Mission Possible. How ELM’s Readiness Culture Drives Emergency Response

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

ELM’s readiness culture is forged in a habit of vigilance, a commitment to manage risk, and a mindset that allows us to communicate and respond quickly, accurately and effectively.

Building readiness into our mindset and processes sets the foundation for how we cover a range of measures. 

  1. Training – ELM’s trained teams are up-to-date in storm response, safety training and certification programs. Workplace drills, state-of-the technology tools, and field exercises keep our crews mindful and ready for the unexpected.
  2. Up-to-date Contact Information– Our emergency contact information is an essential element to our 24/7, whatever-it-takes culture. As a property or building and asset manager, you can reach us at all times, with our promise to be part of a robust interconnected team to solve problems together.
  3. Logistics – Our teams are trained and ready when circumstances require immediate deployment, be it a severe weather event or a storm of uncertainty.
  4. Documentation & Contingency– Our emergency preparedness process includes having updated plans in place, managed incident reports and updated compliance and safety response protocols. When your properties are impacted by the unexpected, knowing what to do, and how to do execute in a moment’s notice, are key.
  5. Briefing – We manage risk by running scenario drills and staying mindful about what ifs. Letting you know as soon as possible, working you’re your property management team, and staying on top of the issues is part of our commitment to your safety and the safety of the communities and the people we serve.

In today’s fast-changing world, a sense of urgency is our call to action: to lead change, to know what’s at stake, and to create and deliver solutions which are useful and flexible, and fulfill every client’s needs.  

This sense of urgency is the foundation of our readiness. Readiness to help where we can, to support our clients and communities whenever we can, and, above all, to support the people who need it most. Safely, responsibly, generously and proactively. 

Contact Bruce Moore Jr. at 203-316-5433 to learn more.

Bruce Moore Jr. to Lead ELM Safe Practices Task Force

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ELM President Bruce Moore Jr. has identified the company’s pandemic response and safety plan as critical to mission success. 

As head of the ELM’s task force on safe practices, Bruce and his executive best practice team will be developing supplemental policies and procedures that address risk factors and reduce impacts of Covid-19 on co-workers, customers, and the communities ELM serves.

“Covid has made all of us think differently about work and life, and the relationships we have with our friends and clients, who are more often one and the same. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been doing what we do best: staying focused, pacing ourselves for the future, and remembering that by caring for ourselves as we care for others, we can all make a difference,” said Bruce.

ELM’s task force is currently implementing administrative and field controls, establishing enhanced equipment maintenance standards, and personal and professional safety standards for tasks performed at customer worksites.  

ELM requires and enforces all its essential field and virtual employees to comply with Covid-19 pandemic prevention mandates from the Department of Public Health and the CDC, and OSHA regulations for PPE. 

Under Bruce’s leadership, ELM will continue to refine the company’s safety and hygiene procedures to reduce risk of exposure, and will work with the States of Connecticut and New York to comply with the extension of essential services orders, while operating and performing ELM’s essential services. 

Information on ELM’s public health and safety protocols will be provided on a rolling basis, which will be updated as circumstances change.

Contact Bruce Moore Jr. at 203.316.5433 to learn more.

Essential Services Remain Open to Support Public Health & Safety.

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

The Coronavirus is changing the way we do business and daily developments affect us all.  Here’s what we know, what we’re doing and how we expect it to impact the business of business.

I.          The State of Connecticut’s “Stay Safe Stay Home Policy”

The States of Connecticut and New York, in line with Federal rulings issued March 20 and March 23, have deemed landscape services “essential and life sustaining” and eligible to continue operations during emergency or quarantine scenarios. 

This means two things. Our team can ensure that your property’s landscape health won’t suffer during the interim, and with ELM’s strict personal and public health protocols in place, there is reduced risk of exposure.

II.         Eastern Land Management’s “Protection of Public Health” Policy

ELM will continue to protect public health in performance of essential treatments to lawns, landscapes and green spaces to 1) reduce the transmission of deadly diseases through pests like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas; 2) keep public and private pathways free from obstruction and potential hazards; 3) maintain green spaces to reduce crime; 4) proactively manage late season snow and ice; and 5) address storm damage, weather events, and flooding.

