The Real Business Value of FNGLA

A M O N T H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N F O R F N G L A M E M B E R S . D I G I T A L M O N T H L Y I S S U E L O C A T E D A T H T T P : / / G R E E N L I N E . F N G L A . O R G

April 2012 | Volume 33, Issue 4

Return on investment. Tangible value. Thunk value. Bottom-line value.

All of these “catch phrases” are kicked around by all types of industry associations when trying to convey worth and usefulness to their members. It’s not an easy task as human nature’s short-term memory almost always trumps spin and positioning.

Members of all associations routinely ask, “What’s my association done for me…lately?” FNGLA and its members are no different. So, every once in a blue moon, it’s good to be reminded FNGLA membership has real business value for you.

To underscore this point, I wish to take a uniquely different tack. Here goes:

Imagine a Florida with no FNGLA…

• Nursery production would not be recognized as part of agriculture.

• Greenbelt tax assessments would not be available to nurseries.• Landscape irrigation rules would be so restrictive that plant

sales literally dry up.• Road landscaping would be de-funded and not exist.• Mandatory E-verify for all new hires would be in place.• No fertilizer would be allowed on lawns and landscapes.• Many non-native Florida-friendly plants would be defined as

invasive and their use prohibited.• UF/IFAS funding would be hit so badly that nursery/

landscape research is eliminated. • Business-disrupting plant shipping quarantines would be the

norm not the exception.• Nurseries would face exorbitant water permit and stormwater

assessment fees.• Agricultural sales tax exemptions on equipment would be

denied to nursery growers.

FNGLA pushes a no-apologies, pro-business, pro-agriculture, pro-environment and pro-jobs agenda. Not to toot FNGLA’s own horn too loudly, yet with no FNGLA, chances are our industry in Florida would be dysfunctional, politically weak and an easy target for repeated bullying.

Of course, we haven’t even touched upon the real business value of FNGLA’s two trade show marketing venues in which you can market your plants, products and services. Or the business value of the networking opportunities offered by FNGLA’s chapters throughout our great state. Or the real value of a vastly expanded portfolio of exclusive FNGLA member business discounts and services.

Or what’s the value to your business of learning cutting-edge knowledge and emerging trends offered by FNGLA’s world-class educational events? What about the value of FNGLA’s (count ‘em) five certifications in strengthening your customer’s perception of your professionalism? What’s the value to your business of getting real-time, accurate answers over the phone thanks to FNGLA’s members-only employment law hotline?

Countless FNGLA members, leaders and staff work together for your business in developing a value-laden menu of FNGLA’s programs and services. We aim high and try to be authentic with what FNGLA promises. We’ve made some mistakes along the way and we haven’t always told FNGLA’s story as well as we should. I’m reminded of reading that associations too often sell vitamins when, instead, they should identify their members’ pain and offer the aspirins.

You see, FNGLA is in the business of creating possibilities -- and delivering real business value. It’s time to renew your membership commitment to FNGLA. In return, your business receives the membership value it deserves. Renew your FNGLA membership today!

By Ben Bolusky, FNGLA Chief Executive Officer

Halsey BeshearsFNGLA 2011-2012 PresidentPRESIDENT’S LETTER

This past month I had the opportunity to travel to Rockville, Maryland to speak with the MD-DC-VA Landscape Contractors Association. I was to speak on behalf of Florida and where our state was in terms of nursery product, the supply of trucks available to move it, and any other shortages or excesses in inventory that were available on the market. The other states providing presentations were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Maryland. It was an interesting and educational trip. If you are interested in hearing the details of it, simply

drop me a line at halsey@simpsonnurseries.com and I will be glad to share what I learned from these states in terms of the above listed parameters.

During my initial presentation, I introduced myself and where I am from as well as what my focus was at our nursery. I also explained that I wore many different hats at our nursery and for the moment in Rockville, Maryland I was wearing my FNGLA “hat” as well as my Simpson Nurseries “hat.” Meeting many different people over the years in agriculture has always been one of the more enjoyable facets of being in this industry. Seeing a nursery first hand or visiting a landscaper at a jobsite is always educational in itself. The common thread among all of us is that in order to be successful, you must wear multiple hats in our businesses in order to thrive. Very rarely, it seems, do you visit or talk to one nursery, landscape or allied owner who only has one task to perform in the company. More often than not, many different people in our industry wear multiple hats on a daily basis. I have come up with a list of some of the basic hats I have seen over the past few years:

OWNER’S HAT: This hat has the boss underneath it. You represent your company and your employees and the purpose of your business. You wear it with pride and humility. Sometimes this hat is not big enough for the head underneath it and sometimes rightfully so. An owner’s hat is a proud hat to wear because you are the one putting your personal name and reputation on the line. It is sometimes confused with the Dunce’s hat because people who see you wearing it ask, “Why in the world would you be in that business?”

