Be the First to Know News and Updates from TNLA! OCTOBER 2, 2020
Members' News You Need to Know
Events
COVID-19 UPDATE - Guidance on Payroll Tax Deferral
Have You Reserved Your Booth for the 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO?
How Can the Compensation & Benefits Study Benefit You?
Discover Magical Moments at EXPO
Do You Know a Student Deserving of These 2021-2022 Scholarship Opportunities? TNLA Upcoming Webinars: TNLA Carbon Webinar Series Chat with Green Aggies Webinar Opportunities Retail Garden Centers It's Time to Submit Your Applications for the Texas Garden Retailer Awards Program NEW TNLA MEMBER BENEFIT! Your NEW Digital TNLA Membership Directory and Communities are Ready for You! Put the Power of TNLA's Career Center to Work for You TNLA Career Center Job Postings TNLA NEW Endorsed Service Provider: Partner Ship
Legislative & Regulatory Department of Labor Proposes New Rule on Independent Contractor Status TNLA Working with Texas Ag groups to Unify H-2A Reforms TNLA Joins the State Trucking Reform Coalition Department of Agriculture Reviewed by Legislative Committee Green Report Podcast Episode 9: John Farner with the Irrigation Association
New TNLA Members: September 2020 New TNLA Certified Professionals: September 2020
Embrace Your Space Media Kit Capture Your Carbon Have You Sent in Your Application for the Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards? 5 Tips to Better Utilize Your TNLA Certification TNLA Academics Highlight: Self-Paced Online Courses TNLA Member Highlight
Get Your TNLA Membership Directory & Product Search right in the palm of your hand with dynamic search capabilities on the TNLA 365 Mobile App
Mark your calendars and register today for these upcoming events presented by the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association. See more event opportunities here!
29
January
5-7 August 2021
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio TX Click here for more info!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
COVID-19 UPDATE: Guidance on Payroll Tax Deferral National agriculture tax-consulting firm K-Coe Isom has released the following guidance on the payroll tax deferral established in President Trump’s Executive Order. For employers looking to take advantage of this deferral, we would encourage you to study the guidance and consult with your company’s tax advisor to determine if this is the best step for your firm.
HOW CAN THE COMPENSATION & BENEFITS STUDY BENEFIT YOU?
DO YOU KNOW A STUDENT DESERVING OF THESE 20212022 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES?
The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to have completed the 2020 Texas Green Industry Compensation & Benefits Survey. The goals of compensation are to attract people to work for your organization and to retain people who are already working in the organization. Compensation is also used to motivate employees to work at their peak performance and improve morale. This makes a compensation study important to help your company do business better.
If you know of a deserving student who is studying programs related to the nursery and landscape, or agriculture industry, please send them to the TNLA Awards Platform to complete a scholarship application for either the TNLA Foundation or GROW Texas.
With over 100 companies contributing, the survey represents a window into the employee benefits and compensation of your colleagues in the green industry. This valuable data is an opportunity to know how your competitors monetarily compensate employees, in addition to analysis on workplace culture, education, certification, and ancillary benefits. The study features hard data on compensation, as well as comments from the study participants in order to contextualize the results. Purchase it here!
College scholarships are forms of aid that help students pay for their education. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not have to be repaid. Scholarships that pay for education and living expenses may reduce the risk of students dropping out of college and being unable to obtain the degree they desire. TNLA Foundation and Grow Texas scholarships are awarded to take some of the financial burden off families and students. The awards can help students pursue their educational dreams in the green industry.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
TNLA UPCOMING WEBINARS Carbon Concerns in the Managed Landscape with Dr. Drew Zwart, Bartlett Tree Expert Company October 9 | 11:00AM CDT This presentation will discuss the impact of landscape (urban and suburban) trees on carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, and will focus on the differences between the benefits of carbon sequestration by trees compared to the benefits of trees in relation to avoided emissions. The underlying theme will be that we should not just focus on planting more trees, but also on where and how we are planting to maximize environmental services and function of the trees we plant. Register Here! How Carbon Sequestration Improves Your Turf Grass with Joey Young, Texas Tech University October 16 | 11:00AM CDT Accumulation of soil organic matter and carbon over time may reduce inputs to your lawn. Understand how these accumulations support plant health and maximize pesticide efficacy by reducing offsite movement. Register Here! Pools and Fluxes of Carbon in Forested Ecosystems with Jeremy Stovall, Steven F. Austin University October 23 | 11:00AM CDT Forest ecosystems run on a carbon economy, taking it from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, using it to produce biomass, depositing it in the soil, passing it up the food chain to other organisms, and releasing some of it back to the atmosphere. The various pools and fluxes of carbon in forests will be discussed, providing the ecological understanding needed for any discussion of forest carbon sequestration. Register Here!
