ONLA Buckeye, Jan/Feb 2018

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 Vol. 29, Issue 1

The Official Publication of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

ONLA HOSTS 2ND ANNUAL OHIO HIGH SCHOOL LANDSCAPE OLYMPICS

INNOVATION LIES BEHIND THE CURTAIN NEW PRODUCTS | NEW METHODS | NEW THINKING

COLUMBUS

CINCINNATI

THURSDAY, FEBURARY 1, 2018

THURSDAY, FEBURARY 13, 2018

The Greater Columbus Convention Center Battelle Grand Ballroom, Battelle South 400 North High Street Columbus, OH 43215

Sharonville Convention Center 11355 Chester Road Sharonville, OH 45246

PITTSBURGH

CLEVELAND

THURSDAY, FEBURARY 22, 2018

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2018

Pittsburgh Marriott North 100 Cranberry Woods Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066

La Villa Conference and Banquet Center 11500 Brookpark Road Brooklyn, OH 44130

REGISTER NOW Online Registration: contractor.unilock.com - Unilock Contractor Advantage Email Registration: heather.memmer@unilock.com Phone Registration: 1-800-UNILOCK

January / February 2018 Vol. 29, Issue 1

The Buckeye is published six times per year by Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, OH 43081 614.899.1195 | www.onla.org

EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING ISSN 1536-7940 Subscriptions: $75/year alana@onla.org OFFICERS Josh Posey, President Buckeye Resources, Inc. Steve Maddox, Jr., Immediate Past President Bower & Branch Andy Doesburg, President-Elect Thornton Landscape DIRECTORS James Beardslee Beardslee Nursery Lenny Garrard Bobcat Enterprises Columbus Tom Hilgeman Bower & Branch Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College Ellen Gallucci Purcell Riepenhoff Landscape Ltd. STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Keith Manbeck, Sales Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Mary Ann Shrum, Education Tracie Zody, MGIX

CONTENTS

3 Executive Director's Message 5 President's Perspective 8 Ohio High School Landscape Olympics 22 Legislative Update 34 Safety Update: Employee Responsibilities FEATURE STORIES

15 18 25 27

Marty Grunder's Business Buzz Retail Roundtable: Return Policies Team Development MGIX 2018 Planning Guide

THE FINE PRINT The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as members of the ONLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 2 New Members • 7 OCNT Registration • 35 Service Providers • 37 Calendar of Events • 37 Classifieds, Advertising Index

WELCOME NEW ONLA MEMBERS The following companies have been approved for ONLA membership, pending the completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants. Please submit comments, within three weeks of receiving this issue of The Buckeye, to info@onla.org, or call 614.899.1195.

BASYS Processing, Inc. Kurt Woltering 15423 W. 100th Terrace Lenexa, Kansas 66219

Sassafras Land Design Karlyn Green P.O. Box 771386 Lakewood, Ohio 44107

Shovelful Landscape Jay Evans 608 Kenridge Dr. Middletown, Ohio 45042

7463 West Ridge Road P.O. Box 189 Fairview PA 16415 800.458.2234 Fax 800.343.6819 e-mail: info@FairviewEvergreen.com FairviewEvergreen.com

Restoring the native landscape

Evergreen Landscaping and Nursery LLC Ryan Thompson 5438 Kyles Station Rd Liberty Township, Ohio 45011

Allscape Property Services LLC Kevin Jablonski 4629 Bunnell Hill Road Lebanon, Ohio 45036

Ebright Landscapes, Inc. Jim Ebright 11390 Milnor Road Pickerington, Ohio 43147

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ernstseed.com sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321

onla.org

What We Do Together Matters Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director

2017 is in the books and I hope you are preparing for a strong 2018 because early signals are pointing to this sturdy economy to continue into the New Year.

By the time this edition of The Buckeye hits your desk ONLA’s annual conference, the Midwest Green Industry Experience 2018 (January 15–17, 2018 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center) will be in full swing. I hope you are joining us to welcome over 5,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors to one of the industry’s largest and most impactful regional trade show and education events. This is your opportunity to gain access to new and innovative products and service providers from across the Midwest.

It is also a great place to meet new customers and new suppliers who can help your business grow. Let’s get a jump on 2018!

Assuming December economic figures come in strong as predicted, we are riding a strong economic wave into 2018.

Consider a few economic and consumer trends: • The U.S. economy headed into the final stretch of 2017 powered by one of sturdiest periods of growth in its nine-year expansion.

• Consumer spending, home sales and business investment are among several recent indicators exhibiting economic strength.

• In Q3/Q4 2017 Consumer Spending, a key ingredient in economic growth, grew the quickest pace in eight years.

• In Q4 the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed above the 24000 just 30 trading days after passing 23000.

In 2017 gross domestic product grew at a 3.1% annual rate in the second quarter, 3.3% in the third, and economists estimate it grew at least 3% in the fourth quarter.

The last two economic expansions were derailed when asset prices overheated—tech stocks in the late 1990s and real estate in the mid-2000s. But investors weren’t fretting at the close of 2017 as the index of market volatility, dubbed the “fear gauge,” in December was hovering near its lowest levels on record. onla.org

The booming stock market has lifted household spirits and in turn their willingness to spend more and save less.

The national saving rate stood at 3.2% in late 2017 which was the lowest rate of savings since November 2007. This is another indicator that consumers have confidence in future economic growth. (Caution: Economists warn that low saving rates give Americans less of a financial cushion should the economy hit a rough patch down the road – but good news for now.)

New-home sales rose in October 2017 to a 10-year high and in Q4 contracts signed for existing homes showed continued strength.

Overall, as 2017 came to a close, the Conference Board reported that consumer confidence had hit a 17-year high!

While these are national economic statistics, our Ohio economy is tracking right along these trends. At a very important level, our nursery and landscape industry is driven by consumers (residential) and companies (commercial) choosing to spend their discretionary dollars on our products and services. Going into 2018 the news is very good as both consumers and companies are doing well, feeling optimistic, and spending money. If our products and services continue to meet their needs, 2018 should be a strong year for our industry here in Ohio!

Our team at ONLA is working hard to partner with you to improve your business. Your membership and participation in ONLA events will encourage others to join. I appreciate your continued support of ONLA. Help us get the word out: the industry benefits from a growing ONLA membership.

Because “what we do together matters”. I look forward to seeing you at MGIX '18. B Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director ken@onla.org January/February 2018

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onla.org

President's Perspective Josh Posey, 2017 ONLA President

As I am writing the last article as president of ONLA, I can’t help but reflect on what a rewarding experience it has been. I honestly can’t believe how fast the year has flown by. It seems like yesterday I received the honorary gavel at the annual meeting at MGIX. When I accepted the offer to become your president, I became very focused on what we, as an organization, can do to bring more value to our members and potential members. To all ONLA members and non-members reading this article, I would like all of you to know that the Board of Directors and I have made every discussion and decision based on what we all believe is in the best interest of our members and the green industry. As we welcome in 2018, ONLA is working very hard on several of what I would call “big ticket” items that will add more value to your membership and I truly believe these items will also help attract new members as well. We will continue to keep all of you informed as our team starts to put all the pieces of the puzzle together throughout the year.

As I have stated before, we have strength in numbers.

We need to continue to grow alliances at the national level with AmericanHort, and the state level with OLA, OTF and NGLCO. Supporting each other and working together makes a difference. From advocacy to attending tradeshows, alliances with like-minded organizations will only help the green industry grow stronger in the years to come. Our industry and our organizations are going to face many challenges and/or opportunities in the future, and we will be better equipped to tackle them head on with the help and resources from all of our organizations.