SALESPERSON’S HAT: You are the seller and producer of everything that happens in your company. The person with this hat is at every trade show, every event and is often a road warrior. Products fly off the shelf, inventory gets loaded on trucks, and contracts for services are written, when this hat is sported. Things tend to move and shake and the sales process is ignited. Warning: this hat sometimes causes people to talk fast, excitedly and bring out the extrovert in people. It is also worn by multiple people in the company, and often seen on an owner’s head during large gatherings of potential customers.

FINANCE HAT: This hat looks at a company with objectivity. It is a large hat and covers other smaller hats like Accounts Receivable Hat, Accounts Payable Hat. It processes the numbers, realizes the goals of the company’s business as to whether it is profitable or not. I have often seen people try to put on the Owner’s Hat and then the Finance Hat and it completely confuses them. This hat is not worn by many people in an organization. It is also not a very popular hat to wear because these people talk in a foreign language. Their words are a mass of numbers and ratios and things like “return on investment.” The language of those who don this hat on a regular basis is difficult to interpret because it sounds garbled, confusing, or mistaken for pig Latin.

ADMINISTRATION HAT: This hat is very large and covers many other small hats (such as Payroll Processor Hat, Office Administration Hat, Filing Hat, Bilingual Hat, and General Office Personnel Hat). This hat is sometimes worn by multiple people because it is a big hat to wear. Usually, the person wearing this hat is organized, introverted, obsessive compulsive and detail oriented. Warning: you may be accosted by these people wearing this hat for moving a stapler or not turning in a bill on time. They can become violent when you do not follow procedures and policies set by the person wearing the Owner’s Hat.

FOREMAN/MANAGER’S HAT: The people with these hats manage the day-to-day tasks of running the business. These hats have asterisks beside them that say things like Loading Manager, Tag Room Manager, Weed Puller Manager, Irrigation Manager, Field Production Manager, Greenhouse Manager, etc. These hats are taken on and off daily, sometimes worn by the same person, often worn by the owner at some point and sometimes donned by the owner when things are tight, tough or busy. These hats have a lot of wear and tear, are dirty, broken in and sometimes traded in or left in the truck because no one wants to wear them.

DAILY JOB HAT: This hat is on the people that make it all happen. The people who wear these hats are the building blocks of the company. These hats cover thousands of heads and have names on them that show their daily tasks. They do the work, grow the plants, load the trucks, operate the machinery, stock the shelves, and move the product. There are hundreds of these hats very often worn by multiple people in the company. I have personally seen one person wearing 13 of these hats in a single day. Always impressive, always solid, multi-talented and sometimes overlooked. GOOD COP HAT: Everybody loves to wear this hat. Sometimes worn by the owner as he hands out bonus checks, praises those wearing Foreman/Manager Hats, greets everyone at the company picnic and generally speaks in soft tones while he or she hugs, shakes hands or pats people on the back for doing a great job. This hat wearer often wears the Sales Hat as well and is liked by everyone.

BAD COP HAT: Not a popular hat, sometimes worn by the owner, more often worn by the same person wearing the Finance Hat or Administration Hat. Nobody likes this person very much. When this hat is seen coming, it usually brings news like: we can’t grow this anymore; we are losing money; we have to cut this program out of our company; we are losing money; we can’t provide this service; we are losing money; you are fired; you aren’t paying bills on time so I am going to call your mother and your spouse and tell her this, etc. This hat is not seen in public much as it is often kept in the closet only to be brought out on special occasions. Often times, you only hear from the Bad Cop Hat on the phone.

These are a few of the hats I have seen while in this industry. I have worn every one of them from time to time and some I wear on a more frequent basis than others. The beauty of these hats is that some of them can be outsourced. FNGLA does provide people who wear some of these hats and many others not mentioned for your dues. They are the best hats available because FNGLA provides a handsome return for relatively little investment. To break this down financially and quantitatively, you would take the dollar amount of your dues, divide it by the asset it is applied to and this would provide you with a ratio that represents……sorry, I put on my Finance Hat. What hat are you going to wear today? See you out there.

