MLP ’ s Norfolk Aggie Visit
MLP ’ s membership manager , Carrie Martin , had the chance to visit Nicole Forsyth ’ s class at Norfolk Agricultural High School in February to tell them about associations . Carrie gave the students an overview of what an association is and does and how it can help them connect to mentors and grow their careers in the industry . The students asked great questions and were left with the resounding message that opportunities are out there , they just need to seek out the connections !
The Power of Internships
Tyler Greenberg , a Holliston High School student , and intern at Ahronian Landscape & Design , works with Amber Ahronian on plant identification . Mark Ahronian reports that working with young people is one of the most fulfilling aspects in his role as company owner . For his part , Tyler tells us that Mark and his team taught him about the importance of company values and strong relationships that will help him grow his career for many years to come .
If you ’ re looking to mentor the next generation of green industry professional , an agricultural high school or technical high school near you is a great place to start . Contact the MLP office and we can help connect you with the right instructors .
Team Building : Five Tips for Successful Onboarding ( continued from p . 17 )
Conduct Check-Ins Rather than being blindsided when a new employee turns in their notice , conducting periodic check-ins can allow you to know when a new team member is unhappy and possibly remedy the situation .
Ground Works Land Design has formal check-ins with new hires 30-day , 90-day and one-year mark , but owner Tony Nasrallah says he is also touching base with employees weekly to see if there are any issues .
During these check-ins , ask the employee questions like ‘ What can we do better ?’ ‘ How can we make you feel more comfortable ?’ and ‘ What could help you excel further in your position ?’
These can be a time to show your support , encourage them and identify areas of growth for them .
Show a Career Path If your new hires come in thinking their position is just a job and there ’ s no opportunity for growth , they may not have the desire to stick around when things get tough during the busy season .
Companies like Surrounds Landscaping feature an accountability chart that shows the structure of the company and the roles so individuals can see where they are in the organization and how they can move up .
Be clear about the additional training or qualifications these employees need in order to be considered for these higher roles . Aiello Landscape has knowledge checkpoints their employees must meet to earn more money .
“ We express to them if they want a career out of this , which is what we ’ re trying to hire people who want careers , we ’ ll pay them a very good living ,” says Dan Crisafulli , vice president of Aiello . “ Every year , in addition to showing up and working and all that good stuff at the end of every year , in order to be eligible for an evaluation with a raise , they have to increase their knowledge and accomplish these modules .”
Reprinted from NALP The Edge , December 2022
18 MLP Newsline | Spring 2023