? Our website, www.synkd.io, includes submission forms for our Q&A, Mini Interviews, featured project suggestions and more. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Yours in all things landscaping,

Dr. Damon Abdi LSU Ag Center Constraints & Opportunities

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Next Issue: SYNKD Summer 2024 Outdoor Living Contact Angelique Robb at angelique@synkd.io for more information on how you and your company can be featured in upcoming issues.