Xtreme Snow Pros Attends “Legislative Day on the Hill” with the ASCA

As a comprehensive winter weather monitoring and clearing company, we believe that complacency is what puts a company behind the pack, failing to work towards newer, better laws and inventions that improve overall service. That’s why our team is involved in more than just our client’s properties – we are interested in legislative practices as well, which directly affect our industry and how we are able to support our patrons. Therefore, in addition to our education and physical services, our team took a trip to Washington D.C. last fall to be part of the discussions that directly affect what we do here at Xtreme Snow Pros.

Legislative Day on the Hill

Traveling with the Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA), Xtreme Snow Pros Owner, Chris Marino, the Chief Visionary behind the operation, was present for discussions directly related to snow removal companies in the New Jersey region. Taking place Monday, September 11, and Tuesday, September 12, Marino was part of the people that had a direct influence on the resulting law language.

Legislative Day on the Hill is an opportunity for snow industry professionals to have their voices heard, increase their knowledge about the legislative issues that affect companies, and directly participate in the legislative process. The chief purpose of the day is to educate elected representatives on the issues that face individuals and businesses in our industry. The ASCA for years has been flying into Washington D.C. for the day, creating awareness with elected representatives on issues that the snow and ice management industry faces. Without such support, the ASCA argues that elected representatives remain wholly unaware of the industry and what they can be doing to improve it.

Senate Bill 237

The particular event was focused on the passage of the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, Senate Bill 237. The bill is aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits, passing the House this past Spring, now needing final approval in the Senate. Marino took part in the discussions surrounding the bill, advocating for its passage on behalf of winter weather companies that have to work within the stringent lawsuit conditions that are all too common when it comes to walkways and parking lots during the winter months.

After the two-days of debate, Marino returned home to Xtreme Snow Pros, sharing the information he learned and what was exchanged at the critical meeting.

Xtreme Snow Pros works hard to integrate into every facet of business life, from community involvement to local law passages and repeals. The team is focused on new advancements for 2018, and will certainly be attending the Legislative Day on the Hill for 2018.

Chris Marino Tours Sidewalk Management Ventrac Factory in Ohio

There’s a lot that goes into our comprehensive winter weather management services, and one big part of that is our ability to keep sidewalks clean and clear during snow and ice storms. Clients are most likely to slip and fall on the sidewalks leading into buildings, which is where the costly personal injury lawsuits can come from. As a snow and ice management company, we do everything in our power to ensure a lawsuit never befalls our commercial clients.

As such, we are always traveling, reading, and learning about best practices that withstand the Northeast’s brutal winter weather.

Ventrac

Last week, our owner, Chris Marino, went out to the Ventrac’s Factory in Orrville, Ohio to take a factory tour and learn more about their sidewalk management equipment line. Planning to discuss sidewalk management practices, optimized equipment, and future inventions that will improve the entire industry.

Xtreme Snow Pros relies heavily on Ventrac’s equipment for sidewalk management today. Ventrac is a reliable, American-made producer that offers site preparation, lead management, material loading and moving, aeration, brush mowing, sidewalk snow management, tractor management, and slope mowing solutions. Notable product advantages include turf distance, American-made, comfort and controls, weight transfer, powerful finish, and reliability that can withstand winter after winter.

Xtreme Snow Pros Commitment

We’re always preparing for the worst winter ever ahead, and that starts with understanding the equipment we own and how we can best prepare it for what lies ahead. Marino and other members of our executive team are constantly traveling to exhibitions, conferences, classes, and facilities to inspect the equipment we use and how it is officially assembled. Marino is on a mission to observe the entire assembly process from start to finish, as well as learn more about what truly goes into the development of sidewalk maintenance and management equipment.

A reliable snow and ice removal business is more than just a company with weather monitoring equipment. We need our product developers too for the most innovative snow fighting equipment designs.

Xtreme Snow Pros Attends The 2017 ASCA Executive Summit

We had the pleasure of attending this year’s Accredited Snow Contractors Association Executive Summit, held from August 2 to the 4th at the Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah. Constantly looking for opportunities to learn more about our industry and best snow and ice management practices for clients, the ASCA Executive Summit is always a wealth of information regarding every winter weather management requirement.

As an annual conference that is focused on the business needs of the snow industry, the ASCA Executive Summit always brings in dynamic speakers to discuss the industry and how participants can improve their respective business operations. This year’s summit addressed the business management topics that every business faces how to better communicate with employees, increase bottom lines, and reach potential customers.

