Chris Marino Speaks as Featured Panelist at This Year’s ‘Snow and Ice Show’

The Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA) and Snow Magazine teamed up to launch a comprehensive educational convention this year, the Snow and Ice Show, in Indianapolis. The event featured education, certification, networking, and the latest snow-fighting tools for increased efficiency and profitability. Taking place from May 17 until the 19, the 3-day extravaganza delivered convention goers with invaluable information, training recommendations, and expert oversight for application in their own personal operations.

As a regionally accredited and recognized snow management and ice removal company in the Northeast today, Xtreme Snow Pros was sought out as a featured panelist for the resource-rich convention. Chris Marino, the Owner and visionary behind the Xtreme Snow Pros operation, spoke on a panel to his peers at the Indianapolis event, providing his knowledge on the snow and ice industry regarding is favorite sector: technology.

Starting with the Wednesday slot on the first day, at noon Marino covered the generic Technology course, presenting different technological solutions being utilized by some of the top snow and ice management contractors across the countries to attendees. He provided specific examples regarding the various real-time weather, machine, and onsite monitoring technology that Xtreme Snow Pros utilizes with all of their clients to mitigate management costs and over-salting.

The next day, starting at 9AM, Marino was part of the Equipment Purchasing & Management panel. During this segment, industry leaders chatted about equipment that is most important to their snow and ice management operation. “Without it, you are out of business,” proclaimed Marino during the panel. He spoke on how to acquire and maintain fleets so the team is ready to service every client when heavy amounts of snow start falling. For this panel, Marino drew on his experience with sister company Xtreme Equipment Solutions, and what kind of high-quality specifications they look for when adding new equipment to their reputable fleet.

The 3-day event wrapped up on Friday, with all members of the Xtreme Snow Pros leadership team in attendance. Aside from the featured panels for Marino, the rest of the team sat in on countless demonstrations, educational panels, and networking engagements to learn more about what industry participants are doing to deliver the best snow and ice management to their clients today.

Xtreme Snow Pros Leadership Team Attends This Year’s ‘Snow and Ice Show’ in Indianapolis

The Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA), a national snow contracting organization dedicated to providing accreditation, certification, and education to all North American snow and ice removal companies, this year teamed up with Snow Magazine to introduce the Snow and Ice Show, a new industry event that is focusing on education, certification, networking, and the latest snow-fighting tools for increased efficiency and profitability.

As part of their continued efforts to learn and know the latest ice and snow removal developments and standards as they occur, the Xtreme Snow Pros leadership team traveled to Indianapolis this past week to attend the 3-day event, kicking off on May 17 and wrapping up May 19. In attendance was Chris Marino, Owner, Glenn Kramer, Director of Operations, and Joe Capobianco, the Business Developer. The comprehensive conference provided opportunities for the Xtreme Snow Pros team to view the latest industry equipment, supplies, and ice management services for them to witness and consider implementing into the Xtreme Snow Pros management process.

The Snow and Ice Show was developed by the ASCA to fill a void in the snow and ice management market for ASCA in-classroom certification; industry-specific, high-quality educational programming; and elite peer-to-peer networking opportunities. The conference was focused on the modern principles of successful snow and ice management, how to reduce risk, insurance rates, and personal injuries that lead to expensive lawsuits. The gear featured catered to industry leaders who wish to become industry change agents.

As part of their participation in the event, the Xtreme Snow Pros leadership team sat in on daily presentations, exhibitions, and educational forums that shared new information regarding snow removal practices and what machinery is most appropriate given the weather conditions.

The Xtreme Snow Pros leadership team goes to multiple accreditation conferences per year to ensure their award-winning company stays atop the competition in New Jersey. Aware that industry standards are always changing and developing, the team constantly sits in on newly developed courses for consistently earning the latest certificates that prove their seriousness about winter weather management and removal.

Xtreme Snow Pros participates in Ridgewood's 2016 4th of July Parade

This past summer, Xtreme Snow Pros was proud to have been part of the local Ridgewood community’s 4th of July celebration. As a community-oriented business venture dedicated to ensuring all local business owners have access to affordable and reliable snow and ice clearing services during winter, Xtreme Snow Pros jumped at the opportunity to pull their own float through the parade this past summer.

Participating with three of their trucks and trailers that carried a Yankee Doodle Dandy Float with a full band, it was hard to miss Xtreme Snow Pros’ patriotism down the parade route for the community’s 2016 parade celebration. Many members of the Xtreme team were able to join in the festivities, both by helping coordinate the float and truck driving, as well as spectating with family for a full day of Ridgewood community bonding. It was one of the best turnouts the parade has ever had, as there was perfect weather with crystal blue skies above.

Chris Marino and his wife, as a way to provide steady community support and access to safe winter clearing services during the year’s most taxing months, founded Xtreme Snow Pros in Mahwah, New Jersey a nine years ago. Since then, the Xtreme Snow Pros brand has spawned two other companies in The Xtreme Group in Mahwah, New Jersey.

Snow and unpredictable winter weather is a major part of New Jersey and New York living for half of the year, which is why investing in professional and reliable snow clearing and ice removal services is absolutely essential for local businesses. Without Xtreme’s services, businesses face open lawsuits for personal injury and other injury-related debacles as a result of un-cleared winter weather.

In order to stay ahead of the unpredictable winter weather, Xtreme utilizes the latest technology to offer real-time weather monitoring and GPS tracking of crew members with client portal access. They use state-of-the-art equipment and advanced products for ensuring the most convenient and efficient commercial snow clearing available today. All of their properties are measured electronically, and they take extreme care to fix all grass and curb damage when springtime arrives.

