Beth Presley
The following are samples of my work featured in Total Landscape Care, The Luverne Journal, The Greenville Advocate and the Tropolitan.
TLC Articles (2017-2018)
Newspaper Articles (2015-2017)
The missing link: Recruiting potential hires through LinkedIn
May 02, 2018
Casually called the “professional Facebook” site, LinkedIn has become one of the most popular methods of finding new employees and launching recruiting methods. For those in the business of landscaping, social media sites such as LinkedIn have proven to be beneficial when it comes to hiring reliable workers.
Man and machine: Current mower trends foretell future developments
April 24, 2018
Trends can be hard to track. With this in mind, Total Landscape Care asked experts from Grasshopper, John Deere and Husqvarna to weigh in on where they think the mower market is heading, what they see catching on and what features are currently resonating with landscapers.
Man and machine: What landscapers want
April 25, 2018
So what features are attracting landscapers these days? According to Simmon, Grasshopper buyers have shown the most interest in overall machine productivity, comfort, machine longevity, achieving a clean cut, avoiding downtime and the ability to perform repairs in the field if necessary.
ZTRs vs stand-ons: What’s right for your company?
April 26, 2018
Every lawn care operator deals with different terrain, clientele and climates, but they all have one thing in common: mowers. While many landscapers gravitate to the tried and true zero-turn (ZTR) sit-down mower, others use stand-ons. But is one necessarily better than the other? Here are the benefits and downsides of both types of mowers.
ZTRs vs stand-ons: Benefits, drawbacks of stand-ons
April 27, 2018
Wright Manufacturing did a time study on mowing operations and saw that significant blocks of the workday were spent on activities other than cutting grass. Instead, landscaping crews were using trimmers where bulkier mowers couldn’t reach and getting off the mower to remove debris out of the cutting path.
Finding dedicated employees: Solving the hiring shortage
April 06, 2018
A 2017 study done by IBIS World reported steady growth in the housing market over the past few years. This resulted in a greater demand for landscape industry workers, and IBIS World believes this growth will only continue in the coming years.
Spring 2018: Synthetic turf industry update
March 27, 2018
With spring upon us and the hope of warmer weather on the minds of your customers, it may be time to start discussing design ideas and upcoming projects. One concept your customers might ask about is the growing popularity of artificial turf. Total Landscape Care talked with experts from the Synthetic Turf Council to give an update on the synthetic turf industry, what benefits they see this type of turf yielding and where they believe it’s going in the next few years.
Untapped potential: Increasing diversity in landscape architecture
February 28, 2018
More often than not, when asked how they got involved in the green industry, many professionals will say something along the lines of “I heard about this while in college,” or “I didn’t know this was a thing until…”
For Diane Jones Allen, director of landscape architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs and a principal landscape architect of DesignJones, LLC, these statements sound all too familiar.
The wind up and the pitch: Perfecting your design pitch
January 24, 2018
For those who have been in the business for many years, like Joe Raboine, national design and training specialist on the Belgard Design Studio team, there are a few key questions to ask yourself before heading into a pitch, such as: What elements do you focus on when pitching a design to a customer; what are some of the most common mistakes that happen; and what are the best ways to conduct, wrap up and close a pitch?
Destruction in the workplace: The dangers of micromanaging
February 15, 2018
When it comes to work, nothing kills drive and ambition more than a helicopter boss lurking over your shoulder at all hours of the day. For those unaware of what this means, we’re talking about micromanagers. Micromanaging is one of the most detrimental habits authority figures in the green industry can have because it creates an environment of distrust, stress and over-dependence.
Here’s the scoop: Diving into pre-emergent herbicide practices
February 27, 2018
To help shed some light on the subject of pre-emergent herbicides, experts in the green and chemical care industry have weighed in on how these chemicals work, why they are helpful, the equipment required to apply them, when to apply and which myths have merit and which are way off base
Recruitment: Creating opportunities in your company
January 15, 2018
How do you find the most qualified, well-rounded and hardworking employees? Once you have them, how do you keep them? What’s the best way to get your message out to the public, and who should your message be targeting? What are the most effective methods you should use to market your business?
How to: Keeping employees motivated and productive
December 19, 2017
One of the biggest issues companies face is finding ways to keep employees productive and motivated. A company may have a plethora of dedicated employees, but sometimes a lack of motivation is inevitable after spending a certain amount of time doing the same task.