Very Respectfully,Halsey W. Beshearshalsey@simpsonnurseries.com

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

FNGLA’s Floriculture Field Days: May 9 - 11, 2012!Looking for something new and exciting to feature in your landscape designs? Don’t miss FNGLA’s Second Annual Floriculture Field Days held in conjunction with Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival. New varieties, container displays and an incredible slate of speakers will all come together on May 9-11, 2012 at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club. See how the industry’s top breeders’ new vari-eties handle Florida’s heat and humidity in a trial setting. Landscape professionals can take back to their businesses innovative ideas on how to maximize the use of these new varieties in the landscape.

SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS

•Chanticleerhasbeencalledthemostromantic, imaginative, and exciting public garden in America, Dan Benarcik will share their design strategies for successfully incorporating tropical into the landscape.•HearFelder Rushing’s offbeat and down home approach to gardening and see all he has uncovered on his recent travels while he provides his observations on current floriculture trends.•Katy Moss Warner is sure to inspire you with her ideas of why plants continue to make the world a better place.•TheDallasArboretumisoneofthelargest independent national testing programs (over 7,000 entries this year) and Jimmy Turner, Senior Director of Horticulture at the Dallas Arboretum will share his favorite plant varieties.

SPONSORSHIPS

Position yourself as a leader in the Floriculture Industry and take advantage of the opportunity to bring more exposure to your company’s products or services! Great sponsorship opportunities showcase your business to this group of high-end and qualified buyers and business owners. Choose to have an exhibit table to display information on your products and/or services or become one of the exclusive sponsors of the luncheons or Wednesday’s dinner event where the sponsor will have the opportunity to address the group and introduce the session’s speaker. Some sponsorships also included complimentary registration for a company representative.

RESERVE YOUR HOTEL

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts is an ideal setting for the conference. Reserve your room early so you can have up close and personal access to the trial gardens and Epcot®.

A special rate of $159 single/double is being offered until April 12th. The resort welcomes you into a nautical world of hardwood floors, brass fittings and luxurious accommodations. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has also been designated by the Florida Green Lodging Program, recognizing the Resort’s environmentally responsible practices.

Brought to you by:

PromomtionalPostcard_6X11.indd 1 3/19/2012 12:45:32 PM

For more conference details, visit: http://www.fngla.org/events/floriculture-field-day/ or contact FNGLA at info@fngla.org, 800-375-3642.

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

Registration is now open for FNGLA’s 2012 Convention and Annual Meeting, taking place June 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel in Jacksonville, FL. A new “unconventional” format offers an affordable and time-efficient event for FNGLA members across the state. Celebrating FNGLA’s Diamond 60th Anniversary, this is a meeting not to miss!

FNGLA’s convention offers a fun gathering for members to network, learn the latest industry and association information as well as receive national perspective on the future of the industry. This year’s unconventional format will provide all that with some new twists.

FNGLA’s Northeast Chapter welcomes fellow members to the area on Friday, June 29 with a visit to one of the area’s star horticulture attractions. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a first-of-its-kind botanical garden inside a zoo that, unlike other zoos, is integrated among the animal exhibits. A river of color runs through the zoo and themed pocket gardens serve as forecourts to the animal exhibits. They include the African-Savanna Blooms Garden, South American-Range of the Jaguar Garden, the native gardens of Wild Florida and Play Park, the formal Gardens of Trout River, and the Asian Garden. Horticulture staff will serve as guides for this 2–hour garden tour. Bus transportation is provided. This is an optional event hosted by FNGLA’s Northeast Chapter.

On Friday evening, members attending the “Back to Our Roots” 60th Anniversary Celebration will feel as if they’ve gone back in time as they explore the grounds of historic Glen St. Mary Nurseries. Established in 1882, this enchanting “Old Florida” setting is complete with original houses, barn and buildings, a saw mill and a nursery museum. Glen St. Mary Nurseries Co. is a founding member of FNGLA with 3rd generation owner, Lin Taber and his wife, Magi, opening their doors to their fellow FNGLA members with true Southern hospitality. Music will be provided by

talented, local FNGLA members. It’ll be a great evening to relax and celebrate the past with FNGLA friends and family. This event is sponsored by Stallings Crop Insurance.

FNGLA will convene its 60th Annual Business meeting on Saturday morning, June 30 at the Hyatt Riverfront. FNGLA industry award winners will be recognized, new leaders elected and FNGLA’s influence and activities showcased. Learn the industry outlook from Ben Bolusky, FNGLA’s CEO, and a farewell perspective from FNGLA President Halsey Beshears.

Following the Annual Business meeting, Craig Regelbrugge, VP of Government Relations and Research with the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA), will share the industry’s national perspective, both politically and in broader terms as the keynote speaker at the FNGLA Membership Luncheon. A strong advocate for the nursery industry for more than 25 years, Craig has his fingers on the pulse of the industry and will share the dynamics which will most influence its future — and yours! The FNGLA Membership Luncheon is sponsored by LPL Financial, Matt Antos, CFP.

