Be the First to Know News and Updates from TNLA! SEPTEMBER 4, 2020
Calendar of Events Members' News You Need to Know COVID-19 UPDATE - Congressional Developments on COVID Relief - Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Webinar with Dr.Charlie Hall & Dr. Brent Pemberton TNLA Upcoming Webinar: PCI Compliance:What's the Big Deal Anyway? Chat with Green Aggies Webinar Opportunities Don't Miss These 2021-2022 Scholarship Opportunities TNLA 365 Mobile App Experience Update Reach Your Professional Goals with TNLA's Career Center Retailers! You Could Be the Retailer of the Year Compensation & Benefits Study Capture More Customers this Fall with Capture Your Carbon Texas Excellence in Landscaping Award: Best of Show Winners
Events Nursery/Landscape EXPO Advisory Committee Attention Nursery/Landscape EXPO Exhibitors! Watch the TNLA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Fiesta! Watch the Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards Show! West Texas Workshop Takes on Alpine, TX this October!
Legislative & Regulatory TNLA Labor Summit Helps Businesses Reach the Next Level Congressional Panel on Seasonal Workforce Visas and Immigration Texas Workforce Development Panel Dr. Alex Alonzo Provides Overview on Diversity and Inclusion Closing Keynote with U.S. Senator John Cornyn
New TNLA Members New TNLA Certified Professionals
Take advantage of the Embrace Your Space Media Tool Kit! It's full of free graphics for your business to use to keep customers coming! #EmbraceYourSpace
Mark your calendars and register today for these upcoming events presented by the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association. See more event opportunities here!
29-30
October
12-13 Nov. Coming Soon!
Coming Soon! SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE CLICK HERE FOR MAXIMUM EXPOSURE
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
COVID-19 UPDATE: Congressional Developments on COVID Relief Negotiations apparently continue amongst Congressional leadership concerning the idea of COVID-related relief with little indication when it will come to resolution. Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have not agreed upon the premise of the next relief package or how much relief would be aimed at the business community. However, as Congress returns to Washington following the August recess, pressure will continue to build for some kind of relief package before the end of the year. On a related note, several bills have been filed to create programs of relief for various sectors of the economy, including the green industry. A recent bill filed by two Democrats from the NY and Connecticut, titled Helping America’s Farmers Act, is getting attention from Texas Democrats looking to help get aid to growers. The bill explicitly includes horticulture and floriculture and would create a $10 billion dollars’ worth of low interest loans to help businesses weather the storm. TNLA will continue to monitor this legislation and others as Congress returns to business this month.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Slow the Spread of COVID-19 We can stop the spread of COVID-19. But it has to be all of us — working together for a #HealthyTexas. Here are some simple steps we can all take to slow the spread of COVID19: Wash your hands often for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer if no soap and water are available. Wear a cloth face covering in public and in large gatherings. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue away. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Disinfect surfaces, buttons, handles, knobs and other high-touch surfaces. Stay six feet apart from others. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you’re sick, get tested, then stay home.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
WEBINAR WITH DR. CHARLIE HALL AND DR. BRENT PEMBERTON Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Brings You: Exciting New Plants Coming Down the Pipeline with Dr. Charlie Hall and Dr. Brent Pemberton September 10 | 11:00AM CDT In this webinar, Dr. Brent Pemberton will discuss exciting new plants that entering the green industry pipeline based on his own plant trials in Overton, Texas, and with his participation in the Texas Superstar program. New product development is an important strategy for the industry so you do not want to miss this! Dr. Pemberton’s area of research is in nursery and floriculture crop production and physiology. His research has an emphasis on field production of rose plants including work on propagation and irrigation practices, production systems, weed and disease control, and post-harvest care and shipping. He is currently working with a group of scientists on improving disease resistance in roses. In addition, bedding plant pack and garden trials are performed each spring and fall featuring new varieties available for production in the green industry. Register Here! EARN 1 TNLA CEU HOUR WITH SUBMISSION OF A TNLA CEU FORM
TNLA UPCOMING WEBINAR: PCI COMPLIANCE: WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ANYWAY? PCI Compliance: What's the Big Deal Anyway? with Rich Kling, Merchant Owl September 25 | 11:00AM CDT During our next webinar we will discuss PCI Compliance, what it is and why it is important. PCI Compliance has been a thorn in the side of many business owners for several years now. I will help explain why PCI was created and what you can do to become compliant and what could happen if you don’t. Register Here! EARN 1 TNLA CEU HOUR WITH SUBMISSION OF A TNLA CEU FORM The Webinar Opportunities Do Not Stop Here! Check out webinars in topics ranging from Business Management, Pest & Disease Management, Legislative & Regulatory, Plants, & More Here!
