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CONNECTICUT IRRIGATION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION JANUARY 2016
Promoting Excellence in Landscape Irrigation
Installation
President’s Message
At times the year seems too long and then you get to the end, and it feels so short. You look back at your goals and then you determine what was accomplished. Did you succeed? Or did you falter?
I hope everyone can look at their goals from 2015 and determine some success. I know it didn’t seem like we accomplished much when we were in the heat of summer, we were just trying to make it to tomorrow. I can personally say, looking back on the year, we accomplished a lot. But we left a lot undone and now have our new goals for 2016.
It was a busy year and for that we are all grateful. It feels like the economy has picked up and jobs are more plentiful. Let’s expect a great 2016.
As for the CICA, you cannot miss our University on March 10th and 11th at Foxwoods Resort Casino. It is a must attend event! Our Irrigation Market Place (trade show) and General Membership Dinner will be held on Thursday the 10th. Please put it on your calendar and stay the night. Details are included in this newsletter.
The CICA is still working on getting involved with the Connecticut Water Plan / Drought Plan, set for release in 2018. If you are interested in reading the latest news, check out the CICA website and then lend your voice to the discussion.
I was privileged to attend the IA Irrigation Show in November at the Long Beach, California convention center. I learned a lot about the IA and how they support our industry. Not only do they provide education, certification and help
government affairs with, but they have a Contractors Common Interest Group. I opened my mouth at the Contractors Common Interest Group’s meeting and was elected to the committee. I will relay more after my first official meeting in January.
Again, make sure we see you at the CICA University at Foxwoods on March 10th and 11th.
My best to everyone for a healthy and profitable 2016.
Sincerely,
Stephen Geckeler
,
Lake Sonoma, Sonoma, California showing the effects of the drought on water levels.L k S S C lif i h i
2 CICA JANUARY 2016
CONNECTICUT LEGISLATIVE SESSION 2016 The 2016 session of the Connecticut General Assembly begins on February 3rd and adjourns May 4. For more information about what is happening in the legislature visit the Legislative Commissioner’s Office, at https://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/session.asp.
2015-2016 CICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENTStephen GeckelerAqua-Lawn, Inc.Phone: 203-367-7444Member Type: [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENTChris HysonFournier Irrigation South, LLCPhone: 860-454-5176Member Type: [email protected]
SECRETARYRandy FeldmanTimeline Irrigation LLCPhone: 860-342-5587Member type: [email protected]
TREASURERMichael FournierFournier IrrigationPhone: 860-528-9397Member Type: [email protected]
PAST PRESIDENTDave PijnenburgGreenacres CompanyPhone: 203-748-0558Member Type: [email protected]
Erwin BaileyCT WinpumpsPhone: 203-753-9829Member Type: MF/[email protected]
Mark CentolaSiteOnePhone: 203-453-8945Member Type: [email protected]
Joe EttorreJDA Lawn SprinklersPhone: 860-747-0455Member Type: MA
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORErica Fearn, CAEPhone: [email protected]
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Catriona HorstmannPhone: [email protected]
IN THE NEWS
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING & ARTICLE DEADLINESSeptember 15 December 15 March 15 June 15
www.facebook.com/CtIrrigationContractors
NEWSLETTER ADVERTISING & ARTICLE DEADLINES
CICA MEMBERSHIP BY THE NUMBERS: Goal 100, Current 80, Non-renewed 10, New 1
CT Irrigation Contractors Association, Inc.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CICA Launches New Online Member Community CICA announced the launch of its new online member community at www.cicaweb.com. Designed to deliver enhanced value to all CICA members, the new community allows members to create profiles, search for and connect with fellow members, collaborate on projects and documents, follow the latest organization news and industry trends, register for events, shop the online store, create blogs, contribute to wiki-enabled pages, and much more. The community also features groups that allow members to congregate and connect with other members regarding various points of similar interests.
The new web community also provides mass e-mail, e-newsletter and messaging systems that enable enhanced communication with, and among, community members.
For CICA, the new online member community helps streamline online dues collection, event management, online donations and fund-raising, e-commerce, e-communications, reporting and more – and provides one, secure community that allows CICA members to connect and share ideas in an online environment that is safe and secure.
Visit www.cicaweb.org
y p
Irrigation Association Affiliate Contractor Member Dues As a CICA contractor member, you can receive a $100 discount on your IA membership dues.
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“I don’t need more work. I need more employees to help me get it all done.” That’s a quote I am hearing more often from business owners who are enjoying the industry rebound.