For those registering by June 15, the optional Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens tour is only $20. The Convention package including the “Back To Our Roots” Celebration, Annual Business Meeting and Luncheon is $125. Register at https://www.fngla.org/events/annual-convention/registration.aspx.

Special FNGLA Convention rate at the Hyatt Riverfront is $109 per night. This friendly, yet business-class hotel is located on the St. John’s River with beautiful views. Make your reservation before May 28 for the group rate. Call 1-888-421-1442 or make your reservations online at https://resweb.passkey.com/Resweb.do?mode=welcome_ei_new&eventID=8875430&utm_source=54540&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11484010.

FNGLA Celebrates 60 Years at June Convention

ConventionSponsors!

We Love Our

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

Member FINRA/SIPC

Matthew J. Antos, CFP®

Wealth Management Advisor

SIGNATURE SPONSOR:

MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON:

“BACK TO OUR ROOTS”

CELEBRATION:

LEGACY SPONSOR:

HOMESTEADER SPONSORS:

CRACKERSPONSORS:

PIONEERSPONSORS:

It’s not too late to join this distinguished group in celebrating FNGLA’s 60th Anniversary! Use this link for complete sponsorship information: http://www.fngla.org/

events/annual-convention/sponsorships.aspx

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

Another Volunteer Opportunity: Floriculture Field Trials at Epcot®

For the second year, FNGLA’s Floriculture Field Days will take place in conjunction with the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival. New this year, FNGLA is looking to extract consumer impressions of the participating breeders’ plants. The performance trials take place at the International Gateway right outside the resort entrance of Epcot.

Florida’s spring season is an ideal time to evaluate plants for garden performance and test their resilience in the heat and humidity of Florida’s climate. The trials allow breeders to showcase exciting new colors, textures and gauge durability.

FNGLA is seeking volunteers to serve 3-hour shifts in the trial area each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting April 19 - May 20, 2012. Volunteers can pick from two different 3-hour shifts: noon - 3 p.m. or from 3 p.m.- 6 p.m.

Please note: we are seeking only one or two people for these time

slots and we are filling them on a first-come, first-served basis so the dates will begin to fill-up immediately. The conference itself takes place May 9 - 11. Volunteers on these days will need the ability to stay focused on the volunteer tasks.

While we are able to allow gardening qualified friends and spouses to serve as FNGLA trial volunteers, they must be able to fulfill the duties serving as hosts answering questions and interacting with park guests. We cannot allow children to participate.

All FNGLA volunteers gain entrance to the park for the day of their commitment to the FNGLA Garden and are free to enjoy Epcot and the festival before and after their volunteer time. FNGLA Certified Professionals will also receive 2 CEUs for their volunteer service. Contact FNGLA’s Amy DiBella at adibella@fngla.org to schedule your volunteer time!

FNGLA HAPPENINGS

FNGLA’s Landscape Awards: Which Projects will you Submit?FNGLA’s Landscape Awards are back! After taking a vacation for a year, FNGLA’s celebrated Landscape Awards have been re-tooled with a new emphasis on promotion of award-winning projects. We have new entry categories and the entry applications are straightforward and submitted on-line. And, you can even submit twice as many digital images of your landscape entry! Florida landscape projects installed and completed since 2009 are eligible to be submitted.

The award-winning landscape projects will be showcased on the floor of the 2012 The Landscape Show, September 27-29 in Orlando. Winners will also receive their awards on The Landscape Show floor. “Honorary Mention” certificates will be provided to all entry applicants who do not win awards. And, there are four special recognition awards (for which there is no fee), including a brand new FNGLA Florida Friendly™ Landscape Award. All entries will be judged this summer by a panel of distinguished industry jurists.

FNGLA’s Landscape Awards program is now open! Submit your very best landscape projects as this is a grand opportunity for FNGLA to help promote and position your landscape firm as one of the “best of the best” our professional industry has to offer! The deadline for submittal of all entry applications is 5 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2012.

Detailed information about the exciting and anticipated return of FNGLA’s Landscape Awards, its entry categories, types, applications and fees can all be found by visiting FNGLA’s website at http://www.fngla.org/recognition/landscape-awards/.

Submit New Installations; Redesign/Renovation; and, Maintenance projects in the following categories:

• Residential Single-Family

• Residential Community

• Commercial

• Theme Park

• Institutional/Public

• Interior Project

• Special Project

• Student Project

• Environmentally Sustainable Site

Special Awards include:

• FNGLA S.J. Blakely Award

• FNGLA Floriculture Award

• FNGLA Florida Friendly Landscape™ Award

• FNGLA Roy Rood Award

INDUSTRY NEWS

Get On Your Bike and Ride for NFF!

