Rich Arlington & Associates

Phone: 814-864-2586 | Toll-free: 1-866-454-0948

Robert Smart CSP

CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Certified Snow Professional (CSP), June 12, 2003 – Present
    • Requirements to become a Certified Snow Professional include testing in sales & marketing, human resources, business law, business planning, snow & ice science, snow mechanics, operations, management, public relations, health and safety. There are less than 250 CSP’s in the United States of America
  • Ohio Certified Nursery Technician (OCNT) January 31, 2007 – Present
    • Requirements to become an Ohio Certified Nursery Technician include knowledge and testing in plant identification, plant usage, plant health, soils, turfgrass management, use of pesticides, construction techniques, design, sales and human resources
  • Hunter Irrigation: Certified in irrigation repair and installation
  • Kichler: Certified in outdoor low voltage lighting repair and installation
    • Unilock: Certified in concrete paving installation

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

  • Smart Scapes Landscaping, Inc., President and Owner, 2007 - Present
    • A full service landscape management company. Responsible for overall development of a new start up company while overseeing and managing 8-12 team members.
  • Smart Snow and Ice Management, President and Owner, 2007 – Present
    • A full service snow and ice management division of Smart Scapes Landscaping, Inc. Responsible for overall development, sales and management.
  • Mr. Yard, Inc., President and Owner, 2007 – Present
    • A full service landscape supply company that specializes in supplying bulk materials to both retail and contractor clients. Responsible for complete development including pricing, marketing, yard inventory, and management of up to 12 team members.
  • Yard Smart, Inc., President and Owner, 1986 – 2007
    • A full-service company specializing in landscape design, installation, maintenance, snow plowing and salting, with revenues of over 1.8 million dollars. Management of over 25 full-time and 10-15 part-time employees, fleet of 20 vehicles, and property area consisting of five acres. Responsible for marketing, sales, organization, systems development, HR, drug free workplace program, production, growth and development of company while overseeing entire operation. Sold this business in December of 2007.
  • Sun Smart LLC, Smart Associates LLC and Port Clinton Properties LLC, 2004 - Present
    • Real estate holding companies specializing in vacation and commercial property rentals. Responsible for management, contract booking, website, growth and development.
  • West Park Estates, Inc., 1982 - 1991
    • Responsibilities included overall management of mobile home park consisting of 60 homes. Duties included management of revenue, sales, payroll, maintenance, taxes, and inventory.
  • Chem Materials Company, Inc., 1970 - 1991
    • Responsibilities included warehouse management, shipping and receiving, light maintenance, sales of industry chemicals for paints, pigments, rubbers and plastics.
  • Snow Man, Snow Plowing Service Owner and Operator, 1979 - 1986
    • Developed this business into what became Yard Smart, Inc.
  • Wild Sounds, President and Owner, 1980 - 1982
    • Professional Sound Reinforcement Rental

PUBLICATIONS:

  • The Landsculptor, a publication of the Michigan Green Industry Association, February, 2010
    • Bob Smart featured article, "Are You Billing What You Are Worth? Know Your Numbers"
  • Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 5, 2009
    • Bob Smart featured article, “Keep Driveways and Sidewalks Free of Snow When Selling a House”
  • Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 26, 2009
    • Bob Smart featured article, “Landscapers Share Tips for Fall Maintenance that Home Buyers Appreciate”
  • Snow Business Magazine, September 2008
    • Bob Smart/Smart Scapes featured article, “Superstars of Snow & Ice”
  • Snow Business Magazine, May 2008
    • Bob Smart featured cover article, “A Fresh Start”
  • Landscape Management Magazine, July 2005
    • Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. was awarded the (LM 110) annual list of “The Biggest and Best Companies in the Green Industry, Plus 10 Great Ones to Watch”
  • Snow Business Magazine, July 2005
    • Bob Smart featured article, “Cover All Your Bases to Get the Most Out of Your Business”
  • Cleveland Magazine, April 2004
    • Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. featured article, “Putting Landscapers to the Test”
  • Landscape Management Magazine “Leadership Insights”, March 2004
    • Bob Smart featured article, “Change the Power in It”
  • Landscape Management Magazine, January 2003
    • Bob Smart “Know Thy Costs”
  • Landscape Management Magazine, January 2001
    • Bob Smart My Way guest columnist, “Share Your Success with Employees”
  • Pro Magazine, November / December issue 2000
    • Yard Smart Inc. named as pro training challenge winner in national safety training campaign
  • Landscape Management Magazine, September 2000
    • Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. was awarded the (LM100) “Top 20 Great Smaller Companies in the Country”
  • Various Magazines, 1998
    • Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. National Ad Campaign for CLIP Software
      “Clip Gave Me My Life Back”

SEMINARS PRESENTED:

