Invitation to Join the PGMS President

GREETINGS, FELLOW GREEN INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL!

As the 91th president of the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), it is my distinct pleasure to personally invite you to join our dynamic Society while we celebrate our centennial anniversary. This is a tremendous milestone for any organization and we are truly proud of this defining legacy for the PGMS.

Our membership is a veritable “Who’s Who” in Grounds Management. The majority of our members are institutional grounds managers, employed by colleges and universities, municipalities, resorts and hotels, theme parks, etc. Others are independent landscape contractors with multiple sites, suppliers to the industry, educators and students.

One of the greatest benefits of membership in PGMS is the ability to meet and network with the other outstanding members of the society. Ours is a group large enough to have national “clout,” yet small enough to get to truly know and interact with each other, particularly on our local branch level. If there is no local branch near you, our Branch Development Task Force can assist you in establishing one if you are so inclined. This is typical of the dynamic, growth-oriented nature of the Professional Grounds Management Society.

Another outstanding member benefit is the ability to participate in our nationally-recognized certification programs. Our Certified Grounds Manager (CGM) certification is rapidly becoming a criteria for top employers when hiring new grounds managers, and our Certified Grounds Technician (CGT) program enables your employees to become certified grounds technicians and to further their own career goals. Our highly respected and anticipated annual Green Star Awards program recognizes and rewards excellence in grounds and landscape management. We publish our newsletter “The Forum” six times per year, and our website allows members to have instant access to additional relevant information. We have a number of useful publications, books and guides that are available and free to each member.

Additionally, our strong partnerships within the industry allow us to co-sponsor the largest trade show of its kind, the GIE+EXPO each year, in conjunction with our annual conference. At the conference, our tailor made School of Grounds Management (SGM) is conducted and provides the very best in educational opportunities for our members in general and is ideally structured to assist those needing to meet certification requirements. You will get exposure to the latest “cutting-edge” information and technical data in the industry, be inspired by world-class motivational speakers, and network with Green Star Award champions and other leaders in our industry. Come join us in our grand celebration!! We grow PEOPLE!

Sincerely,

John Van Etten, CGM, PGMS President