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 Sep 3, 2020 -Fall planting considerations; Poison ivy; Vitex; Sep 10, 2020 -Getting to know the European Pepper Moth; A really strange looking Chinese Pistache; Angelonia Sep 17, 2020 -Chitty Chat ; Black Stockings Napier Grass Sep 24, 2020 -Non-chemical control of CMBS; Poinsettia Nutrition; Knock-out Rose Oct 1, 2020 -Cool-season weed mgmt.; Pollinator Citizen Scientist Project; Lindheimer’s Muhly 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 Webinar Opportunities Do Not Stop Here! Check out webinars in topics ranging from Business Management, Pest & Disease Management, Legislative & Regulatory, Plants, & More Here!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
DON'T MISS THESE 2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITES 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. All applicants should carefully review the program requirements as explained on the website and submit their applications and required documents by the deadlines.
2021-2022 TNLA Foundation Horticulture Scholarship Program The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Foundation awards funds to horticulture/landscape students for their continued education. The standard TNLA Scholarship award is a $1,000 one-year scholarship award. Other TNLA Scholarship awards, varying in amounts, are also available. Applicant must be a Texas resident. Applicant must be a high school senior or returning college student majoring in horticulture, business or related field, have a sincere intent to enter or be involved in the horticulture industry, and attend an accredited Texas school for the period covered by the scholarship. Completed application with all required attachments must be submitted by December 31st. 2021-2022 Grow Texas Scholarship Program The mission of the Grow Texas Scholarship Program (GTSP) is to help young Texans develop the skills needed to lead Texas agriculture into the future. The standard Grow Texas Scholarship award is $1,000 or more one-year scholarship award. The $1,000 award is divided into a $500 payment per semester for the next two consecutive semesters. Other Grow Texas Scholarship awards, varying in amounts are also available. Applicant must be a Texas resident. Applicant must be a high school senior or returning college student majoring in an agriculture related field, have a sincere intent to enter or be involved in the agriculture industry and attend an accredited Texas school for the period covered by the scholarship. Completed application with all required attachments must be submitted by November 15th.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
TNLA 365 MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE UPDATE We are getting closer to going live with TNLA's 365 Mobile App Experience! The app is currently in development with Apple iTunes and Google Play Store and is well on its way to getting launched in the coming weeks! The app is going to allow members to connect 24/7 virtually to other industry professionals and experts. Members will be able to scroll through company and product listings and connect with each other all within the app.
With the help of the mobile app's community groups, members will be invited to take part in specialized discussions pertaining to their area of interest. Members within a community can post questions or provide answers, attach files, and quickly share resources.
When you are on the go, you don't have to worry about missing a conversation because the app will provide you with a daily digest to review responses and stay up to date with the community's current conversations.
Stay Tuned for More to Come... SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES are available for TNLA’s New 24/7/365 Mobile App Coming Soon! Get in front of your customer by adding banners, community discussion posts, company logos, and more! Call Amy Prenger at 512-579-3858 for more details!
