Spring Training for Landscape Professionals

ABOUT SPRING TRAINING

This one-day training event for landscape professionals is planned by the Spring Training Committee. We use the feedback gathered during the previous year’s event, as well as insights gained during a bustling season to carefully curate two distinct tracks of education. There is a track focused on the needs of crew members and a second track for owners and managers. We also feature a greenhouse full of suppliers showcasing cutting-edge products, equipment, and services.  This event has an attendance of 350 with 21 exhibitors.

Speaker Lineup

Crew Member Track

• Bringing Water to Life: Professional Insights for Lasting Impact – Chris Wilson, Aquascape
  • Whether you’re maintaining an aging pond, converting outdated features into modern systems, or designing something new from the ground up, water features present both challenges and opportunities. This session provides practical, field-tested techniques to help you confidently handle every stage—from diagnosing and maintaining existing features, to applying smart design principles that create natural, client-ready results.
• From Worker to Leader: Advancing Leaders – Armando Actis, College of DuPage
  • How the customer perceives your crew is fundamental to the success of a contractor’s business. In this dynamic session, crew leaders learn how to more effectively handle tight deadlines and tight margins and increase customer satisfaction. Production and maintenance crew leaders have unique needs, as they have to wear two hats: worker and leader. They have to walk the fine line in working side by side with the employee and having to direct, motivate, and critique at the same time. Managing former peers and friends can be especially difficult; dealing with problems and obstacles can take skills that can only be developed by stepping out of the work environment, learning best practices, applying them in a learning environment through role play, and then going back and applying them on the job.
• Stand Out on Site: What Clients Notice Most –  Panel Discussion
  • Success in the landscape industry doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built season by season, job by job. In this candid panel discussion, three experienced crew members reflect on their first five years in the field. They’ll share lessons learned, strategies for getting the job done right, and tips for standing out on the crew. From navigating tough days to earning trust and moving up the ladder, this session offers real-world advice from people who’ve been there—and are still growing strong. Come ready to listen, laugh, and leave with practical takeaways you can use on the job tomorrow.
• After the Planting: Keys to Success – John Cottrell, Stoneleaf Nursery
  • Planting a tree, shrub, or perennial is only the first step—what happens after installation often determines whether it thrives or fails. In this session, you’ll learn about the critical practices that set plants up for long-term success. From watering schedules and soil care to staking, mulching, and monitoring plant health, this session will cover the fundamentals every crew member—new or seasoned—needs to know. Attendees will leave with practical tips and a clearer understanding of how their work in the field directly affects plant survival, customer satisfaction, and the reputation of the company.

Owners & Managers Track

• Leadership Blindspots: See What You’re Missing – Jeff Joutras, Step Forward Into Growth
  • This session will help landscape contracting leaders recognize and address common leadership blindspots that can hinder team performance and project success. Through real-world examples, practical strategies, and interactive exercises, you will learn how to enhance self-awareness, improve communication, and foster a culture of feedback. Gain valuable insights to become a more effective and insightful leader in the landscape contracting industry.
• What’s Growing in 2026 – John Cottrell, Stoneleaf Nursery
  • Join John for an in-depth look at the exciting lineup of plants the nursery is growing for the upcoming season. He’ll highlight the new varieties you should consider, tried and true performers, and touch on plant health care issues you should be aware of moving into the spring season. Don’t miss his expert recommendations on what you should be recommending to your customers in 2026 to maximize sales.
• Lead with Clarity: A Roadmap for Growing Your Business Without Burning Out – Tom Restivo, EOS Worldwide
  • Running a business is about more than completing projects and serving customers. It’s about building a team that can grow alongside you. Tom Restivo, Professional EOS Implementer® and former CEO who led 300 employees across 12 locations, will share practical EOS® tools to help you overcome the challenges that come with growing your organization. You’ll walk away with an actionable roadmap that will empower you to align team focus, strengthen accountability, and grow sustainably without losing your company culture or burning yourself out.
• Owners Panel: Insights from the Field
  • The landscape industry is evolving—how are business owners staying ahead? In this dynamic panel, leaders from across the state will share innovations and systems they’ve put in place to build stronger teams, improve profitability, and meet changing client expectations. Come ready to listen, learn, and contribute your own ideas as we explore what the next generation of landscape business leadership looks like

Combined Sessions

• Unlocking the Power of Influence – Jeff Joutras, Step Forward Into Growth
  • Influence isn’t about power—it’s about connection. In this hands-on session, Jeff Joutras introduces seven simple ways to get better results when working with others, whether it’s earning a customer’s trust or motivating your teammates. Through fun, real-world examples and interactive exercises, you’ll learn how small changes in how you communicate can lead to big improvements in teamwork, relationships, and results on the job.
• The Fractured Mind: Resilience, Purpose, and the Hidden Impact of Your Work – Evan Easter
  • In this session, Evan draws striking parallels between the mental toll of frontline service and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and landscape professionals serving the general public. Just as law enforcement carries the weight of protecting communities, landscape professionals shoulder the responsibility of building businesses, supporting employees, and shaping environments where families connect and lives are transformed. Through raw stories, heartfelt insights, and practical strategies, Evan will inspire you to see your work in a new light, recognize the deeper value it brings to your community, and walk away with renewed strength to face life’s pressures. His message is simple but powerful: even in the face of adversity, it is possible to mend what feels broken, reclaim purpose, and thrive.