The Buckeye, Nov/Dec 2019

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 Vol. 30, Issue 6

The Official Publication of Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

INSIDE: The Winners of the Fourth Annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics

UNLIMITED OPTIONS CONTACT YOUR LOCAL UNILOCK TERRITORY MANAGER TODAY FOR A HANDS-ON DEMONSTRATION. 1-800-UNILOCK | UNILOCK.COM/UCARA US Pat. 9,453,341

November/December 2019 Vol. 30, Issue 6

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 Tim Clark, President H. J. Benken Florist & Greenhouses, Inc Andy Doesburg, Immediate Past President Ward + Thornton Landscape Emily Showalter, President-Elect Willoway Nurseries, Inc. DIRECTORS Brandon Druffel Dan Druffel, Inc. Tom Hilgeman White Oak Gardens Molly John M.J. Design Associates, Inc. Ryan Kolb Ryan Kolb Co. LLC Mindy Moore Cardinal Landscape, Tree Service & Lawn Care Wendy Moore Davis Tree Farm & Nursery, Inc. Steve O’Neal Columbus State Community College

CONTENTS 3

Executive Director's Message

5

President's Perspective

7

Legislative Update

18

Ohio High School Landscape Olympics

15

Member Summit: Management Retreat

26

Credits and Coffee

FEATURE STORIES 9

One Sure-Fire Secret to Improving Your Profits

by Marty Grunder

11

Champions are Made in the Offseason, Wolf Creek Company

12

Retail Roundtable: 2019 Challenges

STAFF Ken Fisher, Executive Director Karen Lykins, Accounting Roni Petersen, Membership & Certification Alana Settle, Marketing & Communications Mary Ann Shrum, Education Tracie Zody, Member Summit

16

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’, by Stephanie Cohen

25

Service Provider News: Wealth Coach Financial Offers

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.

23 New Members

onla.org

Retirement Plan Solutions ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

29

Classifieds

29

Calendar of Events, Advertising Index

November/December 2019

1

2020 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Membership Renewal Fees are due by December 31, 2019 Renewal letters will be mailed to company contacts in mid-November.

Questions? Contact Roni Petersen at roni@onla.org or 614.899.1195 For more information about ONLA Membership, visit www.onla.org

Twice the profits SPRINTER®

5’

Buxus microphylla ‘Bulthouse’ pp#25,896; cbr#5282

Twice as fast to finish - twice the profit potential!

Sprinter® Japanese boxwood’s glossy evergreen foliage is attractive year-round with an upright habit that is ideally suited for low hedging and landscaping.

Hardier than English boxwood and without the characteristic odor, too. Superior hardiness and boxwood blight resistant.

Sprinter® Buxus is just one of 300+ Proven Winners® shrub varieties available at Spring Meadow Nursery.

Quick to produce, they are available in 2¼", 4" liners and Quick Turn™ sized pots.

Contact Brad Preston 616-223-3376 www.springmeadownursery.com 800-633-8859 ext.1106 ONLA Nov-Dec_SMN Sprinter.indd 1

2 The Buckeye

9/23/19 1:05 PM

onla.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE Ken Fisher, ONLA Executive Director, ken@onla.org What we do together matters when it comes to growing and protecting the future of our industry in Ohio and beyond.

Most nursery and landscape owners across the state have had a pretty good 2019 season. The weather cooperated – for the most part, consumers and companies are still spending on our products and services, and most of you are figuring out how to navigate a season with the existing labor constraints. And now the industry planning for 2020 is underway.

"To attract talent into our industry, retain our best and brightest, and grow healthy businesses, we must provide quality employee development opportunities."

As you may know I also serve as President of AmericanHort, the national trade association representing nursery, landscape, greenhouse, and garden retailers. In October, we gathered 50 business owners/leaders from across the country to talk about opportunities in our industry. One of the key areas of discussion was how to provide more training and development for the professionals we have in the industry. Whether experienced owners or talented middle managers, our industry is filled with people who have good industry skills but are lacking in organizational, business management, and people leadership capabilities. To attract talent into our industry, retain our best and brightest, and grow healthy businesses, we must provide quality employee development opportunities.

If you or some of your key employees would benefit from additional management training and development, I would encourage you to join us for the ONLA Member Summit, to be held December 11-12th in Columbus.

THE EVENT: We have refined and focused this year’s event to be aimed at building better business owners and managers, developing high performing business teams, and providing a forum to bring together the professional community of our industry. This event is designed to support leadership and business development necessary to keep our industry vibrant onla.org

in Ohio. But it is also intended to bolster the personal fabric of our industry – relationships, stories, friendships, and business alliances on which our industry is built.

We are bringing together three nationally recognized speakers/ trainers to headline this year’s event. Jim Paluch, Jon Petz, and John Kennedy make up a lineup of trainers you and your staff won’t find in any other event – certainly not in your backyard and for the value this is offering.

To support that interaction, this year’s format is a “leadership retreat”. In addition to great programming during the two days, we have evening activities on December 11th that start with a “happy hour”, move into a dinner where Jon Petz will both educate and entertain, and our venue includes a nice hotel with an on-site pub tailor-made for after-dinner social time and building or renewing those personal relationships critical to our industry.

This conference is designed to be both efficient and effective for you and your key managers to come on site at noon, spend the night, and leave early afternoon the second day – a one stop, 24-hour leadership event.

If you own or lead a business in the Ohio Nursery or Landscape industry – we’re all in this together. Your business success is linked to the strength and success of our industry. The ONLA Member Summit in December is for you – those who lead our businesses and our industry in Ohio and beyond. If you have questions about the event or sponsoring, please don’t hesitate to give me or one of our ONLA Board Members a call to discuss. You can learn more and register at ONLA.org and click on Member Summit.

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”.B

Ken can be contacted at ken@onla.org November/December 2019

3

Making our Customer’s Lives Easier means we educate ourselves and provide ample educational opportunities for our customers.

We live up to this promise, helping our industry progress and thrive.

Wolf Creek is proud to be a Presenting Sponsor for the Member Summit.

Irrigation S Lighting S Water Features S Drainage WolfCreekCompany.com WolfCreekCo 4  The Buckeye

MailTo@WolfCreekCompany.com @WolfCreekCo

(800) 488-7305

company/Wolf-Creek-Company onla.org

PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE Tim Clark, H. J. Benken Florist and Greenhouses, Inc.

