The association says the symposium will feature “unique, practical applications and how-to educational sessions.” The event is scheduled for Aug. 9-11 at the Omni Parker House Hotel. Here’s a brief outline of a few of the sessions:
- Meeting Current and Future Needs of Users in Creating Public Space
Cheri Ruane, vice president and practice leader for landscape architecture at Spurr, Weston & Sampson, will discuss the design and installation of publicly used open spaces. Such projects have seen a number of changes in recent years, in part to achieve better resiliency and sustainability but also to promote equal participation.
- Inbound Marketing 101
Tyler Richer, principal inbound marketing consultant with HubSpot, will take a look at the cultural shift toward inbound marketing, with a focus on what has changed and what opportunities have developed. Learn what traditional aspects of marketing and sales no longer perform well, as well as how you can leverage content and an enjoyable online experience to generate, nurture and close leads for your business.
- Modernizing Workflows with Design Technology
Landscape architect Eric Gilbey will discuss the use of Vectorworks Landmark software by Nemetschek, and Joe Salemi, product marketing manager with DynaScape Software, will talk about how small landscape design firms are using technology to stay productive and competitive. This session will show how current software can be used to create, analyze, present and document your company’s work, resulting in smarter workflows, increased opportunities for collaboration and more informed final-design product.
- The Power of One
Alex Pratt, area director of human resources for the Omni Parker House Hotel, will talk about the critical importance of frontline employees. In any organization, Pratt says, those are the faces clients see the most and who represent the company’s values to the world. “In this presentation,” Pratt says, “I will show how hiring for values and training for skills can build a team of world-class representatives for your company from the bottom to the top.”
- Tree Inventories and Management Plans: Innovative Solutions to Preserve and Enhance Landscape Elements
Scott Jamieson, vice president of Bartlett Tree Experts and NALP’s current president, will talk about the importance of trees in any landscape and particularly the large role they play in landscape design. Whether it is designing with trees that are currently on a site or starting from scratch, trees have to be considered during the entire process. Cutting-edge tree inventory and management technology will be reviewed. Jamieson also will point to innovative new tools that can quantify the benefits of trees – for example, how much air pollution they remove.