You are invited to join industry cyclists and friends in the first ever Plant Geek Bike Ride on Saturday, April 21 in central Florida. Started by several FNGLA members who enjoy cycling as a hobby this new event will raise dollars for the National Foliage Foundation while offering a fun and healthy day of sport and fellowship.

The ride will begin and end on the West Orange Trail at Vanderley Park in Oakland, FL, with a cookout to follow the ride. There will be 3 routes offered to provide varying levels of challenges and exercise. The Fun Ride is an 18-mile ride along the popular West Orange Trail. This will be enjoyable for novice riders as well as seasoned cyclists looking for a leisurely pace. The Hill Buster is a 40-mile ride taking on the back roads and hills of Clermont, Montverde and beyond including Sugarloaf Mountain. This will be the most strenuous route. The Long Distance Dash is a 60-mile route which includes some of the most popular Lake County biking roads, but fewer inclines.

Registration donation is only $25 and includes a Plant Geek Ride tee shirt, post-ride cook out and support vehicles on each route. Larger donations will happily be accepted! If you can’t be a part of the ride in Oakland, support it in your own town by riding April 21 for at least 18 miles. We’ll happily take your $25 registration and send you a Plant Geek Ride tee shirt!

Plant Geeks or not, this ride is a great event to energize your team of employees, colleagues or friends. Bring a friend or

a group to enjoy the ride and the cookout together. Anyone who doesn’t wish to bike is welcome to attend the cookout and enjoy the company of industry friends. A $25 donation applies to the cookout as well.

Sponsors to date include Ameriscapes Landscape Management Services, Hermann Engelmann Greenhouses, Island Tropical Foliage, My Neighbor’s Children and Winter Park Cycles.

NFF is a $2.2 million foundation that has played a significant role in industry research and education. The mission of the foundation is to identify and support specific problems affecting the foliage related segments of the industry. NFF has not only established a pathway for qualified students in financial need to gain experience and expertise but has funded science-based research in an effort to advance production, marketing and plant utilization.

To register visit http://www.plantgeekride.org. Contact Linda Adams at ladams@fngla for more information.

Collins Center Names New PresidentCollins Center for Public Policy Chairman Parker Thomson proudly announces that, after a national search, Dr. Ann Henderson has been selected as the new President and CEO of the Collins Center for Public Policy, effective May 16.

“Dr. Henderson’s career includes a deep immersion in political, environmental and cultural topics that have been an integral part of Florida’s growth and development,” Thomson said. “We are very excited and pleased to have Dr.

Henderson join the Collins Center team. She brings a wealth of experience in numerous areas that include both public policy and the successful management of several nonprofit organizations. We have every confidence that, under her capable leadership, the future of the Collins Center looks very bright.”

Dr. Henderson currently serves as the Director of the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University

INDUSTRY NEWS

Florida homeowners can now test different water-saving lawn irrigation systems by using a free web application recently released by the University of Florida.

Funded by FNGLA through its research committee, the interactive lawn irrigation tool creates a virtual lawn so users can test the results of different irrigation systems without having to actually install one. The tool is available at http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/tools/interactive_irrigation_tool/.

Researchers in UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences designed the program to help homeowners enhance the quality of their lawns, save water and energy and reduce their water bills.

“Just by improving something small like your lawn irrigation can save a lot of water,” said Kati Migliaccio, an associate professor in UF’s agricultural and biological engineering department.

Migliaccio, who helped develop the program, is based at UF’s Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead.

Users can test irrigation systems, such as time-based schedulers, or time-based schedulers coupled with smart technologies such as rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and evapotranspiration controllers. The smart technologies override and turn off time-based schedulers if lawns have already received enough water from rain.

“We’re measuring with these smart technologies, depending on what people were doing, between 30 to 40 percent water savings,” Migliaccio said.

The program requires users to enter the root depth of their lawn, their soil type, acreage and ZIP code. They also choose an irrigation system to test.

The tool is integrated with the Florida Automated Weather Network, or FAWN, which has 36 weather stations throughout the state that record rainfall and other data.

The tool combines rainfall and evapotranspiration data from the closest FAWN weather station with the user-submitted information to determine whether the user’s lawn received too much or too little water over the course of a week.

Users are notified about their chosen system’s effectiveness through a weekly e-mail report. Migliaccio noted that the closer users are to a FAWN station, the more accurate the rainfall data will be.

