Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is modernizing its straight boom excavators with an updated EC300 and an all-new EC400, as part of its new generation revamp.
System Pavers has recently announced its partnership with the Seattle Seahawks’ Small Business Program to continue momentum in Seattle market.
After serving as a Senior Airman with the U.S. Air Force, Jeff Baker now ironically wears the title of “Grounds Guy.” But though his career is now more down-to-earth, the leadership experience, skills, and discipline he acquired in the Air Force serve him equally well in owning a successful landscape business, The Grounds Guys of East Wichita.
With four years as a Security Forces Member, Baker was deployed to Operation Southern Watch, spending several months in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. These assignments provided a unique set of skills that would prove invaluable to his career today. An experience during his Kuwait deployment, in which he and his fellow service members were uncertain about their return home due to the emerging threat of an unknown terrorist act (ultimately the tragic events of 9/11), taught him the importance of organizing thoughts and moving forward despite uncertainty.
After the Air Force, Baker served as a police officer in El Dorado, KS, as a Patrol Sergeant. But by 2013, Baker was ready for a new mission. His motivation for transitioning into franchising with The Grounds Guys, a Neighborly company, was fueled by a desire for a fresh challenge and the opportunity to build a successful business. The discipline and focus instilled by the military, including the ability to stick to the plan, adapt when necessary, and prioritize mission success, have been key contributors to Baker’s success as a business owner.
Running a lawn care business comes with its share of challenges, spanning areas like overhead, production, and maintaining business momentum. Baker’s method for cutting through these weeds lies in his unique mindset and perspective. His journey as a small business owner stands as testament not only to his unwavering dedication but the immense value of the skills, mindset, and leadership traits that veterans bring to the business world. His extensive list of accolades awarded through The Grounds Guys includes:
Franchise of the Year for 2022
1 Million Benchmark in 2021
Pioneer Award in 2021
Excellence in Leadership in 2018 and 2021
President’s Choice Award 2020
Top Gun recognition 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023
Personal Achievement Award in 2016 and 2018
Builder Award in 2016 and 2017
Shining Star Award 2016
These awards highlight his outstanding contributions and dedication to excellence in his role as a franchise owner. He envisions scaling his business to a 5 to 6-million-dollar operation and transitioning into a semi-absentee ownership role in the future.
Baker’s story serves as an inspiring example for those venturing on a similar path, driven by his resilience and steadfast commitment to success. For military veterans considering a career in small business ownership especially in the landscape space, Baker offers a valuable piece of advice: approach franchising like following a military model. Hit the ground running and don’t stop until you’ve achieved your goals!
What better day that Election Day to revisit a piece highlighting a brave military man turned Green Industry pro!
Compiled by Turf Staff
From the October 2024 Issue
From herbicides to charging systems to small equipment, this selection of professional lawn care and landscaping products will be on display at the NALP ELEVATE Expo, November 3-6, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
EGO PGX™ Charging System
EGO Commercial has introduced the PGX™ Charging System, anchored by the PGX™ Commercial Charging 1600W Hub, which mounts in a building, van, or trailer, and runs off any standard 15-amp, 120-volt outlet. The 1600W Hub connects to PGX Commercial Charging 3-Port Docks to charge up to 70 EGO 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium™ batteries overnight. EGO Commercial also has off-grid DC-DC charging covered with the PGX™ Power Bank, which uses a large format 2.2kWh (40Ah) High-Capacity Battery to charge smaller handheld batteries off the grid for use during the workday. Once fully charged from the 1600W Hub, each high-capacity battery can recharge more than 30Ah of smaller EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries in the field through the Power Bank.
Aethon™ Herbicide SL
Aethon™ Herbicide SL for Turfgrass from PBI-Gordon is formulated for warm season, southern turfgrass varieties. The liquid herbicide offers broad-spectrum control of sedges, kyllingas, and several key broadleaf weeds in a timesaving, single application. Aethon utilizes a proprietary blend of active ingredients Pyrimisulfan and Penoxsulam. It also reduces the number and viability of nutsedge tubers. Aethon is labeled for use across many sites including residential and commercial lawns, golf fairways, tees, roughs and aprons, sports facilities, parks, cemeteries, and sod farms.
