Symbiot Business Group, Inc. launched its newest innovative productivity tool for landscape contractors at the Green Industry Expo in St. Louis. The "Online Estimator" will allow landscape contractors to consistently produce professional and accurate bids for landscape jobs. Created in conjunction with Bruce Wilson of the Wilson/Oyler Group and and the Lesco Company, this online subscription service is available in December. For more information, contact your Account Manager, Philip Aldridge.

Symbiot Business Group, Inc. announces the first "Symbiot Success Seminar" featuring Bruce Wilson of the Wilson/Oyler Group. The Seminar will be held in Orange County in Southern California on Wednesday, December 17th. Attendees will gain valuable tools to enhance the productivity and profitablity of their businesses. For more information, contact your Account Manager, Philip Aldridge.

10/17/03 For Immediate Release:
2 SPMN members selected for "40 Under Forty"

Symbiot Pest Management Network sales partners Bob Dold, Jr., 34 and Jamie Ogle, 35, were both selected for PCT magazine's 40 Under Forty list. This article showcases young talent in the industry. Click here to read the article.

10/14/03 For Immediate Release:
Pest Control Magazine names Mark Weisburger to the 2003 Pest Control Hall of Fame

On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, Mark Weisburger, along with Dr. Walter Ebeling, Dr. C. Douglass Mampe and Dr. Ralph Heal, will be commemorated as an inductee to the 2003 Pest Control Hall of Fame. In a lifetime as a supplier to the pest control industry, Mark Weisburger exemplifies the industry's dedication to professionalism, as well as commitment to people and the industry. He is the third of four generations to run B. & D. A. Weisburger Insurance, White Plains, NY.

"He has, without exception, represented the insurance and pest control industries with integrity and professionalism that I believe is unparalleled." - Arthur Katz, president of Knockout Pest Control and Symbiot Pest Management Sales Partner.

Weisburger Insurance has been providing specialty pest control insurance for nearly 70 years. As the exclusive insurance provider for the Symbiot Network, the firm continues to serve consumers, Pest Management Professionals and a growing number of companies in the Landscape and Lawn Care industries.

Construction of a 40,000-square-foot addition to Excel Industries’ plant in Hesston, Kan., is now under way

The manufacturer of Hustler Turf Equipment, recently broke ground on the add-on facility that will include a new state-of-the-art paint system. The addition, intended to accommodate the most advanced paint system in the industry, will give Hustler equipment an improved appearance and increased durability.

"The new addition gives us room to grow," described Paul Mullet, president of Excel Industries, Inc. "Sales are up over 50 percent this year on top of our 40-percent growth last year. With the new paint line and additional floor space, we will be positioned for continued growth."

Two-thirds of the new building will be used initially for storing finished goods inside. The addition is designed to function as a production assembly area when additional expansion is necessary. Completion of the addition is slated for Thanksgiving 2003. Mowers sporting the new paint will begin shipping by the end of the year.

The Symbiot Team returns with leads, signups and sold partnerships from the 2003 Snow and Ice Symposium in Buffalo, New York.

Highlights: Launched Symbiot Snow & Ice. Marked first time contractors had already heard about Symbiot and were coming by to join/find out more. On June 12-13, 2003, Symbiot launched the Snow & Ice Sales Partnership program at the 2003 Snow and Ice Symposium in Buffalo, N.Y. Symbiot received a warm response from the nearly 1,000 snow removal contractors in attendance. Nine new sales partners were signed, and one new P3 partner was recruited. The team returned with qualified leads and new relationships that will help sell future business across multiple networks. Other highlights: Three TeamSymbiot sign ups Five Symbiot Landscape Network affiliated partnerships sold Two sweeping sales partnerships sold (before that program was even officially launched) Media interview with Snow Business magazine

Husqvarna is partnering with another manufacturer to take fire-fighting education on the road.

The power equipment label is teaming up with Unifire/Univent, a manufacturer of fire-fighting equipment, to provide 20 fire saws for a traveling training series titled "Firehouse On The Road." Their co-sponsorship of the hands-on, "live fire" series will benefit fire service personnel throughout the country.

"We’re proud to work with an industry leader like Unifire in this important effort," observed Barbara Paez, vice president of marketing, Husqvarna. "Through our support, we want to help ensure that fire-fighting professionals have the tools and training to do their jobs well."

Both manufacturers view their equipment contribution as essential because the specialized training with fire saws can save lives and property faster. The customized equipment - Univent model PS-16 saws - can function in heavy smoke and high heat while providing enough power to cut through nails and other barrier to rescue efforts.

Recognized as a premier program for fire service personnel, the training series will make its way to Atlanta, Ga.; Fort Worth, Texas; and Albuquerque, N.M. At least 5,000 professionals are expected to participate.

Larry Spruill's new role as the Director of the Symbiot Pest Management Network is highlighted in PCT and Pest Control Magazines. The Symbiot Pest Management Network will begin offering memberships this month for independent pest control operators.

