Baby, It’s Cold Outside

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Building a Budget to Price Jobs Profitably

Weston Zimmerman, SynkedUP

Euphoria This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Ever get to the end of the year and your books show you made profit, but you have no cash in your bank account? The number one reason hardscape contractors have the “show profit- but-no-cash-in-the-bank” symptom is: overhead expenses. Overhead, if not properly accounted for, will crush you. Weston will teach you how to solve this dilemma by showing you how to build a company budget that ensures you are pricing your jobs for profit, charging the correct rate per man-hour, and making sure your overhead and all costs are factored in. And you’ll go home with free tools you can use to build your budget and start earning the profit you want from your business.

Time Management - Taking Control of Your Life

Judson Griggs, Harvest Landscape Business Consulting Group

Nirvana A This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s How many times during your typical week do you find yourself asking, “Where did the day go?” Throughout the day, you are inundated with requests for your time and attention. Emails, texts, meetings, employee problems, client requests, project issues and so on. Join Judson, as he teaches you how to manage your time better so you can begin enjoying life again and prosper. In this session, you will understand urgent vs. important tasks, how to set and meet goals and determine where you are spending your time and where to best spend your time using tools that will help you gain control of your professional and personal life.

Gaining TRACTION™ in Your Business with EOS®

Matt Zega, EOS Worldwide Additional Presenter: Dean MacMorris, Nightlight

Nirvana BC This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Based on the best selling book TRACTION: Get a Grip on Your Business, this session will get to the core of what gaining TRACTION™ in your business with EOS® (The Entrepreneurial Operating System) comes down to. Three things we call vision, traction, and healthy. Vision from the standpoint of getting everyone crystal clear on where your organization is going and knowing exactly how you are going to get there. Traction from the standpoint of instilling discipline and accountability throughout your organization so that you are gaining consistent traction. Healthy meaning helping you to build a healthy, cohesive, functional team. At EOS® we empower you to live your ideal life, the EOS Life as we call it.

Why Plant Ho-Hum Trees & Shrubs

Nina Koziol, Chicago Botanic Garden Adjunct Faculty Additional Presenters: Mike Cook, Cedar Path Nursery; Jim Matusik, The Tree Connection; Jeff Kramer, Kramer Tree Specialists; Julie Janoski, The Morton Arboretum

Utopia AB This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s If you’ve been using river birch, red maple, spruces or honey locust as dependable choices, you’re not alone. But, there are many good reasons to try something different, even something better. Your projects will stand out from others, especially in residential subdivisions where these trees appear again and again. And, there’s the need for diversity in plantings. If a serious new insect pest or disease affects red maples and everyone on the block has one—well, you get the picture. To provide some inspiration and encourage the use of broader plant palettes—especially in light of plant shortages for many of these oftenused trees—we’ve assembled an expert panel for their recommendations.

1:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Building the Ultimate Butterfly Garden

Daniel Gerdes, Christy Webber Landscapes

Nirvana A This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Starting with the keystone species that the ecosystem will largely depend on, you will learn about their plant profiles. Then you’ll understand where and how to use annuals and herbs. Finally, Daniel will discuss the role of host plants and which North American butterfly types are drawn to them. By the end of the session, attendees will have a step-bystep guide on designing a pollinator friendly garden.

Creating and Curating an Urban Oasis: The Meadow at the Old Chicago Post Office

Mike Ciccarelli, Ann Weiland, Shawn Weidner, Hoerr Schaudt

Nirvana BC Hoerr Schaudt’s Horticulture, Site Works and Continued Landscape Management team share the process of transforming the rooftop of a desolate, unused industrial building into the nation’s largest private rooftop garden atop a modern workplace. The Meadow sets the standard for how rooftops can restore and protect ecosystems and improve tenant health and well-being as employees begin to navigate the return-to-work post-quarantine. Overcoming historic preservation and structural constraints, the success story of The Meadow and its four-season horticultural interest will continue to inspire for years to come. Gardens are dynamic and change over time. Much of the artistry of a landscape lay in its evolution; how it is cared for and chooses to grow.

Fountain of Maturity: What We Can Do to Grow Old, Healthy Trees

Michelle Catania, The Morton Arboretum/Chicago Region Trees Initiative

Utopia CD This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s The Morton Arboretum is focused on improving the health and longevity of urban trees. Healthy, undisturbed soil is a key component to achieve future tree canopy goals. Unfortunately, soils with ideal characteristics at supporting long-lived trees are becoming increasingly rare in the built environment. As we continue to emphasize the ecosystem services our urban trees provide, understanding below-ground conditions should be a key component to this discussion. Healthy soils offer greater stormwater storage during rain events and can provide sufficient reservoirs of water to get trees through prolonged periods of drought. Improvements to urban soils in the built environment will lead to healthy trees. Healthy, diverse forests are also better at combating pest and disease outbreaks as they have greater resources to overcome a potential infestation if they are not stressed. To achieve our canopy goals and make the Chicagoland forest structure exceptional, we need you, the Green Industry, to help us improve our urban forest canopy through improved urban soils.