In early November, I had the pleasure of attending the second annual Ohio High School Olympics (OHLO) at Ohio State ATI in Wooster, Ohio. Coming off the success from last November’s event, and under the leadership of onla.org

Roni Petersen, we had over 20 schools and over 200 students competing in this year’s event. I was completely blown away at the comradery, professionalism, knowledge, and engagement all of the students demonstrated throughout the competition. This has become such a great event for our state and organization, which exposes the “next generation” to the many career opportunities that the green industry has to offer. I would like to thank all of the sponsors, volunteers, and the ONLA staff for putting on this great event. As ONLA continues to build on the success of this great event I would encourage all of you to become involved and participate in OHLO in any way you can.

As it is every year, advocacy is the most important benefit that ONLA offers for its members. This has been no different in 2017. All of us that work in this industry need to understand the importance of advocacy. Belinda Jones, for years, has done a wonderful job of keeping all of us informed with decisions being made at the Statehouse that can directly or indirectly affect all of our businesses.

That is why it is so important to be involved with advocacy and make donations to our industry PAC, so we can have a seat at the table to voice our concerns or approval before decisions are made or laws are passed that can greatly affect how we all operate our businesses. During the week of November 6, we were able to raise close to $4,000 for the PAC! Thanks to all who contributed, and for those who have not, we will continue to take contributions throughout the year. Your contributions will make sure our voices are heard when important issues come to the forefront.

MGIX 2018 is just around the corner! This year’s dates are January 15th through the 17th at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Please plan to attend first class education classes and walk the show. This Midwest Show is a fantastic opportunity to get 2018 started off in a great January/February 2018

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way. Please check out our website www.mgix18.com or contact the ONLA office for more information. I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Finally, as I mentioned before, this is my last article as president of the ONLA. This experience has been one of the most rewarding endeavors I have taken on both personally and professionally. I would like to thank Ken Fisher, Andy Doesburg, the ONLA Board, and staff for all of their support. I would also like to thank all of our members for your support throughout this last year. We all have accomplished so much in a short amount of time. We have much more to do, but I have no doubt that the future of this organization is in great hands. Even as my presidency comes to an end, I will still continue to support ONLA in any way that I can. I would like all of you to keep in mind that change is good, change is a necessity, what things look like today are not what they looked like five years ago, and five years from now things will not look the same as they do today.

Again, thanks to all of you for giving me the privilege of being your ONLA President.

Josh Posey can be contacted at josh@buckeyeresources.com

Growing High Quality Plants, People, and Relationships

SERVING GARDEN CENTERS AND LANDSCAPERS SINCE 1978

Annuals Combo Planters Grasses Hardy Ferns

Delivery Services Custom Growing POP Materials

Herbs Peonies Perennials

Proven Winners® Succulents Vines

Now growing Proven Winners® shrubs

p. 800-948-1234 f. 877-964-6446 sales@millcreekplants.com www.millcreekplants.com 15088 Smart Cole Road, Ostrander, OH 43061

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onla.org

GET CERTIFIED IN 2018!

Become an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician WHY? • Improve your skills and increase your worth as an employee •

Gain recognition from the public, colleagues and competitors

•

Provide professional development for your employees

UPCOMING TEST DATES January 15, 16, & 17, 2018 at MGIX February 15, March 15, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19, August 16, September 20, October 18, November 15 at 9am in Westerville, OH. SPECIALIZATIONS: Landscape The public, architects and contractors have come to rely on landscape contractors and installers for dependable landscape construction techniques and horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice and proper installation, the landscape installer must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of areas including plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and more.

Grower The grower is the base of the green industry. In order to have healthy plants to sell, the nursery employee must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including plant identification, development and health; growing and harvesting techniques; plant nutrients; pest and disease elimination; plant maintenance and more.

Garden Center The retail garden center is the information center on which homeowners have come to rely for dependable horticultural expertise. In order to provide sound scientific horticultural advice to customers, garden center employees must be knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including proper plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, landscape design, proper planting and maintenance of nursery stock and more.

Core Core is important to all aspects of the Green Industry. Plant ID, Professionalism, Safety & First Aid are examples of the Core chapters of which all nursery and landscape professionals should have knowledge.

A program of:

TRAINING MANUAL ORDER FORM NAME: COMPANY: ADDRESS:

CITY:

STATE:

PHONE #:

E-MAIL:

Check enclosed Check #:

Card Number: Exp. Date: Card Holder: Signature:

3-digit:

VISA

MasterCard

ZIP:

MEMBER RATES (Call for non-member pricing) * Landscape + Core ______ x $125.00 = $_______ Garden Center ______ x $75.00 = $_______ Grower ______ x $75.00 = $_______ All Manuals ______ x $250.00 = $_______ Replacement CD Rom ______ x $25.00 = $_______ Total = $_______ * Written Manual and Computer Based Training CD Rom for each

Return to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association • 72 Dorchester Square • Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Ph: 614.899.1195 • 800.825.5062 • F: 614.899.9489

onla.org

January/February 2018

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OHIO HIGH SCHOOL LANDSCAPE OLYMPICS

CHAMPION TEAM: OHIO HI-POINT CAREER CENTER

Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association welcomed 250 high school students from across Ohio for the second annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics on November 2 and 3 at OSU ATI in Wooster, Ohio.

The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) tests students' skills through hands-on, competitive events designed by industry professionals. OHLO broadens the high school education experience and introduces students to the many opportunities offered by a career in the green industry.

Students from 20 schools competed in ten events in the afternoon on Thursday, November 2 and throughout the day on Friday, November 3. OHLO 2017 began with a pizza party on Thursday afternoon to welcome the students. A career exploration event with more than 25 companies gave students the opportunity to meet with green industry leaders and learn more about careers available to them in the industry. The event ended with an awards ceremony on Friday afternoon.

Participating Schools Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus Auburn Career Center Buckeye Career Center Cleveland Botanical Gardens Delaware Area Career Center Gates Mills Environmental Center GlenOak High School Jackson High School Knox County Career Center Mahoning County Career Center Marysville High School Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Patrick Henry High School Penta Career Center Portage Lakes Career Center Talawanda-Butler Tech Tolles Career & Technical Center Trumbull Career and Technical Center Upper Valley Career Center Wayne County Schools Career Center

2ND PLACE TEAM: KNOX COUNTY CAREER CENTER

3RD PLACE TEAM: JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

4TH PLACE TEAM: AUBURN CAREER CENTER

5TH PLACE TEAM: TALAWANDA-BUTLER TECH

TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS

PLANT INSTALLATION

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

Ohio High School

SPONSORS By The Ohio High School Landscape Olympics wouldPresented not be possible without the generous support of green industry businesses and associations who donated Ohio High School their time, talents and resources.

2017

By SILVERPresented SPONSORS

2017

COMPETITION AND BRONZE SPONSORS

A.M. Leonard, Inc. • Buckeye Resources, Inc. • First Impressions Lawn & Landscape Co. Five Seasons Landscape Management, Inc. • M.J. Design Associates, Inc. Sponsors - 22 x 28 Corrugate Plastic H-Frame.indd 1

10/12/2017 3:51:15 PM

A.M. Leonard, Inc. • Buckeye Resources, Inc. • First Impressions Lawn & Landscape Co. Five Seasons Landscape Management, Inc. • M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT A.M. Leonard Inc. • Buckeye Resources, Inc. • First Impressions Lawn and Landscape Co. Five Seasons Landscape Management, Inc. • M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

Sponsors - 22 x 28 Corrugate Plastic H-Frame.indd 1

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10/12/2017 3:51:15 PM

onla.org

SALES PRESENTATION

COST ESTIMATING

COMPACT EXCAVATOR

SKID STEER

PLANT IDENTIFICATION

HARDSCAPE INSTALLATION

IRRIGATION ASSEMBLY & TROUBLESHOOTING

TRUCK & TRAILER OPERATION

Observations of an Old Fart Green Industry Professional

By Tom Green

November 2 and 3 found me and many others volunteering at the second annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics.

