7:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

7:30 a.m.-8:20 a.m.

Water Wasters Anonymous: A 12 Step Program for Efficiency & Conservation
Chris Keating, CID, The Toro Company

This course challenges NC licensed irrigation contractors to confront their habits and set higher quality standards. It illustrates how even new systems can quickly become outdated, and provides strategies to proactively upgrade and optimize
efficiency.

The content is designed to push participants out of their comfort zones, forcing a critical self-assessment. But the payoff is the ability to deliver significantly improved water conservation and client satisfaction - aligning with the NC Irrigation Contractor Licensing
Board's mandate to uphold the highest professional standards.

This course is not for the faint of heart, but the invaluable insights will empower NC irrigation contractors to elevate their operations and stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly evolving industry.

8:30 a.m.-9:20 a.m.

Irrigation Service Success
Clark O'Neill, Carolinas Irrigation Association

Learn how to capitalize on the lucrative demand for skilled repair services from Clark O-Neill, a 35-year industry veteran. Beyond technical know-how, you'll learn efficient scheduling, routing, and tactics to deliver exceptional customer service and drive repeat
business.

Many contractors overlook this opportunity, leaving significant revenue potential untapped. By diversifying your service offerings, you can enhance your overall profitability and long-term sustainability - all while meeting the standards set by the NC Irrigation
Contractor Licensing Board.

9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m.

Managing Soil Moisture Beyond Traditional Methods
Kurt Thompson, CIC, CID, CLWN, CLIA, CGIA, CIT, IrriTech Training and Brian Copeland, Heritage Landscape Supply Group, Inc.

While the tools to manage the landscape continue to become more sophisticated, knowing how best to select and apply them gets more complicated. As a key element of managing the landscape, managing the soil moisture directly affects the plant health, appearance, and cost of ownership of the landscape. Once the landscape and irrigation has been installed, industry statistics overwhelming show that a significant majority of the soil moisture management falls to the landscape maintenance contractor or the scarce irrigation management company. The need for horticultural knowledge which more landscape professionals possess may be a good reason for this fact. But that ill prepares them to select and apply the vast number of tools available to monitor and manage soil moisture.

This course explains different methods for landscape and irrigation contractors, irrigation managers, or landscape and irrigation maintenance contractors to make technical-based decisions on matching the features of these soil moisture management tools to the landscape conditions and the needs of the customers.

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Carolinas Irrigation Association Annual Business Meeting
Carolinas Irrigation Association

This half-hour business meeting provides updates on green industry legislative issues, market updates, and policy trends applicable to the professional contractor. Learn how you can become an integral part of your industry through volunteering with the CIA.

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Trade Show & Lunch
Two-hour trade show and networking event featuring industry products and services for the professional contractor. Contractors will get the opportunity to make connections with distributors and manufacturers as well as learn about the latest products and services to better serve the irrigation industry and their companies.

1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m.

Large Turf Rotors aka Big Ol' Sprinkler Heads
Jim Laiche, The Toro Company

As the irrigation industry continues to grow, it is crucial for licensed contractors in North Carolina to stay up-to-date on the latest applications, design, and installation recommendations for large turf sprinkler heads, swing joints, and accessory products. This specialized knowledge is essential, as mistakes in this segment of the industry can be costly.

This continuing education course provides in-depth training on large turf sprinkler systems, equipping NC licensed irrigation contractors with the expertise needed to properly design, install, and maintain these complex components. By attending this class, participants will gain the necessary skills to "do it right" and ensure compliance with the state's licensing requirements under 89G.

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m.

Building a Team Culture
Charles Lopez, SPHR, Greenscape

Successful organizations today recognize the value of cultivating a positive company culture aligned with their vision, values, and mission. This shift from managing employees to actively leading a team can significantly impact organizational performance and
longevity.

By prioritizing communication, learning, appreciation, teamwork, and safety, leaders can develop their team in a way that engages and empowers everyone toward a common goal. This approach benefits the overall culture and supports the profitability and sustainability of licensed contractors, especially in the face of labor shortages. Within the context of the North Carolina Irrigation Contractor Licensing Statute (89G) and the North Carolina Landscape Contractor Licensing Statue (89D), this cultural shift is particularly relevant. Employee retention is critical for licensed contractors to maintain compliance and thrive in the industry. By fostering a positive work environment that attracts and retains qualified personnel, contractors can position themselves for long-term success.

3:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m.

Preparing for the New NCICLB Exam
Kurt Thompson, CIC, CID, CLWN, CLIA, CGIA, CIT, IrriTech Training

(may be purchased independently if desired)

The NCICLB has created a new irrigation contractor license exam that is focused on the minimum standards for the skills and knowledge required to successfully meet the requirements to be an irrigation contractor.

This 1-hour course will introduce the new exam content format, review the application requirements and process, as well as give guidelines to using the study materials to prepare for the exam. It is ideal for both an individual wanting to obtain a NCLCLB license AND those companies needing to have additional licensees as part of their growth or succession planning. It will be the perfect forum to get all your questions answered.