Highlights from the Green Industry Conference

The Green Industry Conference was a great success this year.  Published reports stated the attendance at GIC was up 20% over last year and overall Expo attendance was up 7%.  The weather was great and so were spirits.

A few of the highlights from our perspective included presentations by David Minor, CEO of The Landscape Partners in Fort Worth and Executive-in- Residence at Texas Christian University, who spoke on How to be the Star Performer in Your Industry and Creating a World Class Culture and  Joel Korte’s presentation on The Keys to Growing a Successful and Rewarding Landscape Company. David built and sold a landscape services business in Dallas-Fort Worth and is again leading a comany in the industry.  Joel sold his company, Urban Environments, Inc., to The Brickman Group in 2004 and is still with Brickman today.

A particular high point for me was the GIC keynote speaker, Mount Everest climber Jamie Clarke, who spoke on Above All Else:  The Power of Passion.

We also enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Breakfast with Champions program each day. The program was well-attended, we learned a lot and made lots of new contacts.

Of course, I am always truly amazed when walking the floor of the Green Industry Expo.  I was sure to pick up a few caps for my son.  I am not sure why, but I think his favorite among the souvenirs I brought home was a magnet for his truck proclaiming to be a member of the John Deere Commercial Mowing Team.

We plan to attend Planet’s Lawn Care Summit in Atlanta in December and the National Green Centre (formerly the Western)in St. Louis in January.  If you will be attending either of these events, we’d be happy to meet with you.  If you would like to schedule a time to meet, please email me at [email protected].

—Ron Edmonds