Follow the Signage to the Iowa Event Center. You'll see GROW! signage and can pick up your badge on the 300 level. 

Kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness are hallmarks of the kind of people we'd like to work alongside, right? In this session, Marty Grunder will examine the traits that make the great leaders he's met so great, and will show you how you can further your own career by adopting a simple approach to your work.

Creating a consistent and engaging social strategy is a recipe for success. In this session, the team behind Grunder Landscaping's social media, Kendall Covitz, Cheri Stammen, and Emily Lindley, will share 4 tips to help you build a cohesive social media strategy that helps you find more leads for the upcoming busy season.

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In this session, we will look at building out your people success team and discuss when you need key HR and office positions. You'll see who you need at what stage in your company to help your people be set up for success.

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In this session GROW! 2023 Tour Host Jonathan Peterson of Summit Landscape and Design will walk through the challenges he has faced as a young professional in the landscape industry. He will share how mentors have impacted his career and personal life as he’s navigated running his landscaping company alongside his brother, Josiah. You will leave this session with steps to follow to find a mentor, no matter your position, and make the most out of that relationship.

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Staying ahead in today’s market means staying connected and informed. In this session, Gage Roberts will explain how implementing technology-driven sales strategies will allow you to equip your team with insights that empower them to not only reach but exceed your sales goals.

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Everyone likes to win, but do they know the score? Competition brings out the best in people​ and motivates team members to strive to hit new​ levels of performance. In this session, Chris Psencik and Michael Bosco will discuss building your culture based on sharing more not less.

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In our ACE Peer Group Program, we benchmark companies so they can compare their performance to other landscaping companies nationwide. In this session, we'll some share the metrics we watch, what numbers we like to see companies hitting, and our recommendations on fixes if you are missing the mark.

Liquid Deicing is a major part of the present and future of the snow and ice industry. Liquids offer substantial benefits and advantages over conventional rock salt or other granular products. In this session, Jordan Smith, a fellow snow contractor and inventor of the VSI line of liquid deicing products, will go through the benefits, science, and implementation of liquids for your business with plenty of time for Q&A after the session.

Your facility represents your brand, your work, and your team. In this session, you will see the non-negotiable and must haves for having an award-winning facility. This session is led by Tommy Cole & Jason New.

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For over a quarter of a century, Vermeer Corporation has been on a path of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. In this session, guided by Kyle Newendorp and Brandon Nelson, Product Specialist for Vermeer and experts in landscape machinery, you’ll gain insights into how to evaluate your existing business processes. This involves posing the “5 whys” to yourself and understanding how the stages of continuous improvement can boost both efficiency and team spirit for you and your crew.

Learn from a panel of our most successful ACE Peer Group members, who each earned an award for excelling in different areas of their business in 2023. We'll guide the discussion and will have time for your questions, too. Interested in joining a peer group in 2024? This session will end with information about our ACE Peer Group Program and how you can join.

We all want to be able to get more done in less time. AI may be the secret to making that happen. In this session, John Dalton will share how you can use AI like ChatGBT, Prompt Engineering, and more to save time on some of the basic tasks landscaping companies have on their to-do lists.

Chad Rowley and Steve Albrecht of SiteOne will lead this session on how SiteOne's Project Services can help you to win work, do designs, takeoffs, and quotes, and include various landscape features in your projects. 

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https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554488-65cbead344561.pdfTraditionally, finance teams are great at hitting deadlines and sticking to a process. After all, we have to hit payroll, don't we? In this session, you will learn how to apply systems thinking to other areas of the business so that all your finance functions happen like clockwork.

Finding the right people to add to your team can be a challenge, and asking the right questions during the interview can help avoid hiring mistakes. In this session, you'll learn the Green Flags that Summit Landscape & Design looks for when interviewing team members to ensure they fit their company culture, and the steps they take to retain the right people on their team. This session will be taught by Joel Templeton.