"You owe it to yourself and your staff to take a look at the speaker lineup and make plans to attend these programs."

As we move head first into the latter part of the year, I would like to again make a push for your attendance at ONLA’s signature event, the Member Summit: Management Retreat on December 11th and 12th. The program will be top notch and we believe the timing of the event will allow travel to and from to be much easier. We ask that you stay the night with us as our programming will go into the evening hours with some fun and interactive learning over dinner. Afterward, the onsite bar will be a great place to unwind and connect with other industry professionals in an informal setting. The retreat is geared toward owners and top-level managers. If you fit into this category, I sincerely hope you make it a priority for yourself and some folks from your management team to attend.

In addition to the Member Summit, we are offering a program called Credits and Coffee which is geared toward team members and front-line workers. This program takes place January 13th and 14th at the Crowne Plaza in Columbus and includes 10 hours of education, lots of coffee, and lunch on both days! This is a great opportunity to pick up CEUs needed to maintain certifications or to immerse your staff in relevant and timely information to make a difference in your company.

You owe it to yourself and your staff to take a look at the speaker lineup and make plans to attend both the Member Summit and Credits and Coffee.

Lastly, I would like to acknowledge all the wonderful and dedicated people I’ve met over the last year. As I traveled around the state to the different functions we have hosted I have always met someone new and listened to their story about how they became involved in our industry and what it means to them and their family. It never ceases to amaze me the quality of people we all work with on a daily basis who are willing to work hard and make everyone else’s world a little more beautiful. My thanks to all of you for allowing me to serve this great Association.B

Tim can be contacted at tclark@benkens.com

Thank You to Our 2019 Board of Directors!

Acknowledging the Service of Our Outgoing Board Members: Ryan Kolb Mindy Moore Tom Hilgeman Andy Doesburg

onla.org

B

As I sit down to write this I realized that I am writing my last article for the Buckeye as President of the Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association. My term will be coming to an end in December at the Member Summit. The past year has flown by and I have learned and experienced so much in that time frame. I am so grateful for this opportunity and the chance to work closely with such an amazing and dedicated team of staff members. All of the programming and many events throughout the year that you have grown accustomed to couldn’t be pulled off without the staff at ONLA.

Join us at the ONLA Annual Meeting at the Member Summit on December 12 to welcome incoming 2020 Board members!

November/December 2019

5

IN MEMORIAM Scarff, Peter Nelson 59, passed away August 25, 2019, surrounded by family in his home. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Scarff, and three children: P. Nelson Scarff, Jr. (Megan), Henry Scarff, and Anna Dutton (Thomas); his father, William Scarff, Sr., his sister, Carrie Scarff (Aimee Noel), nephews J. Ryan Scarff and Connor Scarff. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jane Scarff, and brother, William Scarff, Jr. He was President of Scarff 's Nursery, a fifth-generation family business, past president of Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA), and received the ONLA Distinguished Contribution Award. He was a board member and past president of Tecumseh Local School District, and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Clark County Historical Society. Peter and his wife, Cindy, were very involved in Clark County Young Life, and for their service received the 2018 Jim Kincaid Award as well as the Nehemiah Foundation 2019 Sara T. Landess Community Spirit Award.

He was a deacon of Restoration Park Church of Medway, and member and past president of New Carlisle Rotary Club. Peter was a graduate of Ohio University where he played varsity tennis for four years; he was inducted into the Tecumseh High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Contributions may be made to Clark County Young Life, Springfield, Ohio.

growers of perennials & ornamental grasses

15656 Chillicothe Rd. Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 Phone: (440) 338-8100 Fax: (440) 338-8199 www.artformnurseries.com Learn more on page 25!

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Belinda Jones, Capitol Consulting Group.

SENATE BILL 2 STILL A PRIORITY FOR THE SENATE In previous editions of The Buckeye, and during Green Industry Advocacy Day, we have shared that SB 2, sponsored

by Senators Peterson and Dolan is a priority bill for the Ohio Senate. SB 2 passed the Ohio Senate June 12, 32-0. SB 2 was later referred to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee where it is still awaiting its first hearing.

While the bill has been caught up in the summer recess haze, Senate President Obhof and Senator Peterson still maintain that SB 2 is a priority bill for Senate and the bill has earned the support of both farmers and environmentalists as well as the Nature Conservancy , the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others.

As a reminder, the bill would: "Create the Statewide Watershed Planning and Management Program under the administration of the Director of Agriculture and to make changes to the law governing regional water and sewer districts."

More specifically, the intent of SB 2 is: "States that it is the General Assembly’s intent to collaborate with organizations representing agriculture, conservation, the environment, and higher education to establish a certification program for farmers that utilize practices designed to minimize impacts to water quality." (Taken from the SB 2, LSC Analysis) If passed, SB 2 would, in summary, do the following: • Create the Statewide Watershed Planning and Management Program for the improvement and protection of Ohio’s watersheds to be administered by the Director of Agriculture.

• Require the Director to categorize watersheds in Ohio and appoint at least one watershed planning and management coordinator (hereafter coordinator) in each categorized watershed region to coordinate watershed planning in the watershed.

• Require a coordinator to perform certain duties in the watershed in which the coordinator is appointed, including assisting each soil and water conservation district to identify sources and areas of water quality impairment.

• Require the Director, in conjunction with soil and water conservation districts, to collect and aggregate information on conservation practices utilized in Ohio that are funded by public money. onla.org

• Requires the Director to assist soil and water conservation districts in watershed planning and management.

• Requires a soil and water conservation district board to consult and work with the coordinator appointed to the watershed region in which the soil and water conservation district is located.

Additionally, the bill creates a watershed pilot program and makes provisions for regional water and sewer districts.

View the bill in its entirety here: https://www.hannah.com/ ShowDocument.aspx?BTextID=214432 At this juncture, we have no timeline for House consideration. If you are curious about the composition of the House Energy and Natural Resources, here is a link to the committee roster: http://www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/energy-and-naturalresources OAKLAND NURSERY RECIPIENT OF FRANKLIN SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT "CONSERVATION STEWARD AWARD" As you can tell from the article above, soil and water conservation districts (SWCD) stand to gain new responsibilities in statewide watershed planning and management programs when SB 2 becomes law. Are you and your business familiar with your soil and water conservation district? If not, we encourage you to establish that relationship.

