Recently, I read a deposition where the deponent stated “it’s not like there is a college or university where we can go learn about snowplowing”. It was a true statement. Of course there are on-going educational opportunities for snow contractors, but those are ancillary adjunct programs put forth by various organizations. Do not misunderstand my point – those programs are very, very good. SIMA has some outstanding on-going programs. ASCA is developing educational programs too, as well as an overall certification program through the ISO folks.
I was instrumental in putting together many of the SIMA programs. I am involved with ASCA as it begins its growth initiatives. Various state and provincial non-profit organizations put on regular educational functions geared towards the snow industry. I have spoken at many of them. The municipal market has an annual snow trade show or two, geared towards equipment. There are two trade magazines dedicated to the snow contracting industry. Over the past 15 years there have been great strides made in the area of equipment advancement, business acumen and learning from each other as the industry matures at a good pace.
However, as made clear by the contractor in the deposition noted above – there is nothing geared strictly towards educating all facets of the snow industry (contractors, municipalities in snow regions of the country, streets departments, property managers, institutional facility managers, etc.) on how to do their jobs better as it relates to “snow”. In my opinion, this must change if the industry is going to continue to evolve as it needs to.
I have spent the last 12 months developing a plan for initial, on-going and continuing education of those involved in the snow and ice management industry throughout North America. Snowfighters University has been launched in Erie, PA. Yes – this is my idea, and I have been instrumental in getting this off the ground. I have had help from others – as is always the case when something new is tried.
We are in the final stages of construction of an educational facility geared solely towards educating those involved in “snow” issues across a wide range of competencies within the entire snow and ice management spectrum. Classroom and field instruction with a curriculum that will eventually allow those considering entering the snow management business (as a contractor, employee, sub-contractor, manager of snow operations in many areas of the snow business) to be educated on many, if not all, facets of the overall business.
Imagine facility managers becoming educated on how to deal with snow contractors professionally. Imagine those running large snow operations (private or municipal) actually understanding how salt “works”. Imagine the snow industry being given the same respect as building contractors, roofing contractors and landscapers. I imagine these things and dream of how we can get there.
It is not my intent to ‘compete’ with SIMA or ASCA. I have a slightly different dream than what those two fine organizations want to achieve in terms of educating ALL who are involved in the snow industry. However, we must start somewhere – and starting with the snow contracting business is where I’m most comfortable. We did an initial “boot camp” type event with a small sampling of potential students recently, so as to work the bugs out of what we want to accomplish initially.
GIE Media Group has handed over the reins of the Inner Circle event to Snowfighters University. Held multiple times in 2009 and 2010, the Inner Circle was a success inasmuch as the attendees were enthusiastically complimentary of the interaction between non-competing snow contractors bent on educating each other (with guidance from various facilitators) on various aspects of the snow contracting business.
The 2012 Inner Circle will be held April 23-26 in our newly constructed education facility in Erie, PA. Past attendees will be given first option to return for this enhanced, restyled and advanced event. The opportunity to attend will then be open to others in the industry. Attendance – as in the past – will be limited and we will not allow any “competitors” to be a part of the same group during the same Inner Circle event. In this way, there will be no reason for attendees to shy away from discussing their own operation for fear of giving out “company trade secrets” that can be used against them.
More formal announcements will be forthcoming through the national trade press, direct mail and on the Snowfighters University website – www.snowfightersuniversity.com .