Session Descriptions - Saturday, October 30

Track
Session Title
Presenter

Business Building Blocks Clinic
Creating Your Company’s Employee Handbook
William Cook, Human Resource Associates

Your company’s employee handbook is the first line of communication between you and your employees. It can be an informative, effective tool and a source of pride. But, it can also be your most expensive enemy.  What is an employee handbook and why do you need one? Will yours solve problems or create them? Will it keep you out of court or pave the way in?

This session will show you how to create and custom design your employee handbook, and to identify the policies you need and the ones you don’t. 
Attendees will learn how to:
• Custom design your green industry company handbook.
• Distinguish between which laws are meant for your company and which aren’t.
• Solve problems with policies.
• Be aware which policies can improve employee performance.
• Determine who should administer the employee handbook.

Certification Clinic
CEUs, Landscape Industry Certified & You - A Helpful Clinic on Keeping Your PLANET Certification Active and Newly Branded for Success
Michael Becker, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Estate Gardeners, Inc.

Join PLANET in raising the bar on industry standards through the Landscape Industry Certified program! This clinic will help you stay up to date on the changes within the program as well as what you need to do to stay current with your certification! If you have questions, we have answers. Don’t miss this informative clinic for the newly certified, the veteran industry certified, and those interested in learning more.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Understand the PLANET certification process involves and why it’s important.
• To stay up to date on program enhancements, from branding to recertification.
• To stay on top of certification through CEUs.

Foreman Training Clinic
How to Become a Great Foreman
Phil Harwood, Landscape Industry Certified Manager, Pro-Motion Marketing, LLC

The foreman position is one of the most important positions in your company. A weak foreman may put you out of business and a good foreman may help you stay in business. But, a great foreman will help you grow your business and increase profitability.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Make a great foreman.
• Apply the skills necessary to become a great foreman.
• Apply real-life lessons from the field.

Green Roof Clinic
Green Roofs and Walls
George Irwin, Green Living Technologies

Come join us for the latest advancements in green technologies. If you’re a designer, contractor, or plant specialist, you can’t miss this introduction to green roofs and walls.  These technologies are becoming the norm not the exception. This is an introduction to some of the latest technologies and techniques available to add green to your projects and your margins.
Attendees will learn how to:
• Understand industry terminology and be introduced to a various systems.
• Apply materials and techniques.
• Apply the benefits and applications and case studies for their projects.

Faculty Clinic

Due to the success of the faculty workshops premiered at this year’s Student Career Days, we are pleased to announce the Faculty Clinics at this year’s Green Industry Conference.  These workshops have come from the many requests we’ve received from faculty members to provide more education geared toward your needs.  There will be a series of workshops on topics such as alumni relations, retention and recruitment, teaching techniques and how PLANET’s accreditation can help your program.

Public Relations Training Clinic
How to Secure Coverage, How to Handle Media Interviews, and How to Get the Most Out of Community Relations
Vicki Bendure, Bendure Communications

This course will walk you through the dos and don’ts for securing positive press coverage and ensuring that your media materials and interviews meet your strategic communications plan. In addition, there will be a discussion on how to navigate the ever-changing media landscape.
Attendee will learn how to:
• Understand what the media are looking for and how to best meet those needs while effectively promoting their companies.
• Write and pitch stories.
• Get the most out of the community events and outreach their companies conduct;
• Understand why internal, as well as external, public relations is important.

Hardscape
Hardscaping 101
Ross Yantzi, President, Ross Yantzi's Pavestone Plus, Ltd., David Pitre, Hardscapes USA/Engineering Products Group, and Robert Bowers, P.Eng., Director of Engineering, Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute

Join a panel of experts to learn about basic interlocking concrete pavement and segmental retaining wall installation, and get your questions answered.  If you're new to the business, or if you have some experience and want to gain more insight, this interactive session is for you.

Hardscape
Designing, Planning, and Estimating Hardscapes for Profit
Bill Gardocki, Owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

What happens after a contractor meets with a homeowner to bid a paver or retaining wall project?  Join Bill Gardocki, a 30-year hardscapes veteran, to learn how to assess the site and develop a site plan, know when to call an engineer, and estimate product, labor, and materials.  Learn how to put together a plan that is is not only accurate, but satisfies the customer and brings profit to the contractor.

Hardscape
BIA - Clay Paver Installation
Fred Adams, President, Fred Adams Paving Company, Inc.

This session will provide attendees with an overview of the major distinctions a paving contractor should be aware of when installing clay pavers. The discussion will address installation of extruded, dry-pressed, and hand molded clay pavers, including a discussion on square-edged and chamfered, and lugged and non-lugged units.  The nuances involved with constructing flexible interlocking pavements with clay pavers over sand and bituminous setting beds will be emphasized. Rigid pavements with clay pavers installed over mortar setting beds will also be covered. This session is intended to highlight the major differences between installing clay pavers and concrete pavers from a contractor’s perspective.

Hardscape
Raised Patios: Design and Installation Using Pavers and Segmental Retaining Wall Systems
Rich Lahren, Landscape Sales & Design

Raised patios are a popular landscape feature and a perfect application to showcase the flexibility and beauty of concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall systems.  Rich Lahren, a professional designer and installer, will share creative design ideas as well as best practices and techniques for installation, including soil and fill stabilization, drainage, water proofing and basic paver and retaining wall installation tips.

PGMS
Root Zone Water Management
Brian Lennon

Discussion on a strategy to monitor root zone water content and how an integrated approach can be utilized using equipment which can reduce water waste and enhance aesthetics through appropriate water usage

PGMS
Irrigation Auditing
Dave Shaw

Discussion on how to conduct an irrigation audit and how you can fine-tune your irrigation systems from the audit data.