FAWN programmers helped develop the tool, and FAWN Director Rick Lusher said making the program easy to use was a priority.

New UF-created virtual lawn tool lets users test water-saving systems

of Florida and previously served as President of the Rodel Charitable Foundation and as Executive Director of the Florida Humanities Council for 13 years. Dr. Henderson received her PhD in American Civilization from George Washington University, her master’s from the University of New Hampshire, and her BA from Vassar College, where she graduated cum laude. Fluent in Spanish, she was also a Fulbright-Hays Graduate Scholar and the first U.S. recipient of the Eisenhower Fellowship, traveling throughout the

Caribbean. She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards.

Dr. Ann HendersonPresident and CEOCollins Center for Public Policy

INDUSTRY NEWS

Governor Scott and Google Partner to Help Small Businesses

Continuing his efforts to make Florida the best place to start, grow or move a business, Governor Rick Scott recently announced a partnership with Google that will bring free websites to small businesses throughout Florida. “Florida Get Your Business Online” will help drive economic growth by giving Florida businesses the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Florida’s economy,” said Governor Scott. “This initiative is aimed to help these businesses grow in Florida.”

Florida Get Your Business Online is an easy, fast and free way for Florida businesses to get online. For the next year, participating Florida businesses can go to www.floridagetonline.com to get a free website as well as free tools, training and resources to help their business succeed online. Google is partnering with Intuit to provide its popular Intuit Websites offerings that include an easy-to-build website, a

customized domain name and free web hosting for one year.

While 97 percent of Americans look online for local products or businesses, 68 percent of Florida small businesses do not have a website.

“The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many Florida small businesses from taking the first step,” said Scott Levitan, Director of Small Business Engagement at Google. “This program makes it fast, easy and free for businesses to get online.”

As part of this program, Google will be providing free workshops to small businesses. Businesses can register for free workshops at www.floridagetonline.com.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

FFA Horticulture Students Compete in Industry Events The 6th annual Florida FFA Career Development Events in Floriculture & Nursery/Landscape took place at Pinellas Technical Education Center, hosted by the FNGLA Pinellas Chapter, March 17th. Nearly 250 middle school and high school students from all over Florida competed in events that highlight Florida’s nursery and landscape industry.

Dedicated FNGLA Pinellas Chapter volunteers spent Friday evening setting up the event and returned Saturday to judge events, proctor exams and lead teams of students from one event to another. Special thanks to Debby Laramee, Bonnie Desmond and the FFA committee for all their hours of planning, writing test questions, setting realistic scenarios for the students and coordinating sponsors and volunteers.

In 2006, pTEC Horticulture Chair Greg Charles brought the FFA Career Development Events (CDEs) to St. Petersburg, and the event continues to grow in prominence. The CDEs introduce students to horticulture, providing a competition in real-world situations that link to best management practices, FNGLA certification and horticulture careers.

Beginning in 2010, the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) joined the event, providing an enhanced floral focus where students demonstrate skills in wiring technique and floral design by creating a boutonniere.

Congratulations to the 2012 winners:• 1st place High School Nursery & Landscape: Kathleen High,

Lakeland• 1st place Middle School Nursery & Landscape: Tomlin Middle,

Plant City • 1st place High School Floriculture: Umatilla Senior, Umatilla• 1st place Middle School Floriculture: Gray Middle, Groveland

The high school winners advance to nationals in Indianapolis this October to represent Florida.

For more information, contact Merry Mott, mmott@fngla.org, or call FNGLA at 800-375-3642.

The Job Evaluation practicum required students to identify proper plant spacing

as well as read a plan.

FFA students begin their Floriculture practicum presented by the American

Institute of Floral Designers.

Nearly 250 students participated in Career Development Events in

Floriculture and Nursery & Landscape in St. Petersburg.

CERTIFICATIONS

Bahamas Landscape Association Hosts Its First FNGLA Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician ExamWhen the Bahamas Landscape Association (BLA) was formed in 2008, its goal was the same as FNGLA’s – to promote and protect the success and professionalism of its members. They chose certification as the pathway to their goals.

This process culminated in the first-ever FNGLA Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician (FCLMT) exam outside Florida on March 21st, hosted by the BLA at Atlantis Resorts.

A special thanks to Tony Burzo and the Horticulture Team at Atlantis for hosting the exam, and to exam coordinator Bahamas Landscape Association for its promotion of the event – which included television coverage on the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas.

For more information, contact Merry Mott at FNGLA at 800-375-3642.