Because we are all in this together, we stand with you and your business to stop the rapid transmission of COVID-19, while performing essential functions necessary for the health, safety and well-being of our communities and families, and the great places we live, work and play.

Our administrative offices are closed but essential field operations are open with restrictions in place. Our Area Managers will be your direct point of contact to make sure you are getting the support you need and stay connected in a way that suits your circumstances best. 

We continue to closely monitor the impact of COVID-19 across our region and we will update you in the moment.

These are truly unprecedented times. Be well. Stay safe. And don’t hesitate to reach out.

Bruce T. Moore, Jr., President, Eastern Land Management

bmoorejr@easternland.com

Environmental Planning & Design Professional Bobby Papotto Joins ELM

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We are pleased to announce that Bobby Papotto, former owner of New Jersey-based landscape firm, Over The Fence Landscaping, joins our Landscape Enhancement Group as project manager. 

In this role, Bobby will partner with commercial real estate organizations to increase and sustain healthy asset value across property segments, and be a resource for improvements that ensure the continued vibrancy of the real estate landscape.

“ELM has a strong team in place, a growing set of enduring relationships and is committed to support our clients’ short and long-term growth objectives,” said Bruce Moore Jr. 

“I’ve always had a tremendous respect for ELM and appreciate what makes them different. I look forward to deepening ELM’s engagement with CRE sector organizations throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, and doing what I can to contribute to positive change and a more sustainable future,” said Bobby. 

Bobby earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Planning and Design from Rutgers University. He’s a die-hard lover of all things outdoors, pet- and eco-friendly, and when he’s not solving client problems, you’ll find him in the Connecticut countryside on long hikes with his dog.

ELM Institutes New Health & Safety Protocols to Combat Covid-19

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

The health and safety of our employees, and our clients and partners is our highest priority. 

With the deepening effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our region and service areas, we have taken specific measures as follows. 

On Friday March 13, 2020, ELM held a mandatory, company-wide meeting in English and Spanish to implement aggressive cleaning protocols in our equipment, office and field environments, and to request that all employees take extra steps in an abundance of caution:

  1. Any employee feeling unwell is to stay home and inform their supervisor if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, contracted or been exposed to COVID-19. 
  2. High-quality hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the company and mandatory, frequent hand-washing is required.
  3. Mandatory use of disinfectant wipes are required on all personal protective equipment, vehicles, and office and landscape equipment. 
  4. All large company-wide gatherings are postponed until further notice. 
  5. Non-essential travel is postponed. Outside educational sessions are voluntary and attended at employee’s discretion, as long as protocols for health and safety are observed.

Additional information on the virus can be found at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus

https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/coronavirus.page

ELM will continue to work together with our teams, public health officials, and our clients’ teams, to ensure that every effort is made to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our community-at-large. 

Be well and stay healthy. If you have any questions, please contact ELM President, Bruce Moore Jr. at 203.316.5433.

For Landscaping to Add Real Value, Focus on Aesthetics, Functionality and Green.

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It’s not just beautiful flowers, perfect turf and no weeds. If you want your landscape to significantly increase the value of your commercial property, focus on functionality and experience. In other words, the way the landscape systems and features work and the way your landscape makes people feel.

To calculate landscape’s value, consider the direct economic role it plays in enhancing image; the way it attracts tenants and investment, and can become an integral part of the property’s brand. More importantly, consider that as property owners and managers and industry players value green building, landscape has growing clout as a link between sustainability and marketability, and contributing to making our communities overall healthier places to live, work and play.

The landscape projects that tend to lead to stronger returns are those that strategically improve focal points, tenant amenities and update the landscape’s infrastructure to meet higher standards for operational and energy efficiency, climate resiliency, resource conservation and safety.

Our top six ROI impact list includes:

  • Create wow factors.  Add seasonal color, flowering perennials, foliage texture for curb appeal, and native and adaptive plants to save water and maintenance.
  • Dress it up. Prepare beds with fresh mulch, prune trees and shrubs, cull diseased and infested plants, power wash outdoor surfaces, eliminate weeds and unwanted plants.
  • Invest in technology. Upgrade irrigation infrastructure to offset water as the fastest growing utility expense. Invest in smart water technology to support and encourage conservation, and improved groundwater and stormwater filtration and management systems to support water quality.
  • Renovate hardscape, pathways, paved surfaces, terraces, decks, and outdoor built elements to repair winter wear and tear, improve safety and manage risk.
  • Add tenant amenities such as green roofs, LED lighting, outdoor television, dining areas, bocce ball, putting greens or jogging and bike paths.
  • Replace underperforming turf with drought tolerant native plants and meadow-style perennials to improve aesthetics; invest in tree cover, rain gardens and bioswales, and permeable surfaces to improve environmental health and water and air quality.

Commercial properties with well-engineered green systems reap energy savings, financial incentives (tax credits, rebates and stormwater/irrigation credits where applicable), reduced life-cycle and maintenance costs, reduced flood damage, and reduced water bills, while also creating reate measurable value for property owners and tenants both.

Eastern Land Management is a leader in sustainable landscape solutions, less toxic approaches to plant pest and disease management, and green infrastructure. 

ELM has been connecting the landscape of Greater New York Metro, and Fairfield and New Haven counties, Connecticut to what’s important to businesses for more than 40 years.

Contact Marc Angarano 203.316.5433 to learn more.

Thomas Tracy Joins ELM as Area Manager

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

It’s an exciting time at ELM as we continue to grow our platform of service excellence for commercial real estate professionals throughout greater New York Metro and Fairfield County, Connecticut. 

Assisting in this effort is our new Area Manager, Thomas C. (Tommy) Tracy, a twelve-year veteran of the commercial landscape industry. 

“Finding the right team players is key,” said ELM President, Bruce Moore Jr., “We’re always looking for high-energy people who can create and deliver memorable value. We know there’s a lot riding on customer experience and Tommy checks off all the boxes: he’s passionate about making meaningful contributions to our clients’ success, is aligned on core values, and brings complementary strengths that will support our people-first culture.” 

As ELM increases its range of services and capacity, customer advocacy remains its competitive advantage. With its goal to stay strong as it grows, remaining customer-centric will continue to underscore what makes ELM a great company to work with and a great company to work at.

A native of Naples, Florida and raised in Bedminster, New Jersey, Tommy attended Seton Hall Prep, Bernard’s High School, and New England College prior to graduating from Rutgers University’s premier Golf Course Turf Management program.  

To learn more about ELM’s 2020 exceptional service experience and why the firm is an Employer of Choice, contact President, Bruce Moore Jr., 203-316-5433.

Being good is not good enough. Here’s what we’re doing to be great.

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We know that our clients, have a choice. So we don’t take the trust you place in us lightly. In fact, we consider our relationship with you the most important thing we care for, after we care for the health of your landscape and your bottom line. 

As we transition to a new year, however, we are focusing not just on how our new technical and operational innovations will solve your problems, but on making sure that ELM will be the one trusted and reputable partner you consistently turn to.

Here’s how we’re planning to make that happen:

  1. Serving people first – Creating a great place to work and a great company to do business with means putting people first. We know that not every organization has the luxury of forty-plus years of solid growth, so we consider our longevity to one of our most valuable assets. We believe that if we continue to take good care of, our employees, they’ll pay our legacy forward by taking good care of you.
  2. Being real – As much as we’re investing in artificial intelligence to make our work more effective, we promise not to forget that at the end of the day, authenticity, passion and emotional intelligence will always be a driver of trust.
  3. Doing more of what we’re good at – The point of having strengths is to use them. Being a positive organization, investing in our employees so they love their jobs, and empowering our ELM family to lead by example will continue to differentiate our teams’ commitment to you.
  4. Delivering exceptional service – There is nothing worse than feeling like your issues don’t matter. From our regular crews to our seasonal and emergency response teams, what matters to you, matters to us. We’ll go the extra mile, jump through hoops, and act with a sense of urgency. In other words, proactive, prompt and professional. 
  5. Powering up – Whether you know us well or we’ve just met, you know that new technologies are a game-changer, with innovations opening up real opportunities at the strategic level. We believe that having a future-oriented mindset will help us better align our services with your goals, and allow us to create ROI breakthroughs in results and response.
  6. Giving back – We believe that being a company of greater purpose puts us on the right track. From being better stewards of the landscaped environment to being better stewards of the communities we serve, putting our mission-driven philosophy into practice will always be the best way for us to reflect our core values, including quality, integrity, and upholding your trust.
  7. Raising our voice – In our industry, in our communities, in our professional associations, and on the boards and committees we sit on, ELM will continue to make its collective voice heard as advocates for continuous improvement and leadership – in social responsibility, technology, water conservation, operational safety, sustainable best practices, and winter risk management – to ensure that through our work as professional landscape and snow/ice managers, we make our clients’ world and the communities we serve happier and safer places to live, work and play.

