Alphabet soup of certification

'SIMA continues to represent the leading professional standard in snow, and we have some exciting new announcements coming this fall.'

By Martin Tirado, CAE
Does this scenario sound familiar? I recently received a business card from a person who had five acronyms after his name, none of which I recognized. These ABCs of of designations may look impressive on a business card, but it begs the question as to whether they are a testament to a person's expertise in a field. How hard (or easy) is it to obtain them? And, most importantly, do they matter to consumers or the public? There generally are four types of designations:

• Licensure is typically administered through government entities and are legal mandates designed to ensure that licensees have the minimal degree of competency in their field. Individuals usually have to meet eligibility requirements, pass an assessment test, and obtain ongoing requirements like education and renewal fees. (Example: RN/Registered Nurse)
• Certification is a voluntary process through which an organization grants verification to an individual after confirming the applicant has met the eligibility requirements and passed an assessment. (Example: CSP/Certified Snow Professional)
• Certificate programs are designed to educate or train individuals to achieve specific outcomes. A certificate is usually given after successful completion of the program, which may include an evaluation or assessment of the learner's achievement. Usually there are no designations or acronyms assigned and there are no ongoing requirements to maintain. (Example: Certificate in Project Management)
• Accreditation recognizes an organization, system or program - not an individual. It also is voluntary and has ongoing requirements. (Example: Universities and hospitals are often accredited by a third-party entity)

Snow designations
Of these, the most common in the snow and green industries are certification programs. According to the book "Certification Simplified," by certification expert Mickie S. Rops, CAE, a certification program must:

• Have ongoing requirements (called recertification or renewal) and a system for revoking when requirements are not met
• Not have an integrated learning component offered and/or required by the certifying body

If a certification program does not meet these criteria, it is not a true certification program. In the snow & ice industry, for professionals such as SIMA members who serve the private industry, only one certification program exists: the CSP - Certified Snow Professional.

Certification done right
Certification programs become more complex because there are standards that certifying bodies should model. Organizations like ANSI (American National Standards Institute) administer accreditation programs for certification agencies. SIMA is focused on continuous improvement, and we are now modeling the CSP program to align more closely with these best practices.

We constantly invest time and resources in improvements through updated testing procedures, fair and transparent governance and policy changes. More importantly, we are working strategically to position CSP at the forefront of our outreach efforts. The insurance industry continues to see the value in the CSP, and our Outreach Committee is engaged in sharing the value of SIMA membership and certification to this audience.

Done right, certifications need thoughtful analysis of market conditions, market need, management, structure an oversight. Having a well-organized and crafted professional certification program is much more difficult that it may appear. SIMA continues to represent the leading professional standard in snow, and we have some exciting new announcements coming soon. Programs done right are worthy of adding to your professional resume. Contact SIMA to learn how to take the next step in your snow & ice management career.

Liability Protection is Here

'This may be a very good start, a true win-win for the environment and salt applicators.'

By Martin Tirado, CAE
Yes, you read the heading right. There is now liability protection for ‘salt applicators’ in the state of New Hampshire as of September 26, 2013. This was voted into law by the NH legislature this summer as part of their House Bill 2. The liability protection can be read in full in here in rulemaking RSA 508:22. 

Here’s a quick synopsis of how to obtain the protection:

• Obtain a commercial applicator certification via training
• Abide by best management practices taught in the training
• Maintain accurate documentation, and keep them for up to 3 years

These requirements are not overly burdensome, and the fees involved are negligible considering the liability protection the legislation provides. It’s also voluntary, not mandated. This has been in the making for several years, as NH’s Department of Environmental Services have supported it based on increasing amounts of chloride levels in fresh water sources. New Hampshire wants better trained salt applicators, which they feel will lower overuse of salt application in winter weather.

When it comes to battling for improved liability protection for snow and ice providers, the environmental angle is a game-changer. The conversation with legislative and regulatory bodies can change from generalized tort reform to how snow and ice providers are part of the equation as stewards of the environment. Snow and ice professionals will go through appropriate training, learn the best management practices and apply these in snow and ice weather conditions. Chlorides will be used more effectively in snow and ice management, resulting in lower chloride levels in freshwater lakes and rivers, and application rates will be documented.