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
RETAILERS! YOU COULD BE THE NEXT RETAILER OF THE YEAR TNLA’s Texas Garden Retailer Award (TGRA) program offers all garden centers the unique opportunity to gain unrivaled recognition among their peers for the quality of their work and the impact of their ideas. Participating in this awards program is an excellent way to have your brand stand out. This prestigious award will name the "Retailer of the Year" in which finalists will receive statewide promotion.
REACH YOUR PROFESSIONAL GOALS WITH TNLA'S CAREER CENTER
The deadline to submit for the Retail Garden Centers to submit their TGRA entry is November 7, 2020. Click Here for additional information and to apply!
TNLA offers a variety of ways to help you build your horticulture network through virtual and in-person events and also through TNLA's Certification program. Another way you can surround yourself with a network that will empower you to grow is through TNLA's Career Center where employers post job positions offering you the opportunity to take the next step in your career path Get your name out there and be seen by posting your resume for FREE, by clicking here and search for today's Green Industry job opportunities. Your future in the Green Industry is looking bright, and the TNLA Career Center is here to help you along the way!
Enter by following these easy steps: 1. Create an online account on TNLA’s Award Force. 2. Upload your TGRA entry following the criteria guidelines, questions, and providing supporting documentation and images. 3. Submit and pay for your TGRA entry.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS STUDY The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to have completed the 2020 Texas Green Industry Compensation & Benefits Survey and is ready for it to be released. 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. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insight into Texas-specific green industry employment information. The complete survey results are available to TNLA members at $100 and nonmembers at $250. Purchase it here!
CAPTURE MORE CUSTOMERS THIS FALL WITH CAPTURE YOUR CARBON Fall is a great time to draw in your customers and remind them why it is important to #EmbraceYourSpace The Embrace Your Space campaign is revamped and we are encouraging consumers to CAPTURE YOUR CARBON, Plant a Tree this fall season. TNLA wants to provide you with the resources and inspiration to keep business booming with these campaigns. Make sure to check into the #EmbraceYourSpace media kit with new graphics for your business to share on social media and flyers to print, to keep those customers excited for planting! We are keeping an eye out for YOUR POSTS! TNLA wants to help spread the word of Embrace Your Space with everyone and we want to help YOUR BUSINESS EARN MORE IMPRESSIONS across social media platforms. All you have to do is use the hashtag #EmbraceYourSpace and/or #CaptureYourCarbon so we can share your post.
If you have any questions or inquiries please contact Ashley at ashley@tnlaonline.org
A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office
TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING AWARD BEST OF SHOW WINNERS Alterra Design, LLC, Barn Beam Pergola, Special Projects Category
Matt W. Stevens Landscape Architect, LLC, Arnold Residence, Design Category
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
A WORD FROM THE STATE Events
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NURSERY/LANDSCAPE EXPO ADVISORY COMMITTEE Last week the EXPO Advisory Committee came together to discuss the future plans and development for the Nursery/Landscape EXPO. The committee is being led by Committee Chair, John Leifester, TCLP with Dedicated Landscape Solutions. Last week's virtual meeting helped inspire many ideas to enhance EXPO and was the beginning of even more great conversations to come. The group looks forward to getting back together soon to help move EXPO forward.
ATTENTION NURSERY/LANDSCAPE EXPO EXHIBITORS Priority Exhibitor Booth Space Selection for the 2021 Nursery/Landscape EXPO (faceto-face) is happening NOW! Booth spaces are going fast so 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.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Events
WATCH THE TNLA ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND AWARDS FIESTA!
WATCH THE TEXAS EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING AWARDS SHOW!
Watch the latest virtual event presented by TNLA honoring this year's Award Winners including Arp: Neil Sperry, Young Leader: Veronica Seever, Summit: TreeTown USA and Honorary Lifetime Membership Winners: Mark Rose and Dr. Michael Wade. Thank you to our virtual event sponsor: Texas Green Industry Safety Group
Come see who our latest winners of the Texas Excellence in Landscaping Awards are by watching our live recording of the Texas Excellence In Landscaping Virtual Awards Ceremony where we celebrated the Bronze, Silver and Gold Winners and showed the details behind each award-winning project.