EARN 1 TNLA CEU HOUR WITH SUBMISSION OF A TNLA CEU FORM
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
CHAT WITH GREEN AGGIES WEBINAR OPPORTUNITIES The Chats with Green Aggies are on Zoom! Every Thursday 12:12pm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Register For Any or All Future Webinars Here Oct 8, 2020 -Spring insect prevention during fall; Pruning pomegranate and similar plants; Belinda’s Dream Rose Oct 15, 2020 -Chitty Chat; Chinkapin Oak Oct 22, 2020 -Spring disease prevention during fall; Ornamental Peppers Oct 29, 2020 -(Halloween theme!) Pruning crapemyrtle; Biological Control of whiteflies: a case study (Vafaie); Shantung Maple EARN 1 TNLA CEU HOUR PER WEBINAR WITH SUBMISSION OF A TNLA CEU FORM
The Education Opportunities Do Not Stop Here! Webinars in topics ranging from Business Management, Pest & Disease Management, Legislative & Regulatory, Plants, & More Educational white pages (Green Industry Essentials) EXPO Keynotes and Interviews Guided web courses CEU quizzes & more on TNLA Academics Education On Demand here!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
RETAIL GARDEN CENTERS IT'S TIME SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATIONS FOR THE TEXAS GARDEN RETAILER AWARDS PROGRAM The deadline for retail garden centers to submit their entries for the Texas Garden Retailer Awards program is November 7, 2020, which is quickly approaching. Gather the images of your favorite and best merchandising displays and show us what you are working with! The Texas Garden Retailer Awards Program was designed specifically for retail garden centers that demonstrate overall retail design excellence and innovation. TGRA entries will be evaluated on Innovation and Quality, Merchandising Concepts, and Staff Culture within the Garden Center. Judges will select only two winners who will hold the distinguished title of Retailer of the Year, from the following categories: Retail Garden Center's Under 1 Million in Yearly Revenue Retail Garden Center's Over 1 Million in Yearly Revenue Winning entries of the TGRA Awards will be published within a variety of TNLA's digital and print publications, recognized on TNLA's social media platforms and also on TNLA's New 365 Mobile App Experience. In addition, winners of TGRA will be awarded at the 2021 TNLA Awards Fiesta on August 6, 2021, during the Nursery/Landscape EXPO in San Antonio, Texas!
Entry Instructions: 1. Create an online account on TNLA’s Award Force. 2. Choose the TNLA Retail Award category to enter in with (there is no limit to the number of categories one can enter, however, there can be only one entry per company for each category Over One Million in Yearly Revenue OR Under One Million in Yearly Revenue). 3. Upload your entry following the criteria guidelines, questions, and uploading supporting documentation and images. 4. Submit and pay for your TGRA entry. 5. Two Winners will be revealed at the 2021 TNLA Awards Fiesta in San Antonio, TX on August 6, 2021
NOTE: THE ENTRY DEADLINE FOR TGRA IS Saturday, November 7, 2020 by midnight. Enter by Clicking Here
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
NEW TNLA MEMBER BENEFIT! Your NEW Digital TNLA Membership Directory and Communities are ready for you! The TNLA 365 Mobile App Experience is HERE and is available to ALL TNLA MEMBERS! This is the right app at the right time created to help you do business better while you are busy and on the go. Download the app, stay connected and discover easy to find Green Industry resources! As a TNLA Member you already have a profile listed on the app. By downloading the TNLA Mobile App and logging in, you can connect with other TNLA Members who think and work like you! TNLA’s Mobile app will allow you 24/7/365 access to: Find and Connect with TNLA Members Search for Products & Services Exchange ideas with your industry peers Participate in Community discussions with other Members with similar interests Gain access to TNLA Member specific digital libraries and searches Share knowledge and resources Stay up to date with all TNLA has to offer
With TNLA's Mobile App member companies also have the ability to update their company profile information by logging on using your Company (Member) login credentials. After signing on with your company login, you will easily be able to manage specific information such as your product listings, services, company bio etc. (need help, contact sara@tnlaonline.org or call 512-579- 3853).