Companies in our industry are struggling to fill critical jobs. Candidates who can make an immediate impact are in short supply. Many companies are looking to fill the same positions at the same time, adding to the battle over good applicants. Candidates are increasingly picky not just about pay but also company culture and work environment.
The marketing challenge is making your company a target for the best talent. Pay and benefits are important, but so are culture and work environment. Showcase your best if you want to attract the best.
Use these techniques to help your company stand out to potential candidates:
Websites sell to applicants too. Customers check you out online before they do business with you. Potential new employees will research your company before they apply. Do you have a “Join Our Team” section? These pages should describe your company’s vision, values, culture and work environment. Are you a stable, family-friendly environment? Make sure to highlight that. Don’t just use words. Incorporate photos that show your team, your customers and your commitment to outstanding results.
Use electronic recruiting tools. The days of the help wanted ad are over. Now you need to be visible in a wide variety of online venues to successfully market your job openings. Be sure to promote your job openings on Facebook and LinkedIn. Make full use of career websites like Monster and job boards like Craigslist. Remember that social media sites require a commitment. By their nature, they create a lot of two-way communication. You can’t just post and forget.
Stand out as a community leader. Has your company participated in volunteer work, charitable donations or food drives? Share your good deeds and demonstrate your commitment to the well-being of others. Good people want to work for good people. Promote your commitment to corporate citizenship. Don’t just say, show: capture photos and videos of employees participating in charitable efforts.
Prospect outside the traditional bounds. There’s a traditional inclination to look for a narrow set of skills or experience in recruiting. It’s not always the best way. Sometimes you get valuable years of experience; other times you get years of baggage. Take a different path. Look for high potential candidates with core skills: passion, competitive drive, problem-solving abilities and enthusiasm. Then train them on the jargon and job duties. You’ll get a loyal and motivated team member who can help you grow.
Editors Note: Marketing consultant Jeff Carowitz has been a respected independent advisor to leading industry firms across the U.S. and Canada for over 10 years. Connect with him on LinkedIn or visit www.StrategicForceMarketing.com.
MARKETING TO ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYEES IN 2016
4 CICA JANUARY 2016
CLASS 101: UNDERSTANDING BASIC IRRIGATION CONCEPTSINSTRUCTOR: Chris Pine, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA, CIT, C. Pine Associates, Inc.
Length: 1.5 DaysDate & Time: Thursday, March 10, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday, March 11, 8:00 am – 12:00 pmDescription: This course will provide a basic understanding of irrigation concepts. It will review field hydraulics, piping, basic design, precipitation rates and scheduling. It is an excellent study guide and precursor for professionals who plan to take the test for licensing. It will also provide a basic understanding of irrigation for beginners and other landscaping professionals interested in irrigation. 1.5 Day Course, includes CICA 105 in cost of registration
CLASS 102: J3/J4* CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE (2016/2017 CT LICENSE RENEWAL CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS)INSTRUCTOR: Ted Moriarty, Smart Watering Company, LLC
Length: 5 hoursDate & Time: Thursday, March 10, 9:00 am to 3:00 pmDescription: Meet the regulatory continuing education requirements for J3/J4 license holders. Throughout the day you will reinforce and learn more about hydraulics, irrigation components, wire and electrical principles, and irrigation system scheduling. We will review state laws and regulations regarding irrigation and EPA WaterSense.Included in cost of registration for CICA 102 *J4 License Holders may leave after three hours to meet certification requirements.
CLASS 103: BUSINESS BOOT CAMPINSTRUCTORS: Leland J. Brandt, The Research Department Inc., Dave Mullins, Tourbillon, Andrew Moran, CPP, Merchant Solutions, Brittany Farrell, Verizon
Length: 1/2 DayDate & Time: Thursday, March 10, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pmDescription: The Boot Camp provides a great opportunity for you to garner ideas for expanding your marketing reach, accessing technology and management. It offers a diverse agenda with experienced speakers to meet your business needs.Included in cost of registration for CICA 102
CLASS 104: ADVANCED CONTROLLER AND DECODER TECHNIQUESINSTRUCTORS: Chris Russo and James McGovern, Hunter Industries
Length: 4 hoursDate & Time: Friday, March 11, 8:00 am – 12:00 pmDescription: Hunter Advanced Controller and Decoder Techniques. Attendees will learn ICore/ACC overview and advanced programming functions including decoder functions, advance sensor capabilities and set-up and mapping. You will come away with an understanding of decoder functions and advantages as well as decoder best practices and troubleshooting techniques. Includes CICA 105 in cost of registration
CLASS 105: DRIP IRRIGATIONINSTRUCTOR: Chris Pine, CID, CLWM, CIC, CLIA, CIT, C. Pine Associates, Inc
Length: 4 hoursDate & Time: Friday, March 11, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pmDescription: This class will cover drip irrigation equipment, the concepts of drip irrigation design, installation techniques, maintenance and scheduling. Included in cost of registration for CICA 101 and CICA 104
CICA University is offering irrigation professionals, company owners and office staff two days of classes that provide basic and advanced training, CT license certification, and office and business improvement and development.DAY 1 Basic Irrigation Concepts, J-3/J-4 Continuing Education, and Business Boot CampDAY 2 Basic Irrigation Concepts Continued, Advanced Controller, and Decoder Techniques, Drip IrrigationThe Irrigation Marketplace and Reception provides our members, industry friends and CICA U attendees with an opportunity to visit with peers, make business contacts and learn about new products. The reception and trade show will follow the first day of courses at the High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge and is sponsored by CICA and our industry partners. Join us for a fun night of food and bowling!