Click to Watch Now
Click to Watch Now
Hear it straight from the State Office
WEST TEXAS WORKSHOP TAKES ON ALPINE, TX THIS OCTOBER!
TNLA’s West Texas Workshop allows you to explore the unique West Texas landscape and learn from experts who specialize in the West Texas ecosystem. See sites and plants only found in West Texas and take that knowledge back to your company to diversify your project and plant profiles. Register Here Today! UPDATED SCHEDULE: OCTOBER 29-30, 2020 THURSDAY 1:30-3:30 Registration 3:30-3:45 Welcome & Intros 3:45-5:15 Trans-Pecos Flora Selections – Michael Eason 5:15-6:15 A Socially Distant Soiree! FRIDAY 7:30-8:00 Coffee & Intros 8:00-9:00 Great Plants for Trans-Pecos Landscapes – Jackie Lyle, Civano Growers 9:10-10:10 A West Texas Xeriscape – Seth Hamby CDRI Nature Center 10:20-11:20 West Texas Pocket Prairies – Native Prairie Association of Texas 12:00-1:00 Lunch on Your Own 1:30-4:30 Self-Guided Tour at Chihuahua Desert Research Institute
A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory
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TNLA LABOR SUMMIT HELPS BUSINESSES REACH THE NEXT LEVEL The TNLA Labor Summit was held last Friday on August 28th and we have a full breakdown below. TNLA was honored to have Congressmen Henry Cuellar & Joaquin Castro, Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn just to name a few. Over 100 attendees participated in a total of 4 hours of conversations on the issues of workforce recruitment and retention and featured recordings on the latest information concerning H-2A and H-2B. Thank you to our TNLA Labor Summit Sponsor Federation of Employers and Workers of America.
Congressional Panel on Seasonal Workforce Visas and Immigration Texas Tribune Editor Ross Ramsey moderated a conversation with Congressman Henry Cuellar and Congressman Joaquin Castro. Both panelists went over their perspective on the inner workings of Congress. Congressmen Cuellar and Castro stated that the H-2A & H-2B programs were vital to the economy and necessary to facilitate a supply of workers. After discussing the history of these visa programs and how often they are tied together with comprehensive immigration reform, the panelists agreed that stand alone reform of the programs were possible, although it may require a new Congress. The House-passed Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which reforms the H-2A program and is supported by industry, was addressed specifically and presented as an example of a bill which will require the U.S. Senate to act.
Texas Workforce Development Panel This panel was moderated by Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Bryan Daniel and featured the workforce development board executives from three of Texas’ biggest metropolitan areas. The panel discussed the ways in which local workforce development boards have adjusted their services to respond to COVID. In addition, the panelists explicitly stated that the best way for local workforce development boards to understand the need for labor in the green industry was for employers to establish a relationship with their local officials. Panelists encouraged green industry employers to seek out opportunities to serve on the workforce development board and communicate the need for labor in these areas.
A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory
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TNLA LABOR SUMMIT HELPS BUSINESSES REACH THE NEXT LEVEL Dr. Alex Alonso Provides Overview on Diversity & Inclusion Chief Knowledge Officer from the Society of Human Resources (SHRM), Dr. Alex Alonzo, provided an overview of the research and outreach that SHRM has been producing to help employers on the issues of workforce diversity and inclusion. Dr. Alonso went through the data to reveal where issues in these areas present themselves for employees and employers as well as discussed ways in which employers could promote a positive company culture. While there is not a perfect way to confront these issues, the companies who were handling them the best were those who had asked their employees how they felt and had open lines of communication for employees to share their thoughts with supervisors.