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Open book management can help your team understand how they contribute to the company's success. It's been a powerful source of growth at Grunder Landscaping Co., where the company has increased revenue by 200%+ since 2020. In this session, GLC President & COO Seth Pflum will share the company's philosophy on information sharing, what metrics they share with which team members, and how they make the presentation on metrics easy for everyone to understand.

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Walk through Grunder Landscaping Co. properties with us in this session: we'll show you what we look for when we do site visits at both a commercial and residential property and will highlight the additional projects we would recommend to each client. You'll leave this session with tips for finding enhancement-type projects to drum up more work without expanding your client base.

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Hear from past GROW! hosts about what the past year has held for their business. They'll share the progress they've made since we toured their facility, and what they've learned as they've implemented changes.

Get to know RJ Lawn and Landscape in this brief preview of what attendees will see and hear on the tour on day 2.

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Reminders for tonight and tomorrow morning, we'll see you at breakfast!

Meet new friends over dinner. We'll make reservations at restaurants around town for small groups, sign up in the event app to join one. Each diner pays their own way.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040E4AA4AE2FA0FC1-46994401-grow#/

We're doing things a little differently this year. Day 2 our group will split into two smaller groups so attendees can enjoy a more intimate tour of RJ Lawn & Landscape. We'll give you the rundown of how that will work.

In this session led by Jennifer Murray, you will learn what Bankers are looking for when they look for successful companies to work with. Don't make the mistake of looking unattractive to your banker and set yourself for success when you need them most.

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In this presentation, Mark Bradley delves into the art of strategic leadership, revealing the dynamic interplay between mission, strategy, and goal setting. Learn firsthand how Mark aligns organizational goals with the overarching mission, fostering a culture of execution and continual improvement. Discover his strategies for setting goals that resonate throughout the company, ultimately enhancing both customer experiences and employee development and satisfaction. Join us to unravel the keys to success in driving business forward through purposeful goal setting and daily commitment to customer and employee excellence.

Have you ever thought about pest control to your existing business? In this session you will an overview of the business and learn why so many companies have added this vertical to their existing landscape and lawn care companies as an additional profit center.

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Print is far from dead, especially when marketing landscaping work. Beautiful images of your work paired with messaging that hits home for your ideal client is the recipe for success. In this session, Emily Lindley, Content & Events Manager at The Grow Group and Marketing Manager at Grunder Landscaping Co. will walk you through what to consider and how to create printed materials that drive qualified leads.

For the leading landscape maintenance companies, irrigation repairs contribute >20% to their overall revenue mix. In this session, you will hear from a landscaping company about how they have partnered with SmartLink by Weathermatic to turn their irrigation division into a profit center. Parry Webb, VP of Strategic Accounts, and Ben Mason, VP of Sales, will explain how you can increase renewals, land new accounts, maximize repairs and enhancements, and drive labor efficiencies by transforming the four key functions of irrigation.

If growing your maintenance division is a priority, this session will show you how to structure your maintenance teams for success. Wondered what your crew size should be? When to have a dedicated account manager? Add a business developer? Learn from Barrett Chow and Jason New how to structure your maintenance department optimally based on the size of your company.

Taking a client’s initial idea, finding inspiration, and creating a design they’ll love is an art form. In this session, Colleen Barkley of Mariani Landscape will share how designers, or aspiring designers, can define the big ideas behind the design, move through the design process with inspiration, curate details, and then effectively present their inspired designs to clients. If you’re a landscape pro looking to take your landscape designs to the next level, this is the session to attend.

It has been and always be true: The Profit and Loss statement drives much of what happens in the business. Whether you are a CEO or a new divisional leader, learning to how to manage by the line item in the P&L is the surest way to make and save more money at your company.

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Empowering leaders to grow their skillsets and encouraging team members to problem solve is one of the many ways that great leaders create more leaders. In this session, Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford will share tactics leaders can use to encourage their direct reports to take control of their own "Monkeys" with open-ended questions like "What do you think is our best option?"

