Executive Director's Message

Tracy Schiefferle, ONLA Executive Director, tracy@onla.org

Fall is my favorite season. As I write this column it is early August and almost 90 degrees outside but once August hits, I start to look forward to fall. Cooler temperatures, backyard fires, sweaters, the smell of leaves, the start of school and sports. I also find it to be an energizing time – a time to look forward to plans for the new year as 2022 slowly starts to creep closer.

I am excited about what ONLA has to offer our members for the remainder of 2021. I hope that you have planned to attend one of our upcoming events – the ONLA Golf Outing, a Diagnostic Walkabout, the Clay Shoot, or reConnect conferences in November. But I can’t wait to show you what ONLA has in store for 2022.

Your ONLA staff and Board of Directors has been discussing and planning education and networking events, member resources and programming, and ways to better communicate with and serve ONLA members. We are excited to be bringing many of these ideas to fruition and to better engage and assist our members and the profession.

Our vision includes connecting ONLA members with each other, the industry partners, and the community by creating more on-demand resources for our members as well as enhancing our in-person education and networking. You will see an increased effort to promote the green industry profession and our members to the community. Our advocacy efforts will be an important part of that message as well as the spotlighting the value of this industry to Ohio.

As an organization we want to not only create new programming and expand opportunities for our members but to facilitate long-term growth for ONLA. As we get closer to year-end, look for more details as we move forward together.

As always, I welcome your input and thank you for your membership and investment in your profession.

Tracy can be contacted at tracy@onla.org

WELCOME, SARA CANTEES!

I would like to welcome Sara Cantees to the ONLA staff. Sara is ONLA’s communications guru. I have had the honor of working with Sara for three years prior to her coming on board. Her design talents and communication ideas will help to drive a new direction for ONLA.

“I am very excited to have joined the team,” Sara says. “I can’t wait to start working on new initiatives with the awesome ONLA staff and to expand on our strong marketing efforts to meet our goals for 2022 and beyond.”

Sara most recently worked for the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio where she led communications and design efforts. Prior to the BIA, Sara attended West Virginia State University where she studied digital art and communications. She interned with the West Virginia Food & Farm Association for two semesters as a graphic designer, and also interned with an association management firm, Homestead Communications. A native of West Virginia, Sara is a recent newlywed to husband John. They have three cats and a dog, and they love to travel.

Sara is part of our small but mighty team here at the ONLA, that working with our Board and our membership, are eager to be taking the next steps forward together. B