As the chairperson of the NEW Future Professionals Committee, it was an honor and privilege to serve beside so many others concerned about attracting and retaining quality young people to the green industry. The Future Professionals Committee was formed this year by combining the Student Activities and Scholarship Committee with the Next Gen Committee. Our mission statement is “to grow ONLA’s engagement and retention of students and professionals through effective outreach, programs and community partnerships.”

I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with the people at ATI, including Kent Hammond, fellow old fart and the brainchild of the testing site for then ALCA, now NALP professionals seeking certification, and the present competition site for OHLO. As I interacted with the organizers, participants and fellow supporters, I made the following positive observations.

Engagement. Some 225 students from 20 Ohio schools.

For the most part, they were highly engaged and excited to take risks to hone their skills.

Relevance. The skills being demonstrated competitively are relevant to what are needed by landscape companies seeking entry level and beginning management employees.

Many of the skill sets can later be used at NALP Student Career Days and for professional certification. I believe that by participating in activities like OHLO, students can gain momentum needed to build the confidence and attitudes necessary for career success and the personal fulfillment necessary to go the long distance in Green Industry careers.

Support. The outpouring of time, knowledge, and resources was apparent as well as very impressive and encouraging. Thanks go to all those who supported the Golf Outing in September and the direct partners of OHLO. When I think of all it took, financially and otherwise, to pull off this activity I am truly amazed. onla.org

Organization. Hats off to Roni Petersen and the ONLA staff for organizing and orchestrating the event. I was impressed with how well things flowed and the detailed planning involved to keep students actively engaged. WOW. Cooperation. One of my expressions is “us and them become we”. I witnessed a tremendous sharing of responsibility and networking by all involved. No doubt that the instructors played a huge role in guiding their students in this regard. The highlight of the two day event, for me, was near the end. Seemingly unplanned, students, staff and volunteers carried, mostly by hand , a semitruckload of plants used for the installation event some 200 feet and loaded them. It was encouraging to see the spirit of cooperation, the attitude of working toward a common goal and the enthusiasm of accomplishment when finished.

Tenacity. Even though it rained, the show must go on. I am not sure I would have been as accepting of the working conditions some teams encountered in the Landscape Installation Competition. The finely tilled soil absorbed lots of water from the all-night rain the night prior to the event, especially in the lower areas. As I was watching the students struggle in the ankle-deep mud, I could imagine throwing down the shovel and giving up if I were in their shoes.

Kudos to the students who worked through the adversity.

Those of us who have been in industry for a while know how important that attitude is to our daily progress and success.

My congratulations to the participants, supporters, instructors and all who made OHLO 2017 a success. The entire green industry will win because of this activity. I came away with a renewed hope for the industry because of the attitudes displayed, the cooperation, tenacity and engagement of the students, along with the support of industry partners.

Tom Green, Tom Green Nursery Sales LLC Chair, ONLA Future Professionals Committee tgreenhort@aol.com

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TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Course: Columbus, OH February 6 & 7, 2018 NCMA SRW Installer Education Program-Level 1: Columbus, OH February 8, 2018 Register at oberfields.com

What Outdoor ® Living Should Be PAVERS / RETAINING WALLS / ACCESSORIES

MGIX SNEAK PEEK!

Attain Train Retain and Entertain a Modern-Day Green Industry Workforce

By Marty Grunder

Now that the holidays are behind us and we’ve turned the calendar page on another year, it’s a great time to take a step back and really think about what you want to accomplish in 2018. One area that we’re all struggling with in the green industry is labor. Where do you find good people?

How do you get them to choose to work for you over another competitor? How do you keep them once you have them?

I know this a real challenge both from running my own landscaping company and from traveling all over the country talking to and coaching other landscape pros who want to grow their businesses. But my experience has also given me a front-row seat to what works and what doesn’t, and I’ll be sharing those insights in my talk, Attain, Train, Retain, and Entertain a Modern-Day Green Industry Workforce, at MGIX in January. Here’s a sneak peek to get you thinking about what you can do in 2018 to win the workers you want: onla.org

ATTAIN. Start by casting your net wide. Take advantage of the reach of digital outlets by posting position openings on industry job boards, through social media, and on your website, but don’t overlook real-world approaches too. Take the time to go to job fairs. Affix signs to your trucks that announce you’re hiring; it’s basically free advertising all over town. At Grunder Landscaping, we took advantage of our location near a highway to erect a billboard touting the good wages we pay—I can’t believe how many candidates we’ve found that way. Survey your best employees to learn what led them to apply at your company. Think about where they live, what their hobbies are, what radio stations they listen to. What qualities do they have that have enabled them to succeed at your company?

Knowing these characteristics will help you know where to look for like-minded applicants and what to look for when you screen them. Who is your ideal team member?

TRAIN. Training should start on your new hire’s first day, January/February 2018

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with a well thought-out and consistently executed onboarding strategy—the impression you make on day one trains your employee in your company culture. Have everything they need ready to go before they get there, from uniforms to lockers to desks and cell phones. Have a 30-, 60-, and 90day plan in place for them, with clearly communicated goals and metrics and regularly scheduled check-ins. Pair them up with a seasoned team member who’ll help them learn the ropes and become a part of the team. Onboarding is just the first step in training a valuable employee but it can be the most important one.

RETAIN. The single biggest secret to retaining good people is also the most simple: Make your company a great place to work. Yes, paying a competitive wage matters, as do paid leave, health insurance, and 401K plans. But your culture is crucial. Have a vision for where you want your company to go and communicate it to your team so they understand their role in it. People tend to want to be a part of something larger themselves and for their work to mean something; show them, consistently and concretely, how they are instrumental to your team. Take care to map out a career path for your employees so they can see a future at your company.

ENTERTAIN. “I want to work at a boring company,” said no one ever. You should be serious about running a successful business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun while doing it. Hold monthly barbecues for your crews, celebrate birthdays, holidays, and special occasions, surprise your team with lunch at the job site. Plan a fun off-site outing for your staff and their spouses. Know when to tell a joke and when to take one—especially if you’re the owner. You set the tone for your whole team.

I’ll take a much deeper dive into all this and more at MGIX in January. Hope to see you there!

And, if you’re looking for a break from the Ohio winter, come join me and some of the most successful landscape pros in the business at our GROW! 2018 Annual Conference in Tampa this February. It’s three days of sun, fun, and insight you can’t get anywhere else. Learn more at martygrunder. com. B - Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co. marty.grunder@grunderlandscaping.com

Hear more from Marty Grunder at Midwest Green Industry Experience Check www.mgix18.com for a full education schedule.

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onla.org

GREEN INDUSTRY ADVOCACY

Protecting Our Business A COLLECTIVE VOICE

A STRONGER IMPACT

Representing Ohio’s Green Industry

Join the Political Action Committee

It is up to us to ensure our industry— and your company—is not negatively impacted, even unintentionally, by the many bills introduced in the Ohio General Assembly each session.

Ohio’s green industry can’t take a passive approach to advocacy. A political action committee strengthens our collective story with proactive leadership.

ONLA’s advocacy team takes an active role in monitoring legislative activity, providing input on current issues, introducing legislation, and maintaining strong relationships with legislators.

Issues That Matter • Invasive Plants & Pests • Pollinators • Home Improvement Contractors legislation • Tax Issues, CAUV, Snow Removal

DON’T LEAVE IT UP TO CHANCE Your Involvement Matters Every voice should be heard. Small business owners are especially impacted by regulatory burdens, but even if you are just entering the workforce, legislation passed today could negatively impact your future in this industry.

The PAC financially supports political candidates who have shown a commitment to understanding our industry and the challenges our businesses face. These candidates can beneficially influence legislative issues related to Ohio’s green industry. They may have a voting record and positions on issues impacting the green industry, or have relevant committee assignments or leadership roles.

Disbursement of PAC funds is recommended by green industry lobbyist, Belinda Jones of Capitol Consulting Group, in concert with the ONLA Board of Directors, and ONLA Legislative Committee. PAC funds are disbursed to state elected officials who are supportive of our industry regardless of party affiliation.