Spruill has 27 years experience, including serving as vice president of sales for Orkin, overseeing their commercial, residential and national account sales for pest control, lawn care and interior plantscaping. Symbiot welcomes Larry and looks forward to a successful partnership.

Plants at Work and Symbiot - a "Symbiosis"

Plants at Work, a national information campaign initiated by ALCA, working in conjunction with the industry to inform professionals and the public about the numerous benefits of interior plants, announces a $9000 investment from Symbiot to the campaign plus an additional investment for every SISN Member that joins.

Why does Symbiot support this campaign?

Our name, Symbiot, is a derivative of the word "symbiosis" which is a mutually beneficial relationship between two entities where the well being of both parties is enhanced. The "Symbiotic" relationship between Plants at Work and the Symbiot InteriorScape Network (SISN) is a great example of this type of relationship. Plants at Work and the Interiorscape Industry benefit, and are able to fund their national, campaign through Symbiot’s investment in the program. Many of Symbiot’s Partners and Affiliates also contribute to Plants at Work directly. Symbiot is benefited and grows as we represent our nearly 300 member companies in all of our networks across the United States in our quest to increase both the size and the profitability of our members’ businesses, as well as the entire industry. Plants at Work (PAW) and Symbiot are a win-win opportunity, a truly symbiotic relationship.

We challenge all of our members and potential members who are not currently invested in PAW to go to the website, www.plantsatwork.org, and pledge today. As Vicky Cate, Chairperson of CIPA recently said, "I would much rather share a larger pie than fight over my slice of the small pie."

Plants at Work is committed to communicating its message to facility and property managers, building owners and human resource executives across the country. Please join with Symbiot today in helping our industry promote the campaign and its commitment.

Mike Russo, SLN Affiliate and owner of Russo Lawn and Landscape, uses unique "perks" and imaginative team-building activities to make his company a "great place to work."

Russo Lawn and Landscape in Windsor Locks, Connecticut and owner, Mike Russo, are featured in Landscape Management’s "Imagination builds a team." The twenty employees of the thirteen year old company are part of an operation where Mike focuses on team-building activities and exercises that make his company a great place to work.

Some of the unique "perks" that make Russo Lawn and Landscape such a different place to work are a day on the ocean fishing; pizza for crews that meet or come in below their budgeted man-hours and paid "well days" earned each week that an employee is on time every day without early dismissals.

In many respects, Mike Russo is a different kind of owner which is evidenced by the perks and imagination he uses to build his team. Besides, "where else do you get a day’s pay for putting a fishing pole in your hands?"

LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT / April 2003 / www.landscapemanagement.net

CLIPConnect service offers real-time information exchange between the office and the job site. Ideal for most service industries, CLIPConnect utilizes web access platform technology to keep office and field personnel connected, saving time and paperwork. Using a Web-enabled cellular phone, field personnel can update the CLIPConnect Web portal with particular job information, such as start and finish times. Once entered, this information is immediately available to office personnel with Internet access.

Additionally, all information needed for invoicing the customer is automatically updated, increasing billing efficiency and reducing paperwork.

Using a Web-enabled cellular phone, field personnel can update the CLIPConnect Web portal with particular job information, such as start and finish times. Once entered, this information is then transmitted electronically to the office and is immediately available to office personnel with CLIP Software and Internet access. Additionally, all information needed for invoicing the customer is automatically updated, increasing billing efficiency and reducing paperwork.

Furthermore, a crew's schedule can be reconfigured throughout the day using CLIPConnect. Office personnel using the Web portal can add new jobs or manipulate existing scheduled tasks and the information is instantly updated and available to field personnel, maximizing flexibility and improving communication.

CLIPConnect is designed for use with any of CLIP's routing, scheduling, billing and job-costing software packages including CLIP Visual Classic and CLIP Visual Pro. Key Functions:

• Offers real-time information exchange between office and job site, which simplifies business management, allowing for efficient task supervision away from the office
• Uses Web access platform technology to keep office and field personnel connected, saving time and money
• Using Web-enabled cell phone, field personnel can update CLIPConnect Web portal with their job information
• Once entered, this information is then transmitted electronically to the office and is immediately accessible to office personnel with CLIP Software and Internet access
• Designed for use with any of CLIP's routing, billing and job-costing software packages including CLIP Classic and CLIP Pro
  

  Call CLIP Software at (800) 635-8485 for more information.

Heads Up Landscape has grown from a small irrigation-only company to a thriving $9 million full-service venture. A bonus program for crew leaders keep the company motivated. This Albuquerque based company, founded in 1974, services 90% commercial and 10% residential clientele. Landscape and irrigation installation accounts for 75% of their business, with 25% being maintenance. Heads Up has changed its plant pallet to include more drought-tolerant plants. They are currently experimenting with central irrigation control systems for clients in New Mexico, including installing cisterns that collect runoff water and help a business use less water. Incorporating gravel mulches and low-water-use perennials and native plants helps to reuse water.

