Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
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www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation October 2016 11 Water Association's (NGWA) National Groundwater Week for the 2016 Irrigation Show and Education Conference. The show will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 5 – 9. The co-located show is a one-time opportunity to experience two independent trade shows with no wall separating them. Attendance for the world's biggest trade show dedicated to agriculture, landscape, and groundwater professionals is expected to reach 9,000. Attendees have the chance to visit the booths of 600 exhibitors from both IA and NGWA. IA and NGWA are also jointly hosting the keynote address and the 2016 Drought Summit during the show. Also new this year, IA will partner with the Association of Outdoor Lighting Professionals (AOLP), as the AOLP administers the Certifi ed Low-Voltage Lighting Technician (CLVLT) exam during the Irrigation Show. The CLVLT is the only national landscape lighting certifi cation. We hope this is the beginning of a longtime partnership, like we have with ARCSA, the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. Throughout 2016 and beyond, the Irrigation Association continues to put action behind the mission to promote effi cient irrigation by advocating on Capitol Hill, researching standards and codes, and providing the most up-to-date education and certifi cation for the industry. L&I: What are the biggest challenges industry professionals have faced in the past year, and how are those challenges being met? Hickman: We know that fi nding enough good employees continues to be the greatest challenge most of our landscape contractors face. It limits their ability to take on more work, which limits the growth potential of the industry. Landscape companies are extremely resourceful, and they each fi nd their own unique ways to attract and retain employees. We are focused on providing contractors with ideas and solutions through our education and webinars, our HR consultant, and by bringing them together to share best practices with each other. Our Foundation is focused on helping the industry address the issue, and we have new initiatives on the way in the next year to help tackle the problem. Hamlin: This past spring, the IA completed a comprehensive member survey. The results of the survey show that landscape irrigation industry professionals continue to face workforce challenges, including fi nding qualifi ed help, increased competition, the need to demonstrate value delivered to customers, and increased regulations. To aid in fi nding qualifi ed help for the industry, the Irrigation Foundation continues efforts to raise awareness about careers in the industry through the National Collegiate Landscape Competition, jobs.irrigation.org, and the E3 Learners and Leaders program during the Irrigation Show. The Foundation also hosts events like Faculty Academy, a train the trainer session, to ensure irrigation content is taught in the classroom, so students are prepared when they enter our workforce. The IA's Select Certifi ed program gives certifi ed professionals an edge up on competition, and tells customers that they take pride in their work and are competent professionals. The Irrigation Association government affairs team works at federal, state, regional and local levels to educate elected offi cials about the economic and community benefi ts of effi cient irrigation and long-term sustainability, promote stewardship policy goals that defi ne the best in water resource planning, and represent members' interests on a wide variety of public policy issues that affect the irrigation industry. The association also maintains partnerships with associations, public and private agencies, and other organizations to promote water-use effi ciency, advocate sound policies, and defi ne best practices. L&I: What areas of advancement in the industry are you most pleased with, and what areas need to improve? Hickman: The continued demand for outdoor living spaces is great news for our industry and we are providing more beautiful, elaborate and innovative outdoor spaces to meet the demand. Our national consumer surveys show that people value their lawns and landscapes, and they want to spend time in them; and it is important that we continue to support and validate that.