Event Calendar

Saturday, December 30, 1899

Michigan Snow Conference & Expo

Start Date: 9/25/2019 8:00 AM EDT
End Date: 9/25/2019 5:30 PM EDT

Venue Name: Suburban Collection Showplace

Location:
46100 Grand River Avenue
Novi, MI  United States  48374

Organization Name: Michigan Green Industry Association

Contact:
Silvia Eichen
Email: silvia@landscape.org
Phone: 248-646-4992

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. REGISTER ON-SITE ONLY--DOES NOT INCLUDE LUNCH!


Michigan Snow Conference and Expo 

Wednesday, September 25, 2019


Visit Dozens of Exhibitors Featuring the Lastest in Snow & Ice Management Technology & Equipment! 

CONFERENCE & EXPO SCHEDULE
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Registration Opens at 7:30 a.m.
Expo Times: 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Seminars: 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
*Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Sponsored by BOSS Snowplow & Mid-Michigan Snow Equipment)
Show Ends: 5:30 p.m.

Click here to download faxable Attendee Information (PDF)

Cost:  MGIA Members: $29* / Non-Members: $49*  
Includes morning and afternoon education and Expo. 
*Lunch included for pre-registered attendees only. All walk-ons dine on their own – no discount. 
No substitutions, changes or cancellations. All sales are final.  


EQUIPMENT DEMO AREA, TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!
Equipment Vendors will be allowed to have one piece of equipment in the Demo Area, held in the parking lot of the Suburban Collection Showplace. Contact Diane Banks at (248) 646-4992 for more information.

SNOW PLOW RODEO - Sponsored by LaFontaine Ford of Lansing & STE, Inc. 
A competition that tests the skills and knowledge of the snow plow professional on a timed obstacle course! Maneuvering a plow truck through a serpentine course; back into tight spots; parallel park all without knocking a tennis ball off of a 12-inch cone.
1st & 2nd place prizes awarded!


EDUCATION SCHEDULE:

CONTRACTOR TRACK


8:00 – 9:00 A.M. – Managing Profitability
Speaker: Joe Kujawa, Strategic Advisor, KEI
Sponsored By: Snow and Ice Management Association (SIMA)
Most companies pay attention to profitability, but they don't really have a formal system in place to pro-actively manage it on a regular basis. Learn how as a manager you can make more money from your existing business and clients without having to implement costly new initiatives. 
 
 
10:00 – 11:00 A.M. -  Snow Operations Management Panel
Speaker: Jim Schill, Schill Grounds Management
Speaker: Matt Scott, Troy Clogg Landscape Associates
Speaker: Brent Teddy, Teddy’s Lawn & Landscape


This session involves a panel of snow professionals who will share their strategies and successes in snow operations management.  Bring your questions and comments, and prepare to be a part of the discussion!
 
1:00 – 2:00 P.M. – Winter Weather Forecasting: A No-Nonsense Approach
Speaker: Jon Tarleton, Lead Consultant/Meteorologist, Tarleton Consulting LLC
Sponsored By: Member Insurance Solutions

Winter weather is still one of the most challenging weather phenomena to predict, and yet getting it right is so important for your job. To make matters worse, in this information age, there are so many things to look at before a storm, knowing what to watch for can be difficult. In this session we are going to cover what is important to know for snow removal decision-making, with a simple straight-forward approach that focuses on how you can make your decision-making better, and not on why weather forecasting is so hard. We will even cover a few tools you should consider, and maybe a few you should throw out, to help you do the best job possible next winter.
 
2:30 – 3:30 P.M. – Hot Topics in the Snow Industry
Speaker: Kevin Gilbride, Executive Director, Accredited Snow Contractors Association
Sponsored By: Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA)
 
The commercial snow and ice management industry continues to have its challenges.  Salt, labor, and weather are at or near the top of that list. This presentation will focus on what contributes to these issues and how contractors across the country are dealing with them.
 
 
 
MUNICIPALITY TRACK
 
8:00 – 9:00 A.M. - Sustainable Solutions for Winter Maintenance – The Balancing Act
Speaker: Pam Buckley, Sustainability Manager, Douglas Dynamics, LLC
Sponsored By: Orion Stone Depot

In this session Pam will cover three important sustainable approaches to winter maintenance:

  • Environmentally Supportable - Strategies that reduce salt impacts on the environment and properties
  • Publically Accountable – That likewise optimize public and crew safety
  • Economically Viable – And are Cost Effective/Profitable
 
 
10:00 – 11:00 A.M. – Using Liquids in Winter Maintenance
Speaker: Bryan Pickworth, Road Maintenance Supervisor, City of Farmington Hills
Sponsored By: Big Barney's Ice Eliminator

Winter Maintenance Best Practices and Sustainability should include using liquids as one tool in your "Tool Box". You will achieve a higher level of service and be surprised how many uses there are for liquids as a best practice.
 
1:00 – 2:00 P.M. – Winter Weather Forecasting: A No-Nonsense Approach
Speaker: Jon Tarleton, Lead Consultant/Meteorologist, Tarleton Consulting LLC
Sponsored By: Member Insurance Solutions
 
Winter weather is still one of the most challenging weather phenomena to predict, and yet getting it right is so important for your job. To make matters worse, in this information age, there are so many things to look at before a storm, knowing what to watch for can be difficult. In this session we are going to cover what is important to know for snow removal decision-making, with a simple straight-forward approach that focuses on how you can make your decision-making better, and not on why weather forecasting is so hard. We will even cover a few tools you should consider, and maybe a few you should throw out, to help you do the best job possible next winter.
 
2:30 – 3:30 P.M. – Equipment Maintenance & Operation
Speaker: Steve Hollon, AIS Training Institute
Sponsored By: AIS Construction Equipment Co.
 
One of the most important parts of your workday is how it begins.  Making sure your equipment is 100% operational is paramount to a safe productive workday. Your pre-shift inspections are not only a DOT and OSHA regulation but it’s how you make your equipment last longer. We will go into what it takes to do this simple but vital task and how it protects you and the communities you serve.
 
 
TRADE SHOW FLOOR
 
9:00 – 10:00 A.M. – Snow & Ice Equipment Troubleshooting
Speaker: Tony Androsuk, Co-Owner, STE, Inc.
Sponsored By: STE, Inc.
 
The snow and ice business can be frustrating to say the least, when equipment fails or does not work efficiently, causing major back- logs.  A little due diligence in equipment maintenance is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep your equipment in tip-top condition, and ready to go at any given moment. 
Most of all, being prepared and proactive can mean the difference between a productive and profitable season or losing valuable time with breakdowns. Through the years, selling and servicing snow and ice equipment, we find the simplest things are often overlooked.  In this session, you will learn the most common reoccurring issues that can be solved with simple maintenance and a few secrets to keep your equipment at peak performance! 
 
 
 
1:00 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.: CDL Training & Regulatory Compliance Update
Speaker: Charles Culton, Michigan Center for Truck Safety
Sponsored By: Versalift Midwest

Though many commercial drivers and carriers have had many years of experience in operating commercial vehicles there is still a very high rate of violations of both state and federal motor carrier regulations. This is also reflected by the number of drivers that fail the CDL skills and knowledge exams.
You will be apprised of driver/vehicle compliance issues that are most relevant to the green industry. Information will be provided on regulatory requirements and benefits of a thorough pre-trip vehicle inspection by the driver, in addition to a demonstration of a walk-through vehicle inspection. Other topics covered are FMCDA equipment requirements, documentation and other related topics. This session is a great opportunity to get your commercial vehicle/driver compliance questions answered.
 

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