Practical Advantages of Concrete Pavers

Andrew Vear, AndrewVear.com

Euphoria As co-founder of the Advanced School for Advanced Segmental Paving, Andrew has learned a thing or two about pavers. In this session, attendees will take a deeper look into pavers, including how they work, basic installation, and how they work with freeze thaw. He will also share easy sales tips that will help grow your business and your bottom line.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Growth on Purpose

Vanessa McQuade, Intrigue Media Additional Presenter: Rob Murray, Intrigue Media

Additional Presenters: Utopia CD This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s This session will introduce the concept of the Growth Triangle. You’ll learn how building a more purpose-driven company will attract the best customers and talent for your business and accelerate your growth.

Natural Lawn Care Practices for a Healthy Environment

Sarah Zack, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Nirvana A This session has been approved by LA CES for 1 CEU’s You don’t have to choose between an attractive lawn and protecting water quality. Many natural lawn care practices can help you work with nature to grow a healthy landscape while still protecting water resources. Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant promotes sustainable lawn care practices at the household level to reduce the impact of fertilizer and pesticides in the Great Lakes Region and beyond. This presentation will dig into the science behind natural lawn care and give attendees some simple and effective natural lawn care tips.

Ponds: When is Dredging Necessary and What are Your Options?

Keith Gray, ILM Environments

Nirvana BC This session has been approved by LA CES for 1 CEU Do you manage the landscaping for a property with a pond that needs help? Are you wondering if it needs to be dredged and what on earth to do about it? This session will give you answers! Whether we are talking about a small retention pond or a large natural lake, decades of sediment accumulation eventually dictates the need for dredging. We will discuss how to know when it’s actually time to dredge and then consider the different methods available for removing sediment from a waterbody. Innovative options for reusing the dredge material onsite to keep down costs will be explored. Be the hero by helping your client revitalize their degraded waterbody and turn an eyesore into an amenity they will love!

Understanding Construction Impacts to Trees

Joe Hansen, Village of Wilmette

Utopia AB This session has been approved by LA CES for 1 CEU’s

Many think construction projects like new developments, buildings and houses are driving forces behind utilizing tree preservation measures, however flatwork, grading and storm sewer installations may be silently causing even more damage. In this presentation you will learn why damage is occurring, what type of damage is occurring and how trees respond to damage. Joe will provide examples from a plan reviewer perspective and what we typically look for during the permit review process. By understanding how these projects may be negatively impacting your clients trees, you will know what different options may exist to facilitate these projects and be better prepared to answer their client’s questions and be ahead of the curve in the design phase.

Recovering Lost Revenues through Hardscape Maintenance

Andrew Vear, AndrewVear.com

EuphoriaAll hardscape will need some maintenance at some time. Learn how to get started with a hardscape maintenance division, cleaning, repairs and sealing. Make sure you are set up to service what you sell. This session will give you the

tips to retain customer loyalty and the tools to recover revenues and profits.

8:00 AM – 9:15 AM

Know Your Natives on a First Name Basis

Elliott Duemler, Taylor Creek Restoration

Utopia CD This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s

Landscape design has shifted to designing based on plant communities and how plants interact with each other. This talk will focus on species that work well as the filler/ groundcover species, with a heavy emphasis on our native sedges well adapted for a designed plant community. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of what native ground cover species work well in a plant community-based design, and which species are generalist or specialist and any issues to be aware with these plants.

American Roots

Nick McCollough, McCollough’s Landscape & Nursery, LLC

Utopia AB This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s

Follow the journey across the US and take a closer look at gardens that designer Nick McCullough captured on his quest to celebrate the American garden in his new book AMERICAN ROOTS (Timber Press). You will explore a selection of gardens created by 20 creative gardeners across our vast land from Big Sur, California to the shores of Rhode Island. Gain inspiration, planting tips, and an expanded notion of what an American garden is.

Beyond the Shade: The Science and Business of Arboriculture

Steve Lane, Great Lakes Urban Forestry

Nirvana BC This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Let’s face it, trees are complicated! With over 100 different species in our region, being an arborist is more like being a veterinarian than being a doctor. And aside from the standard pests and diseases we have to deal with in our area, sometimes our own actions might be at fault for decline of trees as well. Join Steve as we take a deeper look at demystifying trees, arboriculture, and the benefits trees provide beyond just aesthetics. How we can maintain these benefits for our clients by properly diagnosing and providing the right services for the correct diagnosis will be a primary focus. We’ll also take a look at the ecology of trees, and how choosing the right tree for the right site will have tremendous benefits for the trees, as well as your business! This wide-ranging topic will give you a better appreciation for trees in the landscape, and how you can start to think about them on a deeper level in your planning and maintenance services.

Spring Clean Your Website for Higher Sales

Katie Elzer-Peters, The Garden of Words, LLC

Nirvana A This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Two to five seconds. That’s all the time your potential customers will give you when they go to your website. The site should load within two seconds and they need to be able to locate the answer to their first question within five seconds. Otherwise, they’re out. Does your website get the job done? Find out which areas and features of your website are most important in 2023, which questions to ask yourself before embarking on a website refresh, and get details on finally adding online bill paying to your site.