Thank you SponsorsAtlantis Resorts, Tony Burzo, FCLC, Host, Supplies

Bahamas Landscape Association, Judge Accommodations, LunchBLA’s Conray Rolle, FCLMT & Lowena West, Coordinators

Caribbean Landscape, Robert Myers, Equipment

Thank you JudgesMonique Bethel, FCHP, Atlantis Resorts

Loretta Carey, FCHP, Atlantis ResortsTerrence Cartwright, FCLMT, Atlantis ResortsEldura Cenatus, FCLMT, Caribbean Landscape

Randolph Coakley, FCLMT, Transformations LandscapeJim Coe, FCLC, Critter Ridge LandscapesFrank Davis, FCHP, Caribbean LandscapeEvamae Deveaux, FCLMT, Atlantis Resorts

Jamie Hayes, FCLC, Runway GrowersAbagail Ingraham, FCHP, Atlantis Resorts

Adam Isaac, FCLMT, Caribbean LandscapeFarris Kincaid, FCLC, BahaMar

Jeff Mitchell, FCLMT, Caribbean LandscapeAvery Nesbitt, FCLMT, Atlantis ResortsKathy Nesbitt, FCHP, Atlantis Resorts

Rochelle Newton, FCLMT, Atlantis ResortsMichael Nixon, FCLMT, Atlantis Resorts

Don Rolle, FCLMT, Atlantis ResortsBundy Sands, FCLMT, Atlantis Resorts

Haydon Seymour, FCHP, Caribbean LandscapeQuincy Stuart, FCLMT, Atlantis Resorts

Joan Thompson, FCLMT, Atlantis ResortsWill Womack, FCLC, Tampa Bay Landscaping

Alvarado Wright, FCLMT, Caribbean Landscape

CERTIFICATIONS

The final installment of “Landscaping for Today and Tomorrow”, an educational program presented by FNGLA and sponsored by the Orange County Utilities (OCU) Water Division October, took place March 8th. The event attracted retail, landscape, property management and irrigation professionals from around Central Florida.

The morning session was led by instructor Ken Howell, FCHP, who covered topics that ranged from customer service to pest identification to new products for water retention in soils. The afternoon included an irrigation break-out session by Steve Brown of A&S Horticulture to look at how to measure irrigation distribution uniformity. Another break-out featured Teresa Watkins of Sustainable Horticultural Environments who took the group through the St. John’s River Water Management District’s online plant search database.

The goal of the training was to provide horticultural training in water conservation and best management practices while enhancing the working relationship between FNGLA and local agencies.

Water Conservation Highlight of Landscaping for Today and Tomorrow Seminar

The class took a look at an existing irrigation system with Steve Brown

to check its uniformity.

FCHP Ken Howell highlights some products that add to plant health while conserving water.

Teresa Watkins discusses right plant right place principles as part of her online plant

database presentation.

CERTIFICATIONS

FNGLA Certified Exam Judge Numbers Approach 100Two diverse groups of nursery and landscape professionals earned their designations as FNGLA Certified Exam Judges in the Spring of 2012. This brings the total to 97 who have earned official Certified Judge vests.

On February 6th, SeaWorld Horticulture hosted 15 of Florida’s certified industry professionals to train in the policies and procedures of FNGLA’s certification programs. On March 20th, Atlantis Resorts Landscaping Dept. hosted 8 of The Bahamas’ certified industry professionals to complete their judge certification through FNGLA. They mentored the following day during the FNGLA Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician (FCLMT) exam.

The integrity of FNGLA’s certifications is dependent upon fair and consistent exam judging, proctoring and administration. Therefore, as part of FNGLA’s Certification Strategic Plan, the Judge Certification program was developed by FNGLA Green Consultant Joy Dorst of Green Solutions TLC.

Participation in the Judge Certification program is required of individuals judging an FNGLA landscape certification exam. Following Judge Certification Training, Certified Judges then participate in exam station mentoring to specialize in individual exam stations. The next station mentoring event takes place Saturday, April 14th in Orlando at the FCLMT exam and Saturday, April 21st in St. Petersburg at the FNGLA Certified Landscape Technician exam.

For more information, contact Merry Mott at FNGLA at 800-375-3642.

Expand Your Business Offerings with Florida Water StarSM

Industry professionals have an opportunity to gain valuable irrigation and landscape education while earning CEUs through Florida Water StarSM (FWS) training and testing May 8th & 9th in Tavares – free of charge.

Continuing Education Units are available: Four CEUs for FNGLA certified professionals, four CEUs for Registered Landscape Architects through DBPR, four Irrigation Association CEUs for IA certified professionals and eight CEUs for licensed irrigation contractors in both Lake and Volusia counties.

