Grass Roots - Green Industry Pros

In existence for about 40 years, WorkWave is a software provider that offers the full life cycle of a field service business from setting up the customers with an agreement, scheduling service, dispatching and even the payment process. Small landscaping or pest control businesses are able to run nearly their entire business on the WorkWave platform. In this episode of the Grass Roots podcast, Green Industry Pros editor Ryan Whisner talks with David Giannetto, CEO of WorkWave about the importance of technology in leading small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic as well as getting into some insights on how to ensure continued success with technology and strong leadership.

At the 2019 GIE+EXPO Toro introduced its Horizon360 software. According to Toro, the software brings all the data for a landscape company into one place. Horizon360 is currently available via a free beta test. Final pricing is expected to be released at GIE+EXPO 2020. On this episode of the Grass Roots podcast, senior marketing manager Chris Vogtman discusses Horizon360 the anticipated growth potential in the market for Toro.

As one of the largest suppliers of wholesale irrigation, outdoor lighting, nursery, landscape supplies, fertilizers and turf care products for green industry professionals, SiteOne Landscape Supply has taken steps to ensure customers can continue to obtain its products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between ordering online and arranging for either delivery or curbside pick-up, the company is ensuring the priority is both its employees and its customers. In this episode of the Grass Roots podcast, host Ryan Whisner, Green Industry Pros editor, talks with Sean Kramer, SiteOne Chief Information Officer and Chintan Patel, SiteOne Vice President, IT Business Applications who discuss how customers are able to set-up online accounts and highlight some of the other current benefits available. Tune in every Thursday for another fresh cut episode of the Grass Roots podcast by Green Industry Pros and make sure to subscribe and share.

Vermeer Corp. has faced a couple years of adversity. In 2018, their Pella, Iowa facility was struck by a tornado, which impacted production levels for several months. Celebrating a return to full capacity and more in 2019, the company was looking ahead to 2020 as being a banner year, until COVID-19. While deemed an essential business, the company has had to make the appropriate healthy decisions for its employees the past few months. Doug Hundt, Vermeer’s president of industrial solutions joins us for this edition of the Grass Roots podcast to discuss how the company continues to weather adversity through the COVID-19 pandemic.

As restrictions are being lifted across most states in the country and with warm weather upon us, it is important for truck drivers to consider proper management of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) used in most diesel-powered trucks. DEF is made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water and must be handled and stored properly to preserve its quality. Handling and storing DEF in warm weather requires special care to protect it from the impact of high temperatures which can decrease its useful life. On this episode of the Grass Roots podcast, Green Industry Pros editor Ryan Whisner talks with American Petroleum Institute DEF manager Jeffrey Harmening about some of safety measures surrounding the use and storage of DEF.