Stay Green Takes Its Business
to the Next Level

 

In most industries, best practices are a personal matter, with companies keeping a lid on how they do what they do. This week, Stay Green Inc. is turning that practice on its head in Chicago at the Next Level Network's third annual Next Level University.

 

Stay Green team members are among more than 100 leaders and associates from six landscape companies gathered at the Public Chicago hotel for a week of peer-to-peer networking and education. In addition to Stay Green, the conference includes Heads Up Landscaping from Albuquerque, High Grove from Atlanta, Mariana Landscape in Chicago, Pacific Landscape Management from Portland, Ore., and Lambert's from Dallas.

 

The week opened with a tour of Mariana's Chicago facilities, as well as breakout sessions and peer-to-peer workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday, and ownership sessions for company principals scheduled for Thursday and Friday. Topics include improving efficiency to lower costs while maintaining customer expectations, keeping teams motivated in tough times, creating innovative and dynamic design presentations and using social media and online marketing.

 

"We see this as a unique opportunity to strategically serve our unique markets," Stay Green CEO Chris Angelo said. "Because ours is a regional industry, challenges with competition - and close guarding of best practices - don't raise the concerns they would for other industries."

 

Stay Green has been involved with peer-to-peer groups for several years, and Angelo said the networking and training they provide prove invaluable as Stay Green develops its best practices for continued success. With the competition factor removed, Angelo said, the peer-to-peer training helps equip each company to serve its particular market.

 

For example, Angelo said he expects to return from Next Level University with plenty of efficiency lessons learned from landscapers who operate in seasonal markets, versus Southern California's relatively year-round market. Also, Stay Green's newest component is its Design and Build division - added in 2012 - and Angelo said he's looking forward to picking up tips from other landscapers with successful design/build programs.


"Next Level University is a perfect example of the type of programs that are a huge benefit for professionals," Angelo said. "Rather than being overly focused on competition, we're focused on helping each other be the best we can in our unique markets."

Company founder Rich Angelo said he's proud of Stay Green's participation in Next Level programs.

"It's a forward-thinking approach," Rich Angelo said. "The NLU participants are moving our industry forward in ways that not only benefit the participants, but also every one of their clients and, ultimately, all of the communities they serve." 
 www.staygreen.com