President’s Letter

DEAR TNLA MEMBERS,

This month we are excited to make available a new Texas Green Industry Compensation Study. We all know labor is our one of our biggest concerns. There’s just not enough.

For several years we’ve known our labor shortage plagues all levels of the green industry. Many of us have attended numerous conferences and summits devoted to the issue. We need skilled and unskilled labor. We need college graduates and those who just love to work outside. The greatest test before us now involves moving the needle toward more people entering the green industry workforce.

I believe thinking outside the traditional norms of hiring people, looking at internal culture, and reassessing what the industry has long thought of as fair and equitable compensation should be part of the formula. The TNLA Labor NOW Task Force saw we didn’t have the right tools or data to compete with other industries, so they worked to develop the study.

Writing for The Foundation for HR programs, Jack Bucalo explained, “Being fair means that the compensation amount was impartially and honestly determined in an objective manner based on merit without any favor or prejudice.”

Businesses are challenged with keeping appropriate margins that allow them to run the business and plan ahead. Kevin Daum for Inc. magazine stated, “Small businesses, start-ups and large corporations struggle philosophically and morally to determine proper pay that will stimulate performance, protect reputations and encourage longevity.” I believe the green industry needs to add one more item to that list. We need fair compensation to attract people to our industry. It begins in high school when students are determining a career or job path. The parents and students are asking, “Can I make a living doing this job, will I get benefits if I enter into this profession, and can I pay off my student loan debt by entering this career path?”

TNLA hopes this study will help you begin thinking about the culture you have at work, the compensation you give, and the way you reward excellence. You can access the study in the TNLA online store (tnlaonline.org) under Resources. Log in to get the member price. If you need a login or have forgotten yours send an email to info@ tnlaonline.org.

Amy Graham TNLA President and CEO

TNLA Green

The official publication of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association January/February | Vol. 23 No. 1

Directors Chairman of the Board ... Jay Williams, League City Chairman-Elect ... Tim Little, Dallas Immediate Past Chairman ... Joshua Bracken, TMCNP, Dallas President/CEO ... Amy Graham, Austin

Board of Directors Region I Kevin Grossberndt, Big Foot Region II ... Mike Hugg, TCNP, TCLP, Houston Region III ... Nigel Clark, Winnsboro Region IV ... Craig Duttarer, TCLP, Carrollton Region V ... Jackie Smith, Santo Region VI ... Steven Akers, Slaton Region VII ... Gerry Bower, Weslaco Region VIII ... Brad Seever, Austin Supplier Director ... Jerome Alder, Cedar Park Grower Director ... Kevin Norris, Coppell Landscape Director ... John Leifester, TCLP, San Antonio Retail Director ... Dean Warren, Kingwood Director At-Large ... Adrian Muehlstein, TMCNP, Carrollton Director At-Large .... Rachelle Kemp, TCLP, TMCNP, Waco Director At-Large ... Bobby Eichholz, ASLA, San Antonio Director At-Large ... Devin Gunn, Dallas

TNLA Staff President/CEO ... AmyGraham Director of Finance ... Cheryl Staritz Director, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs… Ryan Skrobarczyk Director, EXPO Exhibits and Membership... AmyPrenger, CEM Director, TNLA & EXPO Marketing/Communications... Sarah Riggins, CEM Director, Industry Education and Certifications… James Theiss, TCLP, TCWSP, Certified Arborist Business Development/Sales Executive... MikeYelverton, TCNP&TCWSP Office Operations Assistant... NancySollohub Event Specialist… Sara Fern Specialist, TNLA and EXPO Marketing/Communications… AshleyPettibone Administrative Assistant… Debra Allen Event Exhibit Specialist...TrevorPeevey

Magazine Staff October Custom Publishing Editor ... Crystal Zuzek Creative Director ... Torquil Dewar Art Director ... Shelley Lai Production ... Zach Scouras

TNLA Green magazine is a member service of the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, and is published bi-monthly. Advertising information is available from TNLA, 7730 South IH 35, Austin, Texas 78745, online at www.tnlaonline.org, or by calling (800) 880-0343. TNLA office hours are weekdays, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM CST. Copyright 2018 Texas Nursery Landsape & Association