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A HOW-TO VIDEO & LEARN MORE!
LET'S GET CONNECTED 1. Download the app to your mobile device. Move to the app icon to the first screen on your apps display. 2. Activate your Individual Profile, sign in using your TNLA Individual Login Credentials (need help, contact sara@tnlaonline.org or call 512-579-3853). 3. Locate your profile. Fancy huh? Be sure and put a face to a name by adding your profile picture and update your Bio! 4. Search the directory for another TNLA Member. Are you connected? If not, connect and add them to your contact list. 5. Browse the TNLA Member Community. . Start a discussion, answer a post or comment, and share knowledge and experiences to help others resolve challenges. Sharing is caring. 6. Go to the Library entries and explore the latest and greatest information. 7. Earn recognition for the contributions you make to a community’s discussion by winning badges. GET READY TO ENGAGE, COLLABORATE, AND EXPLORE!
CLICK YOURS TO GET STARTED>> Have a question or need help? Contact membership@tnlaonline.org or call at 512-579-3858
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
PUT THE POWER OF TNLA'S CAREER CENTER TO WORK FOR YOU TNLA's Career Center offers the opportunity to connect with the best company's in the Green Industry. Save valued time by being seen and finding your perfect fit. Post your resume for free by utilizing the tools TNLA's Career Center has to offer. Search through company listings and find your perfect match! Find the best Green Industry Jobs Here
TNLA CAREER CENTER JOB POSTINGS VISIT POSTING
Roundtree Landscaping, Inc., Landscape Sales & Design, Dallas, Texas
VISIT POSTING
Krause Landscape, Landscape Procurement Specialist, Amarillo, Texas
VISIT POSTING
Krause Landscape, Landscape Designer/Estimator, Amarillo, Texas
VISIT POSTING
MBL, Inc., Crew Lead Supervisor, Fort Worth, Texas
VISIT POSTING
GoMaterials, Nursery/Grower Development Consultant, Austin/Dallas/Houston, Texas
VISIT POSTING
James Landscaping, Inc., Landscape Design/Sales Position, Keller, Texas
VISIT POSTING
Unique Landscaping, General Manager, Colleyville, Texas
VISIT POSTING
Alliance Consumer Group, Full Time Gardener, Westlake, Texas
SEE ALL OF THE TNLA CAREER CENTER OPPORTUNITIES HERE
Get Your Community Connected with Your Business by Spreading the Word of Embrace Your Space and Capture Your Carbon Connect with your customers this Fall by utilizing the resources TNLA has put together for your business. Capture Your Carbon has inspired consumers to start planting trees to capture their own carbon and contribute to making more green spaces. We are offering a Carbon Webinar Series so you and your employees can better communicate the impact of carbon to your customers. Not only will you become more knowledgeable, but you will become a reliable source for your customers. The Embrace Your Space Media Kit has been updated now with more graphics for you to share with Capture Your Carbon messaging and more!
Updated Media Kit
Map Coming Soon!
COMING SOON We are preparing to launch an interactive map of participating retailers for consumers. We will be pushing this out through our media outlets and consumer website to help spread the word of Embrace Your Space and Capture Your Carbon. For more information on all these offerings click here!
Questions or Inquiries? Email ashley@tnlaonline.org
Carbon Webinar Series
Dr.Drew Zwart, Bartlett Tree Expert Company
Dr.Joey Young, Texas Tech University
Dr.Jeremy Stovall, Steven F. Austin State University
Carbon Concerns in the Managed Landscape with Drew Zwart PhD Friday October 9, 2020 at 11:00AM Register Today! How Carbon Sequestration Improves Your Turf Grass with Dr. Joey Young Friday October 16, 2020 at 11:00AM Register Today! Pools and Fluxes of Carbon in Forested Ecosystems with Dr. Jeremy Stovall Friday October 23, 2020 at 11:00AM Register Today!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
HAVE YOU SENT IN YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING AWARDS? TNLA’s TEIL program changes the way your customers look at your business. By becoming an awardwinning company, you can show your company’s professionalism and expertise and promote your company as an award-winning firm! Submit your application Here by November 6, 2020 Check out these tips below for a great application!
Use the photo descriptions as an opportunity to TELL THE STORY behind your design.
We were tasked with placing this extremely heavy, large tree on top of a hill in the area. Getting the tree up there proved to be a challenge, when we had to try a few different pieces of equipment to get it in place...
We placed the very large tree on a hill. It was difficult.