Kress Commercial CyberCapsule
The Kress Commercial CyberCapsule, designed as an energy storage module for use with the CyberLite Charger for DC-DC charging on-the-go, provides 1.5 kWh of flexible power for charging batteries when AC outlets are not accessible. With the CyberLite Charger and one fully charged CyberCapsule, Kress Commercial 240 Wh CyberPacks can be recharged from 0% to 100% in 12 minutes or less and up to five times throughout the day. Crews can charge as many as four CyberCapsules overnight using the Kress 4 Port Extended Charging Case and the Kress Commercial 60 V 30 A CyberPlug AC charger. The CyberCapsule can also be used as a backpack battery to power tools.
Milwaukee Power Manager
The Milwaukee® Power Manager enables users with a high quantity of M12™, M18™ or MX FUEL™ chargers to optimize their circuit usage and charge more batteries. The Power Manager automatically energizes the largest number of chargers possible, and then switches over to additional chargers once it has detected batteries have completed charging. This enables users with heavy energy demands to prioritize high-speed chargers for fast daytime charging, and bulk overnight charging, all while avoiding tripping breakers or unnecessarily upgrading their infrastructure. With the Milwaukee Power Manager, professionals can efficiently charge any battery, avoid infrastructure investments, and easily transition from gas to battery equipment.
Pursuit 120 Spreader/Sprayer
Backslope Inc. launched the Pursuit 120 in January of 2024 as a spreader/sprayer that is more compact and performs better on hills and slopes than other machines available today. The Pursuit 120 features a 100% stainless steel frame, Honda engine, and a heavy-duty drive system. The machine utilizes a 120 lb. capacity Spyker hopper but is also available with a larger 220 lb. capacity hopper. The spray system includes dual 8-gallon spray tanks that will cover up to 64,000 square feet between refills. A newly designed gate lever allows the hopper to be opened and closed with either hand without the need to remove the hands from the controls. In addition, the handlebars fold down to one of three positions which allows users to walk behind the machine on extremely steep terrain.
Husqvarna 590BTS/BFS
Engineered for unparalleled performance, the Husqvarna 590BTS/BFS backpack blower boasts an industry-leading 56 Newtons of blow force and delivers a staggering1245 CFM of air volume. Powered by a robust 79.4 cc X-TORQ® engine, it produces 5.5HP. The 590BTS/BFS’s AutoTune™ controlled carburetor adjusts the fuel mixture automatically, optimizing performance across varying conditions. The simplified starting procedure features an easy “Start” button, eliminating the need for a manual choke—just press the button, purge the engine, and pull to start. The top-mounted adjustable right handle accommodates users of all sizes, while load lifter straps ensure a tailored fit. Additional conveniences include a cruise control feature, commercial-grade 3-stage air filter, and the industry’s largest fuel tank for extended runtimes.
Terradex™ Power Premix
Terradex™ Power Premix herbicide from Envu takes the guesswork out of controlling more than 80 broadleaf weeds like dandelion, ground ivy, wild violet, clover, docks, knotweed, poison ivy, poison oak, puncturevine, purslane, Virginia buttonweed and more. Terradex Power Premix herbicide is a convenient premixed formula consisting of four active ingredients. It’s best applied spring through fall at temperatures above 50° and below 90°. The postemergence herbicide can be applied to most turfgrasses on residential or commercial properties, reducing the need for multiple products for different customers. Terradex Power Premix is rainfast in four hours. It is quickly absorbed into leaves and stems of target weeds, delivering noticeable symptoms of die off in days and helps reduce customer callbacks for retreatments.
BRAVO GreenPRO Trailers EZ Charge Package
As landscape professionals introduce electric equipment to their fleets, BRAVO has developed support options to make charging batteries easy and efficient. BRAVO’S EZ Charge Package allows users to mount all chargers inside the trailer and power with a single exterior plug. At the end of the workday, crews just need to plug the trailer in, and rest assured, the batteries will be charged and ready to go the next morning. BRAVO’S EZ Charge Packages are fully customizable to current and growing electric equipment fleets. Choose from 30 or 50-amp service, specific receptacle locations, battery locations, shelving/E-track, and exterior motorbase plug location. This system is designed to work with all electric equipment manufactures.
