Snow Boot Camp: Site Supervisors TeamX Training

Tailored to our site supervisors – the individuals leading the charge and acting as the point of reference out in the field – we provide a site supervisors TeamX training as part of our Snow Boot Camp. These are the people that call the shots when the going gets tough, and they need to be able to make the right decisions without a lot of back-and-forths. That’s why we put extra attention into our leaders: they set the example for the rest of TeamX to follow. It’s an example that should be reflective of our company culture and values.

Site Supervisor Training Events

We start our site supervisor training with classroom sessions that cover the educational and informational elements of the job. We go over their responsibilities and most importantly, how to be safe and keep properties safe while they’re leading the charge.

During these classroom sessions, we cover:

Expectations: Site supervisors are expected to perform at their best. They are the seasoned veterans that are returning back for more winters, already aware of what they have signed up for. As leaders, they have additional responsibilities that we carefully communicate to them.

Safety: Leaders on site need to be the point of reference for safety. There’s no way around it. They need to eat, breathe, and sleep staff and client safety satisfaction, which is what we carefully train them in.

New Equipment: Next, we go over new equipment purchased, its specifications, and its features. We take the supervisors in person to go experience the equipment, answering any questions so that they are able to operate it seamlessly when the time comes.

New Team Members: We require supervisors to be community leaders, bringing new staff together and creating a bond that translates into effective services.

Additionally, we expect site supervisors to go to all of our fall training classes, familiarizing themselves with the new staff members, as well as new protocol and expectations. We believe that our TeamX members can never receive enough educational training, which is why even our supervisors are required to go to the basic training sessions.

We place special emphasis on the team here at Xtreme Snow Pros, and the points of reference for our teams are our site supervisors. They are integral components of our successful equation, which is why we spend time training them during the off months. We never take a break from preparing for the winter ahead – even during the hot, steamy Northeastern summer months. That’s how we stay ahead of the competition.

Chris Marino and Glenn Kramer Attend the 2018 Snow and Ice Show in Connecticut

Every year, a comprehensive snow and ice removal event takes place, welcoming industry elite and participants from around the country to share their best practices when it comes to tackling winter weather. Believing that collaboration is more valuable than working as independent entities, snow and ice removal leaders set aside time to network with leading thinkers and researchers in the industry.

This year’s Snow and Ice Show took place May 1 thru the 3rd in Hartford, Connecticut. As an event that unites manufacturers, suppliers, and snow and ice management professionals for two and a half days of education, networking, and trade show displays, this year’s event was focused on the principles of successful snow and ice management: managing risk, reducing insurance rates, and reducing bogus slip-and-fall claims. Speaking personally regarding de-icing strategies, equipment purchasing and management, and creating culture in your own organization, Xtreme Snow Pros founder Chris Marino and Operations Manager Glenn Kramer were in attendance.

2018 Snow and Ice Show

This year’s event featured a plethora of topics from a variety of speakers, hailing from every community around the country. Talks touched on: contract language for the snow and ice management industry, basics of snow and ice management, physical conditions to look for on a property, documentation to meet industry standards, technology for sales and customer service, overcoming plateaus in your business, structuring your snow team for success, and the list goes on.

Marino was a central figure in the proceedings, providing three different talks that were positively received by the audience.

Starting with his talk on de-icing, Marino quickly stated: de-icing is such a broad and important category that an entire conference alone could have been dedicated to it. He started off by asking business owners to reflect on their service offerings. Did they offer de-icing? Marino also imparted his expertise on equipment purchasing and management, asking the audience to describe their equipment portfolio, as well as the depth of their operations.

Always working to develop new relationships and integrate new technology and best practices that revolutionize Xtreme Snow Pros business model, Kramer and Marino attended events every day of the conference, meeting with new business owners and innovative thinkers. The Xtreme Snow Pros team is constantly working to improve upon their service offerings, which is why Marino is a central figure at snow and ice events around the country every year.

We look forward to the 2019 Snow and Ice Show!

Xtreme Snow Pros Chris Marino Speaks on 3 Different Topics at 2018 Snow and Ice Show

This year’s Snow and Ice Show has finally rolled around, taking place May 1st to the 3rd in Hartford, Connecticut. As an event that unites manufacturers, suppliers, and snow and ice management professionals for two and a half days of education, networking, and trade show displays, this year’s event was focused on the principles of successful snow and ice management: managing risk, reducing insurance rates, and reducing bogus slip-and-fall claims.

Naturally, as a leader in the snow and ice removal industry for the greater Northeastern region of the United States, Xtreme Snow Pros owner, Chris Marino, was part of the elite team of speakers and presenters offering up their experience, information, and research. Speaking on three different topics, Marino discussed de-icing strategies, equipment purchasing and management, and creating culture in your own organization.