Unlike other winter clearing companies, Xtreme is intent on giving back both to the community and the environment. They honor the environment through the use of special pushers and plows that greatly reduce salt usage with LiveEdge Technology. Additionally, to get a full scope of their work in action, they utilize remote webcams to monitor live weather conditions and property shapes and sizes.

Cognizant of the fact that they would have no business if it weren’t for their loyal commercial patrons in the greater Mahwah and New York City region, Xtreme is a highly active local company, jumping at the opportunity to volunteer and give back as frequently as possible. Their 4th of July showing was just one of many planned community events for the upcoming year, and the full-service snow removal company is intent on participating again in the 2017 Ridgewood 4th of July parade.

Xtreme Snow Pros attends annual SIMA Symposium

Always passionate about being one step ahead of the competition, the Xtreme Snow Pros management team has been attending the Snow Ice & Management Association’s (SIMA) annual symposium for a few years now.

The annual SIMA Symposium is an international event that is also recognized as the industry’s largest conference and trade show in the world today for ice and snow professionals. It is an event uniquely focused on ice and snow, which brings innovative manufacturers and suppliers together with contractors for 2-days of trade show and 3-days of education, networking, and fun.

Intent on attending the 2017 get together, scheduled for June 20 to the 23 of this year, Xtreme Snow Pros have been staple members of the 2015 and 2016 events, bringing home awards and distinctions from both of their trips. Chris Marino, Founder and Owner of Xtreme Snow Pros, Glenn Kramer, Operations Manager, and other excited team attendees went along for the past two excursions to represent the Xtreme Snow Pros operation.

In addition to attending the symposium itself, the team also took part in the accompanying trade show and educational seminars designed to enhance everyone’s understanding of snow and ice management, specifically in the Northeast. While in attendance, the team brought home the 2015 and 2016 Safety Award, well earned for the company’s dedication to round the clock support and professional servicing to all clients. Xtreme Snow Pros places client safety above all else, garnering them the national distinction. The team is hoping to bring home a third one at the 2017 event.

The Xtreme Snow Pros team is presently enrolled with the SIMA ASM University for their 30-day course on Advanced Snow Management. The course includes Core Principles, Ice Management, Plowing Operations, and Sidewalk Operations. By April 1, the management team will have professionally recognized expertise specifically on snow and ice clearing. Passionate about being number one in the industry, the team is excited to share their certification with present and future clients.

Xtreme Snow Pros does all that they can to improve their snow and ice management standing for clients, presently functioning as an active member in SIMA’s organization. As one of the few companies around the entire Northeast that only focuses on snow management services, it makes sense that the team is working hard to achieve the awards and accreditation they deserve through SIMA. Xtreme Snow Pros does not offer landscaping or any other kind of environmental services. They stick to perfecting their one true passion: snow and ice management.

For more information on this year’s symposium, visit http://www.sima.org/show/symposium-home.

ASCA Executive Summit

Xtreme’s winter warriors will measure up at ASCA’s Sandy Summit

If there’s any way to measure just how far Xtreme Snow Pros’ of Mahwah, New Jersey operation has come, Snow Magazine’s Top 100 is a good place to start.

For the last four years, Xtreme has measured up as a top 100 snow and ice removal contracting company. Owner, Chris Marino, expects that Xtreme and its commitment to excellence and growth with be included on that list again in 2016.

The top 100 contractors list is a revenue-based ranking compiled by Snow Magazine. Xtreme Snow Pros has worked its way up the list over the years. Marino’s company appeared on the top 100 list in 2012.  In 2013, it was 74th. With a slight dip in 2014’s rankings to 86th, Xtreme rebounded to 52nd in 2015. This list has become one of the central fixtures at the annual Accredited Snow Contractors Association Executive Summits.

“My whole family will be attending the summit with me this season and they are able to attend the awards ceremony for the Top 100 snow contractors in North America,” he said. “We applied again this season and are hopeful to win (a spot on the list) again.”

Innovation over the past few years has helped Xtreme become one of the premier New Jersey / New York commercial snow and ice removal contractors. The Executive Summit, Marino said, only sets the company on course for bigger and better things.

“The biggest take off each year that I get from this is the power of networking with great friends from all over the U.S. and as far as Alaska and all the provinces of Canada,” Marino explained. “By networking, I am able to share ideas of how we do things as well as learn a wealth of information from industry professionals.”

The 2016 Executive Summit changes setting this year from the snow-cultured northern Vermont mountains of 2015 at Stowe Mountain Lodge to the tropical tides of Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, Florida.

“During the winter, we are bound to the area by being on call 24/7 for five months, so it is nice to be able to have my family attend along with me at the industry event,” he said.

Preparation for winter – and election season

Beyond networking, the summit provides programming for contractors to learn more about what affects their business from professionals and analysts across several industries. David Crow, who is president of a Washington, D.C. bipartisan lobbying firm, will present a unique perspective on how the upcoming presidential election could affect small businesses such as those in commercial snow and ice management.

Presidential elections, historically, affect small, family-owned businesses, such as Xtreme Snow Pros, in positive and negative ways. The wrong decision about hiring or purchasing can have chilling effects on companies, which is why most take a wait-and-see approach. Xtreme takes the opportunity to have a more proactive approach to planning for the future. Its clients around the Metropolitan Area have come to depend upon faithful and timely service, which won’t be betrayed by a lack of preparation.

Presentations, such as Crow’s, have been key to Xtreme Snow Pros’ success and consistent appearance on the Top 100 list.

Overall, Marino relishes the opportunity the Executive Summit provides. “The biggest thing I have gotten from the past is making new friends with industry professionals whom I can lean on during the year if I have a question or an idea.”