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SYMP24_Education

Galvanize your team’s industry expertise

FOUR DAYS OF SNOW & ICE EDUCATION

Galvanize your team's industry expertise with SIMA's workshops and sessions for key roles in snow & ice

TUESDAY   |   WEDNESDAY   |  THURSDAY   |   FRIDAY

Download the app for a full schedule.

New in '24

Session Tracks

 Each session has a color coded dot representing various roles in snow and ice and recommendations on experience level of the information being presented.

TUESDAY / JUNE 25

002.SYMP24_Title Graphics_Pre-conference

*Workshop fees are $95 per person and must be selected in advance. Limited availability.

 

OPTION 1: Sales & Estimating Workshop

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ 

Novice, Intermediate

Winning business in the snow and ice management industry requires precision-like focus on setting goals, knowing your numbers, choosing your ideal clients and building and presenting proposals to help you seal the deal. Learn all of this and more during this interactive workshop:

  • Prospecting and Qualifying Leads - Marty Grunder, The Grow Group
  • Estimating and Job Costing - David Gallagher, Spiritus Business Advisors
  • Developing and Presenting Proposals - Andy Lakatosh, Inspire You
  • Sealing the Deal + Bonus Sales Q&A - Michael Sloopka, Selling Solutions

OPTION 2: Hiring & Retention Workshop

πŸ”΅πŸŸ πŸŸ£

Novice, Intermediate

Consistently named as the #1 challenge in the snow and ice management industry, this workshop will cover the key topics that should be part of your hiring and retention efforts:

  • Hiring Today’s Team Members - Eddy Zakes, CSP, Earth Development; Amy Tincher and Allison McDowell, Rocky Fork Co.
  • Interviewing Best Practices - Scott Lesak, CSP, Kasel Rocks Landscaping
  • Onboarding and Training - Michael Vollmers, ASM, Iron Valley Equipment
  • Engagement and Retention - Team Presentation

CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Charles-Glossop

Is your business ready for brine?
 
Charles Glossop, CSP
 

Jumping into making your own brine is a decision that shouldn’t be made lightly. Charles Glossop, CSP, has spent nearly 30 years refining his brine making operation. He’ll discuss the factors that should be considered to determine whether brine making is your next move.

SYMP23_Mike-McCarron

Costs and processes for implementaton
 
Mike McCarron, Imageworks Landscaping, VA
 

Don’t dismiss the costs that go into adding brine making to your operations. Adding brine will require investments in labor, materials, equipment, storage and more. Mike McCarron will share how to identify and assess those costs and provide strategies to ensure you achieve a return on that investment.

SYMP23_Diana-Clontch

Guided by science
 
Diana Clonch, DW Clonch, OH

 

If you’re going to invest in liquids, you need to make sure you know the science behind successful application strategies. Diana Clonch is a long-time consultant to the industry and will teach attendees how brine works, when it doesn’t, the importance of scenario planning, application and treatment options, common issues and how to troubleshoot if your first attempts don’t achieve your desired goals. Much of this class will be reinforced in the outdoor sessions.

OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

1: BRINE MAKING
2: BLENDING & NON-CHLORIDES
3: CALIBRATION
4: APPLICATION BEST PRACTICES
5: EQUIPMENT SAFETY
  • 1Best practices for brine making

    Jeremy Darling / JC Grounds Management

    Learn the basics of how to make brine, including the tools and equipment that are needed, measurement tools, and quality control best practices.

  • 2Blending best practices and non-chlorides

    Joe Cashin / Innovative Surface Solutions and Dave Lenz / Middlesex Ice Control

    Salt brine only gets you so far β€” for enhanced performance you’ll need to learn how to blend brine with other chemicals and explore the non-chloride options that are available to amp up performance.

  • 3Calibration

    Outdoor Pride Landscaping

    Brine is on board and your application rates are set. Confirm your equipment is spraying the correct rate by calibrating your equipment for optimum application.

  • 4Application best practices

    Ryan Jackson, Zach Kulasa and Tyler Clemans / EMI

    See application best practices in action. We’ll get equipment moving to show proper spray patterns, nozzle types, etc. to ensure you’re maximizing your investment and your service applications.

  • 5Equipment maintenance and safety

    Alex Glossop / Hantho Farms

    Extend your investment by making sure you safely know how to make the brine and how to maintain your equipment.

WEDNESDAY / JUNE 26

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What Makes the Great Teams Great

002.SYMP24_Webpage Graphics_Don Yaeger
Don Yaeger
 

Great teams understand their β€œwhy.” They feel collectively connected to a greater purpose. Learn how to constantly remind your players and employees of who they are in service of while being acutely aware of the downstream beneficiaries. The impact is often much more than the immediate customerβ€”when we can connect and truly feel why what we do matters, it heightens the amount of discretionary effort we put into our tasks and responsibilities. The more a company creates β€œFeel-it Moments” or β€œMission Moments” for team members to understand their greater purpose, the better off the team will be when it comes to enduring any challenges along the way.