In turn, what we are asking for is protection from liability that costs our businesses the ability to purchase affordable, adequate coverage for the important work we do. Liability protection for other states and provinces isn’t a long shot to request; the state of NH has already granted it. Many NH contractors immediately have this protection as they have gone through the Green SnowPro Program, a training program implemented two years ago.

To date, the University of New Hampshire has been the only provider of salt applicator certification education. Training most likely will be available through other education providers, including SIMA. And as for the legislation, other government bodies will consider this if presented to the right people in the right way. Connecticut is already looking at New Hampshire as model language for new legislation. Other areas of North America are concerned about increasing chloride levels in fresh water and are searching for answers. This may be a very good start, a true win-win for the environment and salt applicators. SIMA is looking for states and provinces that are interested in passing similar legislation, as we are here to be an advocate for the operator/applicator.

More changes in regulations and laws on salt applications are surely coming, and in this case, that’s a good thing.

Ignore PR at your peril

'No matter what size business, working to leverage good public relations and garner community exposure can be a major differentiator.'

By Brian Birch, CAE
We all challenge ourselves to get better at our profession. In the process, we tend to focus more on the things we are good at. In the snow industry, many professionals excel at planning, organizing and servicing customers. But there are other areas that may be neglected because they fall outside your comfort zone.

One such area is public relations. Many small business owners tend to discount the power of this function and struggle to justify its value. But generational shifts coupled with changing trends in technology and media are creating unique opportunities for even the smallest business to share its message. 

Last year SIMA launched a full-scale awareness campaign for the industry, called the Impact of Snow. In the process, we found that our industry's relationship to weather is extremely attractive to local and regional media outlets. This led to an unplanned but welcome addition to the resources available to SIMA members. 

During the campaign, we unveiled the official SIMA Member PR Toolkit, which includes news release and article templates, tips for engaging local and regional media, and creative ideas companies can use to gain quality PR exposure for their business.

No matter what size business, working to leverage good public relations and garner community exposure can be a major differentiator. Start thinking about the major trends and how you can become more adept at managing public relations more effectively. You can use the SIMA Member PR Toolkit to get started. Members can download it for free at www.sima.org/resources.

Brian Birch, CAE is chief operating officer of SIMA. Contact him at brian@sima.org.

Plow Truck Central launches for snow removal industry

'We want to share helpful information tied to safety, maintenance, trends, and operations with work trucks in mind.'

By Brian Birch, CAE
The folks here at SIMA are excited for the launch of our newest section at GoPlow.com…welcome to Plow Truck Central (PTC for short)!

This project has been in planning for the past year, and we are extremely grateful to the folks at Dodge RAM for working with us as the sponsor of PTC. Not only has Dodge RAM committed to sponsoring this section of the site, they are also active contributors, and will be providing helpful insights from manufacturing and engineering perspectives for all of you out there interested in managing snow with your work trucks.

The goal of PTC is simple; to share helpful content and information tied to safety, maintenance, trends, and operations with work trucks in mind. Feel free to share your comments about your experiences and insights as well. 

Each month for the next year we will publish timely content here at PTC, we hope you enjoy it and that it is helpful in your work as a snow professional. 

Check out the first 5 articles at Plow Truck Central by visiting http://www.GoPlow.com/PlowTruck. 

Brian Birch, CAE is the Chief Operating Officer for the Snow & Ice Management Association and can be reached at Brian@sima.org.

Industry questions, industry answers

'Through this program, all SIMA members have the option to make contact with available advisors for best practices and information sharing.'

By Heather Carew
Whether you have been involved in the snow & ice industry for two months or 20 years, everyone has questions. In an effort to answer these questions and to link industry professionals together based on specific areas of interest, SIMA and its Outreach Committee have created SIMA Advisors.

What is a SIMA Advisor?
A SIMA Advisor is and industry professional (and fellow SIMA member) who is available to answer questions and be a resource and conduit for information sharing.

