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.

Pretreatment: Another Way Xtreme Snow Pros Keeps Your Property Safe

Most business owners today are unaware that snow and ice pretreatment is possible without laying pounds and pounds of salt on the ground. By pretreating properties, we are able to get out in front of the storm, keeping your property safer and your management costs lower.

What is pretreatment?

Pretreatment quite simply means proactively approaching snow and ice management today. By applying our pretreated liquid down before winter weather has a chance to settle, we prevent the bond of snow and ice to the pavement when applied before the storm.

It’s more than simply salting beforehand – like many companies will do. Different weather conditions call for different kinds of pretreatment. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.

For example, salt-based applications are the most effective on freezing rain and sleet. The salt chemical properties react with the water to cause it to melt. Our salt brine ‘Combat-Ice Enviro” solution is one that is catered for the environment without the harmful salty side effects. However, if two feet of snow is expected at your property tomorrow, laying down our melting liquid will give our crew a 1 to 2-inch head-start on keeping the snow from locking to your pavement.

Why pretreat?

If you don’t pretreat your commercial property, it could take up to 4x the material to combat against the already fallen weather. The longer it takes us to treat your property, the more hazardous conditions become, and the higher your management bill. Plus, the hazardous conditions are conducive to personal injury problems, leaving you with a never-ending legal nightmare.

Pretreatment is just another way we’re here to keep you and your clients safe this winter. Consider pretreatment for sparing your bank account, the surrounding environment, and your patrons every day this year.

Xtreme Snow Pros Offers Snow Packages to Meet Each Individual Client Demand

We understand better than anyone how fickle and unpredictable winter weather can be. Some years, the Northeast corridor is pounded with storm after storm. Other years, it’s more about frequent ice and sleet conditions, leaving the ground less covered, but just as dangerous. As such, we realize that one package does not fit all when it comes to the snow management industry. Service needs are going to vary depending on the client, commercial property size, and location, as such we offer several packages: Silver Package, Gold Package, Zero Tolerance, and several Pricing Packages. We are equipped and ready to provide our various Snow Packages for keeping everyone satisfied and safe this winter season.

In addition to receiving weather alerts prior to each storm and refreeze ice melt applications applied as needed after storm whenever a refreeze warning is in effect, a new feature being offered in all packages is the Client Portal Access. This provides the client access into our operations. You are able to GPS track, view live information, and see pictures of the services being performed on your property in real time!  

Gold vs Silver Package

Our Silver Package, offers a turnaround time on properties with an initial plow trigger depth of 1 inch and every 4 inches thereafter. Sidewalk clearings take place upon storm completion and an ice melt application will be added after all areas of site have been plowed.

The next step up is our Gold Package, which offers an application of ice melt to occur every 3-4 inches or if icy conditions exist, sidewalk clearing is every 4 inches of snow, and plowing to start at 1 inch and then again every 2 inches.

As compared to our Gold Package, which offers a more intense level of services rendered for each inch that falls, the Silver Package results in a more lenient level of service. Some clients are going to have more immediate snow and ice removal demands than others. It completely depends the business type, hours in operation, and what kind of service or product they provide.

Zero Tolerance Package

This is the package for clients interested in complete and immediate property support.

The Zero Tolerance package offers constant service as needed throughout storm, or plowing every 1 inch and sidewalks every 2 inches if jobsite does not require onsite equipment and crew with an application of ice melt at onset of precipitation and provided after each clearing.

Pricing Packages

We also understand that different clients are going to have different budgets when it comes to their winter weather management. Our pricing packages are broken down into variable options to meet the needs and budgets of clients from a variety of industries and operation sizes.

For clients that want to only be responsible for services rendered we have a Per Inch Per Application pricing structure that enables clients to pay only when it snows, and for the exact amount of snow that has fallen. Using a third party weather verification service, we provide certified snow totals that are zip code specific, gone are the days of disputing how much snow has fallen.

For clients that want to know exactly what their yearly budget will be, we offer an Unlimited Seasonal Contract, which is a flat rate for services regardless of how much snow falls that season.

And, for those clients that like the idea of a flat rate, but do not want to commit to the flat rate price for the duration of the season, we are now offering a Tiered Flat Rate Contract. This gives the client the ability to budget without fronting the cost of an entire snow removal season from the get-go.

Of course, on our end, we will work with you to help you make the best decision for your property once we’ve analyzed its structure, location, and probable needs during winter storms. We will also tell you about which equipment we deem necessary to keep your property safe and protected through winter’s worst weather.

Danielle Martinez, Snow Administrative Specialist at Xtreme Snow Pros, earns ASCA Certification

As a company continuously intent on having its staff accredited and educated on the latest industry standards for snow and ice removal, Xtreme Snow Pros this week excitedly announced that Danielle Martinez, a Snow Administrative Specialist at Xtreme Snow Pros, has officially earned her Accredited Snow Contractors Association (ASCA) Certification. Having successfully completed the necessary educational requirements and proven knowledge of established industry standards, Martinez joins the rest of TeamX as an expertly certified winter weather management and removal employee.

The ASCA is responsible for establishing the first “industry standards” for the professional snow and ice management industry today. The goal of establishing these standards and certification is so that operations across the country have a common educational platform from which they all manage their specific winter weather services. By establishing these standards, the ASCA is working to ensure there are lower instances of frivolous slip-and-fall claims, as well as personal injury lawsuits brought against all commercial property owners.

Martinez claimed that she was intent on earning her ASCA certification to ensure she can provide a superior level of customer service and professionalism in snow removal and ice mitigation in the future. As part of TeamX, she stated, it is their communal job to make sure all clients and their commercial properties stay safe and protected during winter’s harshest months.

To receive the accreditation, Martinez completed 10 one-hour, ASCA-approved online educational classes. After each session, she was issued a test and received a 90% or better on each of her tests to receive credit. Once this required classwork was completed, Martinez was officially issued her ASCA certification. The certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance, requiring Martinez to go through the 10 hours of testing again this time next year. The ASCA requires yearly testing to ensure all participants are up-to-date with new industry developments, practices, and equipment now legalized for the winter weather management.

Xtreme Snow Pros requires all integral members of their team to receive ASCA certification. Passionate about providing safe, secure, and reliable customer service support 24/7, Xtreme Snow Pros knows they are keeping their clients protected by employing a team of ASCA professionals.

Martinez will now join the rest of TeamX as a formidable player in the Xtreme Snow Pros structure.