•

Voting in your local, state and federal elections is just one way of exercising your political rights.

Your PAC Leaders • Josh Posey, ONLA Board President • Andy Doesburg, ONLA Board President Elect • Tom Demaline, Legislative Committee Chair • ONLA Board of Directors • ONLA Legislative Committee

•

Build relationships with your elected officials. They want to hear from you!

YOUR SUPPORT IS ESSENTIAL

It is your responsibility to tell your story, and you have the opportunity to be part of the decision-making process.

•

Check onla.org/advocacy for updates on current issues

•

Become a member of the PAC to advance and amplify our message

Contribute to the PAC. Consider it an important investment to protect your business, amplify your industry’s voice, and ensure our continued successes.

AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF THE GREEN INDUSTRY Become a Member of Ohio’s Only Green Industry Political Action Committee onla.org/advocacy onla.org January/February 2018 17

Retail Roundtable The ONLA Retail Committee weighs in on a new topic each Buckeye. This month's topic? Return Policies. Have something you'd like to see the committee tackle in a future issue? Email alana@onla.org.

Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc.

We have a pretty liberal return policy and guarantee/warranty. It’s really meant more as a deterrent than an actual policy, although there are times when the policy is strictly adhered to.

We have a basic return policy of 30 days on items that are not live goods nor seasonal. Seasonal items have a ten-day return period. Trees and shrubs are warranted for a year after purchase with some minor exceptions, such as azaleas and rhododendrons which are six months after purchase.

We state that our annuals are not warranted but rarely do we send a customer away without a new plant. We educate on why the plant died and then graciously give a new one.

Again, the intent of the policy is really to deter the numer18 The Buckeye

ous people who simply don’t water their plants from bringing them back in and expecting a replacement. We always remember the few who bring in dead plants, and their version of why it died, but in the end the replacements category is less than a percent of our sales. Why create ill will? Now if they are a continual abuser our policy goes into full effect.

Jeremy Newell, White Oak Gardens

Green goods returns happen very rarely. If they are in good shape we will take a green good back. If it’s obviously been neglected, we will work with the customer to find a solution (partial credit, etc.). These decisions usually fall to the discretion of the greenhouse or nursery department personnel/manager.

On hard goods, we accept returns without much question. It is refunded in the form it was paid (if credit card was used, goes back on card, etc.) with a receipt. If no receipt is present, a store credit will be given on a paper credit slip. The customer must keep this, we don’t keep a copy. onla.org

Return Policies Seasonal Christmas items have an expiration return date, after which they cannot be returned. A message with this date is printed on transaction receipts starting at the beginning of the holiday season.

Jodi Dawson, Oakland Nursery

Our return policy is pretty standard. If the product is in good condition within 14 days with a receipt they will be issued in the same form as payment. Check payments will be refunded within 14 days from original purchase date. Gift cards are non-refundable. We also reserve the right to issue a refund in the form of a check, gift card, or store credit. All seasonal items are not returnable after the applicable holiday. Clearance items are also not refundable.

Our policy has changed throughout the years due to gift cards and experience of how the public returns items and what they will take advantage of. We have home stores that carry textiles and pillows which require strict policies. onla.org

Our return policy is different from our warranty. It has to be! We would be out of business if we refunded payment.

Oakland Nurseries has a warranty because we have good products and we stand behind them! We educate our customer to succeed and we realize sometimes it just does not happen.

Our plant warranty includes: • Outdoor trees and shrubs- 1 year • Perennials, houseplants, bare-root stock, grasses-30 days • Roses- 6 months or until December 1st • Pond plants, annuals, bulbs, seeds and sod- no warranty • Evergreens sold between November 25 and December 30- no warranty Dead plants are eligible for a one-time plant credit for the purchase price of the plant. Sale plants are warranted for the sale price only. The customer may use that credit on plants or merchandise in the garden center. Any plant purchased with that credit is not guaranteed.

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Our employees follow our policy faithfully. Although in any establishment, rules need to be adjusted at times.

That is the decision of the manager. Certain situations arise, and we play fair. When you know a customer wants to overcome a problem and has come to seek help, or the weather has not cooperated, we may extend the warranty if needed.

We are here to share our love of plants by educating and listening to the customer. When the plant leaves our care, it is up to the new caregiver to help it survive with the least amount of stress possible.

Noelle Akin, Petitti Garden Centers

As return policies go, we tweak ours every couple of years, but for the most part, the actual policy has stayed more or less the same. Our return policy encompasses all products we sell, including live plants, seasonal merchandise, patio and gift, and states our warranty dates.

Our entire return policy is stated in the usual, accessible places, on the back of our register receipt tape, cashier station counters, (working on Customer Service billboards), and website. It is the topic of one of the first ten modules in our new employee training program as well.

The first part of the return policy that is crucial for us, is that the actual receipt and returned product must be in hand for the return to take place. Plant tags, empty growers pots, a picture of the item, etc. are not accepted. If the customer is a Petitti Rewards Member, which we encourage, we are able to track purchase history and receipts much easier.

For our plant return policy, we used to exchange a plant for a plant, but tracking inventory was difficult, along with warranty info. Now we issue a merchandise credit for the perished plant. Trees and shrubs have a one-year warranty. Perennials, roses, and houseplants/tropicals have 30 days, and annuals have two weeks. The plant warranty periods are firm, but our associates can adjust the plant warranty period on a case by case basis if needed.

Our merchandise return policy is more stringent. All merchandise returns must be in saleable condition with no damages. Seasonal merchandise cannot be returned after the holiday date, and clearance items are final sale.

Recently, we added a 15% restocking fee for large ticket items such as patio furniture, grills, and life-like Christ20 The Buckeye

mas trees to discourage that “buyer’s remorse” type customer.

We’ve also applied an exclusion for plant material stating that we are not responsible for plants that are damaged by physical or animal injury, lack of care, or extreme natural conditions. But recently, I was made aware that this statement needs to apply for all products we sell because a customer wanted to return a patio set that blew around their yard in a freak wind storm we had this fall!

Ron Wilson, Natorp’s Nursery Outlet

Our return policy is pretty simple: Make sure the customer feels better when they leave than when they first got here. Keeping that in mind, we do what it takes to make them comfortable, successful, happy gardeners, and glad they came in with their "return". Yes, we have written policies and plant guarantees, and use them as guidelines or just in case someone really wanted to take us to the cleaners. But how often does that happen? We gladly exchange the plant or product for a new one. If it’s a return and the customer doesn’t want something else, we gladly give a store credit, or credit their charge card, or if purchased with cash, gladly get them their money back if that’s what they really want; all with a smile on our face, apologizing for their inconvenience (or loss), and asking what else we can do to make their gardening successful. Even if we know darned well a returned dead plant didn’t come from us, if they are willing to come see us for the replacement, hey, we can show them what our garden store is all about, and win them over as a new customer.

Sure, we sometimes have to take a deep breath, focus on being kind and understanding, listening intently and sharing sympathy, maybe even a slight tear, as we address the dead plant or returned item with our customer; probably even bite our lip on occasion. (Retail is theater, you know. And we could all tell replacement horror stories until the cows come home.) But research and our own statistics show the importance of handling customer returns / replacements with smiling faces, sincere understanding, and doing everything we can to make that experience the best ever for the customer and for us. Our stats even show that when a customer brings back a dead plant for replacement, they actually spend more than our average customer sale. That almost makes us want to sell them one plant that we know will die, just to get them come back. Okay, just kidding. onla.org

And guess what? Customers shopping at that time will also share in the great job we do handling replacements and returns, and feel even better about shopping our garden store. Who knows? They may even share that in conversation with friends or better yet, on social media! So don’t dread returns and replacements; bite the bullet and make them pain-free for your customers and you. Just like karma, a boomerang, yo-yo, homing pigeons and sometimes memories, it’ll come back to ya. (Note: If you think you’re giving away the store, keep track of replacement costs for the year and you’ll probably see how small that total is compared to the total store sales. Sounds like the next training session for the employees, huh?) B

THERE'S MORE! Join the ONLA Retail Committee at the Retail Roundtable education session at Midwest Green Industry Experience.