How did this program come about?
SIMA Advisors is a spinoff of SIMA's Buddy Program, which had limitations related to who could participate and the length of the pairing. Over the past year, the Outreach Committee decided to change and expand the program. The Advisor Program is open to all members, and it is up to the member (advisee) to make contact with his or her advisor as needed.

Who can take advantage of this program?
If you're a SIMA member, you're in! Visit www.sima.org/advisor to submit an Advisor Request.

What are the program goals?
SIMA prides itself on being "the resource that raises awareness through networking and education." The programs main goal is to educate the member requesting assistance, but the long-term goal is that these two people can create a lasting relationship.

Heather Carew is SIMA's meetings and membership manager. Contact her at heather@sima.org. 

Professional estimating, simplified

'SIMA works to create useful, real-world resources for snow & ice management professionals.'

By Brian Birch, CAE
Over the past five years, SIMA has trained hundreds of snow professionals on better snow estimating and sales techniques through its popular Build a Bid program. SIMA engaged more than a dozen industry professionals during the program's development, which took more than a full year. This initiative included a team of five highly experienced professionals who created the in-person Build a Bid program. After achieving success with the program, SIMA wanted to make it more accessible to the industry. Late last fall, we launched the self-study version of Build a Bid online at SIMA's Resource 24/7 Training Center.

The Build a Bid Snow Estimating Package was produced by SIMA and Phil Harwood, CSP, of Pro-Motion Consulting, and is a streamlined version of the in-person training program. The online version teaches all of the major elements of a professional snow & ice management bid, including:

• Understanding the true costs of the work
• How to calculate production numbers
• Methods for creating multiple bid types
• Tips for sales and qualifying prospects

Each of these areas is supported by video tutorials and a comprehensive workbook that walks through a bid from start to finish.

The most powerful part of the online training program, and one not included in the original Build a Bid in-person events, is the inclusion of a customized Excel-formatted bidding tool. It provides a step-by-step path to calculating the square footage of a site, estimating equipment capacity, applying specific weather data, calculating overhead and other costs, inserting production numbers, and finalizing quotes in various formats. A video tutorial is also included for this comprehensive workbook. 

SIMA works to create useful, real-world resources for snow & ice management professionals. If you are seeking more and better ways to create professionals, fair quotes based on accurate numbers, visit www.sima.org/gobidsnow.

Build a Bid by the numbers

• 500+ Snow professionals have trained in SIMA's Build a Bid program
• 12 useful tabs in the Build a Bid online spreadsheet estimating tool
• 4 sections in the Build a Bid online program
• 6 exercises included in the Build a Bid online workbook to build skill and knowledge
• 24/7 access via SIMA's Resource 24/7 Training Center

Brian Birch, CAE is chief operating officer of SIMA. 

Snow Safety Week returns in 2013

'I have been a part of this association for 9 years, and I am excited that we are finally in a place where we can consistently deliver snow-specific safety training to the industry.'

By Brian K. Birch, CAE
In March of 2013 SIMA launched the first-ever Snow Safety Week for our industry...the goal was simple, to identify one formal week each year to talk safety and snow removal. But we liked it so much, we are going to again in 2013! Save the dates of October 28-31, 2013...

Why is SIMA doing two Snow Safety Weeks in one year? Because we can...

I have been a part of this association for 9 years this September, and I am so excited that we are finally in a place where we can consistently deliver quality, snow-specific safety training and information to the industry. Even 5 years ago we were not what I would consider a safety-focused association. As we've matured as an association, our focus on safety best practices has increased and we are hopeful it will have a long term, positive impact on the industry.

But we need your help...what safety-related topics and issues do you face in your business or operations? How can we use Snow Safety Week to help you highlight the importance of safety to your employees and to your customers? 

Please share thoughts in the comments below, or email Brian@sima.org. 

We look forward to working with you to create a more safety-focused industry in snow and ice. 

Brian Birch, CAE is the Chief Operating Officer for the Snow & Ice Management Association and can be reached at Brian@sima.org.