Michael Byrne and his partners service the suburban areas of north Boston. ELM Landscape & Golf's repertoire includes the management of sports turf for municipalities, as well as snow removal and irrigation installation and management for corporate clientele. Michael is known for being a team player and his sense of humor. He is a family man who spends likes to spend time with his wife and three children and stays busy coaching his daughter's soccer team. As ELM Landscape & Golf's new leader and new role of president, his philosophy is "You get out of it what you put into it."

John Mini Indoor Landscapes was chosen as the Grand Award Winner along with seven other SISN Members for projects submitted to Interiorscape’s Best Project Awards.

In the January/February Issue of Interiorscape Magazine the "best of the best" was chosen from entries submitted by industry leading interiorscape companies. Symbiot InteriorScape Network not only led the winners with 8 out of 24 winners but the 2003 Grand Award Winner was one of our own also.

John Mini Indoor Landscapes was chosen as the Grand Winner for the 2003 Best Project Award, one of the biggest and most important projects of the year. John Mini and his staff, along with Rich Kern from Southeast Growers, had the difficult and patriotic, task of reinstalling a massive project in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center building that was formerly connected to the Twin Towers in New York and was partially destroyed on September, 2001. This reinstallation project reopened on schedule and "will live as a symbol of the spirit of New York and America."

Other SISN winners had some tough jobs to complete and faced a few barriers along the way also, but when all was said and done, their clients received top notch service and their creativity bore dynamic designs. The list of SISN showcase winners and their projects are as follows:

Parker Interior Plantscape - The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Planterra Tropical Greenhouses - General Motors Global Headquarters
Shelagh’s Plantscapes - Podium Distributors
Plant Services - Peabody Little Rock Hotel
The Plant People - Air Line Pilot’s Association
Hoffman Design Group - Liberty Ridge
Touch of Green - Samco

For Interiorscape Magazine’s project descriptions and photos of this year’s winning entries, they may be viewed by clicking on the following link:http://www.interiorscape.com/bpa2003/index.html

According to Pliska, plants can adapt to an artificial environment by absorbing harmful emissions, making the plants silent partners for indoor air quality.

The Construction Association of Michigan (CAM) April 2003 magazine issue featured Larry Pliska, president of Planterra Tropical Greenhouses, Inc., in The Invisible Benefits of Interior Landscaping. David R. Miller, CAM Associate Editor, describes the beauty that well-maintained plants bring to an interior space and the benefits when this interior landscaping converts many pollutants in the interior environments to food which these plants live on.

Pliska attributes the cause of the indoor air quality problems to synthetic materials found in the workplace today which emit trace amounts of formaldehyde and benzene. He points out that plants are "well suited to the task of breaking these complex materials down and converting the synthetic materials into harmless compounds that are used to sustain the plant.

"Some plants are more aggressive in pollution fighting," Pliska points out. "Any plant that has a broad leaf will work well," he notes. He also adds that flowering plants are excellent choices to mask pollutants like cigarette smoke.

The Planterra team, led by Pliska, has developed a reputation for finding ways to put plants where one would not expect to see them and suggests getting involved early in the design phase. According to Pliska, maintenance is also a vital task to keep the installed plants looking their best. In fact, 50 out of the Planterra team’s 70 employees are technicians who undergo constant training.

"With plants and a plan to maintain them in place, building owners can reap the rewards of a more productive workforce," said Pliska. "Plants create efficiency for office workers because health is connected to productivity."

To read this article in its entirety, click here.

John Deere, a Symbiot P3 Partner, provided the TeamSymbiot H2B Training Program in Veracruz, Mexico the necessary maintenance equipment needed to train 56 workers. The men who TeamSymbiot trained for the H2B Program were provided with a John Deere inventory of walk behind mowers, push mowers, blowers, string trimmers and stick edgers. Philip Aldridge, TeamSymbiot H2B Manager, and Ron Wilwert, John Deere National Sales Account Manager, coordinated the availability and shipment of the maintenance equipment to Veracruz during the month of March.

The trainees were very receptive to the new training concept which TeamSymbiot introduced to prepare each individual the necessary landscape maintenance and safety knowledge prior to their arrival at the different companies in the United States using the TeamSymbiot H2B Program. Aldridge comments, "Each one of the trainees were eager to learn and excited to acquire the knowledge before arriving via bus at their respective landscape company. It was well worth the support from John Deere and the time spent in Mexico to see the enthusiasm and excited faces of each individual as they completed their training in landscape maintenance 101!"

In the beginning of this month, six new LESCO facilities will open in the following locations:

• Haverhill, Massachusetts
• Brunswick, Georgia
• Douglasville, Georgia
• Lawrenceville, Georgia
• Arvada, Colorado
• North Aurora, Illinois

LESCO previously announced its intention to open 20 to 25 new service centers during 2003, and DiMino expects to see new store openings continue into the future. "We do have to invest in ourselves to grow," DiMino explained. "We have a lot of information that indicates that the marketplace is ready for us to add stores, both from the customers' perspective as well as the net numbers. It's there for us to grow, and we're going to do that this year."