Tuesday, January 16, at 9:15 am.

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11/29/17 2:02 PM

January/February 2018

21

Seasons of Change Legislative Update

SENATE AG COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Ironically, in my last submission to the Buckeye, I used a football analogy. I use the word "ironic" because since the last article, we have several changes to our "line up" in the legislature, two of them with a strong football background.

In an unexpected turn of events, long-standing Ohio Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Cliff Hite (R; Findlay) resigned from his seat. Hite, a former ONLA Legislator of the Year, was commonly referred to as "The Coach". Having had a successful career as a quarterback at UK and then later, as an educator, Hite coached Findlay High School football for a number of years, including the high school years of Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger. Sen. Hite was famous for using football analogies to get the "ag team" on the same page. As Chairman of Senate Ag Committee, "The Coach" navigated many complex pieces of legislation including water quantity, water quality and dangerous wild animal legislation. Hite resigned unexpectedly amidst alleged inappropriate behavior with a female state employee.

Having been without a "coach" or Chairman of the Senate Ag Committee for a few weeks, recently Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R; Medina) appointed State Senator Bob Hackett (R; London) as the new chairman. Senator Hackett's name should be familiar to you because he was named 2016 ONLA Legislator of the Year and he also spoke at this year's Green Industry Advocacy Day. About Sen. 22  The Buckeye

Hackett, Senate President Obhof said, "Senator Hackett's leadership and experience on agricultural issues make him an excellent fit for this new role. I have full confidence that he will provide solid guidance and direction as we continue to grow Ohio's largest industry and support Ohio’s farming families."

Senator Hackett also played football at Columbia where he earned All-Ivy Honors.

Meanwhile, Rep. Robert McColley (R; Napoleon) was recently appointed to fill the seat vacated by Senator Hite in the first Senate District. Taking McColley's role as Assistant Majority Whip in the Ohio House leadership will be Rep. Bill Reineke (R; Tiffin).

And the season of change continues with the resignation of former Rep. Wes Goodman (R; Cardington) based upon allegations of inappropriate behavior. Speaker Rosenberger has formed a selection committee to fill the McColley and Goodman vacancies.

2018 WILL BE A BIG YEAR OF CHANGE With all statewide offices up for grabs, next year will be a big election, setting up 2019 to be a tidal wave of change... or will it?

All current statewide office holders are Republican and if onla.org

fundraising is the main indicator, there could be little party change; however, since Gov. Kasich is term-limited, the top of the ticket will change. Earlier in the season, four candidates had announced their intentions to run in the Republican primary: Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, Congressman Jim Renacci, Secretary of State Jon Husted, and Attorney General Mike DeWine. While Ohioans were gearing up for a "family blood bath" of spending and sparring, recently, AG DeWine and Secretary of State Husted announced that they are joining forces (DeWine as the Gubernatorial Candidate and Husted as the Lt Gov candidate). Although it isn't over until after the final vote, and no one should count out Renacci's personal cash flow, nor Taylor's savvy.

At this juncture, it is likely that the DeWine/Husted will be the ticket to beat.

consider the bill but passage in the more tempered upper chamber is not a foregone conclusion.

ODA INVASIVE PLANT RULES Recently, the Ohio Department of Agriculture held an administrative hearing on the long-pending invasive plant rules. Three witnesses testified in support of the rules and the ONLA filed a letter of support as well. The rules will now be added to the agenda of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review before becoming final. Need more info? Call me at 614.679.5062.B

Belinda Jones Capitol Consulting Group bjones@capitol-consulting.net 614.224.3855

Meanwhile, the Democrats got a shot in the arm recently as Richard Cordray stepped down from his federal job as the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and announced his candidacy as a Democratic candidate for Governor. Cordray joins four other announced Democratic gubernatorial primary candidates: former State Rep. Connie Pillich, State Senator Joe Schiavoni, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and former Congressman Betty Sutton. Although the latter four have a running head start on Cordray, Cordray has the strong advantage of statewide name recognition having served previously as State Treasurer and Ohio Attorney General.

HB 380 In my last column, I referenced our defense of a bill, HB 380, that would deny worker's compensation benefits to illegal migrant workers. Sponsored by former Senator, now State Rep. Bill Seitz (R; Cincinnati) and former Ohio House Speaker, now State Rep. Larry Householder, the bill sailed through committee and ultimately passed the full Ohio House but not without some changes that made the bill more palatable for employers.

One of our main concerns was fear of frivolous lawsuits filed by injured employees who were being denied workers compensation benefits. Along with the Ohio Farm Bureau and the National Federation of Independent Businesses, we communicated our concerns to Rep. Seitz. In response, the House added language that basically holds employers harmless unless they knowingly hired a worker who was illegal. Further, the amendment creates a rebuttable presumption that the employer did not knowingly hire an illegal worker so long as they followed proper hiring protocols (reviewing the I-9, etc.).

Senate President Obhof has indicated that the Senate will onla.org

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24 The Buckeye

onla.org

Team Development

By Kent Fullmer

How will you manage your greatest asset in the upcoming season? What will you do to hone your edge so you can cut into your market? Let’s chat about how you begin the process of building a passionate team. I think passion is an attribute that needs more attention. Let’s talk about a process to begin that development. I think it needs to begin with clarity. I want to consider four areas that are important to embolden and advance passion in your organization: Define your vision, invest in your people, train them, and give them a sense of ownership.

Where there is no vision, the people perish! Begin by clarifying what it is that your organization focuses on. Are you in the business of maintenance and service? Do you focus on growing quality plants in your nursery? Is your focus on a design-build landscape experience? Once you have a good understanding of the focus of your organization, spend some time writing it out. Clearly articulate your vision and allow it to sink in. Be sure your vision involves people (you’re not doing business with plants!) and the godly principles of treating others with honesty, peace, and dignity. Next, assemble your team and talk about the vision together. This doesn’t come easily for everyone and it can be a sizable investment of time, but the returns will be substantial. Getting everyone involved allows your team to begin developing ownership of the vision. Post a copy of your final mission statement where everyone can see it — let it be a reminder of who you are and what you hope to onla.org

accomplish as you serve your clients and take on the tasks of each day.

Now you’ve defined a vision, it’s time to focus on your people. Consider all the groups of people you’re interacting with on a daily basis: your clients, employees, vendors, and coworkers. Treating people with dignity and respect is part of what will create fertile ground for growing a culture of passion in your business. It is also important to spend time finding the right kind of people when it’s time to grow your business and hire new employees. During interviews, go deeper than the typical questions and seek to understand the character of each applicant. What are they passionate about? What makes them happy? How do they exercise creativity? Share your newly polished vision with prospective employees. Do their personal goals align with this vision? If it becomes clear that this person will contribute to the vision of your organization and will become a valuable team member, hire them. And then train them.

Training the people who work for you and alongside you is imperative to creating a culture of passion in your company. As you train, seek to uncover the individual skills of each person on your team and allow them to strengthen that skill to achieve expert-status. Creating opportunities like this for your people to feel important and valued will strengthen loyalty and grow their passion for the work you’re doing together. More broadly, engage in training January/February 2018

25

programs for your entire staff. Cross-train between departments to develop well-rounded employees. Strengthening characteristics beneficial to the personal growth of your staff will communicate your interest in their whole person and give your team members a sense of importance. You can also convey this message of value by allowing thoughts, ideas, achievements, or struggles to be contributed openly and honestly. We do this by opening each training session with prayer and by reading a scripture and sharing a few thoughts.

It’s a good time for others to speak up about what they’re learning about or growing in. When people feel valued and important in these ways, they’ll become more passionate about the work they are doing. Your culture of passion is growing!