CICA presents CICA UniversityEducation for the Irrigation Professional
Foxwoods • Thursday – Friday, March 10-11, 2016
Reception, Irrigation Marketplace & Membership Dinner at High Rollers Luxury Lanes & Lounge (Bowling Included)
Thursday, March 10, 2016
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UNIVERSITY
Class Number(s):
Attendee Name (s):
Total Enclosed:
Business Name:
Phone:
Business Address, City, State, Zip Code:
E-mail:
License Number(s) (if attending J3/J4):
Cell phone:
Memorial Scholarship FUNdraising Old Treasure TradeThree ways to win!
Clean out – bring any never used irrigation tool. Extra credit for having the oddest, oldest, or best value!
Entry Fee $5 per item. Limit 2 itemsWin your competitors’ and distributors’ unused, undamaged treasures while unloading your own
buried treasures. All for a good cause (Scholarship Fund) and just for fun.
Registration Form & ScheduleCourse Date & Time Member Rate Non-Member Rate101: Basic Irrigation Concepts March 10 $245 $295 8:00 am-5:00 pm March 11 8:00 am-Noon
102: J3/J4 Class March 10 $285 $335 9:00 am-3:00 pm
103: Business Boot Camp March 10 Included with Included with 3:00 pm-5:00 pm CICA 102 CICA 102
104: Advanced Controller and March 11 $135 $185 Decoder Techniques 8:00 am-Noon
105: Drip Irrigation March 11 Included with Included with 1:00 pm-4:00 pm CICA 101 & CICA 104 CICA 101 & CICA 104Reception, Irrigation Marketplace, March 10 $50 $50 Dinner, Memorial Scholarship FUNdraising 6:30 pm-8:30 pmOld Treasure Trade & Bowling
UNIVERSITY
Registration 7:30-8:00 am, includes course fee, materials, continental breakfast and lunch each day. Dinner cost includes reception, Irrigation Marketplace and bowling. Registration must be made in advance by February 26, 2016 by mail or online. Any registrations after February 26, 2016 will increase by $30. No walk-ins. Refund/cancellation policy: cancellations in writing made no less than 14 days prior to the event will be refunded in full. Cancel-lations no less than 72 hours prior to the event will be transferred to the next event.
Overnight rooms are available for $129 plus $7.95 resort fee and 15% tax. Overnight reservations are to be made directly to Foxwoods by February 18, 2016. The hotel has a 48-hour cancellation policy. To make your overnight room reservation online please use the following link: https://aws.passkey.com/event/14487872/owner/46344/landing Or dial 800-369-9663, enter #, 2, 1 and Reference Group Code F22465
Clip and return with payment to CICA, 342 North Main Street, Suite 301, West Hartford, CT 06117.For credit card payments visit www.CICAweb.org. Register online at http://www.cicaweb.org/event/CICAU2016 RSVP before February 26, 2016.
Questions? Contact Catriona Horstmann at CICA, 860-586-7563, or via e-mail [email protected].
6 CICA JANUARY 2016
MAKE EVERY LAST
DROP COUNT
Independent audits show
that water usage can be
reduced by 30% or more when
replacing conventional sprays
with MP Rotators.
The MP Rotator features a unique,
multi-trajectory rotating stream
delivery system that achieves water
conserving results. The MP Rotator
is a revolutionary product—unlike
anything else in the irrigation fi eld.
Jim McGovern | 617-323-4090
The winter season is a great time to figure out how to reduce your credit card processing fees. Here are some steps you can take now to reduce your credit card acceptance cost for the 2016 season.
Key vs swiped: the cost to process a swiped or EMV chip is lower than the cost to key in that same card number. The fee could be .5% or as high as 1.5% greater when you key the card.