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In this session led by Jennifer Murray, you will learn what Bankers are looking for when they look for successful companies to work with. Don't make the mistake of looking unattractive to your banker and set yourself for success when you need them most.

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554478-65cbea151f2fe.pdf

In this presentation, Mark Bradley delves into the art of strategic leadership, revealing the dynamic interplay between mission, strategy, and goal setting. Learn firsthand how Mark aligns organizational goals with the overarching mission, fostering a culture of execution and continual improvement. Discover his strategies for setting goals that resonate throughout the company, ultimately enhancing both customer experiences and employee development and satisfaction. Join us to unravel the keys to success in driving business forward through purposeful goal setting and daily commitment to customer and employee excellence.

If growing your maintenance division is a priority, this session will show you how to structure your maintenance teams for success. Wondered what your crew size should be? When to have a dedicated account manager? Add a business developer? Learn from Barrett Chow and Jason New how to structure your maintenance department optimally based on the size of your company.

Taking a client’s initial idea, finding inspiration, and creating a design they’ll love is an art form. In this session, Colleen Barkley of Mariani Landscape will share how designers, or aspiring designers, can define the big ideas behind the design, move through the design process with inspiration, curate details, and then effectively present their inspired designs to clients. If you’re a landscape pro looking to take your landscape designs to the next level, this is the session to attend.

Have you ever thought about pest control to your existing business? In this session you will an overview of the business and learn why so many companies have added this vertical to their existing landscape and lawn care companies as an additional profit center.

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554505-65cbeb5159dad.pdf

It has been and always be true: The Profit and Loss statement drives much of what happens in the business. Whether you are a CEO or a new divisional leader, learning to how to manage by the line item in the P&L is the surest way to make and save more money at your company.

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554514-65cbeb883e1af.pdf

Print is far from dead, especially when marketing landscaping work. Beautiful images of your work paired with messaging that hits home for your ideal client is the recipe for success. In this session, Emily Lindley, Content & Events Manager at The Grow Group and Marketing Manager at Grunder Landscaping Co. will walk you through what to consider and how to create printed materials that drive qualified leads.

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554485-65cbea9ca8048.pdf

For the leading landscape maintenance companies, irrigation repairs contribute >20% to their overall revenue mix. In this session, you will hear from a landscaping company about how they have partnered with SmartLink by Weathermatic to turn their irrigation division into a profit center. Parry Webb, VP of Strategic Accounts, and Ben Mason, VP of Sales, will explain how you can increase renewals, land new accounts, maximize repairs and enhancements, and drive labor efficiencies by transforming the four key functions of irrigation.

Network with your fellow attendees and spend some time in our Expo Hall checking out everything our event sponsors have brought with them to help teams be more efficient in 2024. This is a great time to plan meet-ups, talk to our sponsors about how they can help your business, or grab a snack to refuel for the rest of the day ahead.

Empowering leaders to grow their skillsets and encouraging team members to problem solve is one of the many ways that great leaders create more leaders. In this session, Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford will share tactics leaders can use to encourage their direct reports to take control of their own "Monkeys" with open-ended questions like "What do you think is our best option?"

https://assets.swoogo.com/uploads/3554277-65cbe2169bb70.pdf

GROW! is about more than learning - it's also about having fun with the friends you make when we're all together. We keep some tricks up our sleeves, you'll have to join us to see what it is

Be the first to know where GROW! 2025 will be held and get to know next year's tour host.

Join Marty Grunder, the RJ Team, and other event VIPs at an exclusive dinner just for VIP ticket holders. Follow the signs in the skywalk to the Ruan Building, once you're there you'll see members of our team who can help you get to the Embassy Club. 

You all have Big, Hairy, Aggressive Goals; what is standing in your way of achieving them? A Big Hairy Aggressive GOALRILLA! In this session, we will show you how to tackle the big goals you have as a company and navigate around the GOALRILLAs.

