Landscape industry awards do more than decorate mantels — they have the power to raise profiles, set standards and give staff the recognition they deserve.

Six seasoned landscape professionals weigh in on why they enter awards com-petitions, reflect on what it means to take home honours and share some insights into the perks of prize-winning.

Ross Rayment, ULS Maintenance and Landscaping Calgary, Alta.

“First and foremost, we do it for ourselves,” says Ross Rayment of ULS Landscaping in Calgary, on why he puts forth the effort to enter awards programs. “It’s fantastic to be recognized by your peers for your efforts,” Rayment explains, but it’s the message it sends to his employees that really hits home. “When we win an award, it gives our employees recognition and lets them know we’re behind them and we support them.”

He adds, “We also do it for our clients.” Rayment says he goes the extra mile to ensure a plaque is made for the homeowner. “We want our clients to share in our success. If we’re honoured by the industry, we want our clients to also share the recognition.”

Does a win mean new business? “I don’t know that it adds anything to our bottom line,” says Rayment, “but it reaffirms to our existing customers that we do a good job, and we are worthy of a referral.” Rayment has his office walls lined with awards and isn’t shy about admitting “bragging rights” are part of the enjoyment.

Staff involvement is key in selecting properties to enter in the awards program. “We ask our foremen which sites they are proud of, and go from there,” Rayment explains. He says his foremen really enjoy taking site photos and have a genuine interest in getting the submission ready. “There’s a bit of internal competition, as well,” says Rayment. “The staff members have a lot of fun with it.”

Liam Robinson, Watermark Gardens Vancouver, B.C.

Watermark Gardens took home the Caterpillar Award of Excellence for Landscape Construction at the National Awards of Landscape Excellence, held in New Brunswick earlier this year. “There is definitely a pride factor,” says owner Liam Robinson of the win.

“To see that your projects are up there with some of the great companies from across the country — well, it’s nothing to be sneezed at,” jokes Robinson. “For us, it’s a measuring stick and it lets us know that we’re doing good work alongside the best in the business.” The award doesn’t necessarily result in new clients, Robinson admits, but Watermark is not short of business, so the kudos seem to be paying off. “It has increased our profile, and we are benefiting from that,” he notes.

After taking some less-than-perfect photographs for awards submissions, Robinson knows how important it is to get the best images possible. “We really put a lot of effort into having great photographs. It is really important to the end result.” Robinson reflects on why he joined BCLNA: to help champion the industry and promote professionalism in the landscape industry. “The awards program is an extension of the cause. It all helps to bring validity to what we do,” he says.

Adele Goodwin, Earthworm Landscape Design Edmonton, Alta.

As landscape designers who depend on referrals, Adele and John Goodwin of Earthworm Landscape Design know that winning industry awards packs a promo-tional punch. By featuring their award-winning status on brochures and Yellow Pages ads, the Goodwins have found it generates interest. “I’ve had clients tell me that was the reason they called,” says Adele.

The Goodwins have been entering their designs in awards programs since 2000. “It was an excellent way to position ourselves in the industry,” says Adele. “When you’re just starting out, there’s no better way to let your colleagues know that you do good work.”

Stepping back and reflecting on a design is a part of the awards submission process that Adele appreciates. “In a way, it even helps with future projects, because it gets you questioning yourself,” she says. “You don’t want to produce cookie-cutter designs, and the awards process forces you to see what is special in a project.”

Kent Ford, Kent Ford Design Group Toronto, Ont.

As the winner of the 2006 Dunington-Grubb Award, Landscape Ontario’s highest landscape award, Kent Ford knows what it takes to succeed. The journey, says Ford, is not exactly as they teach you in school. “While training to be a landscape architect, I was taught to be an independent, creative thinker, and that if I did great work, people would want to hire me,” explains Ford. The missing piece, he says, was that he had to make people aware of his work. “That’s where the awards come in. Winning awards is a profile-raising experience,” he says. “They are great for one thing — exposure.”

Ford went on to say, “Looking back, I see the award programs were a great way to check out the competition.” He likens the process to polling the landscape industry — finding out who is doing what and learning from other industry professionals.

Winning awards is also good news for clients, notes Ford. “You never know going in, but if a project wins, it’s a great way to give back to the client. It’s a spin-off benefit to winning,” he says.

“There’s a real advantage to letting a project settle in your mind,” says Ford. “I like to think about it for a while and figure out where there is a unique and special story to tell.” The irony, he notes, is that the projects that run so smoothly, aren’t often the winners. “It’s the projects where things went wrong and we had to stretch our- selves to overcome obstacles — these are the ones that usually get recognized,” Ford explains.

Kevin Nauss, Price Landscaping Services Moncton, N.B.

As the winner of several construction and maintenance awards from Landscape New Brunswick, Price Landscaping Services has found several ways to make the most out of the recognition. “First of all, we found it was a great marketing tool,” says owner Kevin Nauss, who says he is sure to mention the wins in Yellow Pages ads and on the company website.

“But most importantly,” Nauss explains, “winning awards is great for employee morale.” At Price Landscape Services, employees are taking an increased personal interest in the projects that get entered.” Nauss says of the awards program, “It’s actually great all around. It’s great for our company and industry, because any chance we get to do a better job promoting this industry to the public is always good.” There’s no secret to awards programs, according to Nauss. “Just do quality workmanship and produce good-looking work,” he says. “It’s important to be creative and add something new.”

Brian Miller, Dusty Miller Landscaping Toronto, Ont.

As a young business owner starting out in the landscape industry, Brian Miller wanted to put his company name on the map. “I saw the awards being given out and I thought that I was doing work that could compete,” says Miller, owner of Toronto’s Dusty Miller Landscaping. “I always wanted the competition to be better, because it speaks for the industry,” he says.

While he enjoyed the recognition, Miller immediately appreciated what the awards did for his staff. “It’s the ultimate pat on the back for them,” Miller explains, noting that he asks his managers to pick the projects for awards submission. “I just love seeing my staff up there smiling when they accept an award.”

Miller recommends hiring a professional photographer in order to present projects in the best way.