Read more Get Equipped features here.
SingleOps has announced its merger with Landscape Management Network (LMN), the largest provider of landscape business software and crew training in the United States and Canada. Together, they form the premier business management software and payment platform serving the full-service landscaping, tree care, design/build and snow removal industries.
As part of this transaction, SingleOps secured an additional growth equity investment from existing investor FTV Capital, with participation from Five Elms Capital. Mark Sedgley, CEO of SingleOps, will lead the combined business effective immediately. Mark Bradley, founder of LMN, will remain with the company as a strategic advisor and partner to the business.
With the merger, SingleOps and LMN’s combined business will significantly enhance product offerings, delivering unmatched innovation and customer service to over 4,000 customers across North America.
The green industry continues to undergo rapid change but remains largely fragmented. Despite the growing need for intuitive business management solutions to improve efficiency, the industry remains early on the adoption curve, with more companies expected to require all-in-one solutions, including payments capabilities, in the coming years. SingleOps and LMN will continue to support and invest in their respective software platforms, aiming to optimize their technology capabilities and expand the breadth of services they provide to meet market demand.
Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor and Stikeman Elliott and Kirkland & Ellis as legal counsel to LMN. Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Gibson Dunn as legal counsel to FTV and SingleOps.
Stellar Industries, a 100% employee-owned and -operated manufacturer of high-quality mechanic and service trucks, cranes, tire service trucks, hooklifts, trailers and service truck and van accessories, has announced the acquisition of Elliott Machine Works, Inc., a well-respected, family-owned manufacturing company based in Galion, Ohio. This strategic investment is aimed at enhancing Stellar’s growth, expanding its product offerings and providing greater opportunities for Stellar distributors, customers and employee-owners.
Elliott Machine Works is recognized for its innovative and high-quality products. Their portfolio includes fuel trucks, lube trucks, water trucks, lube skids, vacuum tanks and other mobile service equipment.
The acquisition will not only enhance Stellar’s work truck product offerings but also benefit its vendors, distributors and customers by adding complementary products that serve many of the same markets, including mining, construction and oil and gas. The Elliott manufacturing facility and main office will remain in Galion, Ohio, where it will continue to manufacture the full lineup of specialized service trucks.
As an employee-owned company, Stellar is committed to fostering a workplace where every employee-owner has a stake in the company’s success. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) structure allows employees to become beneficial owners of the company, aligning their interests with the overall performance and growth of Stellar. This alignment not only promotes a culture of collaboration and shared success but also motivates employees to contribute actively to the company’s innovation and quality initiatives. Through the ESOP, Stellar empowers its workforce, ensuring that employees are directly rewarded for their contributions, fostering a sense of belonging and investment in the company’s future.
In addition, joining the Stellar team opens the door to exciting new opportunities for career development and growth for Elliott employees. With access to a broader network, expanded roles and additional resources and training, employees will benefit from Stellar’s commitment to professional advancement. The integration brings exposure to diverse projects and new markets, creating a wealth of opportunities for career advancement and personal development within the organization.
Stellar Receives President’s “E” Award for Exports
Mexican long-tongued bats are vital pollinators in desert systems. They have a long, bristle-like tongue, allowing them to sip nectar from agave and cacti. (Photo by USFWS.)
They’ve been called creepy, scary and spooky, but bats are an important species that impact our daily lives. From pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels, they are heroes of the night.
Bat Week — held the last week in October — celebrates the role of these winged wonders in nature and all that these amazing creatures do for us. Check out some interesting facts and photos below from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
1. There are over 1,400 species worldwide. Bats can be found on nearly every part of the planet except in extreme deserts and polar regions. The difference in size and shape are equally impressive. They range in size from the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (also called the Bumblebee) that weighs less than a penny — making it the world’s smallest mammal — to the flying foxes, which can have a wingspan of up to 6′. The U.S. and Canada are home to about 45 species and additional species are found in the U.S. territories in the Pacific and Caribbean.