  • SIMA, 15th Annual Snow & Ice Symposium, June 23, 2012, Buffalo, NY
    • "Operational Efficiencies"
  • MVNLA Spring Clinic, Presenter, March 21, 2012, Youngstown, Ohio
    • "Taking Mowing to the Next Level and Making a Better Profit"
  • SIMA, Build A Bid Seminar, Presenter, August 11, 2011, Denver, Colorado
  • SIMA, Beyond The Bid Seminar, Presenter, July 28, 2011, Chicago, Illinois
  • SIMA, Snow And Ice Management Symposium, June 21-25, 2011, Schaumburg, Illinois
    • "How to Create A Winning RFP and Response"
  • MNLA, MTF, "GLTE" Great Lakes Trade Exposition, Presenter, January 10-12, 2011
    • "Know Your Production Numbers and Equipment"
    • "Business Marketing & Pricing; Pricing to Win Without Losing Money"
  • OTF, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Annual Conference and Show, Presenter, December 6-9, 2010
    • "Taking Mowing to the Next Level and Making A Better Profit"
    • "The Business of Snow Removal and Steps to Increase Profit"
  • MGIA, Michigan Green Industry Association 23rd Annual Trade Show and Convention, Presenter, March 2-3, 2010
    • “Knowing Your Production Numbers and Equipment”
    • “How to Make $$$ with a Cafeteria Style of Contracts”
    • “The Dos and Don’ts of Snow Removal”
  • SIMA, Education Committee Seminar, Presenter, multiple dates during 2008-09
    • “Build a Bid” This workshop introduces the main elements of bid building for snow and ice management provides hands-on tools and experience to enable practical application of these basis concepts.
  • SIMA, Snow and Ice Management Association 11th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium, Presenter, June 18-21, 2008
    • “Know Your Production Numbers and Equipment”
  • CENTS, Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show 78th Annual Ohio State University Nursery Short Course, Presenter, January 21-24, 2007
    • “How to Make Money with Snow Removal”
  • SIMA, Snow and Ice Management Association 9th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium, Presenter, June 14-17, 2006
    • “How to Make Money with Snow Removal”
  • PLNA, Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Conference, Presenter, February 7-9, 2006
    • “How to Make Money with Snow Removal”
  • SIMA, Snow and Ice Management Association 8th Annual Snow and Ice Symposium, Presenter, June 8-11, 2005
    • “How to Make Money with Snow Removal”
  • Polaris Career Center Liaison Meeting, Guest Speaker/Presenter, January 27, 2005
    • “Career Opportunities in the Nursery/Landscape, Snow & Ice Management Industries”
  • CLIP, 15th Annual Clip Users Conference, Presenter, November 10-13, 2004
    • “Learn the Methods to Magic for Your Company’s Success”
    • “How to Make Money with Snow Removal”
  • CLIP, 14th Annual Clip Users Conference, Presenter, November 19-21, 2004
    • “How to Make $$$ with Snow Removal”
  • CLIP, 12th Annual Clip Users Conference, Presenter, November 19-22, 2002
    • “A Sane Approach to Design Build – A System to Build Off Of”
  • Olmsted Falls School System, Career Day Speaker, February 22, 2001
    • “Careers in the Landscape and Snow and Ice Management Industry”
  • CLIP, 10th Annual Clip Users Conference, Presenter, November 14-17, 2000
    • “Teamwork/Profit Sharing and the Importance of Training with the Pro Training Challenge”
  • OLA, 5th Annual Ohio Landscapers Facility Tour, August 22, 1998
    • Facility tour of our grounds, business process and systems with approximately 150 attendees from Northeastern Ohio and surrounding areas

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  • OLA, Ohio Landscapers Association, 1987 – Present
    • Past President-Elect, 1999-2001
    • Board Member, 1998-2001
    • Directly responsible for the overall planning and coordination of OLA events
  • ONLA, Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, 1988 – Present
  • CLIP, 1991 - Present
    • Beta Tester/Strategic Planning Committee Member, 1991 – Present
    • Active member of the Annual CLIP Conference, 1998 - Present
    • Speaker at CLIP Conference, 2000 - Present
  • OFCC, Olmsted Falls Chamber of Commerce, 1992 – Present
    • Charter Member and Development Team Member of the Olmsted Community Business Association which is now the Olmsted Chamber of Commerce
  • OLCA, Ohio Lawn Care Association, 1992 - Present
  • ALCA, Associated Landscape Contractors of America, 1996 - Present
    (The organization is now officially called PLANET)
  • Polaris Vocational Center 1996 - Present
    • Advisory Board Member
    • Horticultural Advisory Committee Member
  • SIMA, Snow and Ice Management Association, 1998 – Present
    • SIMA Board of Directors, 2010 - Present
    • SIMA Conference Committee Member, 2003 - Present
    • SIMA Certification Committee Member, 2003 - Present
    • SIMA Mentoring Program and Mentor, 2003 - Present
    • SIMA Conference Speaker, 2003 - Present
    • SIMA Build A Bid Committee Member, 2003 - Present
    • SIMA Build A Bid Presenter, 2003 - Present
  • OTF, Ohio Turfgrass Foundation, 1999 - Present
  • ICPI, Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, 2006 - Present
  • Meyer Official Test Plow Company 2007 – Present
    • We represent one of the testing companies for Meyer Snow Plowing Equipment where we mount, use, test and report back to the manufacturer about their snow & ice management equipment
  • MGIA, Michigan Green Industry Association, 2008 – Present
    • Conference Speaker, 2010

AWARDS:

  • Snow Business Magazine Cover, "A Fresh Start," May 2008
  • SIMA (Snow and Ice Management Association)
    • National Award For Excellence in Business 2004
    • Top Recruiter for 2004 and 2005
    • Volunteer Of The Year 2005
  • ALCA (Associated Landscape Contractors of America, Now called PLANET)
    • Over 10 years of National Safety Awards as Yard Smart, Inc.
    • Olmsted Falls Architecture Board Of Review
    • Robert Smart’s property and business location was awarded: “A Toast of the Town: Exemplary Landscaping & Highly Individualized Setting”, 2001
  • Landscape Management
    • In September of 2000, Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. was awarded the (LM 100) “Top 20 Great Smaller Companies in the Country”
    • In July of 2005, Bob Smart/Yard Smart Inc. was awarded the (LM 110) annual list of “The Biggest and Best Companies in the Green Industry, Plus 10 Great Ones to Watch”
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars of The United States Of America
    • Robert Smart/Yard Smart Inc. In recognition and grateful appreciation for the services rendered to operation greenscape 9-11-02, VFW Post 6676

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