There are many ways you can work with your local SWCD. A great example was recently highlighted when Oakland Nursery was awarded the "Conservation Steward Award" from Franklin SWCD. Mark Reiner received the award on behalf of Oakland's three stores for have allowing Franklin Soil and Water to provide rain garden/ Community Backyards literature and kiosks at their stores; "Suitable for Rain Gardens" 'plant tagging', staff training on stormwater pollution abatement and local conservation; and customer engagement through their open houses, events, classes, or exhibits.

November/December 2019

7

When accepting the award, Mark shared with the audience that back in the 70's, his father Paul founded and laid out the nursery in Galena, Ohio, it was designed with a system of irrigation ponds to capture rainwater and overspray runoff.

This system was "somewhat groundbreaking" at the time but shows Oakland's longstanding commitment to conservation.

When it comes to the newer efforts prompted by FCSWD, Mark admitted that at first he thought some of the ideas seemed unnecessary or superfluous but he has personally noticed how Oakland's customers truly take interest in these subject areas.

(R; Ashville); Rick Perales (R; Beavercreek); Mark Romanchuk (R; Mansfield) and Gary Scherer (R; Circleville).

Congratulations Oakland Nursery, Mark Reiner and his team o f Kelly Martyn, Dan Berona, Brandon Parks, John Gribble and Thomas Gensert on receiving the Conservation Steward Award!

As stated above, some term-limited members may try to run for the companion seat in other chamber. We'll know those plans soon enoungh as the finling deadline for the 2020 election is December 18.

We encourage all of you to get to know and work with your Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Having said all of this our PAC affords us a chance to get to know, educate and support members who affect our industries.

Please consider supporting the OGIA PAC! B

OHIO MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE Starting January 1, 2020, Ohio's minimum wage will go up from $8.55 per hour to $8.70 for non-tipped employees. For tipped employees, the increase is from $4.50 per hour to $4.55 per hour. This increase applies to businesses with more than $319,000 annual gross receipts. The state minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index which increased 1.5 percent for the period at issue.

Four democrats in the House are term-limited: Jack Cera (D; Bellaire); John Patterson (D; Jefferson), John Rogers (D; Mentor-on-the-Lake) and Fred Strahorn (D; Dayton).

In the Ohio Senate, five members are term-limited: Dave Burke (R; Marysville); Bill Coley (R; West Chester); John Eklund (R; Chardon); Peggy Lehner (R; Kettering) and President Larry Obhof (R; Medina).

Belinda Jones can be contacted at bjones@capitol-consulting.net or 614.224.3855

For 14 and 15 year-olds and for employees of companies with a gross annual income of less than $319,000, the current minimum wage is $7.25. For these employers the minimum wage is tied to the federal minimum wage and will not increase without an act of Congress.

TERM LIMITS AFFECT 19 LEGISLATORS IN THE CURRENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY In the last edition of the Buckeye we told our about our collaboration with other green indstry allies to form the Ohio Green Industry PAC. There is no doubt that many of you "roll your eyes" every time political donations are discussed but there is a time and a place to engage.

While we are still trying to get to know the more than 30 new legislators who were sworn in this past January, we are already looking to term limited districts for the 2020 election. There are 19 members of the 133rd General Assembly who are "term limited" meaning they will not be able to run for re-election to their current seat (some may try to run for the other chamber).

On the House side there are 14 members who are term-limited.

10 of the 14 are republicans, including the following: Ryan Smith (R; Bidwell); John Becker (R; Cincinnati); Louis Blessing III (R; Cincinnati); Jim Butler (R; Dayton); Anthony DeVitis (R; Uniontown); Doug Green (R; Mt. Orab); Ron Hood

8  The Buckeye

onla.org

ONE SURE-FIRE SECRET TO IMPROVING YOUR PROFITS Marty Grunder, Grunder Landscaping Co.

At The Grow Group, the coaching and consulting firm for landscape professionals that I lead, we spend a lot of time helping our clients to monitor their financial metrics and maximize their profits. To do that, we always start with the numbers that come right from their financial statements— such as gross margin, accounts receivable, cash, and, of course, profit.

But there is one number that doesn’t readily show itself on these statements and yet has the power to make or break a landscaping company. That number is indirect labor costs, and if you want to succeed in this industry, you can’t afford to ignore this metric.

Indirect labor is the cost of all the time that your hourly team members are clocked in but are not producing billable work— that’s why it’s sometimes called “unbillable time.” Some of the biggest buckets of indirect labor for landscaping companies are: • • • •

Training Loading and unloading Drive time Call-backs or warranty work

The first step to understanding your indirect labor is tracking it. This doesn’t have to be an elaborate process: • • •

•

•

Take your average hourly wage. Say it’s $15.

Multiply it by 25% to capture your average hourly payroll burden: $15 x .25 = $3.75.

Add your average hourly wage and your average hourly payroll burden: $15 + $3.75 = $18.75. This is your average hourly cost of indirect labor.

Now add up the average amount of time an hourly worker spends per week on each of the four categories above: say it’s 30 minutes on training, 200 minutes on loading and unloading, 300 minutes on driving, and 120 minutes on warranty work. Add these together and you get 650 minutes, or 10.83 hours. This is your average weekly total of indirect time per worker.

Then multiply your average hourly cost of indirect labor by your average weekly total of indirect time per worker: $18.75 x 10.83 = $203.06. This is the total amount you’re spending weekly, on average, on indirect labor per worker.

onla.org

If you have 30 hourly team members, that’s $6,091.80/week or, if you get in 40 weeks of landscaping work a year in Ohio, $243,672. It’s amazing how quickly that total adds up. Imagine if you were to reduce your indirect time by just 10%—over the course of a year, you could save tens of thousands of dollars, and those dollars go directly to your bottom line.

It’s impossible to entirely eliminate indirect time, but you can reduce it and get smarter and more efficient in how you spend it. Here are some ways to do that: TRAINING This is the last place you want to cut indirect time—training is an investment, not an expense. Done well, it can actually reduce your indirect labor costs by enabling your team to operate more efficiently. But you still have to be mindful of the time you spend on it. Schedule weekly training sessions for a strict period of time, and then set a timer. When the timer goes off, end the session and send your crews off to their job sites.