Event Sessions

This year, we had access to high-level education that focused on the economy, sales and marketing, lawsuit and protection, and culture building of the snow and ice removal industries. Sessions we attended included the U.S. Economy and How It Will Impact Small Business, which looked at present and future factors that will have an impact on how we operate in New Jersey and New York; How to Become the Wikipedia of Your Industry to Build Your Brand Business, which looked at building online trust with consumers and how this kind of branding can position a business as the go-to option; Lawsuit Protection for Both Your Personal & Business Assets, which was a hands-on presentation that focused on asset protection for business owners and key employees; and The Practical and Sustainable Way to Build a High-Performance Culture, which taught us how to create the culture we want to have at Xtreme Snow Pros.

In addition to the high-quality talks and workshops, the Executive Summit also hosted Snow Magazine’s annual Leadership Awards and Top 100 ceremony, awards of which Xtreme Snow Pros were able to take home. The awards ceremony recognized snow industry professionals for their leadership within the industry as well as within their own personal organization.

Like every ASCA event, our team was met with an abundance of new information that our executive team is already integrating into our structure. They plan to adopt new management practices and refined equipment for expediting all of our processes this winter.

Xtreme Snow Pros Management Attends 20th Annual SIMA Convention

Xtreme Snow Pros’ Chris Marino and Joe Capobianco attended the 20th Annual SIMA Convention, held in Montreal, this past month. Excited to be part of the 3-day event, the Snow Pros team attended workshops, seminars, exhibitions, and other networking events for collaborating with other winter weather management companies working hard today.

Taking place from June 20 to the 23, the Snow and Ice Symposium was put on by the SIMA organization, a network of individuals committed to empowering snow and ice management for success. As a nonprofit trade association that focuses on training, events, and best practices related to snow plowing, ice management, and business management, SIMA hosts a convention yearly to bring together the industry’s leading companies, innovators, and equipment producers.

Educational workshops available at the event included: Nuts & Bolts of a Successful Snow Removal Operation, Legal Game Planning, De-icing, De-mystified, and Technological Change & the Future of Snow Services. Keynote speakers included Marc Gordon, Donald Cooper, and Robyn Benincasa. The Snow Pros team was in attendance at all major events, including facility touring workshops, the networking breakfast, the Snow & Ice Awards Night, the CEO of the Year Presentation, and the event Tradeshow.

When not hosting the conference, SIMA works throughout the year to develop and administer new ice and snow removal curriculum standards for industry leaders to study. The Xtreme Snow Pros operation is already a SIMA accredited business; however, they make sure to complete all new certification courses as SIMA develops and offers them. Right now, SIMA offers best practices guides and resources, peer-to-peer education with workshops around the Northeast, and on-demand access to training centers.

As a dedicated winter weather removal team with snow removal, ice removal, and winter weather preparatory services available to residents in New Jersey and New York today, the Xtreme Snow Pros team travels to a variety of events, tradeshows, and educational classes throughout the year to ensure they are offering top-notch services to all of their commercial clients. By keeping up with the industry’s latest practices, they are able to implement services that save client's money, spare the environment, and contribute to a smarter all-around operation for everyone involved.

The management team expressed their satisfaction and encouragement with this year’s convention and looks forward to attending the 2018 SIMA Convention.

Xtreme Snow Pros’ Chris Marino Attends Snow Warrior Conference Maine

Earlier this week, Chris Marino, traveled north to attend a multi-day event in Maine. Called the Snow Warrior Conference Maine, the event fostered collaboration between business peers all working within the greater snow and ice management industries. As part of the Snow & Ice Management (SIMA) Member Peer Groups initiative, Xtreme Snow Pro was able to collaborate and communicate with other industry leaders and their management performance.

During the event, Marino worked with his group peers to come up with hypothetical solutions to issues and unforeseen obstacles they could expect while out on the road. By partaking in this kind of roundtable event, Xtreme Snow Pros was rewarded with new ideas and recommendations for snow and ice management that other companies are already implementing today. Since specific markets from around the country require different kind of response times and preparedness, new techniques were shared from the West Coast with those located on the East Coast.

Whilst at the event, Marino had the opportunity to go on a factory tour for Fisher Engineering, which is part of Douglas Dynamics. Xtreme Snow Pros purchases their snow plows and salters from Douglas, where they then use them for the management of their various Northeastern clientele properties. On the tour, he was exposed to the lean manufacturing process at Douglas Dynamics, and how they design their ergonomic products for efficient and effective winter weather clearing each season. Chris was trained in the manufacturing process, and also got to witness an overview of the entire assembly line.

Afterward, Xtreme Snow Pros congregated with the other companies on the tour and compared their observations and notes moving forward. Peers shared their preferred machinery for effective winter weather clearing, providing the team with new information to implement this coming season.

Xtreme Snow Pros’ Chris Marino, is part of SIMA’s Member Peer Groups, comprised of 6 to 8 members that self-govern and meet to discuss snow industry best practices, labor trends, staffing, competition, market dynamics, economic trends, technologies and more.

Following the event, Chris happily brought home new information and learned techniques for revolutionizing the business practices for this coming winter weather season.