In today’s Kansas City Star, Highland Outdoor was named the 9th Largest Landscape Company in Kansas City.

See the entire list here.

An accompanying article on the changing business of landscapers to design-build was featured as well. Check it out online here, or read it in its entirety below:

Landscapers not just about the green: Demand grows for hardscapes

By ROBERT COLE
The Kansas City StarAt several of the area’s largest landscaping companies, the annual rites of spring have included offering basic lawn, tree and irrigation services for 20 years or more.

But these professionals say that the traditional definition of landscaping is changing from what it was less than two decades ago.

Instead of focusing on green goods like lawns, trees and flowers, more clients are requesting exterior design-build projects that include everything outside the home’s four walls, said Jason Cupp, president and CEO of Highland Outdoor in Olathe.

Rather than hiring contractors, homeowners now want landscaping professionals who can design and create an entire project, which can mean a backyard pool, a gazebo or spacious patio areas built with custom pavers.

The requests for hardscape services have increased competition within the industry, Cupp said.

“Our clients want things faster and more nimble now than ever before,” Cupp said. “It’s hard because this is an industry that can’t make a lot of shortcuts.”

The expense of creating a custom-designed outdoor living area can run to $100,000 or more, but there can be a significant return on the investment.

“The single most important factor in marketing a property is curb appeal and landscaping is 90 percent of that,” said Robert Schock, director of property management for the Yarco Co. Inc. in Kansas City.

Yarco’s landscaping needs range from its niche of affordable housing in urban areas to upscale senior properties like Truman Farm Villas in Grandview.

Though it’s important to keep costs low in the current economy, it’s difficult to cut back on landscaping budgets because of the value it brings to marketing a property, Schock said.

Some local professionals recently have noticed a change in the landscaping process.

Instead of simply planting a few shrubs and annuals every year, clients want to go ahead with their patios and outdoor spaces and put the green in second, said Gary Weidenbach, president and CEO of Rosehill Gardens Inc. in south Kansas City.

“People are very involved in their landscaping now,” Weidenbach said. “It’s part of their personality.”

The demand for more complex services is creating an increased need for employees with degrees and certifications in a variety of specialties.

More than 20 of Rosehill’s employees have landscape-related degrees or have earned lawn and landscape certifications. About 50 other employees have earned professional designations as lawn technicians and chemical applicators.

Cupp was one of the first area landscapers to receive designation as a certified landscape professional from the Professional Landcare Network, a trade association that represents more than 4,200 landscaping companies in North America.

Cupp recently was named president of the association, which also is the national certifying organization for certified landscape technicians and several other industry designations.

The industry will continue to grow if landscaping companies recognize that each customer has their own ideas and needs for their particular project, Cupp said.

But landscapers will need to hire more specialized help as their business grows.

“We encourage our members to pursue different levels of education,” Cupp said, “but we also advise them to hire people that can help them be good at something else.”

Congratulations to EACH incredible business on this years list… We’re proud to be on the list with such an awesome group of quality contractors!

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NEWS Contact: Vicki Bendure, APR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (540) 687-3360 or
Lisa Schaumann
(540) 687-5099

PROFESSIONAL LANDCARE NETWORK DONATES SERVICES
TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY AND HISTORIC
CONGRESSIONAL CEMETERY AND VISITS CAPITOL HILL
— A $300,000 Environmental Gift to the American People —

HERNDON, Va., July 24, 2007 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held their most successful “Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery and Historic Congressional Cemetery” event on Monday, July 16, 2007.

More than 400 volunteers from across the nation brought their crews to Arlington National and Historic Congressional cemeteries and spent the day mulching, caring for and cabling trees with lightning protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating as well as installing an irrigation system at Arlington National Cemetery. This gift is valued at more than $300,000 in services and work.

“This was an opportunity for us to demonstrate our professional skills and care for two important American monuments,” stated PLANET President Jim Martin, CLP. Many PLANET members have special connections at the cemeteries either through relatives and friends who are buried there or through their own military service.

The day began at Arlington National Cemetery with a ceremony featuring a joint color guard and speaker presentations that dedicated the day of work to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The children of PLANET members planted flowers and presented a wreath to the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“This is PLANET’s most significant project this year,” notes Tom Shotzbarger, CLP, CLT, CTP, COLP, CTP-CSL, a PLANET member and the chairman of the event. “The natural beauty and quiet grace of Arlington National Cemetery make it a place that we feel compelled to protect and take care of. This extremely worthwhile, meaningful project demonstrates our honor and remembrance of America’s veterans and leaders.” Shotzbarger also noted that this event, in its 11th year, was the largest ever held. “We began working on Friday because there was so much more to do than in years past,” Shotzbarger explained. More than 1,400 trees, bedding plants and shrubs were planted.