No if ’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

LOADING AND UNLOADING Many companies refer to their daily roll-out as the “morning circus.” You can greatly reduce your indirect labor costs by turning this circus into a well-ordered, efficient process. The easiest way to do this is to set your crews up for success the night before. When they return at the end of the day, task them with refueling their trucks and loading them for the next day’s jobs. This enables them to focus their mornings solely on getting to the job site. You will likely find too that your team will get these tasks done more quickly at the end of the day, when they’re eager to get home.

DRIVE TIME Drive time is unavoidable but you can reduce it by knowing your local traffic patterns and getting your trucks out early, or with a staggered start. You can also reduce it by using GPS to optimize your routes for efficiency and by increasing the density of your routes—if a crew takes care of four houses on a street, make sure that same crew takes on the fifth house when you get it. You are looking to save minutes on drive time every day, which will add up to many hours and dollars over the course of the year.

November/December 2019

9

CALL-BACKS OR WARRANTY WORK The old adage “Get it right the first time” holds true. Accurately and thoroughly detail your work-orders so nothing is left off and you don’t find yourself having to return to the job again another day to fix what you forgot to do. At Grunder Landscaping Co.,my team uses a site checklist to ensure we’ve accounted for everything on the front end of our jobs and can inspect each item for quality and cross it off on the back end.

The extra minutes these steps take pale in comparison to what it costs to send crews back out to properties.

Contact Marty at marty.grunder@ grunderlandscaping.com

These are just some of the ways you can reduce the time and money you’re spending on indirect labor. Take a good look around your company this month and see what others you can find.

Are you serious about moving your landscaping company forward? Join us for our GROW! 2020 Annual Conference in Charlotte this February and learn directly from the best in the business. Explore more and register at growgroupinc.com/grow2020. B

Check us out at www.davistreefarm.com, in Google Play & iTunes app stores.

10 The Buckeye

sales@davistreefarm.com

6126 Neff Rd. Valley City, OH PH: 330-483-3324 Fax: 330-483-4483 onla.org

CHAMPIONS ARE BUILT IN THE OFFSEASON Lyndsey Diggs, Wolf Creek Company

December in the Midwest— it isn’t the time of year when your customers are focused on getting a greener yard, adding a water feature to their landscape, or looking to light their patio—but because your customers are preoccupied with Christmas cookies and shoveling their driveway, you can catch your breath and spend some time planning for your next great season. After all, champions are built in the offseason, even in our industry.

Ohio Nursery and Landscaping Association's Member Summit will be held this year on December 11 and 12 at Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio. Wolf Creek Company is proud to be the presenting sponsor.

“We are in business to make our customers’ lives easier,” said Joe Twardzik, division president for Wolf Creek Company. “Wolf Creek supports the industry that supports us”. Sponsoring this outstanding business-building event is one way we can help you grow your business. When your business grows, our bottom line grows, too. When this happens, we can invest more back into the industry and everyone wins.

With a key focus on helping green businesses manage their teams, this year’s Member Summit will be packed full of information to help business owners and leaders fine-tune their management skills. This way they can elevate their whole outfit, impacting everyone from sales staff to installers.

This event promises to help leaders hone their leadership skills, learn how to best cultivate high-preforming teams, find energy and motivation to produce lasting change and, most of all, network with like-minded business owners looking to share and learn from the best in the business.

“Whether you’re a time-tested leader in the green industry or an up-and-coming landscape business, you cannot afford to miss these two days of motivational speakers and networking opportunities to take your business to the next level,” Twardzik said. “An environment where leaders come together to get better results produces outcomes that grow business.”

onla.org

Three acclaimed speakers will be presenting during the event.

Jim Paluch, president of JP Horizons, Inc. will focus on creating organizational excitement. High-energy, motivational business speaker Jon Petz promises to move audiences into action and John Kennedy will address how to create and motivate high performing teams.

“Being a leader in the green industry goes beyond knowing all the tricks of the trade.

You’ve got to know how to build and motivate teams and the Member Summit promises to do just that.”

“Don’t be tempted to skip this event because you don’t see industry best practices and how-to sessions on the agenda,” Twardzik said. “Being a leader in the green industry goes beyond knowing all the tricks of the trade. You’ve got to know how to build and motivate teams and this event promises to do just that.”

In this day and age it’s not enough to have the best landscape designer, or sell and install the most tech savvy and “smart” lawn features, you’ve got to know how to cultivate business, manage and motivate your team. This December's Member Summit is a springboard to hit the 2020 spring season with everything you need for a banner year. B Wolf Creek Company is the presenting sponsor of the ONLA Memebr Summit. To learn more about Wolf Creek Company, visit woflcreekco.com. To learn more about the Member Summit and how you can join as a sponsor, visit onla.org/membersummit

November/December 2019

11

RETAIL ROUNDTABLE

What were your top challenges of 2019?

ONLA's Retail Committee weighs in on a new topic each Buckeye. 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. At Benkens our top challenge in 2019 was battling customer count. Our demographics are aging and our customer base is starting to erode. Our business sits in a residential neighborhood with little drive by traffic. A lot of client acquisitions came through word of mouth. As those clients age out we are left with finding new ways to attract new and younger clientele to a business that is not on the beaten path. This past year we have tried more digital marketing than we have in the past concentrating on mobile users. We did see some positive results from those campaigns so that is exciting to see. We have spent a good amount of time re-building our website and will be concentrating on e-commerce with a delivery option as well.

If the customers can’t come to us then we will go to them as an option. The other major challenge we had was labor issues.

It’s always interesting trying to find help that is willing to work hard for a short period of time and actually come to work. That is nothing new and we try to hire more people than we need just to cover those that decide the work is too much for them.

I see the labor issue as an ongoing challenge.

NOELLE CLARK AKIN, PETITTI GARDEN CENTERS Two major challenges and one minor set-back that we experienced for 2019: 1. The weather – it’s something we cannot control and it becomes this never-ending source of frustration and stress.