Include BEFORE and AFTER photos. Don't be afraid to take the judges through the journey of your project.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
5 TIPS TO BETTER UTILIZE YOUR TNLA CERTIFICATION By becoming a Certified Professional, you join more than 800 professionals who pride themselves on maintaining the highest standards in the Green Industry. You will be recognized by your peers as a knowledgeable, dedicated professional with a long-term commitment to raising the bar.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Email Signature. For most of us, emails are the most used form of communication we have. More people see your emails than your face, vehicle, or phone number. Are you promoting your certification in your email? If not, you are missing out on an opportunity to show your clients your true credentials. Estimate Sheets. If not, that is the one place where your clients need to see what makes your business different than other bid sheets they are looking at. If you do not promote your credentials on your bid sheet, you could be missing out on telling your customers why they should go with your instead of you competitors. Statements. Statements are crucial for the success of your business. Although online bill pay is becoming more a common payment method, invoice statements are still a staple for our industry. Is your certification listed on your invoice statements? If people are paying you for your business’s service, they should know they are paying for your professionalism. Online Pay Portals. Many household today utilize online bill pay. Do you promote your certification on your online bill pay portal? Your customers would feel better about typing in their credit card information if they see that you are a Certified Professional. Webpage. Company websites are the number one-way people find your business. A page on your website aids in helping you sell your services is your ‘Our Team’ page. Do you have an ‘Our Certified Professionals’ page? If not, what better way of highlighting your business's professionalism than listing who on your staff has risen above the norm and earned a certification.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
TNLA ACADEMICS HIGHLIGHT: SELF-PACED ONLINE COURSES TNLA Academics offers self-paced online courses in categories such as Landscaper's Essentials, Landscape Tech, Retail Business Basics, Basic Botany, Plant Materials, Plant Care & Maintenance, and more! These courses are easy-to-follow and eligible for you to earn 1TNLA CEU. Click here to check them out Benefits of Self-Paced Online Courses Further develop your professional knowledge in your time frame Aid your studies for the Exam with these supplemental courses Useful for those new to the Industry to quickly gain industry knowledge while on the go What to Expect: Easy access and useful information available to you 24/7 Training material to print out and share with your colleagues Enjoy self-paced learning, pause and continue as you need while keeping up with current on the job demands
TNLA MEMBER HIGHLIGHT TNLA State Board Member Devin Guinn is breaking out in this article in Irrigation & Green Industry Magazine highlighting his journey through business in the industry. In this close up profile, they talk about some of the challenges that a young entrepreneur can face in the Green Industry and more. Read the article here!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Events
Hear it straight from the State Office
HAVE YOU RESERVED YOUR BOOTH FOR THE 2021 NURSERY/LANDSCAPE EXPO? Priority Exhibit Space Sales are happening NOW! Take advantage of your Priority Status and Early-Bird Pricing by securing your preferred exhibit space today. Beginning October 15, booth sales will be open to everyone so ACT NOW! Call Trevor at 512-579-3859 now to secure the best possible booth location or email EXPO@NurseryLandscapeEXPO.org We look forward to ‘rising together … stronger than ever’ August 5-7, 2021 in San Antonio, Texas. Note: EXPO Management is committed to providing a safe environment for all Exhibitors and Attendees.
DISCOVER MAGICAL MOMENTS AT EXPO Through the years, the Nursery/Landscape EXPO has been the place to reunite as an industry, to shake the hands of old friends and make new ones. The 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO will be no exception. We look forward to making new memories with you as we join together on August 5-7, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas! Continue to visit NurseryLandscapeEXPO.org for updates and information on how you and your company can "Find Your Greatness" at EXPO!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory
Hear it straight from the State Office
TNLA Working with Texas Ag Groups to Unify H-2A Reforms
Department of Labor Proposes New Rule on Independent Contractor Status TNLA staff participated in a nationwide stakeholder call with representatives from the Department of Labor (DOL) as they reviewed their new rule proposal to clarify the difference between an independent contractor and an employee. The rule would rely on an “economic reality” test which would require the agency to determine if the party was truly in business for themselves or dependent on a punitive employer for work. The biggest factors in this test are the individual's control over the nature and degree of the work and whether the worker’s profit was based on initiative and/or investment. The rule is open for public comment and the agency has asked all interested parties including businesses impacted by this rule to submit comments. TNLA will be monitoring the response and changes to the rule to gauge impact to the green industry. To find out more about the proposed rule, click here.
