The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) recently announced the recipients of its fifth annual ELITE Awards.
The awards are presented to companies and individuals that elevate the landscape industry through excellence by demonstrating outstanding achievement within the profession. The projects reflect the values of sustainability, service and environmental stewardship.
According to ALCC, the ELITE awards illustrate how Colorado’s landscape companies deliver innovation, best management practices, originality, professionalism and problem solving for their clients.
“These awards celebrate the commitment of companies and clients to create and maintain exceptional landscapes that support Colorado’s outdoor lifestyle,” says John McMahon, ALCC executive director.
This year there were 10 project recipients, 15 finalists and seven individuals honored. The awards were presented by ALCC and sponsored in 2019 by Colorado Materials, Inc. Click here to see more information about the winners and their projects.
Community Stewardship
Photo: Environmental DesignsAward Recipient: Environmental Designs, Inc. – Hearing Dog Inc., Henderson
Finalist: High Country Landscape – Climbin’ with the Kiddos! and other volunteer projects in Denver
Customer Service
Award Recipient: BrightView Landscape – Denver
Design/Build under $150K
Photo: Zak George LandscapingAward Recipient: Zak George Landscaping – residence in Fort Collins
Finalist: Sunflower Landscape – residence in Colorado Springs
Finalist: Native Edge Landscapes – residence in Boulder
Finalist: TLC Gardens – residence in Boulder
Design/Build over $150K
Photo: Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation Inc.Award Recipient: Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation Inc. – residence in Fort Collins
Finalist: Lifescape Colorado – residence in Cherry Hills
Finalist: Designscapes Colorado – residence in Golden
Innovation
Award Recipient: BestYard.com and Dominoe Properties – outdoor storage yard in Parker
Finalist: Native Edge Landscapes – residence in Boulder
Finalist: Timberline Landscaping, Inc. – company safety program in Colorado Springs
Finalist: Tree of Life Landscapes – apartment complex in Denver
Irrigation Management
Award Recipient: Environmental Designs, Inc. – irrigation renovation in Loveland
Landscape Construction
Photo: Designscapes ColoradoAward Recipient: Designscapes Colorado – residence in Centennial
Finalist: Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation, Inc. – residence in Fort Collins
Finalist: Singing Hills Landscape – residence in Denver
Maintenance
Photo: Weisburg Landscape MaintenanceAward Recipient: Weisburg Landscape Maintenance – HOA in Colorado Springs
Finalist: Lifescape Colorado – residence in Castle Pines
Finalist: Lifescape Colorado – custom landscape in Denver
Use of Color
Photo: Environmental DesignsJudge’s Choice Award Recipient: Sustainable Landscapes-Colorado – Streets at Southglenn in Centennial
People’s Choice Award Recipient: Environmental Designs, Inc. – housing development in Arvada
Finalist: Tree of Life Landscapes – residence in Boulder
MVP
Award Recipient: Katie Moore, Native Edge Landscapes, Boulder
Finalist: Mike Moore, Diggable Designs, Lakewood
Finalist: Steve Bugas, Brightview Landscape, Parker
Volunteer Service Awards
Outlook Emerging Leader: Eric Haugen, LandCare Management
Stan Brown Distinguished Associate Member of the Year: John Alderman, DBC Irrigation Supply, Denver Metro Area
Bob Cannon Lifetime Achievement: Becky Garber, ALCC, Denver
John Garvey Person of the Year: Kim Jewell, GroundMasters and Snow Management Services, Denver,
Gosha Greens announces grand opening of nursery
Photo: Gosha GreensGosha Greens, a wholesale plant and tree provider for landscape professionals across Florida has recently opened its new nursery.
The 1.3-acre nursery is located in Homestead, Florida, and was built after Gosha Greens’ owner, Kevin Kalantari, saw a need among his customers.
“Not only was I looking for a place to work outside my home, but I noticed a trend among our customers: there is a high demand for the same common plants and material,” he says. “So, instead of sourcing the same plants repeatedly, I wanted to find a place to store and even grow our own inventory.”