In Walker Talk Magazine, published by the Walker Manufacturing Company, Akehurst Landscape Service, Inc., a Symbiot Landscape Network Affiliate, is featured as a family-owned business with "no signs of slowing down." The five generation company located in Joppa, Maryland, is a full-service landscape company with departments in interiorscape, landscape and grounds maintenance.

William E. Akehurst and his three sons, Brian, John and William K., attribute their staying power and ability to adapt as what has allowed them to be competitive over the years. In one of the most contested markets in the country, competitive they are! The company does between $4 and $6 million in business annually with 36 crews and 80-90 people. Maintenance accounts for approximately 65% of their business.

With competition, the cost of doing business and labor as the three biggest challenges for the grounds maintenance division, Brian Akehurst identifies that their solution is "to find a market niche and work to be more productive with the equipment and employees we have."

Five generations later, this family-owned business shows no signs of slowing down. Why? The answer is in their genes and the ability to adapt to changing times.

To read this article in its entirety , click here.

With the addition of Holiday Lighting provided by Christmas Décor, Symbiot moves higher up the value chain by delivering a wider array of services to national clients.

An alliance between Christmas Décor, Inc. (CDI) and Symbiot has been announced to light the property service industry! Christmas Décor, a leader in holiday lighting and decorating franchises, will partner with Symbiot to deliver value and growth to property service companies by marketing CDI franchises and national Commercial Holiday Lighting contracts. Symbiot will also be able to provide their network services to CDI franchisees as Associate Members. Emily Thompson, Vice President of Sales at Symbiot, will head the efforts in securing the National Commercial Holiday Lighting contracts.

Drew St. John, Symbiot President states, "The Symbiot National Sales System focuses on offering multiple service lines to the national client. With the addition of Holiday Lighting provided by Christmas Décor, Symbiot moves higher up the value chain by delivering a wider array of services. The approach to Symbiot prospective national clients coupled with business enhancement products and services delivered to the franchisees by Symbiot just makes for a win-win for both organizations." Blake Smith, CDI Owner, states, "This alliance makes a statement and we at CDI fully endorse the Symbiot service suite and recommend the offering to all the franchisees in the Interior and Exterior Landscape Contracting line of business!"

Henkel Denmark has agreed to help with landscape renovation at a historic home in Lexington, Kentucky. Ashland, the 20-acre Henry Clay Estate, suffered extensive damage from an ice storm in February. Four trees were toppled by the storm and twenty more are designated for removal. Estimated cleanup cost is $30,000-- more than the budget of the estate. Henkel Denmark's services will surely be appreciated.

Kurt Kluznik, Symbiot Landscape Network Partner, explains why subcontracting is beneficial to landscaping professionals. His company, Yardmaster, Inc., has learned valuable new skills by hiring subcontractors for about 20% of the yearly work. "I think it's a great way to grow your business," Kluznik says.

Dixie Speck, president of Viridis Garden Design, Inc., and Landscape Architect, Keith Thieme, created the design to breathe life into a rather dead area for the owner in a once "unwelcoming" backyard.

Thanks to the innovative designs of Viridis Garden Design, Inc., the owners of a once "unwelcoming" backyard in Cabbagetown now have a very "welcoming" sitting area for guests and personal use. This project was the main focus of Home & Garden Television's (HGTV) Landscape Solutions.

Dixie Speck, president of Viridis Garden Design, Inc., with the assistance of Landscape Architect Keith Thieme created the design to breathe life into a rather dead area. The owner was renovating the property and wanted to bring the backyard into the process. Host Rick Kaldrovics called this episode "City Courtyard" to feature how owners of urban homes make the best use of their limited space.

"This project was quite a challenge since the homeowners wanted to pack a lot of entertainment space and plant material into a small courtyard. The finished project accomplished these objectives and will give them year-round interest and color," said Speck.

Viridis designs in the Atlanta area stray away from the typical, overused residential feel or commercial look. Viridis projects range from complete estate designs to small intimate courtyards. Viridis can design a landscape that is "clean" and architectural, or one that is a lush garden, depending upon the desires of the client.

Heaviland Enterprises (http://www.heaviland.net) are showing up on desirable bid lists in the greater San Diego area. Tom contributes the company's success to employee programs and business planning. Priorities include preventing safety hazards by providing gift certificates employees can use at local shoe stores, and upgrading irrigation systems to become more water efficient. Always anticipating, planning and refocusing when necessary, Heaviland continues to stay two steps ahead in the Landscaping industry.

Heaviland Enterprises began operations in March of 1985 under the dba of PABSCO (Palomar Airport Business Service Company). Ron & Tom Heaviland started with one truck and five employees, maintaining commercial properties within the Palomar Airport Business Park. Today, operating out of Vista and Poway, the company has grown to a fleet of over 30 vehicles and 80 plus Associates; maintaining more than a 170 commercial sites throughout San Diego County.

