SIMA Blog

Narrowing the window of liability

By Martin Tirado
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Narrowing the window of liability Ontario Limits Slip and Fall Litigation — is the US next? Martin Tirado, CEO Many snow and ice companies in Ontario have recently faced massive increases in their insurance premiums. Sound familiar? Relevant to all of us, the increasing nature of loss claims and the threat of expensive litigation resulting from snow and ice slip and falls is the primary cause of these insurance increases.  All credit due to the members and staff of Landscape Ontario as they obtained support through a member of Parliament to pass the The Occupiers’ Liability Amendment Act, which took effect on January 1, 2021. For those who ...

SIMA's New Strategic Outcomes

By Martin Tirado
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In January, Wayne Michalak, CSP, took the helm as the new chair of SIMA's board of directors.  Heading into 2021, he's and the board are also embracing a new set of outcomes for SIMA to address. It boils down to these 3 areas: 1. Snow and ice professionals will have access to comprehensive role-focused education and resources to gain knowledge for the long-term success of themselves and their team. 2. SIMA member companies will benefit from access to business resources and participation in a growing peer-to-peer community. 3. SIMA is the industry leader in the creation of and advocacy for recognized best practices and standards of excellence for ...

COVID-19 Vaccine for Essential Critical Infrastructure Work

By Martin Tirado
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The impact of COVID-19 has affected all of us. As the vaccine is being implemented throughout North America, and globally, snow and ice workers clearly play a role in it's distribution as "Essential Critical Infrastructure Work". As such, SIMA is distributing this request to all state and provincial health departments in charge of vaccine distribution. In the United States, our roles can be found in several areas of importance in Phase 1, as described here: https://bit.ly/2Xqri6K . Please use this statement as needed to send to your local health department. Getting the COVID-19 is optional, and snow and ice professionals should have this option in Phase 1 of ...

Looking forward with hope and purpose

By Cheryl Higley
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If there is one word to describe our industry and your association, it’s resiliency — and that goes well beyond just managing the turmoil of 2020. The very nature of snow and ice management can put us on our heels at a moment’s notice, but we have no choice for the safety of our teams and our clients’ sites to power through. The same can be said for your SIMA team and your board of directors, who are tasked with building and executing a vision that contributes to the success and support of our members and, by extension, the association. Central to that mission is ensuring that the board prioritizes outcomes and initiatives that embody SIMA’s mission: empowering ...

SIMA launches Compass Network - a new opportunity for commercial snow pros

By Brian Birch
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2020 has made us realize that we don’t need to wait until the Symposium every year to engage with our most loyal long-term members, and that SIMA has the technology and skill to help connect high-powered commercial snow management firms throughout the year. And the biggest plus? No travel required! SIMA’s Compass Network enables you and your snow team to learn and grow with other snow companies from all across North America. The goal is for the network to help your snow team members: Align with accomplished professionals at crucial times during the year. Develop deeper industry relationships for the key members of your snow team. Explore diverse ...

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Snow and Ice Workforce

By Martin Tirado
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In a recent member survey, workforce availability was indicated as the #1 challenge that will impact business growth in the next three years. This labor challenge is not new, however it may be exacerbated by the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 which will temporarily suspend their availability in the workforce. Add to that the typical seasonal flu season and this winter may present some significant challenges for snow and ice companies to perform their essential services.  As a result, SIMA is issuing the following press release to encourage all snow and ice service companies to be diligent in their health and sanitation practices, to educate their ...

Volunteering for Snow & Ice - A New Way to Engage

By Martin Tirado
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Committees are boring. I’ve served on several and managed many others, so I’ve experienced the good, bad and indifferent. The good is they are an easy way to meet new people while sharing and learning. They do offer a way to give back and get more involved. Honestly though, they often aren’t that exciting. This said, for SIMA and the snow and ice industry to continue growing and improving, we must get together and exchange ideas and best practices. With some new technology, we now have a means to make peer-to-peer engagement a little more exciting, all while working on specific topics in snow and ice management.  Join SIMA and other snow professionals ...

