Being a business owner is the biggest personal development component in my life,” says Cindy McCord, president and owner for 15 years. Over those years, McCord has realized how important it is for her to continually practice self-awareness, especially as the company grew. To modulate stress, “the most important thing is to manage the inner voice and thoughts in my own mind,” she says.

The pandemic and related restrictions have limited the Landscape Career Pathways Programs in the last year, but Pickens Technical College has been able to continue its Urban Horticulture and Landscape Management Program with some modifications for safety and compliance with new rules.

Matt Hiner founded his company to help others have a peaceful outside area on their own property. After all, he used his own outdoor living space to relax and de-stress. Who knew that after opening his business, it would feel like he was starting over each year for multiple years?

Attention ALCC Associate members:

At Colorado Green magazine, we are discussing the ways that the landscape industry supports each other during challenging times. We hope to share some resources with landscape contractors on how they can rely on their network to help them be successful.

We know that the supplier community offers more than just products, often including free resources to customers. We invite you to tell us about resources that your company offers beyond your signature products and services that can help landscape contractors succeed. Do you offer classes for CEUs? Online tools? Apps to show techs how to use your irrigation controller? Informational handouts that contractors can give to clients after install to help new trees do well? Do you have marketing expertise and tips to share?

“Fabulous!”

Among the recollections of Tom Trench that were shared in recent days, one anecdote was shared repeatedly. When he entered a room or answered the phone and ALCC peers asked, “How are you, Tom,” his reply was always a booming, “I’m fabulous!”

Recently, one of my long-term peer groups met with me via Zoom and shared some extremely useful tips (below). Some had doubts that a Zoom meeting could be productive and inspiring, but by the end of it, everyone was jazzed.

My friend Jason Craven, CEO of the $30M business Southern Botanical, was a guest speaker at this meeting, and he was inspiring. Here are some takeaways from our peer group meeting:

Plant Select®, a collaborative effort between Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and horticulturists around the world, announced three new introductions being promoted for 2021 and is giving additional promotion to two other plants that Plant Select previously introduced. Now entering its 24th year, Plant Select is a leading source of plants that thrive in the High Plains and intermountain region. These plants provide gardeners and landscape professionals with smart, stunning and successful gardens using less water and fewer resources, ultimately having a more positive environmental impact.

The White House and the US Small Business Association (SBA) have announced changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The goal of the changes, according to the announcements, is to promote better, more equitable access to relief funds and to support the “smallest of small businesses.”

It is with great sadness that ALCC shares the passing of Tom Trench, longtime ALCC member and past board president. Tom is survived by his wife Debbie, daughters Jennifer and Laurie, and granddaughters Alyssa and Annabella, as well as a myriad of loved ones and friends. His loss will be felt across the Colorado green industry.

"We were shocked and saddened to hear of Tom's passing," said John McMahon, ALCC CEO. "He was a valued member of our industry, and it is clear by the outpouring of love we've seen that he had a tremendous impact on many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues."

The US Department of Labor has closed the Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) Program, effective January 29, 2021 when it was announced. The program ended less than three years from its launch date in 2018.

From the DOL release: 

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the immediate end of its Payroll Audit Independent Determination program launched by the department’s Wage and Hour Division in 2018. The program allowed employers to self-report federal minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act to avoid litigation, penalties or damages, and prohibited affected workers from taking any private action on the identified violations.

“Workers are entitled to every penny they have earned,” said Wage and Hour Division Principal Deputy Administrator Jessica Looman. “The Payroll Audit Independent Determination program deprived workers of their rights and put employers that play by the rules at a disadvantage. The U.S. Department of Labor will rigorously enforce the law, and we will use all the enforcement tools we have available.”