Beginning with the autumn of 2018, the extended warm temperatures and rain late in the season were making potted nursery stock flourish only to be cut down by a hard freeze. In spring, the mild weather and rainy days made for a beautiful, long lasting flowering season for mature trees and shrubs, but 12 The Buckeye

customers were disappointed to find few of these plant favorites available, (grasses, weigela, buddleia, etc.), not until later in the growing season when foot traffic and planting was at a trickle.

2. Tariffs – In the last year, ever-changing tariffs added a lot of chaos. Prices for the 2019 season were changed after just after last year’s fall show season to include tariffs that many companies thought would not actually happen. Shipping from Asia became congested and expensive as everyone tried to get inventory into the US before tariffs took effect or increased.

While many prices were negotiated down early in the year, further tariff hikes this fall will have to be passed along to the consumer for 2020. Overall, it has made planning and buying very difficult.

3. Online commerce set-back – we found out pretty quickly that in “testing the waters”, it was either all or nothing! With decreased customer counts on a daily basis and the customercentric convenience of online retailers, we need to get there, sooner than later.

JEREMY NEWELL, WHITE OAK GARDENS The biggest challenge we faced in 2019 and continue to face is finding, moving, training, and /or building team members for growth. Everyone in this industry understands the challenges of hiring for the extreme seasonal nature of our business.

Hiring and scheduling based on the weather and each hire’s schedule needs is difficult at best, especially during times of growth. The schedule needs and the physical demands of our retail industry rarely coincide with the expectations and availabilities of potential hires.

But this is more than simply hiring bodies. The retail landscape is obviously changing and to remain relevant will require a onla.org

change in thinking when it comes to work roles. There are job descriptions and business card titles cropping up we have never seen before. Obviously, there will always be a need for certain duties. But traditional garden center roles will change just like all traditional retail roles. As an industry we have always asked the question, “How/where do we find the right person for this specific role?”. We might need to adapt our thinking to “Can this role be flexible in order to utilize the positive and unique talents of this person we want on our team?” I think these changing ideas on how we as a retailer utilize talent due to the shifts in consumerism will only become more apparent and will play a role in future success.

JODI DAWSON, OAKLAND NURSERIES Our challenges for this spring were not as grueling as years past. The frost finished early in spring 2019 giving us a benefit in sales and with less stress trying to keep tender plants warm.

Excessive rain kept customers away during the week. On the weekends, the sun would shine and the party could begin.

Having quality product on time was a challenge. Growers could not keep up with the demand. Finding labor for freight was quite annoying this spring. We welcome a solution.

We had a situation this spring where we ran out of a product that we had to correct by providing rain checks and gift cards to pacify our customers for the inconvenience.

Labor is a challenge. Spring is quite demanding and it seems as though there is never enough help regardless of the number of employees that are hired.

RON WILSON, NATORP’S NURSERY OUTLET One of our challenges, during the busiest times, is managing the checkout lines. Until this year, the checkout line, which feeds into a checkout area with multiple registers, could backup across the entire greenhouse. So, to make it more controllable and more comfortable for our customers, we designated enough space to allow two lines approaching the checkout area ¼ the way across the greenhouse, actually lined the floor to designate two lanes, along with overhead signage, and used mobile stanchions with retractable belts as needed. By putting folks side by side, the waiting lines were shorter (they could see the registers), customers could converse with each other, we even had folks from our great team walking and talking with the customers in line, answering questions, and handing out bottles of water while they waited. Lines were perceived shorter, time went quicker, and customers (plus the kids) were entertained and watered. Worked great!

Another challenge in the 3 acres of greenhouse is keeping customers cooler while they shop, when its 90 degrees outside.

So, we printed signs that explain our greenhouse does get hot, so pace themselves, let us help as much as we can, find the fans we have scattered, and enjoy complimentary bottles of ice cold water to help cool down. Yep, that’s complimentary water. We do this year round, and folks absolutely love it. Buy it by the pallet, costs you less than 10 cents, and feedback about FREE bottled water is unreal. We even walk around and hand it out to those who could use a little cooling off. Less than 10 cents… and it makes them smile every time. Oh did I mention they usually shop longer? BTW…it still gets too hot in there, so if you do anything that really helps cool it down, let us know. B

This was actually a manageable spring for Oakland Nurseries.

Prices were competitive and customers were happy. onla.org

November/December 2019

13

Growing High Quality Plants, People, and Relationships

SERVING GARDEN CENTERS AND LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONALS

Your success brightens our day... and night.

SINCE 1978

Annuals Combo Planters Grasses Hardy Ferns

Delivery Services Custom Growing POP Materials

Proven Winners® Succulents Vines

Herbs Peonies Perennials

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

Restoring the native landscape

At Cascade Lighting, your success is our top priority and it’s been that way since we set up shop over 20 years ago.

We’ll partner with you to provide expert advice on the best lighting solution to fit your project and budget. Our team also offers design and technical support at no additional cost. And to ensure the job gets done on time, our warehouse stocks a huge inventory of products ready for same day shipment.

Call us today at 800.758.6359 or visit cascadelighting.com

Providing over 40 lines of outdoor and landscape lighting products including:

ernstseed.com sales@ernstseed.com 800-873-3321 111618

14 The Buckeye

ONLA_halfpage-gen_1118.indd 1

onla.org

11/16/18 9:32 AM

Seven Reasons to Attend the Premier Leadership Event of the Year!

ONLA’s 2019 Member Summit, December 11 & 12, 2019, is positioned to deliver attendees and sponsors alike more value than any other ONLA event. This is a must-attend retreat for owners, key decision makers, and those on your leadership team.

1. Learn from a trio of top management thought leaders Gain years of team-building and leadership knowledge essentially overnight! Nationally recognized, inspirational trainers Jim Paluch, Jon Petz, and John Kennedy are leadership experts you and your staff won’t find at any other event—certainly not for this price of admission.

2. Get inspired to make positive changes for your team Old habits die hard. That’s why we have a lineup of trainers who will fuel you with new ideas and tactics to build productive habits within your teams in 2020 and beyond.

3. Make lasting industry connections This event will be THE premier gathering for Ohio’s green industry leaders who are focused on individual improvement and improvement for our industry as a whole. Sponsorship will take your connections to the next level, and we have several valuable opportunities.

4. Set your company up for its most successful year People grow profits. Our lineup of break-out education sessions will give you the tools you need to lead with conviction and grow high-performance teams.