Oct. 28th to feature industry-first Liquid Brine Strategy Workshop online

By Brian Birch
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In early October SIMA was slated to deliver several days of in-person training, including a full-day workshop on liquids. Due to challenges related to COVID-19, the in-person events have been postponed to the future. However, the demand for quality liquids-focused training is needed more than ever, so we are excited to announce that we have moved to a virtual Liquid Brine Strategy Workshop. Adding brine to your ice management toolbox requires a careful approach that blends strategy, cost analysis, science and application best practices. In this 5-hour online event we’re going to dispel the myth that “Liquids just don’t work” with a mix of classroom exercises, ...

ASM & CSP Scholarship Applications Are Now Open (9/21 - 10/2)

By Chris Dix
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Thanks to the generosity of BOSS Snowplow, we can help place one of these high-quality programs at your fingertips, FOR FREE.  The Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) has rolled out it's bi-annual scholarship for anyone in the industry to take advantage of. Anyone looking to earn either the Advanced Snow Manager (ASM) or the Certified Snow Professional (CSP) credentials can enter for a chance to be selected. Submissions are kept completely confidential and are selected based on key metrics, sincerity and thoughtfulness of submissions. 1 Full CSP application + study modules (must meet prerequisites) 1 Full Advanced Snow Manager ...

SIMA All-Access Pass is Ready to Train

By Brian Birch
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For years, our SIMA annual training videos have helped train new hires and operations professionals to be safer and more efficient in the work that they do. They have really become the 'standard' in annual snow-specific refresher training. But building a quality safety and training program for a larger number of employees takes a lot of time and resources, until now! Now you can use SIMA to verify basic knowledge of safety and techniques for all of your employees, available anywhere, anytime. Access for all part-time or full time employees, no logins or registrations required Automated quizzing and quiz completion reporting Private web-based dashboard ...

TOP 10 REASONS TO JOIN THE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

By Cheryl Higley
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We know it's not what we're used to but we can't let a year go by without providing education, networking and yes, even the trade show! The 23rd Annual Snow & Ice Symposium is going virtual for 2020. Here are 10 reasons we hop you'll give the virtual event a try! Supersized education : Access to 25+ sessions, live and on demand, covering every role in snow and ice! CSP credits galore : Satisfy your Certified Snow Professional continuing education requirements in just 3 days! The more the merrier : Whether you’re a Symposium die hare, have never been to a Symposium or maybe have always wanted to bring your team? 2020 is ...

Come have coffee - 5 weeks of easy peer networking

By Brian Birch
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Don't let 2020 keep you from connecting... We are busy over here trying to to ensure that all the connections you have made (or would like to make!) will not suffer due to the challenges of 2020. Yes, we had to cancel our physical symposium -- and no, we will not let that stop us from our goal of creating more and better relationships between all of you...whatever it takes! With that in mind, every Wednesday we will be having a 30 minute Coffee Time for all of us to get together in a simple, useful roundtable virtual platform called Remo . It is super easy, just create an account in less than a minute and engage with us. No downloads, no complicated tech ...

Opportunity Amid Chaos

By Martin Tirado
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Opportunity Amid Chaos By Laura Ingram, CSP; SIMA Board Chair After a devastating first half to 2020, we’re seeing a ramp-up of countries reopening for business, despite the uncertainty of the impact and a possible resurgence of the coronavirus. We can’t stress enough how proud SIMA is of our industry’s response to the pandemic. Despite the economic and social upheaval, forward-thinking organizations are looking for opportunities to innovate, become more efficient and create stronger businesses. The same goes for your membership organization! We have strong core values at SIMA, and we’re using them to sustain us as we look to the future. Innovation ...

