INVESTING IN YOUR EMPLOYEES

With labor at an all-time premium, employee retention is at the forefront of every manager’s mind. Once a company attracts the best talent, the work is not finished. They must continue to invest in their employees to keep them engaged, motivated, and loyal to the organization. Research shows that companies with high employee retention rates have a better bottom line, higher productivity, and a more positive work culture.

That being said, demonstrating care for your employees should be a critical aspect of your employee retention plan. While something as simple as a thank-you card is a good start, investing time and resources in your staff can go a long way towards improving employee morale and loyalty - and it shows you care.

While ongoing training and development can be viewed as activities that will improve the overall performance of your business, they also improve the individual. Think about your current relationships for a second. Is there a person who checks in on you regularly and offers help or feedback? Or, do you have friends who only check in when they need something? Which friendships make you feel valued and connected? Which ones do you prefer to invest your time in? While your employees are the people who get the work done, never lose sight of the fact that they are people with feelings, wants, and needs. The more you give of yourself to the people around you, the more you will receive. And, as Woody Hayes once said, “You win with people.” continued on page 6

So, what should you be doing to develop or train your personnel? Well, that’s the million-dollar question and it all depends on the individual, and the company’s overarching goals. While talent development can motivate someone who already has a passion for what it is they are doing, it might also ignite a spark in someone who is slightly disengaged.

The first thing that comes to my mind is the concept of mentorship. This can benefit the mentor and mentee and create a lifelong bond. Pairing up a newer employee with a veteran can help with team bonding and the mentee is encouraged that an interest is being taken in their development and well-being. For those employees on the management track, it’s possible that a mentor resides somewhere outside of your company and may only be needed as a sounding board. Weekly or monthly check-ins away from the office will help develop a relationship and give that employee a break.

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Investing in Your Employees: It’s Worth the Time & Money

PERENNIAL FOCUS

Underutilized Landscape Plants: Let’s Talk Native Perennials

FISCAL FITNESS

Managing Risk & Volatility

FOR SAFETY SAKE

Protecting Your Business: Focus on Safety Training When Onboarding

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Landscape Ohio! Enhancement Awards Results

PLANT OF THE MONTH

Aralia Cordata: Spikenard

FEATURE ARTICLE

FEATURE

How

OHIO’S PROFESSIONAL GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

OHIO LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

9240 Broadview Road

Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147

Phone: 440.717.0002

Toll Free: 1.800.335.6521

Web: www.ohiolandscapers.org and www.myohiolandscape.com

DESIGNER / EDITOR

Rick Doll, Jr.

REGULAR WRITERS

Michael J. Donnellan, M3 Wealth Management

Dr. Jim Funai, PhD., Cuyahoga Community College

Shelley Funai, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens

Stephanie Gray, LIC, BrightView Landscapes

Sandy Munley, Ohio Landscape Association

Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD, Bobbie’s Green Thumb

ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Submission deadline: 10th of the month, prior to the month of magazine publication. For advertising rates and ad specs, please call 440.717.0002, or email Rick Doll Jr. at rick@ohiolandscapers.org.

DISCLAIMER

The Ohio Landscape Association, its board of directors, staff and the editor of The Growing Concern neither endorse any product(s) or attests to the validity of any statements made about products mentioned in this, past or subsequent issues of this publication. Similarly, the opinions expressed in The Growing Concern are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ohio Landscape Association.

OFFICERS

President

Stephanie Gray, LIC

President – Elect

Cameron Maneri

Treasurer

Ryan Drake

Immediate Past President

Brian Maurer, LIC

DIRECTORS

Brandon Barker

Matt Malone

Tim McCaskey

Bob Ramser, LIC

Tom Rieder, LIC

Kate Stone, OCNT

OLA STAFF

Executive Director

Sandy Munley

Associate Director

Rick Doll, Jr.

Calendar Of Events

UPCOMING OLA MEETINGS, EDUCATION SEMINARS & EVENTS

JULY

JULY 11, 2023

PLANT I.D. CLINIC (Central Ohio)

This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Sponsored by Willoway Nurseries.

See page 32 for more details.

JULY 13, 2023

PLANT I.D. CLINIC (N.E. Ohio)

This clinic is a hands-on training opportunity for you and your crews covering the basics of Plant ID for plants typically used in Ohio. Sponsored by Davis Tree Farm & Nursery.

See page 32 for more details.

JULY 19, 2023

WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP

OLA’s Women in Landscape Group was created for the purposes of connecting, empowering, and advocating for women in the landscape industry, while amplifying the voices of our current & future women leaders.

