Here we are in February when the days are quite short but are (thankfully) incrementally becoming longer. The temperatures have dropped, all the leaves have fallen, and I, like many of us, feel the urge to hibernate. The “off-season” as I refer to it, can also be an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the year that was. Perhaps we may realize that we have reached a goal or crossed a milestone along the way.

As milestones go, 25 years is a mark that has a generational feel to it. The New Hampshire Landscape Association (NHLA) has recently reached the 25th Anniversary of its Certification Program. What began as an idea grew into a valuable educational opportunity and program supported and contributed to by so many people over the last 25 years that it merits recognition.

The thought of a landscape professional certification all started with a conversation sometime around the mid to late 1990s. A couple of landscape industry professionals and NHLA members, Dave Alessandroni and Rick Rideout, saw each other shopping for plants at Millican Nurseries. They started talking about what they did every day and how things were going in general. The conversation moved quickly to how professionalism can shape the public’s perception of the landscape industry. After many more discussions, a committee of volunteers organized and developed a process for the certification of a landscape professional. The newly formed committee then had to pitch the idea to the NHLA Board and essentially market the idea to the membership.

The original Certification Committee was formed by a group of educators and professionals: Dana Sansom (Thompson School of Ag), Anne Colby Hines, Betsy Hoffman, Dave Alessandroni, Kiki Bean, Chris Beasley, Sandy Burt, Paul James, Chuck Simpson, and Kerry Stefanski. With a Certification Committee in place, the New England Certification Council was joined to gain information on how the process was implemented in other New England states. The next step in the process was writing a manual and then an exam, given in two parts – one part on the manual and another on plant ID. As Dave Alessandroni recalls, there were several other NHLA members involved all, lending their time and efforts to develop portions of the manual to be reviewed by the committee.

Getting approval for the Certification Program by the NHLA membership was not a forgone conclusion. I remember going to an annual meeting in the late ’90s and listening to a round table discussion about adopting the program. I was shocked that there was pushback from some accomplished company owners. One of the objections questioned the need for an exam, and how it could lead to the NHLA using the certification program to issue a ‘license’ for some landscapers and not others just because they didn’t participate. I thought as I sat there, that there seemed to be a mistrust of the education process, perhaps born from a general fear of taking exams? Eventually, by making the program voluntary and giving the NHCLP designation to individuals, it ultimately brought enough support for the program to overcome any resistance.

I asked some of the people who were in the original group who became Certified Landscape Professionals about their impressions of the process then and how they felt about the program.

Paul James said that he didn’t know what to call himself since there was no licensing at the time, there was no pre-eminent suffix to add to his title. Being able to say, ‘I’m an NHCLP’ was important. The networking that followed became a regular event as Paul chaired the Certification Committee for several years to follow.

Kerry & Sean Sweeney, who both became NHCLP’s in the first year it was offered, have now also been certified for 25 years. They cited networking, enhanced expertise,and recognition in the industry as ways to stand out in the market. The certification program gave them that.

Elizabeth Stavru became an NHCLP while working for Pellettieri Associates and remembers studying for hours with Kerry and how proud they both were when they passed the exam. Elizabeth, now as a business owner, encourages her employees to get certified.

The support the Certification Program has received from businesses over the years is incredible and key to its on-going success. With professionalism at the forefront, the Certification Program is plainly a win-win; boosting your employee’s sense of value while adding a knowledgeable employee to your team. This resource for growth and development in landscape is a benefit all NHLA members should take advantage of.

So here we are, 25 years later. The process is essentially the same. Each year there is a written exam given in March and an ID exam in September. Each year roughly 20 people take the exams. Those that pass each exam burst with excitement and pride, especially once both exams are passed and the NHCLP title is earned. 195 people have become NHCLPs over that time and there are currently 68 active NHCLPs. Every year the NHCLPs can renew their certification, and most do.

What has changed over the years? Some people have left for other industries, others have retired. Sadly, some are no longer with us. The UNH Horticulture program that used to host our exam has closed. Thanks, and props to the nurseries that sponsor our process. Thanks as well to the companies that keep encouraging their employees to sign up to become certified.

There is still a Certification Committee that meets regularly. The committee is made up of NHCLPs that help to continuously update the process and manual. It is, as it has always been, made up of a group of volunteers dedicated to the process, whose efforts I appreciate each time we meet (mostly remotely, but live). Thank you – Dave A., John, Jenny, Emily, Daisy, Kristy, Riley, and Amanda. And of course, a big thank you to our coordinator and the person who essentially does everything, Abby Z. Thank you, Abby, for all you do! We welcome anyone who is an NHCLP, to participate on the committee; our door is always open.

— by Malcolm ‘Mac’ McPhail, current Chair of the NHLA Certification Committee

NHCLP Anniversaries

The NHLA Certification Committee would like to acknowledge the anniversaries of these NHCLPs. This achievement reflects their commitment to continued leadership, learning, and engagement in the landscape industry. We appreciate your continued leadership!

25 year
Dana Sansom #1
Thompson School of Applied Science – Retired,
Epsom, NH

David Alessandroni #3
Individual Landscape Designer – Retired,
Wolfeboro Falls, NH

Kiki Bean #4
Surfside Landscape, Hampton, NH

Paul T. James #11
Landscape Matters, Hampton, NH

Elizabeth Stavru #16
Stone Blossom Landscape & Design, Manchester, NH

Kerry Sweeney #17
Blue Ribbon Property Improvements, Goffstown, NH

Sean Sweeney #19
Blue Ribbon Property Improvements, Hooksett, NH

20 year
Malcolm McPhail #49
United Ag & Turf, Pembroke, NH

15 year
Elene Arguropoulos #79
DS Jolie Landscapes, Raymond, NH

10 Year
Mark Ernst #141
Rochester, NH

5 Year
Tim Ross # 162
Carroll County Landscape, Gilford, NH