On Tuesday, July 17, PLANET and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) members visited their congressional leaders on Capitol Hill and spoke with them about issues facing the green industry, including comprehensive immigration reform. This Legislative Day on the Hill event was held by PLANET and TCIA.

PLANET THANKS ITS PARTICIPATING COMPANIES, SPONSORS, AND DONORS!

PARTICIPATING COMPANIES:
….
Highland Outdoor
….
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
Bayer Environmental Science
Husqvarna
Syngenta Professional Products

GOLD SPONSORS:
Dow AgroSciences
IMERYS
John Deere
John Deere Landscapes/LESCO
Nufarm Turf & Specialty

SILVER SPONSORS:
BASF Corporation
FMC Corporation
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
Vermeer Manufacturing

BRONZE SPONSORS:
The Andersons, Inc.
Helena Chemical Company
MAS Labor (Mid-Atlantic Solutions, Inc.)
PBI Gordon Corp.
Workforce Advantage

DONORS:
Angelica Nurseries, Inc.
Arbor Landscapers, Inc.
K&H Lawn Services, Inc
Manor View Farm
Premier Tech Biotechnologies
Riverbend Nursery
Shemin Nurseries, Inc.
The Tankard Nurseries
Wentworth Nursery

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 4,200 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.

For more information, visit www.LandcareNetwork.org, or call the PLANET office at (800) 395-2522.

To find a PLANET professional in your area, visit www.LandcareNetwork.org/findaprofessional, or call the PLANET office at
(800) 395-2522.

————————————————————————

Jason and I had the opportunity to travel to North Carolina June 12 through 14 to visit some of Caterpillar’s facilities. We were given the privilege to speak to a group of engineers and marketing folks at a seminar about the green industry. We were joined by Kent Pelligrini, CAT skid steer and multi-terrain loader industry manager, during our presentation. Kent started the presentation with a broad overview of the green industry – from landscaping and maintenance to nurseries to design/build projects. Jason gave a more in-depth view of our business and what we do as a company. My part consisted of telling everyone what I do in my position as a salesman, designer and project manager to better give them an understanding of my day-to-day tasks and how their machines assist me with my job. Jason finished up the presentation with an overview of PLANET and the beneficial relationships with companies like CAT.

The rest of our day at Caterpillar consisted of a factory tour and some product testing. CAT has started the manufacture of its new product line (the C series) of skid steer and multi-terrain loaders, which be got to see being built in the factory. The factory we toured manufactures every Caterpillar skid loader in the world. Jason and I were able to demo some of the new C series loaders, which was great because they aren’t even on the market quite yet.

Our trip to North Carolina was beneficial to us and the Caterpillar compact equipment division. We learned a lot about each other’s businesses and operations. Even though it was fun to travel and see new places and facilities, there was a valuable and great amount of information distributed between the companies, beneficial to both.

(PHOTO:  Mitch chats with Cat Representatives Kent and Dave regarding the new C-Series, as well as some added features to our Cat machine at their skid steer factory outside Raleigh, NC.)

Last week, I had to be in Chicago for a business meeting, so I flew in the afternoon before my meeting to meet with my friends from CNA Insurance. Highland Outdoor recently rewrote our entire liability, workmans compensation and auto with CNA, who is also a signifcant partner to PLANET, the association I am serving this year as President-Elect.

Tony James and John Tatum and I quickly toured “Big Red” - CNA’s headquarters that is part of the Chicago skyline, downtown in the Loop, then had a great dinner at Millenium Park.

Tony and I then jumped on the Red Line and went to the Northside to attend the Chicago Cubs game. We met a colleague of Tony’s and enjoyed a horrible Cub’s loss. For those that don’t know me too well, I’m a rabid Cub’s fan, and have been a Season Ticket holder for five seasons at Wrigley. (Sitenote: For any client who ever is in Chicago, please send me an email to see if our company tickets are available)

Highland Outdoor is proud to be a client of CNA, and we are excited to have excellent insurance coverage, to protect our company, as well as our clients. Although we strive to never have a claim (we have received GOLD Safety awards the last two years), it is comfortable to know we have an incredible company behind us if we ever do.