5. Give yourself two days off Taking time to focus on your 2020 goals is not an option, it’s essential for success. Our Member Summit will provide the setting, inspiration, and the people to optimize your fun as you plan for the future.

6. Have fun and connect with YOUR industry Industry connections matter! This year's retreat format has built in a fun, sponsored happy hour and dinner with entertainment to bring you close to your industry peers and form valuable connections for your business.

7. Take home action items you can use immediately Our main goal is to send you home with an arsenal of tools you can use to grow your business, and team ONLA takes goals seriously! Trust us, you want to make the investment to attend.

Register now for this can’t-miss green industry event. Become a sponsor for extra benefits!

ONLA.ORG/MEMBERSUMMIT onla.org

November/December 2019

15

THE PERENNIAL DIVA'S

Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’

By Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD

Everyone knows I am the biggest fan of short plants. However, sometimes the perfect plant as a focal point is a big bold plant that will inspire plant lust in most gardeners. Andropogon gerardii ‘Blackhawks’ is just such a plant. Imagine a five to six foot native grass that gets to be twenty four inches wide. It begins to flower in late summer and manages to show off right into fall and the flowers are tinged burgundy. It flourishes in full sun, average soil, and, once established, is quite drought resistant. The spring to summer color is green, but lurking behind the green color hints of purple begin to appear, particularly in the cooler months. Fall comes and this grass turns a vibrant shade of deep purple that almost looks black.

The flower color and the leaf blades make this a spectacular sight. Generally Andropogons are 6’ to 7’ and this one is somewhat shorter. It also seems to stand up straighter. The flowers have been described as looking like a red turkey’s foot.

It is hardy in zones 4 to 9.

perfectly and, even if you don’t cheer for this team, you may want it in your garden. B Stephanie Cohen (aka, as the Perennial Diva) started gardening when she helped her parents plant a victory garden. Her love of plants has taken her on an extensive career path. Stephanie is a writer, teacher, lecturer, award winner, speaker and plant expert. Stephanie can be contacted at perplants@aol.com

Mix this with some of the tall Heliopsis helianthoides ‘Tuscan Sun’ that is 3’ tall and has golden yellow daisy like flowers for a naturalistic look or Heliopsis h. ‘Summer Sun’ a 3 foot, semi double with a 3in. bright gold flower for a more refined looking design. These combos tend to float my boat!

Naming a plant always suggests unusual stories. This is one I’d like to share with you. The hybridizer, Intrinsic Nursery, since it was a native plant, wanted to call it ‘Chief Big Foot’. It sounds like a plant hopping on one foot and I didn’t like it.

Before it was publicly named, the The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in Hockey. My friend was so excited Only an artistic mind would think of he named the plant in their honor. Its name fits the plant recycling bowling balls as mulch. onla.org

November/December 2019

17

CHAMPION TEAM: OHIO HI POINT

2ND PLACE: UPPER VALLEY CAREER CENTER

3RD PLACE: JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL

4TH PLACE: AUBURN CAREER CENTER

5TH PLACE: DELAWARE CAREER CENTER

ONLA welcomed more than 250 high school students from 18 school across Ohio for the fourth annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics on October 10 and 11 at OSU ATI in Wooster, Ohio. OHLO is an educational competition where students can test their landscaping skills, meet sponsoring companies, and learn more about a career in the green industry.

2019 MEDALISTS Top Ten Individuals 1. Keegan Minard, Jackson 2. Braden Scheetz, Jackson 3. Gage Sheeley, Ohio Hi-Point 4. Mason Price, Upper Valley Career Center 5. Charlie Brown, Tolles Tech 6. Bradley Osborn, Ohio Hi-Point 7. Isaac Buxton, Delaware Area Career Center 8. Jairon Douglas, Upper Valley Career Center 9. Logan Anthony, Upper Valley Career Center 10. (Tie) Hannah Fuhry, Portage Lakes Career Center; Maria Caplinger, Portage Lakes Career Center Compact Excavator Gold: Braden Scheetz, Jackson Silver: Eli Baker, Upper Valley Career Center Bronze: Scotty Stearns, Penta Career Center Cost Estimating Gold: Christian Au, Ohio Hi-Point Silver: Andrew VanHoose, Ohio Hi-Point Bronze: Ceasr Monge, Delaware Area Career Center Hardscape Installation Gold: Jackson Silver: Upper Valley Career Center Bronze: Gates Mills Irrigation Gold: Portage Lakes Career Center Silver: Auburn Career Center Bronze: Tolles Career

Landscape Maintenance Gold: Ohio Hi-Point Silver: Auburn Career Center Bronze: Eastland Career Center Lighting Gold: Logan Anthony, Upper Valley Career Center Silver: Gage Sheeley, Ohio Hi-Point Bronze: Declan Goerndt, Auburn Career Center Plant ID Gold (Tie): Maria Caplinger, Portage Lakes Career Center Gold (Tie): Aaron Knipp, Portage Lakes Career Center Silver: Hannah Fuhry, Portage Lakes Career Center Plant Installation Gold: Jackson Silver: Auburn Career Center Bronze: Marysville Sales Presentation Gold: Iam Glosser, Jackson Silver: Maya Benseon, Eastland Career Center Bronze: Nickie Lawhorn, Tolles Career & Technical Center Skid Steer Gold: Charlie Brown, Tolles Career & Technical Center Silver: Brodie Routt, Eastland Career Center Bronze: Wyatt Long, Ohio Hi-Point Truck and Trailer Gold: Jackson Silver: Ohio Hi-Point Bronze: Upper Valley Career Center Turfgrass Gold: Ohio Hi-Point Silver: Auburn Career Center Bronze: Knox County Career Center For more details, visit onla.org/ohlo

Knot Tying Gold: Auburn Career Center Silver: Ohio Hi-Point Bronze: Jackson onla.org

November/December 2019 

19

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

Bryan Equipment • Exscape Designs • M.J. Design Associates, Inc.

lets

grow

together Bellbrook Columbus Springfield West Carrollton Celebrating 60 years of producing premium quality Turfgrass Sod and distributing a wide array of Turf & Ornamental products.

Since 1959, we have you to thank for growing alongside us in our success! Â - Your Green Velvet Team of Turf Professionals GREENVELVET.COM

800-342-0571

We’re committed to supplying you with the best products and services all at a great price.