See sidebar (right) for more details.

AUGUST

AUGUST 3, 2023

OLA SCHOLARSHIP GOLF CLASSIC

Join us at Mallard Creek Golf Club for the OLA Scholarship Golf Classic! Our golf outing was created to help generate funding for our scholarship program. Call the OLA at 440.717.0002 for available sponsorship opportunities. See page 7 for more details.

AUGUST cont.

AUGUST 23, 2023

SNOW & ICE MANAGEMENT CLINIC

Whether you’re an owner, operations manager, dispatcher, or anyone in between, the OLA’s annual snow and ice management clinic is a can’t miss event for any company focused on improving how they handle the “white side” of their business.

For more details see pages 26 & 27.

September

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

PLANT HEALTHCARE DAY

This full-day workshop combines all aspects of Plant Health Care (PHC) for both technicians and managers, with live demonstrations of PHC techniques. Held at Secrest Arboretum, located in Wooster, OH. See page 33 for more details.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

NE OHIO FACILITY TOUR (Turfscape)

Founded in 1988 by George Hohman, their dedication to detail and healthy client relationships quickly led to Turfscape’s first location opening in 1989. By 1999, the company began to thrive, building a headquarters in Twinsburg, a second location in Independence (2004) and a third in North Canton (2013). Join us as we tour Turfscape’s headquarters, located in Twinsburg, Ohio, to find out what has made them so successful for over 35 years. Registration opens August 2023.

WOMEN IN LANDSCAPE MEET-UP

The OLA’s Women in Landscape Group was created for the purpose of connecting, empowering, and advocating for women in the landscape industry. We want to help drive the change necessary to recruit and retain female professionals while amplifying the voices of current & future women leaders. If you are female, you are invited to join this FREE networking group. (Note: Based on group consensus, males may be invited to join from time to time.)

Our first meeting of 2023, scheduled for July 19th, will be a very informal event used to determine future topics of conversation for the group.

Event Information

DATE & LOCATION

JULY 19, 2023

SUDS MAGUIRE’S BAR & GRILL 1270 W BAGLEY RD. BEREA, OH 44133

AGENDA NETWORKING

5:30PM TO 7:30PM

COST TO ATTEND

NONE

FOOD/BEVERAGE: ATTENDEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FOOD & BEVERAGE PURCHASES.

REGISTER TO ATTEND BY JULY 12, 2023 continued from page 3

ABOUT SUDS MAGUIRE’S BAR & GRILL Suds Maguire’s Bar & Grill has always been one of Berea’s favorite establishments. With cold beers on tap, a wide variety of bottled and canned beers, wines, and creative mixed concoctions, their patio is open seasonally with tables for dining, two TVs, and an outside bar that is connected to their inside bar. Sud’s has a pet friendly patio, as well as a variety of entertainment options.

Another idea is looking into academic partnerships and/or tuition reimbursement. Since the pandemic, many colleges continue to offer online courses that can be dialed up on demand – when it is convenient. We are fortunate in the state of Ohio to have several colleges and universities with amazing horticulture programs.

Speaking of education, the OLA also has several classes coming up on our calendar for technicians and supervisorlevel employees. Please check the website for registration information and our most current offerings, as we are currently working on filling out the rest of our calendar. Our classes range from half-day to full-day – depending on the topic – and typically revolve around topics currently relevant to your business. Plus, the OLA offers discounts on training through Greenius (one of your member benefits) which is an online portal with hundreds of topics that can be taken on demand.

In addition to hands-on training and mentoring, I suggest you look into ways to coach up your staff’s ‘soft skills.’ What are soft skills, you might ask? The term refers to a wide range of topics or transferable skill sets that some potential candidates may be lacking in today’s job market. Soft skills are not learned by acquiring knowledge (taking a class or listening to a TED talk), but by interacting with others. An example would be interpersonal skills like dealing with different personality types, or social skills regarding attitude and task flexibility. These are a little difficult to develop and require patience and positive reinforcement. Soft skills also relate to emotional intelligence and one’s ability to recognize thoughts and manage feelings. Soft skills can be measured by how well someone manages and communicates with the people around them.

In closing, most of us are looking for employees with a good work ethic. Once you find that diamond in the rough, showing them you care and are willing to work with them to hone their problem-solving skills and apply their creativity will help create – and keep – that employee. And while it will inevitably take time and patience on your part, your company will be much better off for it in the long run.

- Stephanie Gray, LIC

Major Sponsors