Sponsored by Caterpillar
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Break the Blue Collar Stigma to Attract the Next Generation of Talent

πŸ”΅πŸŸ£ | All

Mikayel Ter-Grigoryan, Just for Snow

CapX, Labor & ROI of Liquids

πŸ”΅πŸŸ  | Novice, Intermediate

Jordan Smith, Storm Equipment

 

Death & Destruction - Are You Ready for It?

πŸ”΅πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | All

Amanda Pruss, SIMA; Doug Freer, CSP, Blue Moose Snow; William Akehurst, Akehurst Landscape Service

Negotiate Your Way to Success

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ  | All

Michael Sloopka, Selling Solutions

Team Productivity & Performance Management

πŸ”΅πŸŸ  | Novice, Intermediate

Rick Kier, CSP, Forge Ahead Consulting

Subbing Across State Lines

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ  | Intermediate, Accelerated

Jeff Heller, CSP, Innovative Maintenance Solutions & Christopher Kolt, American Service Pros

Accounting for Inflation in Your Snow & Ice Business

πŸ”΅ | Novice, Intermediate

Sydney Smyers Conway, Know Your Worth Pittsburgh

Mergers & Acquisition in the Snow Industry

πŸ”΅ | Intermediate, Accelerated

Don Mahoney, CSP, ASM, Mahoney & Associates; Roger Zino, Socratic Dialog & David Hare, Kian Capital

Staff Accountability Secrets for Rapid Growth

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’ | Novice, Intermediate

Danny Kerr, Breakthrough Academy

Reduce Salt without Reducing Service

🟠| Novice, Intermediate

Michael Wagner, CSP, ASM, Designscapes Colorado

Strive for a Win-Win with Property Managers

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ | All

Panelists TBD

How Much are Your Clients Worth? 

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ  | Novice, Intermediate

Doug Freer, CSP, Blue Moose Snow

Leadership Lab: Get Unstuck!

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | All

Christy Uffelman, CEO & Founder, EDGE Leadership Solutions

Tame the Chaos: SOPs for Overwhelmed Owners

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | Novice, Intermediate

Danny Kerr, Breakthrough Academy

Documentation: It's in the Details

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | Novice, Intermediate

Jenny Girard, ASM, RM Landscape

THURSDAY / JUNE 27

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Improve Hiring with Tech & Flexibility

πŸ”΅πŸŸ£ | All

Laura Means, Brian-Kyles Landscapes; Carlos del Pozo, Team Engine

Is Your Company Ready for a Business Management System?

πŸ”΅ | Novice

Stephanie Leveling, The Integra Group

From Team Member to Team Leader

🟠 | Novice, Intermediate

Angel Campos-Chavez, Imageworks Landscaping; Jake Howard, ASM, Outdoor Pride Snow & Ice Management

Marketing Your Business to the Next Level

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’ | Intermediate, Advanced

Darci Knowles, Darci Creative

Peer Talk with PA Snow Pros

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | All

Panelists TBD

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New for 2024 are our β€œHow do I? …” mini-sessions. Hear quick tips covering these topics:

10:45 am

  • Conduct an effective meeting πŸŸ πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ£
  • Melt more in less time 🟠
  • Develop an onboarding program πŸ”΅πŸŸ πŸŸ£
  • Build my brand πŸ”΅πŸŸ’

11:10 am

  • Conduct a job hazard analysis 🟠
  • Sell liquids to my property managers 🟒🟠
  • Reduce the risk of an insurance claim πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£
  • Conduct a client lunch and learn πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ 

FRIDAY / JUNE 28

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The Power of Women in Snow

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | All

Amanda Ochoa, Tricon Group; Jillian Burns, CSP, Burns Landscaping; & Katelin Pufnock, ASM, emi landscape

Emerging Climate Trends Impacting the Industry

πŸ”΅πŸŸ  | All

Frank Lombardo and Rob Reale, WeatherWorks Inc.

SIMA Foundation Research: Compensation & Benefits Survey

πŸ”΅πŸŸ£ | All

Steve Wolf, WolfWorks Consulting

Build a Seasonal Staffing Plan

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’πŸŸ πŸŸ£ | Novice, Intermediate

John Mocharko, Acacia Facility Services & Evan Tachoir, Consultant

Practical Approach to Using AI & Tech for Growth, Efficiency & Execution

πŸ”΅πŸŸ’ | All

Patrick Baglien, Vue Robotics; Todd Reinhart, Reinhart Landscape & Snow;  & Isaac Howell, Acacia Facility Services

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Understanding & Influencing Modern Consumers

002.SYMP24_Webpage Graphics_Steve Lerch
Steve Lerch

Our collective culture and modern consumer behaviors are changing and evolving faster than at any other point in history. The way consumers spend their time, gather information, make purchases, communicate, and even the voices they trust look drastically different than they did even two years ago. If you expect to sell to these people, to influence these people, to form relationships with these people, you have to start by understanding them and understanding how to talk to them.

Sponsored by Skyline Salt Solutions


Thanks to our 2024 Symposium Sponsors