Attacking Snow with a Vengeance
I love snow. I always have. Growing up in West Michigan, we had plenty of it. Lake-effect snowfall began in November, often burying us in snow and providing a winter wonderland of outdoor opportunities. Most importantly, our backyard ice rink was in full operation by early December, sometimes late November.
As a snow fighter, my thoughts about snow have changed. I still love a good snowstorm, but my priorities are different. Gone are the days of building snow forts and playing hockey. Now, as a snow pro, my focus is attacking the storm with a vengeance until it has been defeated, and everyone is safe.
Snowfighting is Like Firefighting
I've often heard the snow business compared to firefighting. There are many similarities: enormous investment, training, and preparation to be 100% ready. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Then, attacking the fire with a vengeance until it has been defeated, and everyone is safe.
Do all snow pros love snow? Probably not. In fact, the word "snow" spoken in the middle of the summer may even trigger PTSD in some snow pros. I get it.
The snow business is truly an emergency service. When a big snowstorm hits and a state of emergency is declared, all "non-essential" people are ordered off the roads. Schools are closed. Stores are closed. Everything stops. People retreat to their homes. But snow fighters mobilize and advance toward the storm to attack it with a vengeance until it has been defeated, and everyone is safe.
Train Like a Firefighter
Fire departments only hire trained firefighters from academies where fundamentals are taught, and drills are repeated until they become second nature. During a fire, there's no time to train. Firefighters are expected to know what to do and how to do it as they run toward the fire.
The Snowfighters Institute was created to teach fundamentals in the professional snow & ice management industry. Through a variety of in-person and online opportunities, snow pros learn from top trainers in our industry. They collaborate with each other to hear what's working in practice and what challenges exist.
The Snowfighters Institute also brings leading industry suppliers together with snow contractors. Manufacturers, tech providers, and other suppliers benefit from interacting with snow pros and hearing firsthand what their needs are. Snow pros benefit from forming personal relationships with suppliers who attend Snowfighters events.
Join Us at GROW! Snow
We are quickly approaching GROW! Snow, being held in Dayton, Ohio, on September 22-23. If you haven't registered yet, now is the time.
GROW! Snow is a 2-day educational and networking event, co-hosted by Marty Grunder from The Grow Group (and Grunder Landscaping) and the Snowfighters Institute. The event is comprised of panel discussions, breakout sessions, a facility tour, networking lunches, and dinners.
GROW! Snow is a great opportunity for snow pros and their teams to learn, network, and be more prepared for snow events than ever before. When the big one hits, your team will be ready to attack it with a vengeance until it has been defeated, and everyone is safe.
Hope to see you there!
Now go forth.