The team at TNLA have been working with partner organizations in the Texas Agriculture Council to define reforms needed for the H-2A program in the coming years. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 was passed by the U.S. House but not given a vote in the Senate and its future is unknown in a new Congress. Included in the bill were more accurate wage surveys, legal status for undocumented Ag workers, and reforms to make the H-2A program cheaper for participating employers. TNLA recently conducted outreach amongst green industry employers who utilize the H-2A program to discuss ways in which our industry in particular would like to see the H-2A program reformed. If your company is a H-2A participant and you have thoughts on how to improve the program, please feel free to reach out to Ryan Skrobarczyk at ryan@tnlaonline.org to share your ideas.
TNLA Joins the State Trucking Reform Coalition As our industry is painfully aware, trucking and freight costs have continued to increase year after year. This is in no small part because of regulatory changes and growing insurance premiums. Litigation promoting suits against commercial vehicles has grown to be a tremendous problem and this coming session TNLA will be joining with the several other prominent business associations to reform the statute to curb malfeasance and increase the transparency of the legal proceedings. Be sure to follow along for more updates and subscribe to the TNLA Leader List for weekly updates during the legislative session.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory
Hear it straight from the State Office
Department of Agriculture Reviewed by Legislative Committee The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) was reviewed by the Texas Sunset Commission in a full hearing last week. By all accounts it was a very positive review of the department and no systemic issues were brought to light by the commission staff or the committee members. The Department officials shed light on the Citrus Budwood Advisory Council and said they would not be opposed to continuing its operation in law. The agency also offered up examples of some of the work they have been doing to address problems within the GO Texan program to ensure it has a mission and stated purpose. Lastly, Commissioner Miller disagreed with the Sunset recommendation to take TDA inspections back to the “riskbased� approach that was carried out under Commissioner Staples. The agency believes that it led to too few businesses in compliance with regulatory licensing and standards. TNLA has been actively engaged in the Sunset review process and will be working with the committee members to submit modifications to the recommendations made to the Legislature.
Green Report Podcast: Episode 9 with John Farner, Irrigation Association If you have not listened to it already, be sure to check out the TNLA Green Report Podcast Episode 9 featuring John Farner with the Irrigation Association. John is a national leader on water policy and federal policy impacting the irrigation industry. Be sure to subscribe to the Green Report on Google Play or Apple Podcasts in order to get notified of new episodes. You can also find Green Report episodes on tnlaonline.org. A big thank you to our podcast sponsor Hotchkiss Insurance Agency for making these episodes possible!
A WORD FROM THE STATE New Members & Certified Professionals Hear it straight from the State Office
NEW TNLA MEMBERS: SEPTEMBER 2020 We have a record of cultivating successful businesses! TNLA… Helping You Do Business Better!
Region I
Region IV
Student Abigail "Abbey" Forney Austin Community College San Antonio, TX
Supplier Business Irrigators Supply Inc. Tim Little Mc Kinney, TX 75069 (972) 562-5390
Region II Landscape Business Kevin's Landscape Kevin Hester College Station, TX 77842 (979) 777-2121 Landscape Business Royalty Landscape Arturo Gutierrez Houston, TX 77272 (281) 779-7783 Retail Business Donath's Garden Works Melanie Donath Baytown, TX 77523 281-383-3066 Retail Business Veseris Doug Gibbs Houston, TX 77015 (832) 386-3300 Supplier Business Coastal Landscape Supplies Skip Gladden Beach City, TX 77523 (281) 385-5263
Region V Landscape Individual Giuseppe Baldi TCLP, TCWSP Lawns of Dallas 684-429-5468 Retail Business Nolan River Nursery Nikki Meeks Cleburne, TX 76033 (817) 933-1702
Region VIII Educator Bonnie Lindig Thorndale ISD Thorndale, TX 76577
NEW TNLA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS: SEPTEMBER 2020 TEXAS CERTIFIED LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATE, TCLA Benjamin Shields University of Texas Charles Lane San Antonio Lawns by Lane TEXAS CERTIFIED NURSERY PROFESSIONAL, TCNP Urbano Olivas City of Farmers Branch Linda Javor Calloway's TEXAS CERTIFIED WATER SMART PROFESSIONAL, TCWSP Patrick Wallace Conserva Irrigation Jon Kirk Jr Landvisions Nick Lovelady Charles Lane San Antonio Lawns by Lane