The final key in developing the kind of company where passion can grow and thrive is to give your team a sense of ownership. Allow them to be involved in the decision-making process of your business, and give them access to pertinent information about the success and challenges of your operation. Do this by sharing and explaining financial data like profit and loss statements. Explain how to read the data and illustrate how day to day tasks have an effect on the big picture of business. Help them understand this information in light of your company vision, and share examples of the ways they can personally impact financial statements. Sharing this information will empower your employees to take ownership of their tasks and generate ideas that can help the business grow. They will catch the vision in the most personal way by realizing the value of the part they are playing in your organization!

Investing in a culture of passion and the growth of your people is the most important business investment you can make. Your company will flourish when your people are also flourishing. B Kent Fullmer, Fullmer's Landscaping Inc. Chair, ONLA Landscape Contractors Committee kent.fullmer@fullmers.com

26 The Buckeye

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MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE 90+ EDUCATION SESSIONS Delve into research or hit up trending topics with 90+ sessions led by industry leaders. The inspiration is yours for the taking.

Educators from The Ohio State University present sessions focused on industry research. Expert arboriculture educators lead demonstrations in Climbers’ Corner.

New this year, several sessions will focus on the unique challenges of running a family business.

Sessions include discussions on generational differences, wealth transfer, and a panel with the Ricart Automotive Group family.

250+ EXHIBITORS Get inspired, build relationships and make smarter buying decisions. Meet hundreds of exhibitors eager to share their new products and services. The show floor is open throughout the day and during breaks in education sessions, so you’ll have time to see every exhibitor on your list.

Check out the latest innovations in the New Product Showcase at the front of the hall.

MGIX JANUARY 15–17, 2018 COLUMBUS, OHIO

REGISTER AT: WWW.MGIX18.COM

Attend a variety of presentations at the new Feature Stage.

5,000 ATTENDEES Mingle with fellow ONLA members and meet colleagues from the Midwest and beyond!

Events like an Opening Night Party, Industry Awards, and the ONLA Annual Meeting make it easy for you to find ways to connect.

EXHIBITS

FEATURE STAGE

Discover new products. Build relationships. Make smart buying decisions.

Check out product demonstrations, educational presentations, hands-on training, and Q&As with education speakers on the new Feature Stage.

Attendance is free with any MGIX badge.

• 200+ Exhibitors • New Product Showcase • NEW! Product demos and education presentations on the Feature Stage Vendors Include: • Green and Hard Goods • Equipment Dealers • Technology • Software • Business Services Opening Night Party Monday, January 15, 4–6 pm Cash bar and live music by Hat Trick. One free drink with any MGIX badge! Sponsored by CareWorksComp

Sessions Include: Tires & Tracks Presented by Ohio CAT The Discussion Continues…

Q&A with Marty Grunder What to Do When OSHA Shows Up Presented by American Safety & Health Consultants Best Practices for Equipment Maintenance Presented by Ohio CAT The Discussion Continues…

Q&A with Kirk Ryan Brown Plant Growth Regulators - Proper Techniques & Benefits Presented by Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements

Tuesday, January 16, 6–9:30 pm Stop by this exclusive gathering at the Secret Cellar, just across the street from the Convention Center.

The first 50 guests will receive a free cocktail, compliments of MGIX sponsor TAH Benefits! Free admission with any MGIX badge. Limited capacity; please RSVP during registration.

The Discussion Continues…

Q&A with Bill Hendricks Matching the Right Attachment to the Right Machine Presented by Ohio CAT And more! Check mgix18.com/features for details.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

R E S O U R C E S

I N C .

FAMILY PROGRAMS Invite your spouse and children of all ages to MGIX! If you own a family business, you, your spouse and your adult children will benefit from education sessions focused on issues unique to businesses like yours. Or, while you’re busy attending sessions or staffing your exhibit booth, your family and children of all ages can participate in fun activities at MGIX and around Columbus.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14

MONDAY, JANUARY 15

Family Business Sessions • Bringing Millennials into Leadership Roles • R-E-S-P-E-C-T: How Do You Gain it as a New Family Business Leader?

• Panel Discussion with the Ricart Automotive Group family

Family Business Sessions Included in MGIX education pass fee.

Explore Columbus!

Your family can explore several of Columbus’ nearby attractions. Ice skate at the Ohio Health Ice Haus (practice home of the Columbus Blue Jackets), visit Franklin Park Conservatory, or visit the Columbus Museum of Art, which offers free admission on Sundays. For more ideas, visit MGIX18.com/fam

•

MGIX Sunday Dinner 5:15–6:45 pm Whether you’ve just completed a day of preconference workshops, or have put the finishing touches on your exhibit, gather with family and friends for a traditional Sunday dinner. A buffet of homestyle comfort food, a cash bar, and entertainment by "TBDBITL" - OSU Band Alumni make it an evening all ages can enjoy! $45 adults (included Family Business Sessions), $31 children ages 12 and under Sponsored by TAH Benefits

• •

Bringing the Next Generation into the Family Business: Are You Ready? Are They?

Conquering Communication Challenges in a Family Business Wealth Transfer in Family Businesses

Family Activities at MGIX Free with any MGIX badge and for children 12 and under. Kids enjoy a visit from the Bug Man and his insect friends, and decorate a flower pot to take home.

A Visit from the Columbus Zoo The award-winning Columbus Zoo showcases several animals on the MGIX Feature Stage.

Picnic Lunch 12:15 pm Gather with friends and colleagues and send off your family with a casual meal. $32 adults, $26 children ages 12 and under

For a full itinerary, dinner and lunch menus, and details about family programs, visit www.mgix18.com/fam

MGIX

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS

MONDAY GENERAL SESSIONS

TUESDAY GENERAL SESSIONS

Attain, Train, Retain and Entertain a Modern Day Green Industry Workforce Marty Grunder

Sustainable Garden Practices Kirk Ryan Brown

From Quote to Cleanup: Total Customer Management Greg Ambrose More than Just Dinner: Edibles as Ornamentals Barb Arnold & Patrick O'Connell Hospitality Industry Meets the Nursery and Landscaping Industry: Making the Connection Preethi Fernando How Do I Get to be a "Snow-Only" Company?

Michael Anderson

Nine Proven Profit Strategies for Contractors Jeffrey Scott The Teeter-Totter of Profits: Estimating vs. Sales Jeffrey Ling Ohio's Prison Based Turf/Landscape Training Programs Dwight Ansteatt 13 Diseases of Attitude Preethi Fernando Increasing Profits with Sales Management Software Shaun Kanary

How to Employ Legal Temporary Labor: Navigating H-2A and H-2B Arnulfo Hinojosa

Restorative Gardens John DeVore

Designing Vegetated Areas That Protect Water Quality Kurt Keljo

Profitably Integrate Bioproducts into Your Growing Operation Brain McSpadden-Gardener

Snow Service Contracts and Independent Contractor's Agreements Michael Anderson

Efficient Irrigation Design & Installation Jeff Muhlbach

On The Floor: A Merchandising "GPS" for increased Sales Anne Obarski

Roundtable: Community Involvement Alex Pearl Fun and Educational Workshops for Your Garden Center Louise Reiling

Seasonal Color Displays Shawn Fitzgerald

New and Great Old Plants Bill Hendricks

Insuring Your Business: Knowing What is Covered Marc McTeague

Advanced Plant Design Tom Fryman

Lighting Design - Specifying and Positioning Fixtures Brooke Perin

Disaster Preparation Marc McTeague

Short Plants for Filling a Niche Stephanie Cohen

BWC CareWorksComp Cordell Walton

CLIMBERS' CORNER TARGETED TRAINING FOR ARBORISTS This live education stage features expert educators on a wide array of arboriculture topics, benefiting tree care professionals, landscape crews, managers and landscape designers. Courses, led by arboriculture trainers Phillip Kelley and Anthony Tresselt, include: Anchoring Your System – Three Part Program Evolution of Climbing – Three Part Program Lightening Protection Systems ANSI Z133 News and Updates Tree and Gear Inspections Aerial Felling and Chainsaw Use

Visit mgix18.com/edu for a full schedule, CEUs and session summaries.

