In an ongoing effort to provide lawn care operators (LCOs) with the resources they need to run their businesses, the Bayer Lawn Care Institute (LCI) is conducting its fourth Healthy Lawns, Healthy Business Summit of 2008 in conjunction with the Lawn Care Association of Pennyslvania’s annual pest walk. The combined event will take place at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, Pa., on August 11. The walk begins at 8:30 a.m., focusing on turfgrass, landscape and lawn weeds and landscape plant pests.
The Healthy Lawns Healthy Business Summit will follow the pest walk, kicking off with a keynote address by Bill Arman, head harvester of The Harvest Group: Landscape Business Consulting. His presentation, “The Seven Step Process to Recruiting and Getting the Right People,” will provide a hands-on approach to building an effective employee recruiting program.
Following a Bayer-sponsored lunch, LCAP President Tom Shotzbarger will moderate a panel discussion called “Maintaining and Growing Your Business in a Tough Economy.” The panel will address a variety of topics relevant to local LCOs, such as increasing fuel and materials costs and fertilization updates. Panelists include Arman, Mike Sisti, of Lebanon Turf Inc., and Robert Palmer, of WeedPro Inc. Continuing Education credits will be offered, as well as two raffles for $500 gift cards.
“The Lawn Care Association of Pennsylvania is excited to partner with Bayer Environmental Science to provide more value and resources to members,” Shotzbarger says. “Between the morning pest walk, keynote speaker and panel discussion, I know everyone in attendance will take away new insights and tools.”
“The Healthy Lawns, Healthy Business Summits are a good way to provide value and support for our customers through the Lawn Care Institute,” said Jason Kuhlemeier, business manager, insecticides, Bayer Environmental Science. “These events allow LCOs in regions across the country to come together and learn ways to improve their business while remaining focused on what is important to them locally.”
The LCI seeks to bring business owners and decision-makers quick tips and tools for improving their businesses as well as opportunities to discuss regional hot button issues with experts and peers. Two Healthy Lawns, Healthy Business Summits have already taken place this year in Massachusetts and Ohio, and three more are scheduled, including one in Overland Park, Kan., on August 6 and one in Orlando, Fla., on December 3 and 4.