This year?EUR??,,????'?????<

She said courses will cover the following topics related to green practices: sustainable maintenance of perennials and shrubs, using LEED guidelines to manage landscapes, managing green roofs, preserving trees and the latest information from the Sustainable Sites Initiative.

Even with a heavy emphasis on green practices, the School of Grounds Management will also provide attendees with an outstanding multidisciplinary education schedule including the following course titles: Taking the Mystery Out of Managing and Motivating Employees, Leading Change from the Front Line, Project Management for Accidental Project Managers, Building a Customer Service Culture, and Effective Management of Snow and Ice Sidewalk Crews.

With a faculty of green industry experts and a wide offering of courses ranging from LEED and conservation issues to management to horticulture, the School offers grounds superintendents and landscaping professionals a great opportunity to further their professional development, said Higgins.

2008 GIE-Expo

There will also be plenty of interactive education opportunities in the field with behind-the-scenes tours of the grounds operations of Louisville?EUR??,,????'?????<

The School is targeted at in-house grounds managers overseeing an assortment of facilities ranging from universities to commercial facilities to municipalities, but the range of topics covered makes it relevant to all green industry professionals. In addition to this dynamic curriculum, tuition also includes free admission to the GIE+EXPO, providing attendees with full access to exhibits from 650 green industry suppliers as well as a 20-acre outdoor demonstration area adjacent to the indoor exhibit. The program will also offer countless networking opportunities with over 25,000 industry professionals in attendance as well as an opportunity to relax and enjoy free concerts featuring performances by 38 Special and Lonestar.

Sites will be honored in 15 categories: small sites; residential landscapes; public works sites; shopping areas; hospitals or institutions; government buildings or complexes; cemeteries or memorial parks; industrial, commercial sites or office parks; parks, recreation areas or playgrounds; multiple sites under management companies; condominium or apartment complexes; hotel, motel or resorts; amusement parks, theme parks or zoos; athletic fields, professional fields or golf courses; and school grounds, university and college grounds, or urban university grounds.

Additional information, such as online registration, informational brochures, a full schedule of events, list of faculty, and hotel registration materials are available online at www.PGMS.org/2008school.htm or by contacting PGMS at 800-609-PGMS.