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Legal matters typically aren’t top of mind when operating your lawn care or landscape business, but understanding the law can help you tremendously when you are on a path to grow your business.

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This is your chance: any questions you had for the RJ Lawn & Landscape team that weren't answered during the tour or during our Start, Stop, Keep session can be answered here. Their leadership team will be available to take your questions and this session will be moderated by Tommy Cole. 

Grunder Landscaping has focused on teaching their team members work skills for years, but they recently added soft-skills workshops to their training program. They've found that a little bit of training helps their team to work more cohesively and communicate better with clients. In this session, Marty Grunder will teach the soft skills that he teaches his own team and will give you the tools to lay out your own soft skills workshop for your team.

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While valuations are typically a word associated with mergers and acquisitions, understanding your company's value is useful beyond those functions. Join Jennifer Murray to learn how the valuation process should work. She'll arm you with knowledge, so you know what to expect and what warning signs to look for. This is not just for those looking to buy or sell their company, but for those who want to understand what their company is worth and how they can drive more value.

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It's time to get the sales you need to hit your 2024 goals, but what do you do if the leads aren't coming in organically? In this session, Chris Psencik, executive coach at McFarlin Stanford and The Grow Group will walk you through how you can look for leads yourself and then what to do to warm and cold call without the commission breath.

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In this session, you will get an overview of the H2B process and see how program operates and what you can expect as you travel into the process of adding visa workers to your team.

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It's time to learn, laugh, and move on. In this session led by Michael Bosco and Kevin Keim, learn to how lead by finding the Funny in Failure.

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We are in a new world of recruiting, and in this session, Chris Psencik will show you what the top companies are doing to bring new people into their doors. Learn tips and tricks for growing your team by adding great team members.

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As leaders, we all have blindspots. That's part of life. What is not okay is not being aware of yours. In this session, we will show you how to close the gaps between what you think you need to work on as a leader and what you truly need to work on. Megan Parker and Tracy Wallingford will work from a live case study review of the owners of our tour host company, Ryan and Annette McCarthy.

In this session, led by Tommy Cole, you will learn about 10 things you should be leveraging in your operations. This is a can't-miss for operations leaders looking to drive margins, increase efficiency, and reduce headaches for them and their direct reports.

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Understanding your cash flow, where you cash is going, and how to get more when you need it is a critical function of a successful landscaping company. In this session, Vince Torchia and Jennifer Murray will share best practices for managing your company's cash flow.

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Our GROW! 2025 Tour Host, Jason Cromley, is a master networker to rival our own Marty Grunder. Join the two of them during this session to learn their tricks for meeting new people who can help them make more sales. 

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In this session we will cover the philosophy of compensation, how to align that philosophy with your goals, and how to execute and monitor the plan you have. This is a comprehensive session on aligning your team's compensation plan up with your business goals so that everyone succeeds! It'll be led by Barrett Chow and Vince Torchia

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How could your business be improved if you could see the productivity of your crews? What if you had automated documentation for every job that detailed where your crews were mowing and at what time? What if you could have visibility to machine health and maintenance schedules? With tools like the John Deere Operations Center, you can make informed decisions more quickly and easily to see where you're making money, and where you're not, while maintaining your fleet of machines.

Preparing a team to tackle a snow storm is no simple task, and cleaning up properties efficiently is the key to profitability when the winter weather rolls in. In this session, Jordan Kapple of the RJ Lawn & Landscape team will detail how they set their team up operationally to tackle snow and ice.

Our sponsors bring lots of goodies with them. Throughout the event, enter for a chance to win their giveaway items. We'll raffle them off at the end, must be present to win!

As you head back home, prioritize the changes you want to make based on the time we've spent together. In this session, Vince Torchia will share his takeaways from this year's event and will give you clear next steps to take to improve your business as you head on home.

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