Action Alert: Share feedback on new SIMA Mission, Vision and Core Values

‘Last November, the board took a major step in redefining a Mission, Vision, Core Values and a strategic plan for SIMA. We hope that these new tools will take all of us into the future with confidence and a realistic plan for success.’

Take action now:

• Share your feedback with Martin@sima.org or in the comment section below on our new Mission, Vision and Core Values.

By Justin Gamester, CSP
I remember getting my start with SIMA over 10 years ago, when I joined the Membership committee. My experiences working as a volunteer helped me get involved in the association and start to see the bigger picture for my industry. Little did I know that I would be sitting here as incoming board chair in 2016. The thought had not crossed my mind by any means.

It’s been fun and rewarding to watch the association and its membership grow and become more professional. I personally have benefited a great deal from the time spent with my friends and colleagues in the industry. I won’t say that it’s always been smooth sailing; there have been some bumps in the road for SIMA. We’ve launched projects that have failed; we’ve analyzed some things to death to be honest. But each time the association has come against a challenge, the volunteers and staff have pushed hard and made the tough choices to help SIMA thrive. And we have made significant progress in our educational offerings and resources to members and industry suppliers. We are now poised to take some serious steps as an organization to help influence major challenges and issues we all face as snow professionals.

Growing pains
As an entity, the association has grown significantly and has seen its share of growing pains. The industry is challenged, with pressure on pricing, higher service demands, more educated buyers and more. The board and staff have struggled with how to prioritize the many issues facing you in snow so that we could focus on the areas where we could have a true and lasting impact. Last November, the board took a major step in redefining a Mission, Vision, Core Values and a strategic plan for SIMA:

• Mission: Empowering snow & ice management for success.
• Vision: We fight for the industry to be one of the most valued professions in the world, ensuring that snow & ice management services are never taken for granted.
• Core Values: Sustainability, Innovation, Service, Quality, Trust, Passion

We hope that these new tools will take all of us into the future with confidence and a realistic plan for success.

It wasn’t easy to get a group of business owners and entrepreneurs together to reflect on success and build a solid foundation for the future. After much discussion, some disagreement and a lot of collaboration, we created the new and needed direction for the association. We hope that this will engage all of you in the industry to work with us to elevate our profession, train our people and grow in snow.

Positive outcomes
Our new plan has helped us make some hard choices, and we are losing a few programs along the way. But with all loss comes opportunity, and we are excited to see the association focus strongly on best practices, consumer outreach, credentials, research and education moving forward. We value your feedback as we try to move the needle in ways that help elevate us all. Please share your thoughts with me any time at jgamester@piscataqualandscaping.com.

Justin Gamester is Vice Chair of the SIMA Board of Directors and Vice President of Piscataqua Landscaping & Tree Service in Eliot, ME.