De-Icing

As Marino quickly stated: de-icing is such a broad and important category that an entire conference alone could have been dedicated to it. He started off by asking business owners to reflect on their service offerings. Did they offer de-icing? No? If they did, how much of an impact did it make on their business once they added it to he repertoire? Next, he moved into asking the audience of their customers understood how de-icing worked, and its notable differences when compared to snow removal.

Looking at de-icing products, Marino touched on Xtreme Snow Pros approach to de-icing, as well as how they provide options to their clients. He asked the audience: how much training needs to be administered before proper application? What is the average profit margin contractors should be realizing from their de-icing services? What are contractors doing right or wrong?

Marino also made a point to touch on trendy questions related to de-icing, like the request for “organic” de-icing solutions.

Equipment Purchasing & Management

Marino imparted his expertise on equipment purchasing and management, asking the audience to describe their equipment portfolio, as well as the depth of their operations. What’s your equipment purchasing philosophy? What are your thoughts on rent and lease options for snow and ice management? Do you have a dedicated manager, and what are the costs?

Marino finished off the segment by touching on how important it is to develop relationships with local dealers and contractors for top-notch performance.

Overall, it was another incredibly productive and successful Snow and Ice Show, attracting industry elite from around the country to share their experiences and observances for a more informed snow removal industry. We look forward to participating in next years’ event.

Snow Boot Camp: TeamX’s Classroom Training

There’s no off season for us here at Xtreme Snow Pros. In order to keep our team sharply prepared, we put TeamX through a Snow Boot Camp every off-season, covering everything from education to equipment distribution. For the purposes of this blog, we’re going to look at the classroom boot camp that we require members to undergo during October, expertly preparing them for the snowfall that can certainly start falling during the fall months.

Classroom Training

Every member of TeamX is required to attend our classroom sessions. It’s when we go over everything from the tools that we use, to our expectations out in the field. We host multiple classroom sessions that each specialize in a different topic:

Tech apps training: We download the tech apps we are going to use for the season, and require everyone to explore the apps until they have a proficient understanding of how to use them when it’s most important.

Expectations: We don’t have time to outline expectations when the snow is falling. That’s why we cover this topic prior, ensuring everyone is on the same page so there is no confusion.

Overview of Equipment: We have a lot of equipment here at Xtreme Snow Pros. We go over each item, how to maintain it and fix it if necessary, and how to operate it accurately and safely for our clients.

Property Service Etiquette: Our client’s properties are important to us, which is why we go over how to properly service their properties without being wasteful or disrespectful.

Motivation: Above all, we want our team to be motivated. We are above the average, and we want to communicate that to our team members during the classroom sessions.

We believe that information and proper communication underscores every successful entity today, which is why we start out the season with blank-slate education that brings everyone up to speed. When the same information is being communicated to everyone, there’s no room for misunderstandings or lack of information when the times become critical. As a company that operates under stringent wintry conditions, we need everyone to be in the know: which is exactly how our proprietary Snow Boot Camp kicks off each year.

From there, we require many more boot camp sessions before TeamX is finally prepared for the winter season. So yes, we are welcoming the summer with open arms. But, that doesn’t mean we’re slowing down. We have to keep pace.

TeamX Spends Team End-of-Season Weekend in Upstate New York

After what seemed to be a never-ending winter for the Northeast finally came to a close this week, it was time for TeamX to sit back and relax. Kicking off in November 2017, it’s safe to say this winter didn’t want to go away, hanging in until the last week of April 2018. Now, with the warm temps, sunny skies, and positive attitudes, it was finally time to give TeamX some much deserved time off.

As a company that believes in the value of collaborative company culture, we send our teams on excursions and bonding activities that reward them for their service while bringing everyone closer together. A team is only as strong as its weakest member, which is why we do everything as a team here at Xtreme Snow Pros.

2018 TeamX End of Season Retreat

This week, TeamX celebrated the end of the winter with an end of season retreat in Upstate New York. Venturing near Cooperstown for a fun-filled outdoorsy adventure, the team sat around the campfire, went riding on quads in muddy conditions, and bonded over their shared winter war stories. After a few days of breathing in the fresh Upstate air, and roasting marshmallows together while playing some music, the team completed their end of season retreat, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the summer ahead.

When the winter season gets tough, sometimes, there’s no time for coworkers to share stories and discuss their services. Now that there’s finally time, we encourage TeamX to get together and get to know one another. We’ve built a company upon community, discovering that our business works more efficiently when workers feel valued and appreciated. That starts with friendship and relationship building. Although we put TeamX members through stringent training conditions – and not everyone gets to make TeamX – once you’re part of the team, you’re part of the team for life.

Even though the summer is finally here, we never stop perfecting our services here at Xtreme Snow Pros. We go over inventory, equipment tune-ups and ordering, and new practices/review of past practices to prepare the team for the forthcoming 2019 winter season. No one wants to think about snow or ice right now, and you don’t have to for some months. But for us here, it’s what we love to do and obsess over.

TeamX is back to work, getting ready to provide our most valued and convenient winter weather clearing and de-icing services to date this year.