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Monthly Professionals Update
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January 2017
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 Just about every contractor takes advantage of the winter months to make plans for the coming season.
But only a fraction of professionals take advantage of all of their supplier resources.
Your CPS key account manager can help you tap into smart new resources that can grow your bottom line. Book an appointment now to identify CPS programs and advantages that could help you in the 2017 season.
Discover ways CPS can help you connect with:
- Opportunities to purchase materials more efficiently, leveraging bulk discounts, pre-season discounts and scheduled deliveries.
- Industry trends in your area so you're up to date on which products and services are growing in popularity. Find out about successes others are having with new items.
- Essential resources to grow your business, including resources to aid in hiring quality employees, marketing tools, educational seminars and more.
Make use of the winter downtime to grow your bottom line. Schedule an appointment with your CPS representative today.
The Team at CPS Distributors
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Industry News: Congress Fails to Extend the H-2B Returning Worker Exemption
 Update from the National Association of Landscape Professionals: Unfortunately, despite heavy lobbying pressure from NALP and our allies, extensive grassroots contact by landscape professionals and other stakeholders, Congress chose not to take action to renew the H-2B returning worker exemption (RWE).
Although Congress failed to act to save RWE, there are still several H-2B regulatory provisions that were extended under the continuing resolution including language that prevents the Department of Labor from enforcing corresponding employment and the ¾ guarantee, allows for the use of wage surveys, limits some DOL enforcement authority and provides for a 10-month season.
Click here to read the full article on-line.
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NIBCO Economic Report for Landscape Contractors
Download the free report for the first quarter of 2017
 How will the economy impact your business in 2017?
Leading industry supplier NIBCO has commissioned nationally-recognized economist Andrew Duguay to provide us with regional forecasts specifically targeted to the landscape and irrigation professional.
Click here to download the report PDF
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Fund Established in Memory of Dave Nelson
 Family and friends of Dave Nelson have established a memorial fund to benefit his granddaughter Atalaya Nelson.
You may make donations by clicking here.
Memorial services for
Dave will be held at
1:00 PM on
Saturday, January 7th, 2017 at The Colorado Springs School, 21 Broadmoor Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. A reception will follow.
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Training Service Technicians for Spring
 With spring just a couple of months away, it's time to get your team ready for the fundamentals of delivering a great service experience.
Customers judge the competence of technicians by their human skills as well as their technical skills. Be sure to educate on the "soft skills" too:
Building trust and rapport with customers
. The customer must feel the technician has his best interest in mind throughout the service visit. If the customer trusts the technician, he/she will let the technician get the work done without hassles. Building trust starts with how the technician greets the customer and starts the task. Are your techs doing this correctly?
Showing care for the customer's property
. Make sure technicians are using the right procedures to subtly convey their respect for the client's home. Small things like wearing shoe covers and following an end-of-visit checklist ensure that things are always cleaner than when the project started.
Missed connections
. Customers are not always home when the technician arrives to do the work. Make sure your team has a solid procedure for notifying customers of missed appointments and getting the work rescheduled. With the right process, missed calls don't need to lead to technician downtime or significant delays for the customer.
Selling needed improvements
. Trained technicians systematically identify opportunities to help the customer avoid future problems and service visits. They point out needed system enhancements and educate customers on the life-cycle of worn or aging components. By taking a helpful, consultative approach, they point out ways to achieve a better result (and often to enjoy significant water savings) instead of just selling new widgets. With an approach that emphasizes customer-education, the client never feels forced to buy things she doesn't understand.
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Register On-Line for CPS Winter Training Classes
 The 2017 Training Schedule is now available!
This year we are offering a wide variety of classes covering: irrigation design; irrigation troubleshooting; pumps for irrigation; landscape lighting; water features; fertilizers and liquids; and drainage applications.
Most classes are FREE!!! (Classes that require a fee will be listed on training schedule)
Classes will be held throughout the front range and western slope of Colorado and in Casper and Cheyenne Wyoming. We will be offering some classes at a new location in Loveland, CO (University of Northern Colorado-Loveland Campus / Centerra)
We look forward to seeing you at a class in 2017!
Click here to view the schedule
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Register Now for 5th Annual Business Excellence Lunch
 CPS welcomes Jan Rutherford to our 5th Annual Business Excellence Luncheon
One Febuary 16th, we will have a special luncheon discussing business excellence and planning your vision for the future.
The event will be facilitated by Lowell Kaufhold and Jesse Bezdek of CPS sharing how to prepare your business for a prosperous future.
Speaker Profile: Jan Rutherford | The Littlest Green Beret
A former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and successful business executive, Jan Rutherford knows the value of overcoming challenges to strengthen resilience and lead more effectively. Jan entered the U.S. Army at age 17, (weighing only 114 pounds), and spent six years in Special Forces as a medic and "A" team executive officer, and three years as a military intelligence officer. With over 25 years of business experience, Jan has held executive roles in business development, marketing, sales, training, product management, and as a CEO. In 2011, Jan founded Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - a leadership development firm focused on helping leaders and teams develop self-reliance to create powerful futures through keynote presentations, workshops, executive coaching, and wilderness expeditions. As a Senior Instructor at the University of Colorado Denver Business School for over a decade, Jan teaches 'Leadership in New Ventures' to MBA students and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates. He also teaches 'Leadership & Entrepreneurship in Ireland' (delivered on-site in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) to business students
Click here to register for the event.
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Irrigation Association Classes Sponsored by CPS
 This year, CPS will be sponsoring two IA classes, one at our Westminster, CO office and one in Casper, WY.
Landscape Irrigation Contractor Class - January 31 & February 1, 2017 Westminster, CO / 2 Day Class
Register Here for Contractor Class
Landscape Irrigation Technician Class - March 14, 2017
Casper, WY / 1 Day Class
Register Here for Technician Class
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Get expert knowledge to grow your hardscape business. This two-day classroom based course equips individuals currently employed in the concrete paver installer industry with classroom training to properly install interlocking concrete paving systems. Limited seating. Register today.
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See CPS at the Pro-Green Expo - February 8-10
Mark your calendar for February 8-10 for the ProGreen Expo.
Don't miss Colorado's premier trade show for landscape and irrigation professionals. The CPS team will be there so stop by our booth and say hello.
Click here for schedule and registration information.
Use the voucher below for FREE entry to the show floor. Just click to view in a new browser window and print it. Bring to a kiosk at show registration to enter the payment code provided.
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Mark Your Calendar: Spring Fling is March 9th
 It's time to start planning ahead to maximize your 2017 season.
Having a great year starts with attending CPS Spring Fling, the region's best event for professionals.
Spring Fling will be returning to the Denver Mart at I-25 and 58th Avenue so mark your calendars for Thursday, March 9, 2017.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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