2. Not all bats hibernate. Even though bears and bats are the two most well-known hibernators, not all bats spend their winter in caves. Some survive by migrating in search of food to warmer areas when it gets chilly.
3. Bats have few natural predators — disease is one of the biggest threats. Owls, hawks and snakes eat bats, but that’s nothing compared to the millions dying from white-nose syndrome. The disease — named for a white fungus on the muzzle and wings — affects hibernating bats and has been detected in 37 states and seven Canadian provinces. This deadly syndrome has decimated certain species more than others. It has killed over 90% of northern long-eared, little brown, and tri-colored populations in fewer than 10 years. Scientists are working to understand the disease. You can help by avoiding places where they hibernate. If you do go underground, decontaminate your clothing, footwear, and gear to help with not spreading this disease to other areas.
4. Without bats, say goodbye to bananas, avocados, and mangoes. Over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination. Bats help spread seeds for nuts, figs, and cacao — the main ingredient in chocolate. Without bats, we also wouldn’t have plants like agave or the iconic saguaro cactus. Just like a hummingbird, the lesser long-nosed bat (pictured left) can hover at flowers, using its 3-inch-long tongue — equal to its body length — to feed on nectar in desert environments. (Photo by Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International.)
5. Each night, bats can eat their body weight in insects, numbering in the thousands! This insect-heavy diet helps foresters and farmers protect their crops from pests. The endangered Indiana bat, which weighs about three pennies, consumes up to half its bulk every evening. (Photo by Andrew King, USFWS.)
6. They are the only flying mammal. While the flying squirrel can only glide for short distances, bats are true fliers. A bat’s wing resembles a modified human hand — imagine the skin between your fingers larger, thinner and stretched. This flexible skin membrane that extends between each long finger bone and many movable joints make them agile fliers. At left, California leaf-nosed bats exit a cave at Joshua Tree National Park. (Photo by Kristen Lalumiere, National Park Service.)
7. They may be small, but they’re fast little creatures. How fast a bat flies depends on the species, but they can reach speeds over 100 miles per hour according to new research. Show right, Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Texas’s Bracken Cave. Over 15 million bats live there, making it the largest known colony and largest concentration of mammals on Earth! (Photo by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.)
8. Conservation efforts are helping bat species recover. At least 12 types of U.S. bats are endangered, and more are threatened. These amazing animals face a multitude of threats including habitat loss and disease, but the U.S. Department of the Interior is working to change that. A unique international conservation partnership in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico has been working to help one species, the lesser long-nosed bat, recover to the point it can be removed from the Endangered Species list. In 1988, there were thought to be fewer than 1,000 at the 14 known roosts range wide. There are now an estimated 200,000 at 75 roosts!
9. The longest-living bat is 41 years old. Although most live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that life more than 30 years. In 2006, a tiny bat from Siberia set the world record at 41 years.
10. Like cats, bats clean themselves. Far from being dirty, bats spend a lot of time grooming themselves. Some even groom each other. Besides having sleek fur, cleaning also helps control parasites.
11. Dogs aren’t the only ones with pups. Baby bats are called pups, and a group is a colony. Like other mammals, mothers feed their pups breastmilk, not insects. Most give birth to a single pup! There is at least one species that commonly has twins and that is the eastern red bat. Momma bats form nursery colonies in spring in caves, dead trees, and rock crevices.
12. Bats are medical marvels. About 80 medicines come from plants that rely on bats for their survival. Studying how bats use echolocation has also helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Research on these mammals has also led to advances in vaccines.
13. Innies or Outies? Humans aren’t the only ones with belly buttons. With a few exceptions, nearly all mammals have navels, including bats. This Mariana Fruit bat’s belly button is on display above. (Photo by Julia Boland, USFWS.)
Bats need your help. You can help protect these amazing creatures by planting a pollinator garden or installing a bat house. Stay out of closed caves, especially ones with bats. If you’re visiting an open cave, make sure to prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome by following these guidelines.
For more on pollinators, click here.
*This article was originally posted by Turf in October 2022.
