by Andrew Pelkey
January 2026There’s something invigorating about the start of a new year. Fresh goals, new momentum, and a renewed commitment to the work we love. While things may be quieter this time of year, our industry never stops growing, and neither do we. January is the perfect time to build knowledge, strengthen connections, and prepare for a successful season ahead.
I’m especially excited about two outstanding NHLA events that showcase how we’re moving forward together. First, the January 22 NHLA Dinner Meeting. This evening includes networking, appetizers, and two informative presentations, plus a buffet dinner. The featured session – Safety First Certified – unveils a new Worksite Safety Certificate Program developed in partnership with NHTI. Designed for crew members and team leaders, this six-week course launching in March will combine expert instruction with real-world relevance and is built to be both effective and affordable. We’ll also hear from Cross Insurance, a longtime regional partner offering risk management tools tailored to our industry. Register here.
Looking a bit further ahead, don’t miss the Winter Identification of Deciduous Woody Landscape Plants course on February 18 in Exeter, NH. Led by NHCLP Coordinator Abby Zuidema, this hands-on class will deepen your plant ID skills using winter markers like buds, bark, and twigs – essential knowledge for year-round professionals. It’s a fantastic opportunity to stay sharp, earn 2 NHCLP credits, and reconnect with the natural detail that makes our work so rewarding. Register here.
And then on February 19, we have our second Dinner Meeting of the season, this one in Manchester. The program, Transform Your Frontline Operations with CrewHero will introduce this powerful software solution designed to streamline and enhance the operations of service-based businesses like yours. Join us for a live demonstration and see how CrewHero will change the landscape game. Register here.
Before closing, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank Cori Cahow, who has officially stepped down from the NHLA Board after many years of dedicated service. Cori has been a steady voice of insight and experience within our leadership, and her commitment to the Association has made a lasting impact. We are deeply grateful for the time and heart she has given to NHLA. We wish her continued success with her fine gardening business and hope to see her at many of our events in the future. This leaves us with an open seat on the Board. Please contact me if you are interested in filling this position. We can guarantee you will find it rewarding.
These moments remind us that NHLA is more than an Association, it’s a community. Let’s start this year strong by showing up, learning together, and supporting the kind of industry we all want to be part of.