Cultivating an alluring company culture
December 13, 2017
When it comes to building a company culture that invites employees in, builds them up and keeps them content, the question arises: What does it take to create that kind of culture? For Mike Bogan, CEO of LandCare , it comes down to listening to employees, asking questions, staying engaged, striving daily for improvements, communication and caring about your team members.
Creating and maintaining positive customer relationships
November 09, 2017
Creating and maintaining positive relationships with customers is important for helping your business thrive, but how exactly do you do it? Customers drive and make a business, so be sure to pay close attention to them, their needs and suggestions they may have on helping boost your brand.
How to: Sales and marketing advice in the green industry
October 03, 2017
It’s no secret that without dedicated clients, there is no business. With this in mind, landscaping experts have weighed in on a few tried and true methods they’ve perfected for branding their business, getting their name into the community, establishing relationships with customers and keeping those relationships in good standing long term.
Dealing with burnout in the workplace
September 06, 2017
Dedicated and hardworking employees can be hard to find, and once you do find them it’s important to hang on to them. One of the easiest ways to prevent burnout is to notice the warning signs and preemptively strike before it gets out of hand. Knowing what to look for and what workplace situations to avoid can help keep your employees healthy and happy, and it can keep them from wanting to jump ship to a less stressful environment.
Tropolitan Articles
(2014-2015)
February 09, 2017
FAMILY HEALING: After countless tests, Raeleigh Jane McCartha continues to improve
Not many may know that this past Thursday, Neuroblastoma National Awareness Day took place all across the United States. While this may come as a surprise to many, one local family in particular took this day to heart.
November 17, 2016
Odom honored for service to country and Crenshaw
To those who live in The Friendliest City in the South, it’s hard to remember a time when the Veterans Memorial Park did not sit proudly at the entrance of the city. This park serves as a reminder of those who have fallen in combat over the years, and was created by a veteran who understood the importance of service firsthand.
April 04, 2016
PROFILE: Carpenter’s profession runs in the family
It’s no secret that local businesses are the lifeblood of many small towns, and this statement continues to ring true with one establishment in particular. Foster Drug Co., established in 1896 and located on 1554 South Forest Ave. in Luverne, has been one of the major pharmaceutical faces of the community for years now, and recently celebrated its 120th year in operation.
February 09, 2016
Alabama Wildlife Federation visits Rotary Club
Jimmy Harris, Strategic Marketing Director with the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF), visited the Luverne Rotary Club on Monday to not only talk about the importance of taking care of the environment, but to also explain what and where the AWF is.
October 19, 2016
Union Baptist Church hosts WellHouse founder
As all students under the age of 12 were asked to leave the audience, a hush fell over the crowd.
Tajuan McCarty, renowned speaker and advocate against sex trafficking, took the stage at Union Baptist Church Monday night to not only share her personal testimony, but to also educate the audience on topics sometimes viewed as uncomfortable or inappropriate in the church setting.
June 23, 2016
Ayers named 2017 DYW
Saturday night in the auditorium of Luverne High School, Ayers had the opportunity to compete against five other young ladies to vie for the title of Crenshaw County’s 2017 Distinguished Young Woman. At the end of the night, she arose victorious and claimed three other victories in the categories of fitness, scholastics and interview.
November 18, 2015
Couple fosters more than 200 children
November is known as National Adoption Month, but to those who have never had anything to do with the process of adoption, it can all seem like just another month. For Angie and Leon Hall, adoption and fostering children in need is not something they practice only one month out of the year, but instead on a daily basis.
June 19, 2015
Canine flu outbreak threatens state
Rumors have surfaced in the past few months that canine influenza has finally made it to Alabama. According to www.cdc.gov, canine influenza is a “contagious respiratory disease in dogs caused by specific Type A influenza viruses known to infect dogs. There are two different influenza A dog flu viruses: one is an H3N8 virus and the other is an H3N2 virus.”
December 02, 2015
Welding program heating up
In order to keep up with the rising demand of career readiness courses, LBW Community College Luverne Center invested in a new mobile welding lab last year. The facility houses a $470,000 mobile welding lab, courtesy of the multi-million-dollar U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant.
September 11, 2015
Niece gives uncle new lease on life
In 2007, Jerry Burt visited his physician for a routine checkup. What he found was something he never would have expected. His creatinine level at the time was high, indicating that he was in stage one of kidney failure. It was at this time that he began seeing a nephrologist — a kidney specialist.
Philosophy professor shares his teaching insights
Clifford Lee, associate professor of philosophy, has often been described by students as one of the most eccentric professors on Troy’s campus. His relaxed demeanor and lively attitude keep the students engaged and entertained while also making them think.