If you are a company owner, I would highly suggest CNA as a quality provider of all facets of insurance. Mike Wrenn, of Wrenn Insurance, wrote our policies and would be happy to quote them for you.

(Photo: Jason Cupp, Highland CEO and Tony James, CNA Insurance, at the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field)

Today I’m fortunate to travel to Lansing, MI the Professional Landcare Network’s Student Career Days.  I’ll have an opportunity to witness some of the best collegiate talent in our industry - all competing against one another to win this years event.  Also, PLANET’s AEF will give out their annual scholarships to students who applied.  This event is always one of the most incredible events our national trade association puts on.  Here is the article that appeared this morning in MSU Today, Michigan State University’s campus newspaper.

Horticulture students from around the country to compete in unique event

by Jon Schultz, student writer

March 27, 2007 - Nearly 1,000 students from 55 universities nationwide will compete for bragging rights across 24 horticultural skills events during the Professional Landcare Network’s, or PLANET, Student Career Days.

The 31st annual event will be held March 29-April 1 at MSU.

Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills, meet prospective employers and seek employment opportunities in the green industry while showcasing their academic talents before hundreds of professionals.

The competitive events range from a timed arboriculture tree climbing challenge to a sales presentation, testing the students’ ability to work with hard-sell clients.

“Arboriculture has all the action, but the sales presentation is about how well they can think on their feet,” said Brad Rowe, an MSU associate horticulture professor.

In the arboriculture event, students take a written exam testing their knowledge of the tree and then are timed while they climb it using ropes and a harness. For the sales presentation, students face professional actors who play a customer looking for a low price.

“Any sales job will be like that,” said Rowe, the event’s faculty adviser. “You have to know how to deal with rejection. The actors are fairly tough, and many students aren’t used to being challenged by clients.”

Besides the competitions, there will be training workshops and a career fair, which take place following the 8 a.m. opening ceremony in the Lansing Convention Center on March 30.

PLANET spokesperson Lisa Schaumann said the horticulture and landscape industry is seeking skilled students to fill the high demand for top-notch workers.

The knowledge students gain from the activities will help advance the professionalism of the business, Rowe said.

“Having knowledgeable people within the industry is important,” he said. “Consumers sometimes can’t make a distinction between who’s qualified and who’s not.”

MSU ranked in the top 10 overall for the past five years, and Rowe said he hopes this year’s team of 19 students will continue the school’s success.

The event originated in 1975, when a group of MSU students entered into a friendly argument with Mississippi State University students about who had a better horticulture department.

The competitive spirit still remains, Rowe said.

“You get some of the best students from around the country participating in career days,” he said. “This event is a forum for sharing horticultural knowledge and best practices.”

At PLANET’s Green Industry Conference earlier this month, Highland Outdoor CEO Jason Cupp, CLP, accepted a Gold Performance Safety Award on behalf of the clients and staff of Highland Outdoor. The PLANET Press Release with more information:

PLANET INTRODUCES OVERALL SAFETY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

HERNDON, Va, November 15, 2006 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) has announced its Overall Safety Achievement Awards, which were presented at the recent PLANET Green Industry Conference awards banquet in Columbus, Ohio. These awards are a part of PLANET’s annual Safety Recognition Awards Program and honor companies with thorough, high-performing safety programs.

PLANET’s annual Safety Recognition Awards Program, co-sponsored by CNA and Ariens/Gravely/Stens, reflects the dedication of these organizations to create and maintain safe work environments in the green industry. The program is designed to recognize and reward green industry professionals who continue to improve the quality of safe practices throughout the industry. All landscape and lawn care professionals are invited to participate in the program.

Criteria for the Overall Safety Achievement Awards included evaluation of fleet and employee participation in a company’s safety program, as well as a checklist rating of the program. Three levels of awards — bronze, silver, and gold — were given based on performance.

Gold Performance Level
Highland Outdoor, Olathe, KS

For more information about these awards, visit www.landcarenetwork.org, or contact
Ilene Manster at (800) 395-2522 or e-mail ilenemanster@landcarenetwork.org.

PLANET represents approximately 4,400 green industry service-provider companies and suppliers nationwide that specialize in lawn care, design/build/installation, interior plantscaping, and landscape management. These firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals.