SIMA Blog

Come have coffee - 5 weeks of easy peer networking

By Brian Birch posted 2 days ago
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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 ...
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Opportunity Amid Chaos

By Martin Tirado posted 23 days ago
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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 ...
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SIMA Symposium to be a Virtual Event in 2020

By Martin Tirado posted 06-04-2020
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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 ...
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SIMA Video Training Pilot Program Takes Off in 2020

By Brian Birch posted 05-06-2020
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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 ...
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Spend Spring on Credentialing: Savings Available for ASM & CSP

By Chris Dix posted 04-28-2020
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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 ...
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Symposium rescheduled for August 25-28, 2020

By Martin Tirado posted 04-06-2020
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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 ...
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Update on SIMA Symposium 2020

By Martin Tirado posted 03-12-2020
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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 ...
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Engagement trade out - we’ll support you and you support us

By Stephanie Orvis posted 03-11-2020
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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 ...
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2020 Scholarships opening on March 16th for snow credentials

By Brian Birch posted 03-11-2020
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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 ...
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ANSI Approves Snow and Ice Procurement Standard

By Martin Tirado posted 02-25-2020
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Through the culmination of several years of discussions and engagement with a variety of members, property and facility managers and other stakeholders, we are proud and excited to announce that ANSI has approved SIMA’s first standard titled: Standard Practice for Procuring and Planning Snow and Ice Management Services . Standards are not meant to sit in a trophy case. SIMA has long been an advocate of the concept that any practice can become a standard when such practice is widely and broadly adopted. As an example, seat belts do not make driving a car or truck safer. When seat belts are used, when you click-in, then driving or being a passenger ...
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Schedule announced for 2020 SIMA Leadership Forum!

By Martin Tirado posted 01-13-2020
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We are excited to announce the speakers and lineup for SIMA’s Leadership Forum , to be held on August 11-13, 2020 at the beautiful, historic Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Florida. This event is a must-attend if you are a leader, owner or executive in a snow and ice company and want to learn and make connections to grow your company and personally. The focus will be to Think Big - Connect - Chill. The powerful takeaway of attending this unique event is that the four core parts of growth will be addressed by our incredible lineup of speakers.  DAY 1: Warren Rustand a serial entrepreneur and co-founder and Dean of Faculty at the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s ...
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SIMA New Years Resolutions

By Brian Birch posted 01-03-2020
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In late 2019, we sent our annual report, the State of SIMA, to members across North America. Each year, we review our progress in key areas, report transparently to our members on finances and performance, and we let members know our annual goals for the following year.  Here is a recap of what we'll try and achieve in 2020 with the help of our great staff and amazing volunteers! We are piloting a method to allow members to access the Training Video Series in bulk, where they pay one fee and can put their people through the videos quickly, along with a simple quizzing option. We hope this will make one of our core training products even more accessible ...
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ANSI Publishes Draft Snow and Ice Standard for Comment

By Martin Tirado posted 11-19-2019
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In the November 8, 2019 edition of the Standards Action , published by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), SIMA’s draft Standard Practice for Procuring and Planning Snow and Ice Management Services was published for public comment . A SIMA stakeholder advisory group has been diligently reviewing and editing the standard for the past 6 months in preparation for public review. To review and comment on the draft standard, and view additional information on SIMA’s snow and ice standards creation, visit www.sima.org/standards . As you review the draft you will see the standard includes the essential components that are needed to ...
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SIMA Welcomes Kerri Joseph as Senior Manager, Engagement & Development

By Brian Birch posted 11-04-2019
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As the Snow & Ice Management Association grows, our need for talented staff grows with it. We are pleased to welcome Kerri Joseph into the SIMA fold, where her wealth of knowledge and experience will help us improve our support to a key constituency: our supplier members. Kerri has a diverse background in sales and development, with over 20 years of experience in the association, hotel and tourism industries. Her core focus will be to lead sales efforts for exhibit space, sponsorship, and print and digital advertising. Get to know Kerri: What are you most excited about in your new role at SIMA? Kerri : I am so excited to meet people! I have heard ...
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Snow Business seeks new contributors

By Cheryl Higley posted 10-18-2019
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Snow Business is seeking new contributors for 2020! If you have snow and ice industry specific knowledge (or know someone who does), peer-driven content is needed in the following areas: Liability & Risk Management / Business Law Leadership Small Business Ownership Ice Management Field Operations Sales Finance Insurance You'll have the support of the editorial team and the Editorial Advisory Committee to help guide and support you. With 6 issues, you can contribute as much as or as little as you like. SIMA thrives on building relationships and connections in the industry — this is a great way to give back and help strengthen the industry. Let ...
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SIMA at Landscapes and GIExpo in Louisville

By Martin Tirado posted 10-07-2019
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As the industry grows, there is more and more education focused on it. This is exciting, and we here at SIMA are looking forward to the Landscapes 2019 Show in Louisville, KY this month. NALP is really putting their best foot forward with a new Snow & Ice Specialty Summit at their show this year, and we are a proud supporter of this event. Here is a quick breakdown of the sessions attendees of this event will be able to see, you can register as well here : Note: all snow and ice specialty summit sessions are at the Omni Louisville Hotel Standards And Best Practices In Snow And Ice Martin Tirado, CEO, SIMA & Mike Mason, CSP, ...
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ASM & CSP Scholarship Applications Now Open

By Chris Dix posted 09-09-2019
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In the fall and the spring, the Snow & Ice Management Association has rolled out a 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. Historically this has been sponsored by a major industry supplier (like Boss Snow Plows) and administered by SIMA staff. Submissions are kept completely confidential and are selected based on key metrics, sincerity and thoughtfulness of submissions. It is staff’s responsibility to comb through submissions with the help of an unbiased advisory group to ...
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Peer speakers drive SIMA Field Ops Deep Dive

By Cheryl Higley posted 09-05-2019
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One of my favorite things about the snow and ice management industry is the willingness by its members to share their successes and challenges. It’s one of the reasons the SIMA Symposium’s education is so powerful — it’s delivered by the people who’ve found success in a difficult industry and want to help others do the same.  Whether I’m asking someone to write a story for Snow Business or to give hours of their time to prepare a session for the show, rarely have I been turned down. Maybe it’s my charm and power of persuasion (ha!), but I like to think that people say yes because they want to give back to the industry, knowing that sharing their knowledge ...
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SIMA seeking individuals to pilot new liquids online course

By Brian Birch posted 09-04-2019
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Our industry is maturing at a rapid pace, and we want to ensure that individuals in the marketplace are educated to best practices and have a high level of competency. Nowhere is this more needed than in anti-icing and use of liquids for snow/bond prevention. This is why SIMA is launching the Fundamentals of Anti-icing and Liquids personal certificate course this Fall. Everyone agrees this is a growing need in our industry, but training people on the science and operations is difficult. Historically, most of the knowledge has been locked away in various studies related to highways and roads. This will all end as SIMA launches the first truly comprehensive ...
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Snow and ice services standards development

By Martin Tirado posted 08-14-2019
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If you attended the opening keynote at the Snow & Ice Symposium in Grand Rapids, MI, you saw the video we recently produced: 3 Tips for Buying Snow Management Services . The insights in the video deal directly with contract award date recommendations, better definitions of Level of Service and Scope of Work, and the importance of accepting shared liability between contractors and facilities. The video is one of several SIMA resources designed to educate facilities managers and owners to foster positive communication and relationships with snow and ice management professionals. New standard is coming Another tool in progress is to create a written ...
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