To learn more about ELM’s 2020 service platform and ways ELM is striving to work smarter together, contact President, Bruce Moore Jr., 203-316-5433.

Liquid Brine Pre-Treating Options Are Effective for Fighting Snow and Ice

Posted by Eastern Land Management on

ELM is rolling out a liquid brine option as a cost effective and more eco-friendly way to prevent snow and ice from forming.

Typically a blended solution of salt and water, brine has a freezing point lower than water and when applied to surface areas before major storms, acts as a protective barrier, preventing snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This helps to eliminate any residual snow & ice forming on the pavement and reduce re-freezing after the storm. 

Part of ELM’s growing sustainability platform, proactive brine applications can optimize winter road safety and mitigate the damaging impacts of traditional salt on infrastructure and the environment. 

The brine is being made at ELM’s Monroe, CT facility, the site of the company’s recent “Snow Rodeo” – a professional training day focused on technical quality performance, environmental impacts, best practices, and improved snow and ice control methods. 

ELM is an active member of SIMA (Snow & Ice Management Association) and ASCA (Accredited Snow Contractors of America). 

To learn more about winter services for your commercial property, contact Bruce Moore Jr. at 203-316-5433.

Be Prepared, Be Safe, Be Proactive: Cold Weather Tips from the ELM Snow Pros

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We New Englanders love the beauty of winter. But from Snowmageddon to SNOMG, there’s little to love when hazardous conditions, sub-freezing temps, and personal and property health and safety are at risk.

Our snow pros offer the following guidelines for commercial building tenants, patrons and employees to minimize risk and injury:

  • Snow/ice programs treat parking lots and pathways to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety. Be aware that snow and ice will likely exist in parking lots even when sidewalks have been cleared and deiced.
  • During sub-freezing weather, thawing and refreezing can occur following snow and ice clearing. Assume ice exists and take caution if temps fall below freezing.
  • Don’t assume that what appears to be cleared is slip-free. Black ice can form after snow is cleared and may even be hard to see, making it even more dangerous. Wear appropriate footwear with heavy treads for increased traction. 
  • Be aware of changes in walking surfaces. Many falls are caused when transitioning from non-slippery surfaces to slippery ones. 
  • Step down and not out when getting out of vehicles. Swing both legs out. Place both feet on the ground and use hands for support.
  • Focus on your footing. Watch where you walk. Concentrate on getting from point A to point B safely.
  • Free up your hands. Use a carrying case with a shoulder or cross-body strap for laptops and files.
  • Avoid carrying heavy loads that may compromise your balance.
  • Don’t use your cell phone or otherwise multi-task while walking to or from parking lots or when using stairs.
  • Use handrails on stairways and don’t rush.
  • Walk using short, slow steps.
  • Step down off curbs, not out. Landing on your heel first instead of flat-footed can cause a fall.
  • Use authorized paths. If it’s not cleared of snow, don’t use it. No shortcuts.
  • Report unsafe conditions to a supervisor, maintenance manager, or snow professional immediately.

ELM is a long-standing member of SIMA (Snow & Ice Management Association) and ASCA (Accredited Snow Contractors of America), and actively participates in training and credential programs to advance its professionalism, reliability and expertise in snow, ice and winter management.  

ELM’s founder and CEO Bruce Moore Sr. received the Snow Magazine Leadership Award in 2018 for leading the company’s reputation for continued excellence in winter management.

To learn more about winter services for your commercial property, contact Bruce Moore Jr. at 203-316-5433.