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners and the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) have partnered to fund a series of FWS training and exam sessions for irrigation contractors and landscape professionals. Only one more program will be offered in 2012.

To register, or for additional information, contact Steve Gladwell at 352-742-3968 or waterstarregistration@lakecountyfl.gov.

TOP PHOTO (from left): Shane Humble, Billy Copeland, Larry Harripersad, Gary Weitermann, Steve Fairtrace, Brian Cato, Mike Hunley, Ed Hayslip, Herb Jimenez, Robert Foppe, Jorge DelPalacio, Randy Britson, Luke Preslaski, Carlos Pulido and Frank Smith earn Judge Certification at SeaWorld.

RIGHT PHOTO (from left): Rochelle Newton, Monique Bethel, Farris Kincaid, Loretta Carey, Michael Nixon, Avery Nesbitt, Bundy Sands and Don Rolle earn their FNGLA Certified Judge Certification at Atlantis Resorts.

NEW MEMBERS

ACTIONChuck PhelpsAllstate Financial Services8202 E Colonial DrOrlando, FL 32817-3908407-718-6599

DADEMary Schneider Alpha Botanical, Inc.18710 SW 288 St #129Homestead, FL 33030-2309305-923-9572

LAKE REGIONEvan QuinnQuinn and Company Land ServicesWinter Haven, FL 33882-1244863-956-8400

PINELLASDrew SuttrichSuttrich Landscape Services13451 90th Ter NSeminole, FL 33776-2319727-564-6498

ROYAL PALMNick Pezan A Personal Touch Lawn Service210 31st St SWNaples, FL 34117-3104813-317-1237Referred by: John Schwind, Steele Truck Center

Dr. Shawn Sundall, Supportive1040 Collier Center Way Ste #5Naples, FL 34110-8479239-682-6149

Tim VerwiebeThe Tree Store481 Tamiami TrPort Charlotte, FL 33953-2180Phone: 941-766-8733Fax: 941-766-8733

OUTSIDE FLORIDAJim ShowalterA-V International, Inc.401 Broadway AveBroadway, VA 22815540-896-7074

Lori Bonham LandOpt650 Smithfield St Ste 750Pittsburgh, PA 15222412-567-4328

John HaadsmaLiveWall, LLCPO Box 533Spring Lake, MI 49456-0533616-842-1392Referred by: David Fell, Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery

Welcome New MembersThe following are new FNGLA members from February 22, 2012 - March 21, 2012

Looking to Recommend FNGLA Membership

to Your Industry Friends?

It’s Easy!Log on to the FNGLA Website at

www.fngla.org/recommendand follow the on-screen form!

(800) 375-3642 www.fngla.org info@fngla.org

Calendar of EventsFNGLAPhone: 407.295.7994Toll-free: 800.375.3642Fax: 407.295.1619E-mail: info@fngla.orgWeb: www.fngla.org

CEO/EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTBen Bolusky

GREENLINE EDITORJennifer Nelisjnelis@fngla.org

PresidentHalsey BeshearsSimpson NurseriesP.O. Box 160Monticello, FL 32345(850) 997-2516

Past President Carolan MahrTed Mahr Supply, Inc.407A SW 2nd StCape Coral, FL 33991(239) 574-2214

President-Elect Wes ParrishParrish Nursery5900 SW 185th WayFt. Lauderdale, FL 33332(954) 680-3544

Secretary/Treasurer Mike MarshallMarshall Tree Farm17350 SE 65th StMorriston, FL 32668-4508(352) 528-3880

Contact UsSee and submit events at http://www.fngla.org under calendar

About FNGLA

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2011-2012 STATE OFFICERS

1533 Park Center Dr iveOr lando, FL 32835-5705

Read the latest FNGLA news inside & visit Greenline online at http://greenline.fngla.

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDORLANDO, FLPERMIT #2041

This publication is produced by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) as a service to its members. The statements and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Association, its staff, Board of Directors, Greenline or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers or their identification as members does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

The mission of the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association is to promote and protect the success and professionalism of our members.

April10: Urban Pond Management, Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples

10: Plant Health Care for Trees, HIllsborough Community College, Plant City

16-17: Landscape Irrigation Training, Palm Beach IFAS Extenion, West Palm Beach

19-20: Landscape Irrigation Training, Lee County IFAS Extenion, Fort Myers

25-26: All Florida Ag Show, Highlands County Fair Convention Center

May8-9: Florida WaterStarSM Training, Lake County Extension Service, Tavares

18: Action Chapter Annual Golf Tournament, Black Bear Golf Club, Eustis

23: UF/IFAS MREC Research Update & Field Day, MREC, Apopka