Considered one of the premiere landscape maintenance companies in southern California, Heaviland was honored as a finalist in the BBB Torch Awards for ethics in the workplace in 2001, and won the award in 2002. The growth and success of Heaviland Enterprises is simple; a strong commitment to the creation of value for both our internal and external customers.

Cleveland - LESCO, a leading provider of products for the professional turf care and green industry markets, has announced the opening of three new regional distribution hubs.

The new distribution hubs in Chicago, Atlanta and Plano, Texas, are state-of-the-art distribution facilities; each designed to serve more than 70 LESCO Service Centers and 30 LESCO Stores-on-Wheels with regional stocking assortments and improved transportation services.

Our regional hubs give LESCO a distribution infrastructure that is unparalleled in the professional turf care market," described Michael P. DiMino, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our logistics team, led by Bruce Thorn, Senior Vice President of Logistics and Operations, has built a hub and spoke logistics system that allows us to execute our store expansion strategy while providing the products our customers want, when they want them, at a value unmatched regionally and nationally."

John Deere Landscapes, a leading wholesale distributor of landscape and irrigation supplies, has acquired Overbrook Nursery in Round Hill, Virginia, approximately 10 miles west of Leesburg.

The new John Deere Landscapes branch will feature a complete selection of nursery stock on the seven-acre facility, along with irrigation equipment and landscape supplies, including seed, sod, fertilizer and more.

John Deere Landscapes now has a total of seven branches throughout Virginia: Chantilly, Chesapeake, Midlothian, Newport News, Norfolk, Round Hill and Springfield.

"The Overbrook acquisition is a major step forward in our strategic plan to provide landscape and irrigation professionals with an extensive selection of installation supplies," observed Phil Kerchner, Regional Vice President for John Deere Landscapes. "Contractors will find everything they need - from nursery stock to soil amendments, grass seed, fertilizer, pavers and tools to irrigation equipment, landscape lighting and more.

Buckinham Greenery, located in beautiful Buckingham County in the heartland of Virginia, handles Horticultural Services, Special Events, Seasonal Plantings, and all aspects of Interior Landscaping. Their greenhouses are home to exotic plants from Hawaii, Califonia and Florida. They also offer a wide variety of smaller plants from hanging plants to bromeliads and aglaonemas.

Businesses are realizing that interior plants are a natural and vital part of a productive workplace environment. By matching lush, attractive foliage to the specific light, temperature and air quality conditions in the workplace, Buckingham Greenery provides a professional interior landscape design uniformity throughout the workplace.

"My team and I take tremendous pride in our efforts to contribute to the beautification of the area," said Tom Davis, President of Bozzuto Landscaping.

Bozzuto Landscaping Company has been named "Business of the Year" by the Baltimore/Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce. The selection was based on a range of criteria that included organizational excellence, economic contributions to the region, creative business practices and community involvement.

"We are extremely honored to have been selected for this award," said Tom Davis, President of Bozzuto Landscaping. "My team and I are proud of our association with the Chamber and take tremendous pride in our efforts to contribute to the beautification of the area."

Bozzuto has a long history of community involvement, placing special emphasis on education that ranges from teaching plant care to area elementary school students to sharing knowledge and experience with future horticulturalists at a number of colleges and universities.

Recognized as one of the Top 25 landscaping companies in the country, Bozzuto Landscaping Company has been the recipient of more than 60 awards for excellence over the past five years. Active throughout the greater Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Bozzuto Group. With the company's emphasis based on providing landscape services to more than 400 sites, they also are responsible for 150 commercial snow removal sites and have a pressure washing division.

A Michigan native, Mike Kowalski describes some of his techniques for a successful company. He has learned the value of recruiting and sustaining an excelleng crew. With 20 years of experience in the green industry, he recommends hiring college interns and H2B employees as a way to recruit those who are reliable and genuinely interested in embracing the industry. Great Outdoors is looking to grow market share through new brochures and some telemarketing to its higher-end customers. Mike says the Ann Arbor based company will increase sales by expanding the service area from within a 10- or 12-mile radius to other counties.

Chris Phillips has gone from mowing lawns in college for extra income to Owner of Phillips Environmental Services (www.phillipsenvironmental.com). Started in 1998, it took only three years for the company to expand to $5 million in revenue. Chris attributes his company's success to accurate budgeting, specific marketing, and a strong infrastructure.

3/05/03 For Immediate Release:
Bruce Wilson, Symbiot Board Member and co-Founder of Wilson Oyler, discusses five ways to grow your landscape maintenance business in his column "Best Management" in Landscape Management.

Bruce Wilson, Symbiot Board Member and co-Founder of Wilson Oyler, (www.wilson-oyler.com) , can also include the title "Columnist" to his extensive list of credentials. His column "Best Management" appears in Landscape Management magazine (www.landscapemanagement.net). This month's article details the five proven steps to build upon growth oppurtunities.

