All Night Drive Paid Off

Nikos Phelps, Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Utopian Landscapes, LLC

“My first GIC was 2007,” recalled Nikos Phelps.  “I remember it well, since I drove all through the night to get there.” Upon arrival, like other first-time GIC attendees, the owner of Utopian Landscapes in Harrisburg, Penn., said he was “overwhelmed” by the number of industry professionals attending the conference and their willingness to openly share their knowledge and experience.

“Going to GIC and being a PLANET member have given me a broader perspective of the industry,” he related. “It showed me how truly professional this industry is and that no matter how successful or professional you think you are, there is always room for improvement.  In other words, you can’t judge your level of success or professionalism by comparing it only to your competition back home.”   

Phelps was introduced to PLANET through his involvement with Student Career Days (SCD).  He competed at two events while attending Penn State University  and, upon graduation, joined PLANET as a service provider member.  Today, his company offers design/build, landscape management, and outdoor lighting services, and generates approximately $500,000 in sales annually.

“Certainly, one important thing I’ve learned from attending GIC and talking with other PLANET members is how to increase my company’s profitability,” Phelps noted.  “My top line hasn’t really changed over the past few years, but what has changed is how much revenue actually falls to the bottom line. I’ve heard over and over again at GIC that selling a job is easy; being profitable is the hard part.”

Even after attending seven GICs, Phelps said that meeting new people is still among things he enjoys doing there.  He considers the Breakfast with Champions networking session to be the premier event of the conference and looks forward to the specialty group focus groups.   

“For the last three years I’ve attended the design/build focus group.  Each year, two or three important topics are put up for discussion.  The group is divided among three or four tables with eight people at each. Then, at the end the session, the tables’ comments or solutions are presented to the group as a whole.” Typical topics, he mentioned, would be innovative employee incentives or how to effectively track job costs.  

“I take home bits and pieces every year from what I learn at GIC,” said Phelps, noting that his company would not be where it is today without him being a PLANET member and attending the conference.  Going back to his PLANET roots, he sees programs like Student Career Days as fundamental to the industry’s future.  The industry, though, struggles getting out the message that it offers a wealth of career opportunities.

“We need to somehow start communicating to younger students in high school and even middle school about our industry and what we do,” he emphasized.  “It starts with the parents, too, who may not view our industry as a viable one for their children.  One day at GIC would change their minds forever.”