Custom Seed Mixtures

Erosion Control

Sediment Control

Equipment & Rental

Need a quote or have questions?

866.530.7333 NEW!

info@evergreenseedsupply.com

EvergreenSeedSupply.com

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

Welcome New Members!

The following companies and individuals have been approved for ONLA membership, pending completion of the application process, which includes requesting comments from the current ONLA membership regarding the qualifications and/or dues classifications of applicants within 3 weeks following receipt of this issue of The Buckeye.

The following company is applying for ACTIVE membership: Shelby Landscaping & Garden Center Lee Goins 2150 St Marys Ave Sidney, OH 45365 The following individuals are applying for STUDENT membership: Algonquin College Jason Smith A-Tech Gryphon Phillips Tabitha Burdette Seetron Cantu Kolt Ernst Hannah Hitt Royce Owens Madison Pearce Myah Vizer Claudia Wagner Mary Wolters Austin Griffith Cuyahoga Community College Chelsie Perdue Manuel Blanken Jessica Beshears Camden Eidson Tyler Jutte Elisabeth Lampe Leslie Meyers-Joseph Layla Saavedra-Lang Gates Mills Carly Andrews Brianna Barudi Daniel Breskvar Jacob Burton Keyshaun Carter Brooke Coleman Justin Elliott onla.org

Thurston Forte Anthony Gianziacomo Chloe Marie Kropko Manuel Maldonado Evan Mastrangelo Amir Sapp Denzell Seawood Zachary Trivisonno Mark Rudiak Jackson High School Charley Fox Jonathan Hach Jessica Harhay Nathan Harst Max Jarvis Lauren Leonard Lacey Lidderdale Summer Mossor Matt Orndorf Trenton Poe Sean Snyder George Tully Robert Turkalj Ethan Wernecke Andy Young Gail Green Rachel Tucker David Conner Kent State University Salem Marshall Somerville Knox County Career Center Haylee Hyde Ohio Hi Point Jerry Allford Reese Collins Trenton Shelton Stacy Stinemetz Brennon Lloyd Sierra Swan Andrew VanHoose zack kinney michael schaffer

Christian Au Andi Martinez Levi Baldwin Ryan Craig destiny kissling Destany Pastva Tommy Salyer Portage Lakes Career Center Skyler Bray Abby Buck Ethan Cambier Maria Caplinger Hannah Fuhry Aleah Hartley Aaron Knipp Dylan Lee Renn Sivert Jay Smith The Ohio State University Danielle Bush Patricia Marie Irizarry Trevor Neate Tolles Tech Charlie Brown Michael Collins Brianna Conkel Corey Crawford Dominic Curry Patrick Haynes Donovan Jenkins Aidan Keidel Nicki Lawhead Jenna Sheperd Andrew Spence Adam Straight Fabian Toledo Joseph Tucker Zach Vent University of Cincinnati Zoe Kusnier Prasanna Rudravajhala November/December 2019 

23

AVON - BROADVIEW HEIGHTS - HILLIARD

Come visit us at any of our three Ohio locations! www.premierplantsolutions.com

ONLA Service Provide Update

WEALTH COACH FINANCIAL OFFERS RETIREMENT PLAN SOLUTIONS “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it …”

you win. If they don’t, it is time to pay attention!)

So goes the mantra of many private business owners when it comes to employee benefits.

Today’s high asset valuation that we see in the stock markets also apply to private business valuations. Money is relatively cheap, and business acquisitions are common-place. Some acquisitions are ‘asset sales’ while some are ‘stock sales’. The strategy used by the acquirer is often chosen based on what liability would be assumed or avoided. Retirement plans can influence both the path chosen in such a transaction, as well as the price.

Yet while Healthcare plans seem to require constant attention, annual review, and seem to require a provider change every few years just to bring premiums back to earth, retirement plans seem to slide by … particularly when major stock market indices float around near their all-time highs.

Not only can stock prices change in a hurry, however, so too can the regulatory environment and thus the liability to business owners who sponsor retirement plans. The 2020 election will be here quite soon, and along with it, potential changes to both asset values and regulatory activities.

There seems to be a stark contrast between the current administration’s and its opponents’ views of what the overall regulatory environment should look like. Regarding retirement plans, it is fair to say that heading into the 2016 election, the retirement plan regulatory environment was becoming increasingly hostile to Plan Sponsors. There is a reasonable possibility that retirement plan oversight ratchets up from here, so it may be timely to review what you have in place.

Many 401k plan sponsors are actively reviewing their plans now to make sure everything is in order and they’re receiving what the market has to offer. Some are finding that they don’t need the cost and complexity of a 401k plan, rather a SIMPLE IRA makes more sense and can reduce administrative costs, complexity and visibility. If such a check-up is of interest to you, reach out to us at (614) 734-WLTH (9584). We understand your industry, your challenges, and the marketplace and would be glad to help.

I have two quotes that were given to me by nursery industry members that I think sums up the retirement plan terrain perfectly: “Look … I plant trees, take care of this stuff please," and “This ‘benefit plan’ liability is the stuff that keeps me up at night”.

Thankfully, the evolution of retirement plans has allowed plan providers to take much better care of Plan Sponsors in today’s world. New technologies can make plan management and participation easier, and there are now plan services that will take over much of the liability that formerly rested solely on the shoulders of the Plan Sponsor. (In the 401k world, these are known as “3-16” (administrative) and “3-21” or “3-38” investment services.)

Like the nursery industry, the retirement plan industry has been changed drastically over the past few years by technology.

On a positive note, plan costs have come down, professional management of individual participant accounts is easily accessible, education is readily available to anyone with a smart-phone, and the potential for administrative cost savings and enhanced performance of fiduciary duties has elevated significantly. (To achieve the latter, it requires upfront training and communication. As we now tell our Plan Sponsors: you are only as good as your payroll department. If Payroll ‘gets it’, onla.org

Sc with your smartone Scan phone

CALL YOUR BUSINESS PARTNERS www.BuckeyeResources.com Tony Sciambi or Mike Satkowiak

937-462-8346

For complete listing & product descriptions, visit

www.BuckeyeResources.com

November/December 2019

25

Credits and Coffee E D U C AT I O N E S S E N T I A L S JANUARY 13–14, 2020 CROWNE PLAZA COLUMBUS NORTH, WORTHINGTON, OH Get ready for two full days of professional development! This cost-effective solution to obtaining continuing education and certification credits features top quality sessions on best practices and emerging trends pertinent to landscape, nursery, and retail garden center professionals.