Juan Carlos Vila of Vila & Son Landscaping Corp. with his father in 1981. It has since grown into a $34 million company. His company includes a nursery, a tree farm, landscaping company and three branches.

Herndon, VA, February 20, 2003 - The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) presented its 2003 Lifetime Leadership Award to Richard Ott, CCLP, at its recent Executive Forum at Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, Fort Myers, Florida. An active ALCA member and the 2002 president of the ALCA Educational Foundation (AEF), Ott, who is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, is vice president for educational programming and director of the InteriorScape Network for Symbiot Business Group, Inc..

ALCA's Lifetime Leadership Award (formerly known as the Landscape Service Award) is presented annually to a member of the association who has demonstrated leadership, service, commitment, and contributions to both ALCA and the landscape industry. According to Rick Doesburg, CCLP, 2002 ALCA president, "In being selected to receive the ALCA Lifetime Leadership Award, Dick Ott joins an elite group of ALCA leaders whose outstanding service has been instrumental in fostering the growth and professionalism of the association and the green industry as a whole."

Named as a 2003 ALCA Trailblazer (a mentoring program) in recognition of his significant and long-term contributions during his 30 years in the green industry, Ott is also a member of the AEF Board of Directors and chair and founder of ALCA's Interior Industry Growth Initiative. Previously, he has served on the ALCA Board of Directors and on the Certification Board of Governors; chaired ALCA's Interior Division; and been a member of numerous committees and task forces. He is also an AEF Founding Ambassador.

Ott received both his bachelor of science degree and his MBA from the University of Tennessee. He has written more than 50 articles for various green industry publications, has spoken at a number of national industry events, and is an adjunct professor of interior landscaping at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Reflecting his ongoing interest in education, Ott states that he continues to be involved in ALCA for his own "personal development and the development of others." In his current position with Symbiot, his responsibilities include initiating the company's interior network and developing training programs for interior landscape contracting company personnel.

Active in community activities in Knoxville, Ott has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, the Appalachian Zoological Society, the Knoxville Beautification Board, and the Knoxville Ski Club. The recipient of two Bronze Stars while serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Ott also received ALCA's President's Award in 1990.

In acknowledging his receipt of the ALCA Lifetime Leadership Award, Ott stated, "I am indeed honored to be recognized by ALCA with this award. My ongoing involvement with ALCA members and programs and my wide and varied experience in leadership positions have enabled me to grow professionally and personally and inspired me to pass on the skills and knowledge I have learned to the future leaders of the green industry."

For more information on the Lifetime Leadership Award or other ALCA programs, contact ALCA at 150 Elden Street, Suite 270, Herndon, VA 20170; phone (703) 736-9666 or (800) 395-2522; fax (703) 736-9668.

The Pattie Group, Inc. is a full service Landscape Development Firm serving Northeast Ohio since 1968 with two locations east of the city. They offer services from lawn care to complete landscape management and have won many prestigious awards in regional and national competitions.

"Several cities out there are really exploding," says Steve Bidgood, director of maintenance. The new locations sales goal will be between $500,00 and $1 million this season.

Broadcast weekly a show on MSNBC, hosted by NFL personality Terry Bradshaw, showcases companies that epitomize the backbone of America's economy. Cagwin & Dorward's episode will air on Monday, February 17, from 4:45 to 5:15 a.m. PST.

Cagwin & Dorward is a $21+ million exterior landscape business based out of Novato, CA. They specialize in landscape maintenance, landscape construction, irrigation, tree care and erosion control & environmental restoration.

• John Mini Indoor Landscapes, Grand Prize Winner, Winter Garden, World Financial Center, New York City
• Hoffman Design Group, Liberty Ridge, Wayne, PA

John Mini Indoor Landscapes is a $5.3 million interior landscape business based in City Island, NY.

1/23/03 For Immediate Release:
Heaviland Enterprises, Symbiot Landscape Network Partner, wins 2002 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics is the San Diego Better Business Bureau's annual awards program that honors local companies for demonstrating ethical business practices, both in operations and in terms of being ethical, reliable and responsive to employees, vendors and customers.

Heaviland Enterprises won the Torch Award in the category of 25 to 99 employees. This is a prestigious award given for consistently demonstrating the highest integrity in their practices towards customers, employees, suppliers, industry peers and communities in which they serve.

Heaviland Enterprises, founded in 1985, provides landscape maintenance services to commercial clients throughout North San Diego County.

Located just outside of Boston, in Walpole Massachusetts. Dan Foley founded D. Foley Landscape in 1987 during his sophomore year at college. He has 13 full-time employees, 14 seasonal employees and a 2002 revenue of $2,265,000. Dan Foley takes a very business-like approach to running D. Foley Landscape. He knows that all his employees must truly understand and believe in the company goals and direction in order for his business to succeed.

