MALP NEWSLINE SPRING 2026 | Seite 3

2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Miriam Hellweg, MCLP, MCA A Blade of Grass, Sudbury, MA

VICE PRESIDENT Katie Merrifield, MCLP Merrifield Garden & Design, Wayland, MA

SECRETARY / TREASURER Andy McDuff, MCLP Landscape America, Inc., Wrentham, MA

PAST PRESIDENT Chris Connors, MCLP Grove Street Services Boston, MA

DIRECTORS Mike Landry, MCLP, MCA

Riverside Services, Inc. Hopkinton, MA Matt McCoy, MCLP Harrison McPhee, Inc. Millis, MA

MALP NEWSLINE is a publication of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals, Inc.

MALP NEWSLINE is published four times a year for the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals( MALP) and is distributed free of charge to members. The purpose of the newsletter is to disseminate information to promote general standards and ethics in landscape contracting, as well as to foster research and share knowledge with its members. MALP is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to communications between its membership and the industry. MALP believes the information in this publication to be accurate as of its publication date and is not responsible for inadvertent errors. The MALP and Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional( MCLP) logos are trademarks of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals, Inc. Qualified MALP members and certified members only are permitted to utilize the logo. Logos for MALP and MCLP are available through the MALP office.

EDITORIAL Readers are encouraged to submit articles, announcements, review of products, or letters. Address correspondence to the attention of the MALP Newsletter Editor at the address below.

ADVERTISING For advertising rates and information, contact Charissa Sharkey at csharkey @ mvwoodco. com or at the MALP phone number below. Ads may be submitted as high-resolution pdf files. Discounted advertising rates are available to MALP members.

DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MALP.

Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals 67 West Street • Medfield, MA 02052 phone: 508.653.3373 admin @ mlp-mclp. org • MLP-MCLP. org

PRESIDENT ' S MESSAGE

Hi Everyone,

Spring is here- and across our landscapes the signs of life are returning, right on cue.

It was wonderful to see everyone at our March dinner meeting. I left feeling a deep sense of gratitude for how wise, engaged, and generous this group is.

I’ m especially grateful to our speaker Keith Riquinha of Xquisite Landscaping for sharing lessons from his years working on exceptional projects. When members step forward to share their experience, it strengthens our entire community and makes these gatherings more meaningful. If there’ s a topic you want to explore or knowledge you’ re willing to share, I encourage you to reach out. Our association is strongest when members actively contribute.

Thank you to the MCLP Committee for their continued work refining the MCLP exam. We welcomed eight new MCLPs this March, an important step in raising standards across our industry. The MCLP certification program is critical not just for individual growth, but for how our industry is perceived as a whole.

A dedicated group of members has also been working alongside our Green Industry Alliance( GIA) partners to advance Snow & Ice Liability legislation. This has been a years-long effort, and we are closer than ever to passage. Their commitment to meeting with legislators and advocating at the State House is making a real difference.

Spring brings a sense of renewal and optimism along with the inevitable pace of the season ahead. As the season ramps up, I also want to acknowledge the pressure that comes with it. This is a demanding time of year: long days, high expectations, and constant movement. My hope is that, alongside the pace, we each find moments to step back and take pride in the work we’ re doing and the environments we’ re shaping. The association is here to support you, and so am I.

If the rise of AI has taught me anything, it’ s that there is no substitute for human connection and collective action around a shared purpose. I’ m really looking forward to the year ahead and catching up with all of you individually. There is so much more we can learn and accomplish together.

Let’ s make it a great growing season.

Miriam Hellweg, MCLP, MCA President

MALP Newsline | Spring 2026 3