WEDNESDAY GENERAL SESSIONS How to Become a Better Landscaper Faster (And Why) Scott Beuerlein

Making Plants Work for You Bill Hendricks

Olmsted by Design Kirk Ryan Brown

If Patton Ran Your Business Tom Shay

Ensuring Family Business Success—Implement Best Practices While Avoiding the Potholes Jeffrey Scott

Strategies to Win in a Changing Economy Tom Shay

Rainwater Harvesting and Use for Irrigation Jeff Muhlbach If the Shoe Fits- How To Brand Your Customer's Journey With You Anne Obarski Log Cabin or Taj Mahal? Are You Really Listening?

Bobbie Schwartz Legislative Update Belinda Jones

My Favorite Trees and Shrubs That Work for the Landscape- Season by Season Steve Foltz Working Around the public John Virdo The Latest and Greatest: The Lure of New Plant Varieties Jim Nau Recycling - EPA Update Chet Chaney

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION SESSIONS MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Herbaceous Pests Pamela Bennett

Diagnostic Challenges: A Series of Unfortunate Events Joseph Boggs

Perennial Grassy Weeds ID and Control David Gardner

Aphids and Leaf Miners- ID and Management Curtis Young

How to Identify Grasses and Weeds David Gardner

Proper Plant Maintenance - Planting, Staking, and Mulching Erik Draper, Amy Stone

Top Ten Disease You Should KnowIncluding Oak Wilt James Chatfield

The Alphabet Soup of Species Update: ALB, VLB, GM, HWA, SLF and More Amy Stone

Nutrient Management in the Landscape Timothy Malinich, Jaqueline Kowalski

A Cut Above: Pruning Erik Draper

Latest and Greatest Annuals Pamela Bennett

Practical Scouting in the Nursery Timothy Malinich, Thomas DeHass

Conifer Crash Curtis Young

Room for Large Plants in the Landscape: Destroying the Dwarf Plant Myth Paul Snyder

Why Plants Do the Things They Do James Chatfield, Lee Beers

IPM: Integrated Pest Management to Intelligent Pest Management Joseph Boggs, Thomas DeHass

Planning Your Pest Management Strategies Joseph Boggs Latest and Greatest Perennials Pamela Bennett

Invasive Plants, Options for Control Kathy Smith How to Kill a Tree: A How-to Guide to Assisted Herbicide Joseph Boggs, Eric Draper

Practical Pesticide Safety Mary Ann Rose The Modern Vegetable Garden Timothy Malinich, Lois Rose Why Do Good Plants Go Bad: Diagnosing Plant Problems James Chatfield, Carri Jagger Wildlife Conflict in the Landscape Marne Titchenell

MGIX

NETWORKING OPPORTUNTIES

DON’T MISS THESE ONLA MEMBER EXPERIENCES!

AWARDS CELEBRATION & DESSERT RECEPTION Sunday, January 14, 7 pm Celebrate your colleagues and get to know the next generation of green industry professionals. ONLA Awards Night features the winners of the 45th Annual Landscape Awards Program, ONLA's Professional Awards and 2018 Scholarships. Free admission with complimentary desserts and coffee.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

110TH ANNIVERSARY BREAKFAST MINGLE

Monday, January 15, 2 pm ONLA shares important updates and elects its 2018 Board of Directors. Guest speaker Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort, provides a state of the industry report.

Free admission for ONLA Members.

Tuesday, January 16, 6:45 am Join ONLA members in the lobby of the Hilton Hotel, enjoy coffee and donuts, and celebrate your association’s rich history. Free for ONLA Members only. RSVP when registering for MGIX—this event will sell out!

INDUSTRY FORUMS

Connect with like-minded professionals from across the Midwest at roundtable sessions hosted by the ONLA Landscape Contractors and Green Industry Growers Committees.

Suggested topics will guide discussions. $30 per person, advance registration required Landscape Industry Forum & Breakfast Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 8–9 am Grower Industry Forum & Breakfast Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 8–9am Enjoy a buffet of traditional eggs benedict, pork sausage links, warm cinnamon buns, seasonal fruits, coffee and orange juice.

LANDSCAPE

PLANTS FOR OHIO

Stock up on this reference guide for popular evergreens, ferns, grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees. Includes key terminology, planting information and more!

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Education and training for employees • Leave-behind item for clients Landscape Design/Build Sales Tool 1–100 101–499 500+

$6.00 Each $4.75 Each $3.75 Each

CONTACT INFORMATION Company: Contact Name: Mailing Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: Email: PAYMENT # of copies _______ x Price per copy __________ = $ ____________County Sales Tax 7.5% = $ ____________ Total = $ ____________ ___ Check (Payable to ONLA) ___ Visa

___ MasterCard

Card Number: Exp Date:

3 Digit Code:

Cardholder Name/Signature: Return with payment to: Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, OH 43081 Ph: 614.899.1195 Fax: 614.899.9489 info@onla.org

SAFETY UPDATE Gary Hanson, American Safety & Health

In order for a safety program to be successful, the management team and each employee must work together. Management clearly has the major responsibility.

It is management that hires the employees, trains the employees, provides the tools and equipment, develops the schedules, establishes the importance of safety, and provides enforcement and reinforcement.

However, management can’t do it all by themselves.

Employees must take an active effort to support the company’s safety program and protect themselves.

Unfortunately, employees don’t always make their safety

a top priority and many times they put themselves at risk in order to get the job done. Therefore, clear Employee Safety Responsibilities should be developed and clearly communicated to all employees.

American Safety and Health has developed ten key safety responsibilities of employees. These should be posted where every employee can see them and reviewed with all new employees at the time of hire.

If you need any help with your safety program or employee safety training, please give me a call at 1-330-495-3437.

10 KEY EMPLOYEE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Always get a good night’s sleep and come to work rested and ready to go to work. Fatigue robs the body of vitality and slows down your mental ability.

2. Don’t do drugs or overdue alcohol consumption.

3. Report all accidents and injuries, no matter how minor.

4. Maintain a good safety attitude. Employees who don’t believe that safety is important to them are a risk to themselves and other employees.

5. Think before you act. Safety has to be proactive not reactive.

6. Follow all company safety policies and rules.

7. Pay attention at all times. Be alert at all times. Don’t be in auto-pilot, keep your mind at the job at hand.

8. Don’t hurry or take short cuts. Hurry is action out of control and without thought. Short cuts are accidents waiting to happen.

9. Always inspect your tools and equipment to make sure they are safe and in good condition. Defective tools need to be reported and taken out of service.

10. Practice good housekeeping at all times. Slips, trips, and falls are one of the major causes of injury. Cleanliness can go a long way to preventing these. Good housekeeping also reflects an attitude toward safety.

34 The Buckeye

onla.org

ONLA MEMBER SERVICE PROVIDERS ONLA members are entitled to the following benefits and services, designed to reduce company expenses while addressing the specific needs of green industry businesses.

ONLA strives to bring the most relevant and useful benefits and services to its members. For more information about ONLA member savings, visit www.onla.org or call 614.899.1195.

IT - Streamliner Solutions Group Streamliner Solutions Group, LLC is proud to offer ONLA members discounts on all of our services. These include VoIP, Backup and Data Recovery, Networking, Web Design and more. We're dedicated to putting you on track for tomorrow.