The Symbiot InteriorScape founding partners are:

• John Mini, Indoor Landscapes, LTD (John Mini, CCLP)
• McCaren Designs, Inc. (McRae Anderson, CLP)
• Premier Plantscapes, Inc. (Gary Mangum, CLP)
• Sedgefield Interior Landscapes (David Korstad)
• Plant Interscapes, Inc. (Mike Senneff, CLP)
• Engledow Group, Inc. (Ed Engledow)
• Plantscape, Inc. (Don and Carole Horowitz, CCLP)
• KEI (Chris and Ron Kujawa, CCLP)

To learn more about the Symbiot InteriorScape Network, please contact us by email at interiorscapenetwork@symbiot.biz

Mr. Ott comes to Symbiot with nearly 30 years of experience in the Green Industry. For 17 years he was the President/Owner of the Botany Center in Knoxville Tennessee. There he completed interior and exterior landscaping work in 26 states. He has also been the Vice-President of Training and Operations at Orking Plantscaping for seven years. For the last few years, Dick, has been serving as the National Training Manager for Rentokil Tropical Plant Services in Chicago, Illinois.

Dick will be building the Interior Network. "We're already starting to get a good bit of requests on providing interior landscape services, so this is a natural move for us," said Drew St. John. "Dick is the key to building this."

Learn more about the Symbiot Interiorscape Network.

The Bruce Company of Wisconsin, based in Middleton, WI made over 37 Million dollars in revenue last year, with an 11% increase over the year 2000. They are expecting another 9% increase over 2001 profits.

Vila & Sons Landscaping Corp. based out of Miami, FL was next on the list with over 28 Million dollar revenue. Vila & Sons also had an 11% increase in profits, and expect to increase their revenue by 20% over last year's profits. They have 400 employees.

Cawgin & Dorward from Novato, California had over 20 million in revenues. Last year's profits were up by 2.85%, and they hope that will see an increase of 10% over last year. Cawgin & Dorward have 335 employees on their payroll.

The Greenery hails from Hilton Head, South Carolina. With over 20 million dollars in revenue and 270 full-time employees, and 20 part timers working for them, they succeeded in gaining a 46% increase over the year 2000's profits! They are anticipating a modest 5% increase from last year.

CoCal Landscape, a Denver Colorado based Partner, accomplished a whooping 49% increase over the revenues of 2000! With 200 full-time, and 150 part-time employees, they brought in over 16 Million Dollars and are hoping for and increase of 14% from last year's profits.

New Garden Landscaping & Nursery, a Symbiot Partner from Greensboro, NC brought in almost 16 million dollars in revenue during the year 2001. This was an increase of 8.2% from 2001. New Garden Landscaping & Nursery hires 200 full time and 50 part time employees.

HighGrove Partners based in Atlanta, GA has 200 full time and 30 part time employees. They made about 15.5 Million in revenues last year, and hope to increase that by 5% this year.

The Highridge Corp. from Issaquah, Washington made over 14 million in revenues for the year 2001. Highridge Corp employs 225 full time, and 70 part timers. They are expecting an increase in revenue of 1% this year.

Bratt, from Pleasant Grove, Utah had a 10% increase in profits in 2001 with almost 13 Million dollars in revenue. There are 60 full time and 85 part time employees hired by Bratt.

John Allin's Allin Company made a 100% increase in their revenues! His Erie, Pennsylvania Company recorded revenues totaling over 12 Million for the year 2001. He is hoping for another great year with an 85% increase. Currently employing 65 full time and 35 part time workers.

Dennis's Seven Dees Landscaping based in Portland, Oregon made 11million in revenues, that was an 11 % increase over the previous year. With 175 full time and 40 part time employees, it is hoped that their increase this year will be 35%.

Bio Landscaping and Maintenance out of Houston, Texas had an increase in revenue of 16% from the year 2001. They employee 120 full-time and 130 part time employees, with over 10 million in revenues recorded.

ILT Vignocchi a Wauconda, Illinois company Made 10 Million dollars in sales last year, an increase of 5.4% anticipates an increase of 20% this year. ILT Vignocchi hires 50 full time and 150 part time employees.

Heads Up Landscape Contractors based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a 20% increase made almost 10 million dollars in revenues last year. Heads Up has 110 full time and 160 part time employees on its payrolls.

Groundmasters from Cincinnati, Ohio is hoping for a 25% increase this year over the 10% increase of last year. Groundmasters revenue was 9.5 million, with 160 full time and 120 part times in their employment.

Another Ohio based Symbiot Partner is Yardmaster, of Cleveland, Ohio. Yardmaster rounded out the top 100 with 9 million in revenues, 100 full time and 150 part time employees.

Morris Newlin, New Garden Landscaping & Nursery, Inc.
Berry Edwards, The Greenery, Inc.
Rick & Vince Arlington, Arlington Lawncare, Inc.

