GIE+EXPO workshops and hardscape demos announced

Valuable opportunities abound at the 2016 GIE+EXPO (Green Industry & Equipment Expo) for lawn and landscape pros interested in improving profitability. The show is set for Oct. 19-21 in Louisville at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The GIE+EXPO workshops will cover a variety of valuable management topics specifically for landscape contractors’ businesses. In addition, for contractors looking to diversify, Hardscape North America’s co-location with GIE+EXPO provides the opportunity to learn about expanding into the hardscape market.

 

2016 GIE+EXPO workshops

 

Thursday, October 20

8 – 9 AM

NEW – Opening Keynote: John Schnatter, Founder and CEO, Papa John’s

Fee: $15 donation, which will benefit The Louisville Zoo

Sponsored by Hardscape North America

The Papa John’s pizza business was founded in 1983 when “Papa” John Schnatter knocked out a broom closet in the back of his father’s tavern in Jeffersonville, Indiana. He then sold his 1971 Z28 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern’s customers out of the converted closet. His pizzas proved so popular that one year later he was able to move into an adjoining space. In 2009, Schnatter got the Camaro back by contacting the family that he sold the car to in 1983. Today, the company is the third largest take-out and pizza delivery restaurant chain in the world with headquarters in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, near Louisville.

 

10 – 11:30 AM

Hardscape Workshop: Secrets Every Contractor Ought to Know About the Hardscape Business

Frank Gandora, President, Creative Hardscape Company

Learn insider secrets of running a successful hardscape company. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Frank Gandora has worked with some of the best manufacturers, CEOs and contractors in the business. He combines their strategies and best practices to run his own successful business. In this session, you’ll learn the tips, tricks and secrets he and other top contractors use to set themselves apart as leading hardscape contractors.

 

1 – 2:30 PM

NALP Workshop 1: 50 Shades of Gray – Identifying, Clarifying, and Choosing Marketing Strategies that Work

Kent Kohn, Pro-Motion Consulting Inc., National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Making efficient decisions regarding your marketing dollars is key to growing your business. Unfortunately, the marketing options can seem endless. This presentation will address the biggest marketing challenges by examining the latest trends and reviewing tried and proven methods. Attendees will learn about marketing strategies, target marketing and 5 simple practices to increase sales.

 

3 – 4:30 PM

NALP Workshop 2: 5 Steps to Increasing Your Profitability with QuickBooks

Monica Muir, Muir & Associates, LLC, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Frustrated with QuickBooks? Often the issues are due to features missed in setup and procedures which impact workflow and reporting. Learn 5 steps that can help you increase your profitability with desktop QuickBooks. With just a few changes in setup and procedure, you’ll have more reporting options and new ways to streamline your workflow.

 

Friday, Oct. 21

8 – 9:30 AM | Breakfast sandwich & coffee provided

NALP Workshop 3: How Not to Sell Your Business

Ron Edmonds, Principium Group, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

It is estimated that only 25% of businesses are successfully sold. For businesses under $1 million in sales or less than 10 employees, the percentage is even lower. A business is usually an owner’s most significant asset, and many are relying on their businesses to finance their retirement. But these statistics paint a challenging picture. Learn why businesses don’t sell, as well as why they do. This session will focus on how you can improve your odds of a successful exit from your business – on your terms and timetable.

 

8 – 9:30 AM | Breakfast sandwich & coffee provided

NALP Workshop 4: Coach, Evaluate, and Manage Your Employees the Right Way – They Will Give You the Results Your Company Needs to Go to the Next Level!

Steve Cesare, The Harvest Group, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

This hands-on workshop will give you the key components of employee discipline, performance management and evaluations. Participants will learn how to improve employee job performance, increase procedural consistency and sustain organizational success while being legally compliant and meaningful for the employees.

 

10 – 11:30 AM

NALP Workshop 5: Building Your Proposal the from Ground Up

Richard Arlington, of Rich Arlington & Associates, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Want to know how your financial statement can help you get to the price that makes money? Show customers and your staff that you know what you’re doing using simple steps to achieve success. In this session, attendees will learn how to calculate their breakeven point, the difference between markup and margin, and how to account for efficient factors.