By Brian Birch
From the October 2024 Issue
In the unforgiving world of snow removal, proper planning is the key to success. Talk to any contractor who has managed more than a few winters successfully. They will agree. But such a broad topic gets muddy quickly, so let’s break winter planning down into manageable parts, since quite a few areas are going to need focus prior to the first flake falling.
Clients
Understanding your client base, their levels of service, and the scope of what you are going to be servicing is critical to planning for success. Things can go wrong fast in a snowstorm, so having your ducks in a row will be pivotal to meeting service agreements and keeping lines of communication open.
Reviewing the level of service requirements you’ve agreed to in contracts is essential in the lead up to the season. Document any special needs, picky clients, or high-risk areas now and have a plan to address these issues later.
Establish a schedule for pre-season equipment maintenance to ensure your fleet is prepped and ready to roll for the first event.
Some examples of what to check for:
Did you agree to snow removal/hauling? If so, ensure you have a plan for staging on site as well as a legal plan to dump the snow.
Do you have low-tolerance accounts? Make sure you understand contractually what you agreed to, the priority areas that are going to be critical during winter weather, and that you have the equipment and staffing (and backups for both) to manage these sites.
Check service starts. If you have trigger depths or clauses about when service starts/ends, make sure you have planned appropriately and documented this for your teams.
Conduct a site hazard analysis and notify the client of any pre-existing conditions, risky areas, or damage that you see on the site. Take pictures and document it all for the future. Doing so prevents you from having to pay for damage you didn’t cause.
Communicating with clients is critical, and you should spend some time and effort mapping out your plan. Do you have “problem” accounts? Anticipating their needs and using kid gloves can help, but that only goes so far. Make sure account managers are versed in the challenges tied to the account, and that clear lines of communication exist. But remember, don’t compromise your values or put your team or profit at risk for a problematic client!
When it comes to preseason communications plans, think of it from their perspective: what is coming, what is happening during the storm, and what you are doing to finish post-storm.
Pre-event: Provide the forecast and initial dispatch plan. Make sure you don’t overshare or overpromise—just a general overview and your current service approach.
During the event: Communicate the current state of operations, forecast changes and resulting changes to the event plan. If equipment breakdowns or staff no-shows slow you down, share the contingency plans to hopefully head off the “why hasn’t my site been cleared yet” text or phone call.
Post-event: Wrap-up with information regarding event follow-up (e.g., clean up, hauling, ice watch plans) and provide the required service verification documentation. For clients who require store manager signoffs, ensure that this is documented and a team member on site has been assigned to ensure proper client follow-up is conducted.
People
Your clients are important, but your staff who will conduct the work are, too! Don’t leave them out in the cold—proper planning is critical for their safety and the quality of service they provide.
Here are some best practices to implement with your teams in the preseason:
Training. Make sure all new employees have been formally onboarded, and that every team member who will be in the elements has been trained on proper safety procedures, their core duties, and proper clothing and behavior on client sites.
Documentation procedures and processes. Proper service documentation, whether you do it by paper or via digital means, can’t be overlooked in this industry! Service verification is critical to managing liability and for becoming more efficient as a service provider over time. Educate your team on how to submit their service information, including why this matters so much.
You can’t take care of your clients’ sites if you don’t take care of your employees. But your subcontractors need some love too! If you work with subs, make sure:
Certificates of Insurance (COI) are on file and updated
W-9s are on file and updated
Subcontractors are oriented to the sites they are responsible for, as well as any broad-based outcomes or needs you have for those sites.
A backup plan is in place in case a subcontractor fails or bails during the season
Equipment
Making sure your equipment and materials are in good shape is essential. Clumped salt that jams the spreader, worn-out plow cutting edges, cracked shovels … none of these inspire confidence in your team; they reflect poorly on your brand; and they create unsafe conditions. Your fleet, whether its 2 trucks or 20, should be in prime operating condition prior to the season—remember, Mother Nature won’t wait for you to be ready.
Preparing detailed site maps can serve as a guide to your team on how to properly service the property. Provide copies of the site maps to everyone who will be involved with on-site operations as well as clients, so everyone is on the same page.