Juan Vila & Rick Leal, Vila & Son Landscaping Corp.
Joe Smith, Embassy Lawn & Landscape, Inc.
Doug Grissom & Richard Fadal, Texascapes
Joe Munie, Munie Outdoor Services, Inc.
Steve Pattie, The Pattie Group, Inc.
Morris Newlin, New Garden Landscaping & Nursery, Inc.

To learn more about TeamSymbiot call Philip Aldridge at 859.422.5155 or email him at teamsymbiot@symbiot.biz

Contact Rod Bailey at 425.788.3328 or by email at rodlbailey@hotmail.com.

To learn more about what our P3 Program can do for you, please contact us.

To learn more about becoming a part of the Symbiot Consultants' Corner call 866.223.9049 or contact us by email at info@symbiot.biz.

To learn more about what our P3 Program can do for you, please contact us.

At Symbiot, Garry will develop a National Window Network. The goal of this Network is to build an alliance of the very best window cleaners in the nation and deliver them value through national contracts, purchasing power and knowledge sharing.

To learn more about the Symbiot Window Network call Garry Jalowka at 909.772.3313 or contact him by email at garryj@symbiot.biz

To learn more about this progressive network call Garry Jalowka at 909.772.3313 or contact him by email at garryj@symbiot.biz

To learn more about Partner and Affiliate benefits of the SLN contact us.

To find out what our P3 program can do for you, please contact us.

Emily is a Certified Landscape Professional, and served as President of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) in 2000. She remains active in ALCA and will serve as Chairperson of the Awards Committee this year.

At Symbiot, Emily will serve the members of the newly created Symbiot Landscape Network (SLN™) in assisting them with the development of regional and national contract opportunities. She will work with Drew St. John, Symbiot VP, in the growth of the Symbiot Landscape Network as a force in the Green Industry.

In Salt Lake City, 14 potential network members attended and 12 joined. In Atlanta, 21 potential network members attended and 18 joined. The current list of network members are as follows:

(4.10.02) For Immediate Release:
Symbiot Business Group, Inc. announces the introduction of SLN (Symbiot Landscape Network). A network of uncompromising landscape professionals developed to meet the needs of regional and national contracts alike with unequaled professionalism.

For more information on SLN please contact Symbiot.

(2.15.02) For Immediate Release:
Symbiot President/CEO and board members receive recognition from ALCA for their industry influence
ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America) launches Trailblazers—a new program to recognize industry leaders and to share their wealth of knowledge with ALCA members.

Trailblazers is an elite group of individuals nominated by their peers as dedicated professionals who have made significant and long-term contributions to the Green Industry. Trailblazers are recognized in the areas of Interior, Exterior Design/Build, and Exterior Maintenance.

Steven C. Glover, CLP
Contributions to the Industry:
"I set a standard for professionalism. As president of ALCA in 1999, I provided support and leadership for the stabilization and advancement of the association. During my tenure. The ALCA staff was restructured, moves were made to make ALCA run like a business, and the goals and professional staff were refocused."

Rodney L. Bailey, CCLP
Contributions to the Industry:
"I helped to develop ALCA's first strategic long-range plan. My company, Evergreen Services Corporation, was an early model in the industry. We believed in sharing with others, and other companies patterned themselves after us. I gave man seminars for ALCA on long-range planning and financial operations, and I served on the original Certification Board of Governors and as ALCA's present in 1985."

Bruce Wilson
Contributions to the Industry:
"I built Environmental Care to become the first landscape/maintenance company to grow to $100 million. It become a model for other maintenance companies. We were united around one vision of what the company should be. I have been active in the Landscape/Maintenance Division of ALCA, serving as the chairman of that division, and I have written a chapter for the Landscape/Maintenance book."

(1.22.02) For Immediate Release:
John Allin (Board Member) - Receives Excellence Award for Quality Landscaping
The Allin Companies, owned by John Allin, received three major awards for excellence in Landscape Construction from the Builder's Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The excellence reflected in the receipt of these Awards can be found in the operation of Symbiot Business Group, Inc. as Mr. Allin brings his business expertise to our Board.

To review the articles, go to www.lawnandlandscape.com.

(1.15.02) For Immediate Release:
Symbiot Business Group, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of VendorRunner, bringing management tools to the CashRunner/VendorRunner equation. VendorRunner brings unprecedented levels of efficiency to property management.

(6.10.01) For Immediate Release:
The next product in the Runner line, DataRunner™, has completed "Alpha" testing and will be made available to the public beginning June 21, 2001. This product will be sold in two different ways, to accommodate Symbiot's variegated target market.

Companies that are able to front a purchase price of $899/year will enjoy an unlimited amount of searches via Symbiot's DataRunner™ vast database of property records. Realizing that all companies are not able to lay out this amount yet desire to receive the marketing benefit of the product, Symbiot has also designed a pricing plan that allows companies to be charged on a per record base, thus eliminating the fixed cost and replacing it with a variable cost.

Available counties include Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, and Weber. Interested companies should contact an account manager at Symbiot Business Group, Inc. through email at sales@symbiotsolutions.com or by phone at 801.733.6900.