• Take up to ten one-hour sessions (five each day) • Credits will be available for every class • All day coffee and lunch included!

Plant Trends & Selection 8:00– 9:00 am

Retail & Grower

Landscape

Pests & Diseases (Led by OSU)

Registration and Coffee Mingle Bulletproof Plants: Tough

Getting Started with Google

Technology and Innovations

Working on the Wild Side:

9:00 am–

Nuts For the Landscape

and Social Media Ads

in Landscape Lighting

Resolutions for Wildlife

10:00 am

Bryce Lane

Shaun Kanary

Chuck Watterson

Conflicts in the Landscape Marne Titchenell

10:15–11:15

You’re Not From Around

Hey Retailers...Can We Talk?

Deforestation by Design

Snap Shots of Landscape

am

Here: Landscaping With

Ron Wilson & Panel

John Palmer

Pests and Management

Native and Exotic Plants

Options

Bryce Lane

Curtis Young

11:30 am–

The Winter Garden - A

5 Software Programs to

Lighting Up Your

Be Alert to BYGL: A Look

12:30 pm

Season of Promise

Take Your Marketing to the

Landscape Masterpiece

Back to Look Forward

Bill Hendricks

Next Level

with LED Lighting

Steve Boggs

Shaun Kanary

Chuck Watterson

12:35– 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:45–

The Latest in Weed Control

Bareroot vs. Plants- Know

Session details coming

We Have Met the Enemy

2:45 pm

in Herbaceous Perennials

When to Grow

soon! Check onla.org

and It is Us (sometimes)

Hannah Mathers, PhD

Marjolein Berbee

3:00–

How Safe is Glyphosate?

Session details coming

Bulb Layering- The

Plant Diversity, Pollinators,

4:00 pm

Hannah Mathers, PhD

soon! Check onla.org

Complete Spring Garden

and Pest Management

Marjolein Berbee

Joe Boggs

26 The Buckeye

Pamela Bennett, Carri Jagger

onla.org

TEN HOURS OF EDUCATION! Earn Education Credits (CEUs) for ODA, LA CES, ISA, APLD, AOLP, IA, ICPI, CIT, NALP, OCNT. Check onla.org/creditsandcoffee for details. $260 per person, includes 10 total hours of education, coffee and lunch on both days.

REGISTER: ONLA.ORG/CREDITSANDCOFFEE

9:00 am–

Plant Trends & Selection

Retail & Grower

Landscape

Pests & Diseases (Led by OSU)

Succulents are Sexy

Plants On Wheels

Landscape Design Elements

Working on the Wild Side:

Bill Hendricks

Andy Bruney

to Include in Every Contract

Resolutions for Wildlife

Kirk Ryan Brown

Conflicts in the Landscape

10:00 am

Marne Titchenell 10:15–11:15

Best Performing Perennials

Safe & Savvy Social for

Small Garden Smarts

The Top Ten Trees You

am

from the Cincinnati Zoo &

Businesses

Kirk Ryan Brown

Should Know

Botanical Garden Trials

Mikaela Hunt

Jim Chatfield, Erik Draper

Scott Beuerlein 11:30 am–

A Passion for Plants

Hey Retailers...Can We Talk,

Power of the Upsell -

Invasive Pest Update

12:30 pm

Bill Hendricks

Round Two

Making Money Giving

Erik Draper, Amy Stone,

Ron Wilson & Panel

Customers What They Want

Kathy Smith

Scott Knowles 12:35– 1:30 pm

Lunch

1:45–

Increasing Survivorship of

What Does it Take to

Irrigation Revolution -

A Seasonal Review In The

2:45 pm

Urban Trees & Landscape

Impress your Employer?

Changing Technology and

Life of the Clinic – Case

Mark Mann

Kim Sayers

Innovations in Landscapes

Studies of the Common

Joe Twardzik, Scott

and Not So Common Clinic

Knowles, Jeff Muhlvach

Confirmations Joy Pierznski

3:00–

Growing Community

Conflict Resolution -

Uniting the Seasons: A

Worker Protection

4:00 pm

Bill Dawson

Dealing with Difficult

Botanical Garden Look at

Standards (WPS) – What

People

Having Spring Garden Color

You Need To Know and

Melanie Garcia

Longer

Implement

Barb Arnold

Thomas DeHass

onla.org

November/December 2019

27

28  The Buckeye

onla.org

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ADVERTISER INDEX

Ads listed here were current as of press time. For details, or to place a classified ad, visit onla.org/careers

Art Form Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 artformnurseries.com Buckeye Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Sales Manager Acorn Farms Galena, Ohio

buckeyeresources.com Cascade Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 cascadelighting.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

Davis Tree Farm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 View www.onla.org/events for more information. designates qualifying OCNT recertification events.

OCNT Exams November 21 January 16, February 20, March 19, April 16, 2020 Westerville, Ohio onla.org/ocnt ONLA Member Summit: MANAGEMENT RETREAT O December 11–12 Columbus, Ohio onla.org/membersummit

Ernst Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 ernstseed.com Evergreen Seed Supply.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 evergreenseedsupply.com Fairview Evergreen Nurseries. . . . . . . . . . . . 22 fairviewevergreen.com Green Velvet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 greenvelvet.com

ONLA Credits and Coffee O January 13–14, 2020 Worthington, Ohio onla.org/creditsandcoffee

Millcreek Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 millcreekplants.com

B

Share Your Event!

davistreefarm.com

Are you hosting an open house, an educational seminar or workshop, or a networking event?

Ohio Chapter ISA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 ohiochapterisa.org Peat Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 peatinc.com Premier Plant Solutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 murphytractor.com Spring Meadow Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 colorchoiceplants.com Unilock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC unilock.com Wolf Creek Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 wolfcreekco.com

Email alana@onla.org with details!

Ad Rates & Info Contact Alana Settle,

ONLA Member events will be listed in the Buckeye and online at onla.org

onla.org

alana@onla.org, 614.899.1195

November/December 2019

29