AVS: if you do have to key in a card, accurately key in the AVS (Address Verification Service). Prompts will help hold down costs. If the information you enter matches the billing address the bank has on file for that card, you get a better rate than if you skip this step.
CVV: The CVV (“3 digits on the back of the card”) proves your customer has the physical card in hand, as the CVV is printed on the card but not part of the magnetic stripe info. This helps prevent fraudulent
transactions, and is also important if a large transaction has to be reviewed for release.
PCI-SAQ: Payment Card Industry Self-Assessment Questionnaire. This needs to be filled out annually, or you’ll be subject to a “non-compliance” fee. These fees are typically $19.95 per month, but I’ve seen as high as $45. So that’s $240 – $540 in fees each year for not answering a questionnaire!
Seasonal accounts: Many processors provide seasonal accounts, whereby you can de-active over the winter and accrue $0 processing fees.
Monthly Minimum Surcharges: Many processors will charge a “monthly minimum” fee, typically $25, if you run below a certain threshold of sales that month. If you’re subject to one of these surcharges, you should contest it with your processor.
CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE 101
PUMPS TANKS WATER TREATMENT WATER SYSTEMS ACCESSORIES CONTROLS
IRRIGATION DRAINAGE LIGHTNING
WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTOR S A L E S & S E R V I C E
1 3 2 5 E A S T M A I N S T R E E T W A T E R B U R Y , C T 0 67 0 5
8 5 5 -7 5 3- 9 82 9
W W W . C T W I N P U M P . C O M
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They are if you want to grow and thrive. The millennial generation (ages 18-34 by most definitions) is your future client.
Millennials comprise a huge portion of new homebuyers. In fact, according to realtor.org, first time buyers represent 38% of the market. Their average age is 31-years-old. Are you addressing this age group in the way you conduct new business generation? If not, you are eliminating a large segment of future business growth. Since they are going somewhere for your services, chances are they are going to your competitors.
People this age are tech savvy. Greater than 40% of these future irrigation clients use mobile technology in their pursuit of the American Dream – home ownership. A green lawn and healthy, vibrant shrubbery are a part of this dream!
The millennial generation needs you! They don’t know it unless you are on their mobile phone when they are looking for your service. You do this by having an optimized or responsive website. When you do, you show up higher on Google searches. If you want to take it a step further, take advantage of mobile application technology by becoming a mobile app sponsor of a local nonprofit / charity. Doing so appeals to the millennial generation’s advanced interest in supporting businesses who participate in socially responsible corporate activities.
For more information, contact Paul DeCrisantis of Tourbillon Alliance Partners. Paul will be happy to discuss the mobile movement with you. He may be reached at [email protected] or (860) 478-6284.
MILLENNIALS: ARE THEY WORTH YOUR FOCUS?
Paid Summer Internship Program Operated by UConn Extension
UConn Extension internships provide selected students with the opportunity to explore careers in food, agriculture, environmental fields, natural resources, youth education, family and consumer sciences, or community and economic development.
Stateline is now in Connecticut! We are a local, family owned business, and have been serving
irrigation contractors across New England since 1988.
Products we offer: Irrigation, Lighting, Seed, Hydro Mulch, Fertilizer, Winter management materials, Tools and more. Location: We are conveniently located at 286 Governors St East Hartford, CT. Local delivery is also available.
We are now delivering Ice melt products daily. Don’t get locked out of materials this season! Also available: plow stakes(wood/fiberglass), shovels, spreaders.
Contact your local rep Bill Noyes (978) 799-1996 or [email protected] for pricing and details
about our fall and winter product lines.
www.StatelineIS.com
8 CICA JANUARY 2016
FEBRUARY 26 Registration Deadline CICA University
MARCH 10-11
CICA University J3 & J4 ClassesFoxwoods Resort & Casino
APRIL 6 Scholarship Application Request Deadline
MAY 8 Scholarship Application Deadline
JULY 24 Family Day Lake Compounce
DECEMBER 5-9
IA Irrigation Show Las Vegs, NV
CONNECTICUT IRRIGATION CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION342 North Main Street, Suite 301West Hartford, CT 06117860-586-7563
www.CICAweb.org
RSVPCICA University
Foxwoods Resort & Casino
March 10-11
RSVP before February 26
Register online at
http://www.cicaweb.org/event/CICAU2016
CICA 2016 CALENDAR THANK YOU TO OURPLANTINUM SPONSORS:
THANK YOU TO OUR GOLD SPONSORS:
THANK YOU TO OUR SILVER SPONSORS:
