Management Clinic Draws High Numbers
ANLA’s annual Management Clinic brought nearly 800 green industry owners and managers to Louisville, Ky. January 22-25. The Management Clinic is dedicated to developing the business skills of those professionals in garden retail, landscape contracting, growing and landscape distribution who represent the future of this industry.
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“That was one of the best conferences I have attended in my life,” said Sam Reed General Manager at McAdam Landscaping, Forest Park, Ill. “Topics for the program were very relevant to my daily work, presenters were leading edge, the balance between business-specific knowledge, management skills and personal growth items really made an impact. Informal networking conversations between meetings gave me contacts that will be a resource for months to come.”
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The 2004 Clinic opened with two intensive and innovative programs for garden retailers and landscape designers and sales professionals: Garden Center University (GCU) and the Landscape Sales Master Class. GCU, an ANLA members-only program, taught by “professor” Ian Baldwin, represents a mini-MBA program for garden centers with a five-“semester”, two-year program. At Clinic, GCU initiated the Class of ’06 and recognized its inaugural graduating class, which held a graduation ceremony in Florida January 15. More than 50 landscape contractors took advantage of the Master Class in Sales offered by Jud Griggs of JP Horizons. “Griggs effectively covered both the basics and more advanced sales and marketing technique. He provided easy to implement take-aways,” commented Mary Richardson of Burnett’s Landscaping, Salem, Conn.
The event kicked off Friday morning with highest honors. Kathryn Pufahl of Beds and Borders, Laurel, N.Y., was posthumously honored with the ANLA Garden Communicator Award. ANLA presents this award annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to public understanding and appreciation of plants and landscape beautification through popular media.
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Judy Sharpton of Growing Places Marketing speaks of the unique perspective that Pufahl offered to ornamental horticulture. According to Sharpton, she looked at garden product from the point of view of the consumer and reformed its presentation to reflect that understanding. “Kathy changed the way the industry presents its product. She created a better package, and her product line will continue to represent that as long as there are plants.” Beds & Borders remains in business under the leadership of Pufahl’s husband, Kevin.
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Growers and distributors responded enthusiastically to the increased programming targeted specifically at their business needs. Particularly well attended by growers, was a session presented by Mauricio Valasquez of the Diversity Training Group. Velasquez, an ANLA certified consultant, led a no-holds-barred discussion on effectively managing a Hispanic workforce. John Spence brought his Fortune-500-tested message to a record turnout from the landscape distribution community that tripled in size from 2003.
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Next year’s Management clinic is scheduled for February 3-6. For more information please contact Stephanie Still, ANLA meetings manager, or visit www.anla.org.
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