A multi-time LM Growth Summit Attendee, Chris Joyce, president of Always Green of Cape Cod in Marston Mills, Mass., knows all about what to expect from the three-day event in Orlando, Fla.
Joyce was a member of the LM Growth Summit’s first class of lawn care operators in 2013. 2023 marked Joyce’s third time attending the LM Growth Summit, which brings lawn care operators from across the country together to network and learn about the latest products the industry has to offer.
Joyce — a 30-year green industry veteran whose company provides lawn care, tree and shrub care, aerification and pest control services to more than 2,000 customers in southern Massachusetts — says his favorite part of the event has always been the people.
He adds that meeting new people and testing new products is a surefire way to increase your longevity and success in the industry.
“It’s always great being able to talk to all different types of partners, vendors, suppliers or other contractors. Being in a very close setting allows you to walk out of there with some great takeaways and some quick knowledge,” he says.
Joyce has brought home more than just knowledge and new industry relationships from his Growth Summit experiences. Joyce has formed relationships with several companies — including Albaugh Speciality Products and PBI-Gordon — during his Summit appearances.
At the 2023 event, he found himself on the lookout for a new spreader. Because of the Summit, Joyce was able to meet and speak with the representatives from Stinger Equipment, a company that specializes in turf renovation equipment such as hydrostatic drive aerators and ground-metered spreader sprayers.
“We were able to look at some interesting new spreaders and ride-on spreaders,” Joyce says. “There’s a couple of new ones on the market that we really like. When we’re ready to get more, we’ll definitely be talking to Stinger.”
Feeling recharged
Joyce hopes to make another return trip to the LM Growth Summit in the future, saying that it has helped him to learn more about what he needs to successfully run his business.
“It gets you away from your day-to-day,” Joyce says. “Everything that you need is right in front of you. You’re getting one-on-one conversations with suppliers, vendors and your peers. Even though it’s a quick in and out, I think the takeaways are huge. You leave for a couple of days, and you come back recharged.”