Lora Gray, lora.gray@ssghris.com

Credit Collection - Cash Flow Management (CFM) CFM’s collection system is geared to your individual operation, serving your specific business needs. With CFM, a trained collection specialist is assigned to bring in your pastdue accounts before they fade away as bad debts. Bill Bosch, bbosch@cfmcollect.com

Online Training - Greenius Greenius is a suite of online training tools for landscape contractors. With over 30 videos for workers, in English and Spanish, and 8 videos for Crew Leaders/Managers, Greenius is for company owners who want to work smarter, not harder. Videos, exams, field checklists and tailgates can be viewed on all devices. Arden Urbano, arden@gogreenius.com

Credit & Debit Card Processing - Merchant Services Merchant Services will provide the ONLA membership with merchant accounts and credit and debit card processing.

Other services include online reporting, check guarantee service and working capitol funding. Scott Norris, scott. norris@merchantsvcs.com Energy Program - Growers Energy Solutions (GES) Manage your energy costs by joining ONLA members as one buying group. GES provides the opportunity to manage your energy needs and save on your natural gas & electric costs.

Our programs can offer pricing to members located in all Ohio gas and electric utilities that allow third party supply.

Joe Perlaky, perlaky@bex.net Fuel/Fleet Program - SuperFleet Save $.05 cents per gallon on all fuel purchases at Speedway, Marathon and Rich Oil locations with no minimum purchase required. This card can be used for shops and services or can be restricted to fuel use only. Also receive discounts on oil changes and car washes. John Kennedy, jmkennedy@ speedway.com Health/Life/Income Insurance - TAH Benefits ONLA partners with various insurance plans to offer a wide variety of benefit options for members including medical, vision, dental, life, and disability. Representatives will help tailor-make a program specifically to fit your needs, including advanced plan designs, management techniques, and improved benefits administration that can result in substantial cost savings and reduction of employee benefits liability exposure. Jay Hazelbaker, onla@tahins.com onla.org

Property/Casualty Insurance - Best Hoovler McTeague Save on your property and casualty insurance with BHM’s group program designed for ONLA members to save at least 15% with the best coverage rates for your liability, fleet and equipment. Marc McTeague, mmcteague@bhmins.com Safety Services - American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc. American Safety & Health Management Consultants, Inc (ASH) fills the growing need for professional safety and health management services for companies of all sizes. ASH has the capabilities to provide Total Safety Management, from working on a single problem area to evaluating, developing and administering an entire comprehensive safety and health problem. Gary Hanson, ashmci@aol.com Soil & Plant Tissue Testing & Consultation - CLC LABS ONLA members receive various laboratory services at a 10% discount off list prices including testing of soil nutrients, soil texture, soilless media nutrients, plant tissue nutrients and irrigation water suitability testing, plus consulting services on all aspects of testing. Chuck Darrah, clclabs@aol.com Workers’ Compensation - CareWorksComp The ONLA Workers’ Compensation Group Rating Program has saved its members over $21.4 million in the last 11 years.

Through CareWorksComp, members are offered multiple savings levels, ranging from the BWC maximum to a lesser percentage, for companies with claims. Free, no obligation analysis of potential workers’ comp premium savings.

Cordell Walton, cordell.walton@careworkscomp.com January/February 2018

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PLANT PLANT HEALTH HEALTH CARE CARE

NEW FOR 2017!

NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER

Receive the latest information on plant health care problems and suppression techniques. ONLA’s Receive the latest information on planttimely healthinformation care problems and suppressionand techniques.

Plant Health Care Newsletter provides on the identification treatmentONLA’s options forNewsletter the pests, diseases, and abiotic disorders seenidentification in landscapes and nurseries.

Plant available Health Care provides timely information on the and treatment options available for the pests, diseases, and abiotic disorders seen in landscapes and nurseries.

Contributors CONTRIBUTORS Jason Douglas Douglas is is aaBoard BoardCertified CertifiedMaster MasterArborist Arboristwith with1515years yearsofofexperience experienceininthe the fields tree Jason fields ofof tree care, nursery growing, and landscaping.

He is currently the PHC Manager for McCullough’s Landscape care, nursery growing, and landscaping. He is currently the PHC Manager for McCullough’s Landand Nursery. scape and Nursery.

Jim Dunkerley Dunkerley is is a a Certified Certified Arborist Jim Arborist with with 37 37 years years experience experience in in the thetree treeand andturf turfcare careindustries industriesand is the Manager for Tree KingKing Inc. Inc. and is PHC the PHC Manager for Tree RECEIVE 16 March ISSUES15MID-MARCH THROUGH OCTOBER Register by to receive the first issue!

Receive 16 Issues Mid-March through October

$32 ONLA Members, Members, $40 $40Non-Members Non-Members $2 $2for foreach eachadditional additionalsubscription subscriptionwithin within the same the same company company Newsletters are delivered via email as a .PDF that can be downloaded and printed. If you cannot Newsletters are delivered email as a call .PDFthe that can be downloaded and printed. If you cannot receive the newsletter via via email, please ONLA office at 614.899.1195 receive the newsletter via email, please call the ONLA office at 614.899.1195

2018 SUBSCRIPTION FORM FORM 2017 SUBSCRIPTION ORDER Send completed form with payment to: The Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association, 72 Dorchester Square, Westerville, Ohio 43081 Fax: 614-899-9489 or Email: info@onla.org CONTACT INFORMATION Name _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address ________________________________________________ City, State and Zip __________________________________________________ Phone ___________________________ _______

SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS ☐ $32 ONLA Member

E-Mail (required) ______________________________________________________________________

PAYMENT METHOD ☐ $40 Non-Member

__ Quantity of $2 Additional Subscriptions Additional Email Addresses (Attach additional lists) _________________________

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

Check enclosed - Check #: ________

☐ VISA

☐ MasterCard

Card Number: _______________________________________________ Exp. Date: _________________ 3-Digit Code:_______ Card Holder: ________________________________________________

Total Amount Due $__________

36 The Buckeye

Signature: __________________________________________________

onla.org

OPEN POSITIONS Sales Account Manager/Production Leader Quality Yard and Home Maintenance Pataskala, Ohio

ADVERTISER INDEX Bull Country Compost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 bullcountrycompost.com

Container Manager Herman Losely and Son Nursery Perry, Ohio

Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Landscape Design Sales Support Rice's Landscape Redefined Canton, Ohio

Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

buckeyeresources.com

ernstseed.com

Ads listed here were current as of press time. For more information, please contact the ONLA office at 614.899.1195 or visit onla.org/careers

Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

HIRING?

Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . 2

Post your open positions on onla.org. Listings are posted for 60 days online, and included in The Buckeye, ONLA's email newsletter, and social media posts. ONLA reserves the right to refuse ads. $50 ONLA members, $100 non-members

evergreenseedsupply.com

fairviewevergreen.com Kennco Mfg, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 kenncomfg.com

UPCOMING EVENTS View www.onla.org for more information. O designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

ONLA Awards Celebration & Dessert Reception January 14, 7 pm, at MGIX Featuring the Landscape Awards Program, 2018 Scholarships, and Professional Awards. Visit mgix18.com for details.

Annual Business Meeting January 15, 2 pm at MGIX Learn about important updates at ONLA, including elections to the Board of Directors.

Midwest Green Industry Experience O January 15, 16, and 17, 2018, Columbus, OH Visit www.mgix18.com for details 110th Anniversary Breakfast Mingle January 16, 6:45 am at MGIX Enjoy coffee and donuts and celebrate ONLA's rich history.

Visit mgix18.com for details.

onla.org

Millcreek Gardens LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 millcreekplants.com Oberfields. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 oberfields.com Pine Hollow Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 pinehollowfarmltd.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . 21 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com

Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195

January/February 2018 

37

Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association 72 Dorchester Square Westerville, OH 43081-3350 Address Service Requested

YOUR MIDWEST GREEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE JANUARY 15–17, 2018 COLUMBUS, OHIO Start off the new year right.

Get inspired, discover new products, build relationships, and make smart business decisions at ONLA's Midwest Green Industry Experience.

Check out this year’s exhibitors, networking events, and 90+ education sessions at: www.mgix18.com • #mgix18 • 800.825.5062

MGIX