Gosha Greens includes delivery with every order, but now the nursery provides the option for customers to pick up their plant orders in one location. The Gosha Greens nursery is stocked with high-demand plants such as clusia, green island and seagrape plants.
The nursery also provides an official brick and mortar structure to conduct business.
Learning center dedicated to Gachina Landscape Management owners
At Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, the John Paul and H. Jaclyn Ishimaru-Gachina Learning Center was dedicated last month.
Photo: Gachina Landscape ManagementThe event was attended by many personal friends, family and industry leaders. The late John was honored for his focus on training and education, making sure that the green industry was a profession to be proud of, and Jackie was honored for carrying out John’s legacy and vision.
The training center is the first of its kind for Foothill College and throughout the Bay Area. It has a college setting academic program combined with hands-on fieldwork in Los Altos Hills.
Frank Niccoli, the horticulture professor, spearheaded the effort and he has focused on retaining the practical portion of the certified landscape technician (CLT) testing, which includes construction, irrigation and water management skills that have been lost through the modification of the national CLT program.
This is fitting considering John was one of the founding fathers of the original CLT certification. He encouraged his employees to become certified and recognized as professionals. The center will benefit professional water managers and landscape technicians.
TreeTown USA acquires Midas Nursery Solutions
TreeTown USA has acquired one of the leading horticulture automation companies, Midas Nursery Solutions based in Hillsboro, Oregon, for an undisclosed amount.
This is TreeTown’s first acquisition that doesn’t consist of a nursery operation and signifies its commitment to deploying the most advanced automation, mechanization and lean practices available.
“Having Midas as part of the family will go a long way in helping us develop, implement and initialize industry solutions to mechanization and lean practices,” says Jonathan Saperstein, TreeTown USA CEO. “What’s more, this expanded relationship will allow us to better capitalize on Midas’ capabilities and values that they have continued to demonstrate over the years of our work with them.”
Going forward, Midas, as a subsidiary of TreeTown USA, will no longer support outside companies. Matt Gold, Midas Nursery Solutions president, will assume responsibility for TreeTown USA’s industrial engineering and project teams.
“The opportunity to continue my work alongside the excellent leadership team at TreeTown USA and have access to TreeTown USA’s tremendous resources to help them achieve their objectives was something I just couldn’t pass up,” Gold says.
EquipmentWatch launches new search experience for app
EquipmentWatch, a source for heavy equipment data and intelligence, has introduced Search 2.0 for the EquipmentWatch web app.
The web app’s interface has been simplified by making data selection the first step in the new search process. This helps ensure more relevant models and data being displayed. It has two new ways to search.
- Search by manufacturer, model or serial number
- Search by the equipment category
“We pride ourselves in remaining customer-centric,” says James Hamilton, head of product for EquipmentWatch. “Search 2.0 was created with our customers top of mind at every point of development. User feedback carries incredible influence and weight when it’s time for our teams to make everyday business decision, especially when it comes to critical product improvements like Search 2.0.”
Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission launches new website
Photo: WTSCThe Washington Turfgrass Seed Commission recently launched a new website to highlight the value of the turfgrass seed industry.
Washington has more than 32,000 acres of turfgrass seed in production, making grass a big source of business in the state. The website provides information about the turfgrass seed grown in the state and more about the Commission as well.
A searchable database provides an archive for research studies funded by the Commission on turfgrass seed production, weed control, diseases suppression and genetics.
Click here to view the site.
Walker introduces spring versatility webpage
Just in time for the start of spring, Walker has added a new webpage that highlights the versatility of their mower in springtime.
The page lists a number of tasks the mower can help with including dethatching, fertilizing and overseeding
“The Walker mower is a versatile product throughout each season,” says Tim Cromley, Walker marketing manager. “And, helping lawns and landscapes ‘clean up and green up’ each year is a distinct strength of the Walker mower.”
Click here to view the page.
