In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Roger Phelps, Corporate Communications Manager from STIHL Inc.  During this engaging discussion, Roger shares highlights from his career, including oversight of STIHL’s social media rollout and the popular STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Series, and the importance of leaning into opportunity.  The group also touches on STIHL’s commitment to supporting young people and future generations of lawn and landscape professionals. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, and Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Palmer Higgins, CEO of Mainely Grass, a New England lawn care company. During this session, Palmer and the hosts take a deep dive into the importance of a consistent, comprehensive, and accountable training program, and how a focus on education helps elevate both your employees and your entire business. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Seth Kehne, President of Lawn Butler, a maintenance and design-build firm in Knoxville, TN. Discussion topics include: the importance of focusing on your team (which also leads to a better experience for your clients), the value of timely, honest and thorough communication, and the future and evolution of the landscape and lawn care industry. This episode is hosted by Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, our hosts dive deep and get real about finding balance in your life. Discussion points include: what does a healthy balance look like for you; work/life balance, especially in the time of covid-19; different types of balance (ie. mental, physical, emotional, spiritual); how balance changes over time; and more. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench and Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Jason Becker, Marketing Manager with Caterpillar, Inc.  Jason shares a unique perspective, both as a vendor supporting the landscape and lawn care industry, and as a longtime participant in NALP volunteer leadership, including several years as an NALP Board member. The group also stresses the importance and benefits of professional networking and relationships, and how their own experiences have impacted and helped grow their careers. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Ashly Neneman, General Manager of Sun Valley Landscaping in Omaha, NE. Discussion topics include Ashly’s career path (including a move from another industry), lessons learned in her role as general manager, the importance of strong and continuous employee development, and correlating meaningful, purpose-driven work while making a profit. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Macey Wollenberg, Branch Manager at LandCare.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Mick Mulhall, president of Mulhall’s, an Omaha, Nebraska-based family of green industry businesses. Mick shares a brief history of the business and thoughts around finding his place and passion, as well as the organization’s continued focus on plentiful and meaningful community engagement. The group also discusses the importance of focusing on the whole employee, not just the parts you need or encounter in the workplace, and how being a better employer leads to finding and retaining better employees. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Andrew Bray, Vice President of Government Relations at NALP. During this engaging episode, Andrew reviews NALP’s legislative and regulatory initiatives at the federal and state level, including the process through which NALP navigated and supported the industry’s COVID-19 response.  Andrew also offers insight regarding the new administration and the expected impact on the lawn and landscape industry. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Andrew Ziehler, owner and CEO of Ziehler Lawn and Tree Care located in Centerville, Ohio. Andrew, the immediate Past-President of the NALP Board of Directors, discusses his unique year of leading the association, including navigating the pandemic, and touches on company growth and evolution, the customer experience, and the benefits of volunteer leadership and association engagement. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Macey Wollenberg, Branch Manager at LandCare.

In this episode of Growing in the Green Industry, we welcome Leigh McGonagle, owner of Poplar Point Studio, a small boutique fine gardening company in upstate NY.  Discussion topics include: the importance and impact of professional mentoring relationships, creating a niche business and the definition of success, and how recognizing and learning from your mistakes helps drive growth. This episode is hosted by Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of GrowTheBench, Miles Kuperus, System Architect at Include Software, Brett Lemcke, VP of R.M. Landscape, and Luke Melograno, Production Coordinator at Mariani Landscape.