SIMA previews ASM program at Symposium

"Our membership felt there was strong need for in-depth training for operations and field managers, as well as individual operators--those with boots on the ground, so to speak."

By Cheryl Higley

Seeking to offer a rigorous, qualitative training program for snow management operators, SIMA is launching its new Advanced Snow Management certificate training program this fall. It unveiled a preview of the program during the 16th Annual Snow Snow & Ice  Symposium.

The program has been in the serious development stages for more than 18 months, and the instructional content has been created in concert with American National Standards Institute guidelines. SIMA has worked with a curriculum development expert and a  stakeholder advisory group made up of SIMA committee members, industry experts, insurance companies and end users to develop the program.

While SIMA currently has appx. 200 Certified Snow Professionals, that designation is geared for owners and high-level management. SIMA is hopeful that the ASM program will fill a void in the industry.

Phill Sexton, director or education and outreach for SIMA says "Our membership felt there was strong need for in-depth training for operations and field managers, as well as individual operators--those with boots on the ground, so to speak."

The ASM program will be available online 24/7 and includes four online training certificate courses:

•   Safety & Core Principles

•   Sidewalk Operations

•   Plowing Operations

•   Ice Management

Safety & Core Principles is a required prerequisite. Once that module is passed, operators can choose to take any or all of the remaining certificate courses. Those who pass all four will earn the Advanced Snow Manager designation.

To learn more about Advanced Snow Management, contact SIMA at 414-375-1940.

Snow contractors giving back to a local community

Winter, with all its challenges, serves this industry well, but it can be especially harsh on those in need. Join with us and let's do something that has a greater impact and shows the true nature of the people in the industry!

By Brian Birch, CAE

The SIMA Symposium, a traveling trade show and educational event, is a whirlwind each year. Over 1,000 snow professionals storm a city, take over a hotel and convention center, and within a few days are gone. It is a strange thing if you really think about it; we come into a community, inject a bunch of money into it by being there, and then we leave. And most of the people in the community won't hear about it or know it happened.

But each year, we try to do a little something more, something that provides a longer, more lasting impact on the communities we choose for the Symposium. This year is no different, and we are very excited to share some details on our charitable initiative for the show this year; Coats for a Cause.

We are partnering with People Serving People (www.peopleservingpeople.org), a local charity in Minneapolis, to collect warm coats and clothing for families in need. So, as you prepare to come to the show, start thinking about those old winter coats or gloves you might have, or the spare winter gear you keep for your sidewalk crews, and please consider bringing them to donate at the show or boxing them up and shipping them to the SIMA office by June 12th. Winter gear of all sizes, including adult and children, is welcome. 

If you don't want to bring or ship anything, then please consider a simple donation - you can write a check at the show and drop it off at the registration desk by noon on Friday, June 21st. SIMA will also be making a $1,000 donation during Thursday's ribbon cutting ceremony to open the trade show floor. 

Please consider helping SIMA do a little bit to make winter more bearable for families in need. Winter, with all its challenges, serves this industry well, but it can be especially harsh on those in need. Join with us and let's do something that has a greater impact and shows the true nature of the people in the industry!