ALCC news center
Are you using ALCC’s FREE classified ads? Email
News
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 10:00 PM

 

ALCC classifieds are free for membersWe know landscape companies are finding employees by posting job ads on alcc.com. And we can also tell you many companies are not making their ads as effective as they could be.

If you take a few minutes to update company info behind the scenes and then follow some tips for the info that is in your ad, you will increase your effectiveness in reaching job seekers. Here is our checklist:

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7 Steps to Strategic Success in 2015 Email
News
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 08:50 PM

 

7 questions for a successful yearJeffrey Scott, The Leaders, Edge, spoke last month at ALCC’s CEO Exchange in Denver. In this article, he encourages companies to use this time leading up to a new season to gain clarity and direction. His advice is to set your company up for “sweet success” by assessing the past year in broad strokes and then setting your sights on clear, long-term objectives.

Here are Scott’s seven questions to help get yourself and your team focused. Answering these questions as a team can greatly improve your chances for success in 2015! Schedule time ahead – and work together to arrive at the best answers.

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How green is your vision? Email
News
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 08:00 PM

 

ALCC Sustainable Landscape PartnersHave you ever found it ironic that within what is truly the world’s first and foremost “green” industry that “going green” isn’t just assumed? Maybe that is because the proverbial “going green” means many things to many people – and to many landscape businesses.

For some, simply getting the turf down green side up and as quickly as it can be done is their high-powered version of going green. For others, it’s salvaging, saving and repurposing every possible bit of material on a job site.

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Two companies share what they learned from DOL audits Email
News
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 11:00 AM

 

Scot LeDue and Marie Peacock, ALCC membersLast season, many landscape companies were audited by the Department of Labor (DOL). Here, Scot LeDue, vice president/general manager. A Perfect Landscape, Inc., and Marie Peacock, owner GARDENZ, interacted directly with auditors when their firms were audited last season. Here, they share lessons learned and advice for others who may be visited by DOL this season.

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Most common DOL violations guest Email
News
Thursday, February 12, 2015 01:00 AM

 

US Dept of LaborIn 2015, the US Department of Labor (DOL) will be performing investigations targeting the landscape industry for the fourth year in a row. Do you worry that you'll be chosen for an audit from the DOL? To help you prepare your business for an audit, it's a good idea to review your obligations according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

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Secrets of a former DOL auditor Email
News
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 10:00 PM

 

AuditFormer DOL investigator talks about audits: Get her inside story about what you need to know and do

Landscape companies have been a specific target of the U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division (DOL WHD) for several years. According to the U.S. DOL Data Enforcement website, landscape companies agreed to pay more than $20 million in back wages to their employees between 2006 and 2012 for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act - an amount that does not include other charges such as penalties and damages.

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Bee population on the rise Email
News
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 02:00 PM

 

Bee population on the riseRecent data collected by the crop protection industry from the USDA, FAO and StatisticsCanada shows that bee populations even in intensely farmed areas of the world are increasing rather than rapidly decreasing.

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Soils Support Urban Life Email
News
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 06:00 AM

 

Stormwater can benefit a rain gardenThe Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is coordinating a series of activities throughout 2015 International Year of Soil (IYS) to educate the public about the importance of soil. February’s theme is “Soils Support Urban Life.” In SSSA’s February Soils Matter blog post, staff from Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District explain how rain gardens work.

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Colorado rises high in LEED building stats Email
News
Wednesday, February 11, 2015 03:30 AM

 

LEED certified Colorado Convention CtrLast week, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released its annual list of the Top 10 States for LEED, the world’s most widely used and recognized green building rating system, ranking states in terms of square feet of LEED space per state resident. The per-capita list highlights states throughout the country that are making significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation. Colorado placed #2 on the list for 2014.

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What’s the trump card – skills or character? Email
News
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 10:00 PM

 

Recruit for character over skillsIn an industry that requires skill in execution and the consistent delivery of services, common sense logic would indicate that job skills are number one and that experienced workers are always in the driver’s seat when it comes to being hired. Seems logical, yes, but the results of ALCC’s Fast Friday poll earlier this month indicate that some companies have always prized character and others are shifting their priorities in that direction.

We asked, “What’s your #1 hiring priority, job skills or character/qualities?” And for those willing to say more, we also asked if they had changed their recruiting game plan during the last couple years in response to the shortage of people to fill positions at all levels.

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Why one company puts skills first Email
News
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 08:00 PM

 

Skilled workers have an an advantageWhile only 10% of ALCC Fast Friday poll respondents value skills more than character, they are informed dissenters who speak with conviction based on many years of experience in the industry. Below is one business owner’s position on why skills are No. 1.

As a small business owner, my hiring priority is job skills. Always.

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Mi Casa is resource for Denver metro employers Email
News
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 04:00 PM

 

Denver metro area hiring resourcesDo you receive resumes that list courses and certifications that you don’t immediately recognize?

If you work in the Denver metro area, you might have seen Mi Casa Resource Center or Mi Casa Innovation Lab on a resume but moved right past it. For Denver area businesses, it is worth your time to be aware of Mi Casa programs to find quality candidates with a drive to succeed.

Mi Casa Resource Center offers many services to help working families achieve lasting economic success. While services are mostly targeted to Latinos, they welcome everyone looking to improve their financial health and develop a career path. Several programs could serve as a resource to landscape companies seeking qualified, reliable staff.

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Building green: Colorado trees could be new construction resource Email
News
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 10:00 AM

 

Federal Center South SeattleBuilding with wood is poised to be the next big trend in green construction and the United States Forest Service (USFS) is working diligently to make it a reality.

The environmental benefit of using wood in building products creates fewer greenhouse gasses than commonly used materials. And wood – including beetle-killed trees - harvested from Colorado and throughout the Rocky Mountain region could become a major resource in this next step of green building.

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