 

10 – 11:30 am

NALP Workshop 6: Make More Profits, Create More Free Time, and Grow Your Landscape Business Organically by Avoiding These Three Massive Mistakes

Domenic Chiarella, 7 of 7 BEST Business and Life Strategies, LLC, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Learn the three mistakes that are present in every company, how to avoid them and tools for solving them. Find out why it is important to have these areas working for you in order to grow profits and gain an understanding of real tools in each area that can be implemented immediately into your business.

 

1 – 2:30 PM

NALP Workshop 7: 10 Things Every Land Care Operator Needs to Know About Financial Statements

Dan Gordon, Turfbooks.com, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Most owners and managers in the land care industry understand how to build beautiful backyards, make lawns green and give curb appeal to their customers’ properties. However, many struggle to understand their financial statements, budget for growth and profitability and effectively manage accounts payables and receivables. In this session, attendees will gain an understanding of these important financial concepts in order to evaluate where their business has been, where it currently is, and if and how it will progress in the future.

 

3 – 4:30 PM

NALP Workshop 8: Optimize Your Cash Flow and Get Paid Faster

David Tulkin, Fundbox, National Association of Landscape Professional Consultant

Cash flow is essential to business success. 64% of small businesses experience late payments, and landscapers are no exception. Chances are if you invoice on net-terms, you have funds tied up in receivables that you need to make payroll, buy supplies or take on the next big job. This informative session will cover key steps to taking control of your cash flow and utilizing technology to optimize your invoicing workflow. It will also cover traditional and alternative types of financing available to landscape owners.

 

Registration Details

Registration in advance is required. NALP Workshops: $85; Hardscape Workshop: $50; Opening Keynote: $15 (to benefit the Louisville Zoo). Those who register for the Hardscape Workshop listed above will also be admitted free to the technique demos in the HNA Outdoor Arena tent. See below. Those who only want to attend the HNA Demonstrations and tradeshow can upgrade their registration for $25 to include all the following demos. Register for all sessions online at www.gie-expo.com.

 

 

Hardscape Demonstrations

(Held in the tented Hardscape North America Outdoor Arena in the Outdoor Demonstration Area)

 

New this year – The format for the Hardscape Demonstrations will be a continuous build, which will happen during show hours in the HNA Outdoor Arena with 1-hour featured demonstrations starting at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM.

 

Thursday, Oct. 20

11 AM – NOON

Paver Installation

Bill Gardocki, Owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

Marc Larsen, Owner, Mountain West Paver Specialists

 

1 – 2 PM

Tools of the Trade

Bill Gardocki, Owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

Tom Gardocki, Hardscape Operations Foreman, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

 

3 – 4 PM

Basic Wall Building

Bill Gardocki, Owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

 

Friday, Oct. 21

 

11 AM – NOON

Permeable Paver Installation

Bill Gardocki, Owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

 

1 – 2 PM

Pillar, Step and Specialty Applications Installation

Tim Huinker, Construction Specialist, Anchor Wall Systems

 

3 – 4 PM

Lighting and Water Feature Installation

Jeff Hesser, Mid Atlantic Regional Sales Manager, Cast Lighting LLC

Rene Gingras, Landscape Professor, Thompson School at the University of New Hampshire

 

Each HNA demonstration is eligible for one ICPI Certified Installer Continuing Education (CE) Credit. Attendees should pick up a CE tracking form at the HNA registration desk.

 

GIE+EXPO 2016

GIE+EXPO’s 2016 dates are Wednesday, Oct. 19, Dealer Day and Oct. 20-21 for all industry participants. The annual event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (OPEI), Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) and National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). HNA is sponsored by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI).

For information: www.gie-expo.com. Other contact points: Facebook, info@GIE-EXPO.com, Twitter @GIE_EXPO and 800-558-8767/812-949-9200.