DIRECTIONS

EXCITING NEW THINGS!

I encourage you all to visit www.ohiolandscapers.org, as our new website went live this past month! Rick did a great job in creating it with our new Association Management Software (AMS). This platform gives us – and you – many new capabilities.

First, this platform gives you more control over your account. For one, you will be able to create and manage your own password. If you haven’t already received an email inviting you to create a password, you will shortly. I am really excited about this, because the antiquated days of assigning passwords and manually emailing them to you are now behind us! Once you’re logged into your account, you will be able to make a host of other changes, including changes to your contact info, uploading company logos, etc. Signing your company up for OLA events and clinics will be much easier, as well. Registration and payments will now be housed on one system, allowing you to monitor who and what your company has already signed up for!

The next upgrade I would like to tell you about is our new Job Board. Based on the industry’s workforce shortage, we made this addition a priority. As a new member benefit, you can now post jobs free of charge! You will also have the ability to upgrade your posting, for a nominal fee, to include it on Google’s Job Board. This can be done at the same time you are posting to our board. In addition, job seekers can now upload resumes, which you will have the ability to search. We’re hoping this will become an invaluable member benefit!

The “Find a Professional” button, positioned dead-center on the homepage, is a link to our upgraded member referral service. In addition to helping property owners find qualified landscape contractors in their area, consumers will now be able to search for associate members that sell products or services to the general public. The ability to upgrade your listing with your company email, website, and so that it displays at the top of the search results will still be available to members, for an extra fee, with the added ability to upload pictures of your work!

Inside the member portal will be a “member search,” where members can find other members that deal only business to

SANDY MUNLEY Executive Director The Ohio Landscape Association

business. For example, a wholesale nursery will not show up on the public section so that Mrs. Smith doesn’t call them for one shrub she wants to purchase. All members will be able to select from a robust list of products and service they provide. The ability to upgrade these listings will be available, as well.

As a reminder, our annual meeting is coming up on Thursday, November 19. It will be a virtual meeting held as a webinar. Because we cannot meet in person, we will be emailing out the slate for our 2021 board of directors and holding an electronic vote. We will announce the results of the vote during our annual meeting.

At that meeting, Mike Rory (GIS Systems) will present “Developing Your Strategic Business Model: A Roadmap for Success.” Mike founded GroundMasters, in Cincinnati, growing it to serve over 1,200 commercial clients in the region. He then sold the business to a national provider. Mike knows what it takes to build a profitable, successful company and is happy to share his knowledge.

Lastly, I would like to remind you that it is membership renewal time. Our membership year runs November 1 to October 31. We value you as a member and have worked really hard this year to keep you informed of all the mandated COVID restrictions while continuing to advocate for your business. We hope we have earned your support and are looking forward to an exciting 2021!