Bronk recognized with lifetime achievement award Email
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Wednesday, July 13, 2016 06:00 AM

Ralph Bronk & Becky HammondThe Bob Cannon Lifetime Achievement Award, was bestowed this year upon Ralph Bronk, founder of Mountain High Tree, Lawn and Landscape Company in Denver.

After earning a degree in marketing on the East Coast and heading west, a young Bronk found himself in need of a job, and he found work trimming trees for a green industry company.

Despite no job training, no PPE and no tailgate safety talks, Bronk survived that first green job and soon found it was a good career option for him. By 1974, he was ready to start his own company and began with just a few employees.

As the business grew, he was fortunate to add “numerous and amazing employees…who kept adding skills and quality” that allowed the business to grow in size and reputation. Today, he has employees who have been with the firm 25 years. Those employees appreciate and respect his strong work ethic, and his integrity has not gone unnoticed.

Despite working hard to grow his own business, Ralph is also dedicated to helping others, in and out of the industry. From helping a competitor out of a jam on a job (which the competitor had won over his own company) to representing ALCC on local media on a moment’s notice, he is selfless in his efforts to support his colleagues.

He is also tireless in his efforts to build a better, more sustainable business. His company is one of a few tree companies that recycles 100% of its green waste. Through his efforts, many tons of debris from his own company as well as other operations has been recycled into wood mulch that ultimately goes back to the earth.  

Bronk also enjoys giving back to the community. After his company had already donated and delivered a sizeable amount of materials to 2015 Day of Service project at Bill Roberts Elementary in Stapleton Denver, Bronk joined the volunteers and dug in.

Throughout the day, he also seized spontaneous teaching moments with the kids. As teachers brought students to watch the work, Ralph would stop his work to show the students a bucket of mulch and help them understand what was going on at their school that day.

“Involvement in industry service is just a natural thing to do,” Bronk explained. “When an industry is good to you, you want to give back.”

Established in 1978, the Bob Cannon Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have given loyal, dedicated service to the landscape industry, contributed ideas, programs and other endeavors to benefit other ALCC members, and have improved the professional image of the landscape industry. It was named for Bob Cannon, an ALCC founder and visionary who realized many years ago that we are much better working together than separately.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Utility company work inspires an award just for them
Help customers save water and money with Smart Irrigation Month
Better by nature: Certification strengthens Changing Landscapes
Q&A about the new federal overtime rule