Voice of the Green Industry

When I became PLANET president last year, I truly didn’t have any idea how the year would unfold. As a long-time lawn care professional and supporter of PLANET, I have a vested interest in the industry, and thought that serving as president would give me an opportunity to promote and help improve the industry. Hopefully, [...]

Seventeen years ago, I was president of the state association in Oregon and attending an Executive Forum Meeting in Sun River, Oregon. At the time, I remember making it a goal to one day become president of the ALCA group (now one of PLANET’s legacy organizations). That time has come and passed, and serving as [...]

Like many industries, our industry is undergoing significant changes. Some companies will not survive, as their leaders cling to the past, dig in their heels, or bury their heads in the sand. Other companies will charge into the future, guided by leaders seeking new opportunities to add value to their customer’s lives. The difference between [...]

I was flying home recently on United Airlines from a consulting trip that took me through Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.  I realized I had not read Hemispheres Magazine (United’s Inflight Magazine) for the month of December yet, so I flipped through it as my plane took off out of a cold, snowy and icy Allentown, [...]

Many years ago, my boss gave me some important advice after my team had completed a difficult project. He said, “Bill, congratulations on finishing this project. Of course, you know why you and your team succeeded, don’t you? Discipline was the key, and it’s always the key to getting something done.”
With so much experience under [...]

I’m writing live from PLANET’s Summer Leadership Meeting (SLM) in beautiful Stevenson, Washington - just 45 minutes from Portland, Oregon.
It has been an incredible few days so far of our staff, members, suppliers and leadership focusing on the core direction of PLANET - especially in these uncertain economic times.  I have to say that the [...]

I recently watched the winner of the national spelling bee successfully spell out the final word of the competition and was announced the champion. As always, I am amazed how bright these young people are and how bad a speller I am. Then I started thinking about the upcoming Summer PLANET Leadership meeting being held [...]