Establish a schedule. Prioritize your preseason equipment roll out and scheduled maintenance throughout winter. You don’t want to give the “go” signal for a storm and have equipment not start. Identify your company’s snow season kickoff date and calculate the time you need to get your equipment ready. Leave plenty of time, knowing that current season maintenance and breakdowns may temporarily derail the schedule.
Follow the manufacturers’ recommended service intervals. Companies who perform other services may not be able to make a complete switch over to winter operations. If not, prepare one or two trucks with plows and spreaders in case of an early storm and add more equipment as winter nears.
In-season tasks. Being ready for the first storm is great, but great planning requires more! Develop and finetune a set of checklists and shutdown processes that help your team maintain the equipment. This means having a plan for storing equipment between storms, washing equipment after service, and having a central person or team be accountable for vehicle maintenance.
Order parts early. The closer you get to the start of the season, the better the chance that parts will be on backorder. Stock major parts, such as plow pumps, spreader motors, etc., that may be hard to find in the middle of a storm. Create a simple protocol to manage your inventory, to find parts easily when you need them, and to keep the parts safe and clean.
Establish breakdown procedures. Keep an equipment “first aid” kit handy. At minimum, every truck should have basic hand tools and a hydraulic hose repair kit as the first line of defense in the event of a breakdown. Ensure your drivers and site managers follow protocol, including how to report problems and any required documentation.
Snow and ice management is a difficult industry to begin with — failure to plan puts you behind the eight ball and makes it much more difficult for your team to execute your plan and satisfy your customers. Plan well and you will win!
Brian Birch is a freelance contributor for the Snow & Ice Management Association. Brian helps small businesses and organizations tackle big challenges, one bad joke at a time. Find him online at harrierbiz.com.
Do you have a comment? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, or send an e-mail to the Managing Editor at jessica@groupc.com.
Read more from SIMA on Turf.
The Salvation Army received a significant equipment donation from Bobcat Company to support ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton and beyond. The donation, valued at $885,000, includes 23 essential pieces of equipment, such as forklifts, portable generators, and light towers; all vital for aiding communities impacted by natural disasters. These assets will be stored at The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) warehouses and deployed across the Southeast, ensuring rapid and effective response to both current and future disasters.
The Salvation Army has often needed to rent much of this equipment in times of disaster. This is a costly and logistically challenging necessity, particularly during times of high demand following disasters. With Bobcat’s support, The Salvation Army can respond immediately without needing to source critical equipment during emergencies, enhancing its capacity to serve affected communities effectively.
“This equipment will not only help with our immediate response efforts to Hurricanes Helene and Milton but will also save valuable time and money responding to future disasters,” said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander of The Salvation Army. “Service delivery is severely impacted when critical equipment is unavailable during disaster operations, and this significant addition of operational equipment in our warehouses and the field is essential to ensuring the safety of our workers and in providing crucial services to survivors.”
The Salvation Army’s EDS teams have provided emotional and spiritual care to more than 130,000 survivors throughout the Southeast since the hurricanes made landfall. They also provided 580,000 meals and 370,000 snacks, 115,000 Ready-to-Eat meals, 88,000 food boxes, 280,000 drinks, 87,000 cases of water, and 86,000 clean-up kits to affected individuals. With Bobcat’s support, these critical services will continue as long as needed. Moreover, as The Salvation Army has a presence in many impacted areas, residents can rely on ongoing support as they rebuild their lives.
“Bobcat equipment is often at the forefront of helping communities rebuild after natural disasters,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “Our collaboration with The Salvation Army allows Bobcat and our equipment to make an even greater impact, empowering The Salvation Army to maximize their efforts in doing the most good.”
With this generous donation, The Salvation Army is better equipped to serve communities across the Southeast as they recover from the devastation of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and for rapid deployment in future disaster situations.
Get Equipped: Disaster Response Equipment
Stormwater Management Urged In Wake Of Hurricane Helene
Progressive Allocates $3M+ To Support Disaster Relief Efforts
Exoneration of even one company driver involved in a crash with significant litigation risk will pay for the minimal investment in dash cams many times over.