Landscaping Main Street

Nina Koziol, The Landscape Contractor Additional Presenters: Dan Biernacki, Ted’s Greenhouse, Greg Stack, Ted’s Greenhouse

Euphoria This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s The hanging baskets and planters along downtown Tinley Park’s historic district burst with non-stop color from spring through fall. Discover the unique challenges and rewards of working with local municipalities, from bids and budgets to plant selection and mainte The Landscape Contractor January 2023

nance.

9:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Designing Native Seed Mixes for Success Jason Fritz, Stantec

Utopia CD

This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Native seed mixes can be tricky. You want to get good coverage without breaking the bank, but how much of each species do you need? During this session, Jason Fritz will share 20 years of insights on native seed and teach you how to design a robust, native seed mix that is not only appropriate for the site, but also delivers value for your client. You’ll learn what makes for a good mix design, where to find references for species selection, how to calculate application rates, and how to identify site-specific conditions that may affect your final design.

Practicing New Naturalism: Site-Specific Plantings in Public and Private Places

Kelly Norris, Gardens by Kelly

Nirvana BC This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s In recent years, the shift towards ecologically driven landscapes has created new opportunities and challenges, often accompanied by big questions for how we do business and engage with our audiences. How do we sell customers and stakeholders on wilder landscapes? How do we shift the narrative of the landscape design and build professions from construction and maintenance to cultivation and stewardship? How do we cultivate new practices and knowledge that can transform our industry’s relevance and purpose? Join planting designer, artist and thought leader Kelly Norris for this vibrant exploration of recent and future work at the intersections of horticulture and ecology. His presentation will emphasize the pitch for each commission and the relative success or progress of each project to date with a preview of new developments in the seasons ahead.

Tropical Plants and How to Love Them

Marianne Willburn, Author

Nirvana A This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s If you’re searching for plants that will add exciting accents to a hot and tired summer garden, last right up through the first hard freeze, and make you look like a horticultural rock star, look no further than tropicals. Using five memorable categories and a host of design tips from her new book, Marianne will focus on some spectacular examples that are easy to grow and much easier than you think to overwinter.

Creating a Marketing and Sales Conversion Machine

Chris Darnell, The Harvest Group

Euphoria This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Chris will discuss the framework that will drive marketing processes and turn them into conversions. You will learn functions of how to connect marketing and sales and the tools used to support them.

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM

Planting a New Paradigm

Jeff Lorenz, Refugia Ltd.

Utopia CD The World Wildlife Federation’s 2022 Living Planet Report confirmed what many of us with our hands in the dirt already knew - wildlife populations have experienced average decline of nearly 70% since 1970, with a chilling 10% occurring in the last 4 years. Loss and fragmentation of habitat is the driver of biodiversity loss globally. The good news? Homeowners and businesses are eager to reverse this trend by making their properties sustainable, functional and resilient. Join Jeff Lorenz of Refugia Design to hear how Refugia is shifting traditional industry norms with great success. In the ‘Garden Capital’ of the US, nurseries, growers, designers, and architects have bounced to the forefront of the ecological landscape movement, creating the opportunity to take native plants and landscapes from a trend to a new paradigm. Join Jeff to explore innovative methodologies from a practitioner and small business owner’s point of view; using real data, tips and talking points for landscapers and implementers seeking to make the shift towards ecological design-build.

Personal Observations on Plant Bloom Times Over a Career

Ed Hedborn, The Morton Arboretum

Utopia AB This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Plant blooms offer more than being pretty focal points in our landscapes. They can give us information about changing weather and climate patterns. Observations of plants and when they bloom can tell us a lot about how our environment is changing. In this session, we will cover some of the observations of plant bloom times, what they have taught Ed, and some of the questions raised by those observations over Ed’s 45 year career at The Morton Arboretum.

Using Native Plants for Beauty, Cost Savings and Stormwater Management

Bill Bedrossian, Bedrock Earthscapes, LLC

Nirvana BC This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Join Bill as he explores why using native plants should be part of your business. Attendees will review how native plants can be used in the built environment and then learn how they are installed and maintained. More importantly, how do you convert traditional landscape areas into native areas and not lose money!

Marketing to Attract Your A-Client

Vanessa McQuade, Intrigue Media Additional Presenter: Rob Murray, Intrigue Media

Utopia CD

This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Are you tired of not getting enough of the right leads? This session will walk you through the tools to attract more Awesome Clients - the ones you love working with, understand your value, and refer you to other A-Clients. Discover how to tailor your marketing to attract them, techniques to use to qualify them, and how to keep them as long-lasting clients that will help grow your business.

Root Wrestling: Happy Roots, Happy Shoots

Daniel Miraval, Green Extraction Technologies LLC Additional Presenters: Brianna White, Emerald Tree Care

Euphoria This session has been approved by LA CES for 1.25 CEU’s Mitigating root defects early on leads to long-term survivability. Pneumatic soil excavation is proactive plant healthcare. From nursery harvest, planting depth, to compacted soils, to girdling roots - a vast majority of a tree’s stressors start below ground. By implementing critical root zone therapy by use of supersonic air technology, alleviating those stressors is the first step of improving installation techniques.