Closing Keynote with U.S. Senator John Cornyn Senator Cornyn closed out the event by addressing the attendees and taking questions on issues related to seasonal employment visas, immigration, and workforce development. The Senator updated everyone on the latest related to Hurricane Laura, as he had just come back from a tour with Governor Greg Abbott. The senator specifically addressed the systemic issues with the H-2B program and acknowledged the Returning Worker Exemption (RWE) represents the ideal scenario for providing cap relief under the program and incentivizing visa holders to follow the full extent of the law. Senator Cornyn also offered the opportunity for our industry to communicate directly to the Senate committee and discuss the labor issues confronting our employers.
If you want to stay up to date on current legislative and regulatory happenings, sign up to be part of TNLA's Leader List newsletter to receive political notices, legislative alerts and highlights of TNLA's advocacy work. Sign up now to receive updates and more about the Legislative and Regulatory action in the Industry!
A WORD FROM THE STATE New Members
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NEW TNLA MEMBERS: AUGUST 2020 We have a record of cultivating successful businesses! TNLA… Helping You Do Business Better!
Region I
Region V
Landscape Business Fasken Oil and Ranch, Ltd. Steve Lacewell San Antonio, TX (210) 690 7600
Preservation Tree Services, Inc. A.J. Thibodeaux Fort Worth, TX 817 581 4502 www.preservationtree.com
Landscape Individual Jennifer Baine San Antonio, TX
Preservation Tree Services, Inc. A.J. Thibodeaux Anna, TX 972 924 2500 www.preservationtree.com
Region II
Landscape Individual Marcus McKee TCLP RJ Wachsman Wichita Falls, TX
Government Paul Wierzbicki 1522 Texas Parkway Missouri City, TX 77489 281 403 8645 Retail Business Enchanted Gardens Joey Lenderman 6420 FM 359 RD Richmond, TX www.myenchanted.com
Region IV Preservation Tree Services A.J. Thibodeaux Micah Pace Scott Dahlberg Dallas, TX 214-528-2266 www.preservationtree.com
Region VI Student Tanner Higgins Lubbock, TX
Region VIII Landscape Individual Michael Lugar Jr Temple, TX
Out of State GoMaterials Michael Bellows Pincourt J7V 9B6 CANADA (514) 247 6453 www.gomaterials.com
A WORD FROM THE STATE New Certified Professionals Hear it straight from the State Office
NEW TNLA CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS: AUGUST 2020
Texas Certified Landscape Professional (TCLP)
Texas Certified Nursery Professional (TCNP)
For individuals in the nursery/landscape industry cultivating a high degree of knowledge and skill in horticulture and landscape development.
For individuals in the nursery/landscape industry that possess a high degree of knowledge and skill in horticulture. Becoming a TCNP, you add credibility and prestige and increases your value as an employee.
Lila Ford, Calloway's Nursery
Nathaniel Meeks, Calloway's Nursery
Texas Certified Landscape Associate (TCLA)
Texas Master Certified Nursery Professional (TMCNP)
For professionals who install or maintain landscape projects and desire to have a higher caliber skills and knowledge.
This Certification is designed for nursery professionals who have already earned their TCNP credentials. It shows a true passion and dedication to maintaining the highest level of professional knowledge.
Jonathan Dey Joseph Gomez Kelly Schmidt Brandon Stubbs Timothy Flowers Benjamin Shields, UT Austin
Allyson Dunnihoo, Calloway's Nursery Melinda Harding, Calloway's Nursery
The Gift that Keeps on Giving! With information on Texas native plants, resilient non-natives, landscape design, water smart gardening and more, this is the perfect gift for anyone! Homeowners, renters, garden novices and garden experts alike can all benefit from continued knowledge on optimal growing conditions in all parts of Texas. Created by industry professionals, for your green thumb. Member Price 1-9: $13.00 10-100: $6.75 Non-Member Price 1-9: $13.00 9-100: $13.00 Make your yard the best it can be with the TNLA Best of Texas Landscape Guide!
Visit tnlaonline.org/best-of-texas-landscape-guide to order yours today!