SIMA Symposium to be a Virtual Event in 2020

By Martin Tirado
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SIMA Members and Supporters, Earlier this week we were notified by the Connecticut Convention Center, our host facility for the 2020 Symposium, that they would not be able to open this August to host events. These are challenging times dealing with the health and safety impact of COVID-19, and we have been preparing for the possibility that large events would not be able to be held in the near future. Therefore, SIMA will transition to a virtual Symposium to be held August 26-28, 2020 . As many of you know, the Snow & Ice Symposium is SIMA’s signature event. We are both saddened and disappointed that we will not be able to have an in-person Symposium ...

SIMA Video Training Pilot Program Takes Off in 2020

By Brian Birch
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Delivering quality snow-specific training is difficult. It’s hard to find the time to create your own, and it’s even harder to find quality information that is well-vetted and based on solid practices. For over 15 years, the SIMA Annual Training Video series has served as the standard training program for the industry. After revamping the video program in 2016, the 6-part series is now available for purchase on DVD or online at Train.sima.org. In 2020, SIMA is piloting a program to provide broader access to the videos. This program will allow companies to pay an annual fee that enables access to quality on-demand videos for unlimited employees. Pricing will ...

Spend Spring on Credentialing: Savings Available for ASM & CSP

By Chris Dix
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SIMA wants to make our Advanced Snow Manager (ASM) and Certified Snow Professional (CSP) credential programs as accessible as possible. Thanks to the generosity of BOSS Snowplow, we can help place one of these high-quality programs at your fingertips. Program discounts through May 21, 2020 • $50 off CSP application, per person • $50 off an ASM Team Plan (2 or more people training). Team plans also include structured incentives. • Your company’s $200 Training Commitment credit can also be applied to CSP or ASM programs if it has not been used in your current membership cycle. Need more information on team plans or training commitment? Email Manager ...

Symposium rescheduled for August 25-28, 2020

By Martin Tirado
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After careful consideration, the SIMA board of directors has voted to postpone the 2020 Snow & Ice Symposium to August 25-28, 2020 from it’s originally scheduled dates in mid-June. In light of the ongoing developments of the coronavirus, this was the appropriate decision at this time.  The good news is that the Connecticut Convention Center and our partner hotels were able to offer SIMA the needed exhibit space, meeting rooms and hotel rooms to hold a successful event. Most of the speakers scheduled for June are able to be there in late August, with a few exceptions that we are planning for. The Symposium in August will still provide you with ...

Update on SIMA Symposium 2020

By Martin Tirado
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March 12, 2020 With news and concerns about COVID-19 (coronavirus) continuing to headline many news stories, this topic has raised concerns about upcoming SIMA events, specifically the Snow & Ice Symposium scheduled for June 16-19, 2020 in Hartford, CT. SIMA’s purpose is to support and empower our members for success, thus, the health and safety of our members is our number one priority.  At this time, the Symposium, which is more than three months away, is scheduled to proceed as planned. As news about COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues, we will post Symposium updates related to this health issue here . Myself and our Symposium planning team have ...

Engagement trade out - we’ll support you and you support us

By Stephanie Orvis
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Just like any company, SIMA puts its yearly budget to things that we find will benefit our members each year. Of course, more money would always be better (in all facets of life) but we do our research to use what we’re given wisely. We work hard daily to get you, our association members and industry stakeholders, the best resources, tools, and information we can. Being a member, however, can’t be a one-way street. If you’re a SIMA member, you get the benefit of a number of discounted products , from marketing to consulting, big machines to plows and snow stakes. We need YOU to help us grow the awareness of the industry, and something as ...

2020 Scholarships opening on March 16th for snow credentials

By Brian Birch
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It's Spring scholarship time again! While many folks are leaving winter in the dust, we are just ramping up our efforts to help connect more snow professionals in the industry with our core training and credentialing programs. From  March 16th-April 3rd , soliciting applications for scholarship applications. SIMA will award one of each: 1 Full CSP application+modules (must meet prerequisites) 1 Full Advanced Snow Manager courses 1 Fundamentals of Anti-icing and Liquids Course TO SUBMIT ENTRIES Not only are we providing scholarships again, but starting on April 8th we'll also offer discounts on the ASM and CSP programs. If you are considering ...