Ohio snow fighters learned they now have a viable insurance solution as well as an educational source for industry best practices during the Ohio Landscape Association’s Snow and Ice Management Clinic, which took place Sept. 23 in Brecksville, a Cleveland suburb.

Attendees were introduced to the newly formed Accredited Snow Contractors Association during executive director Kevin Gilbride’s keynote address: The Snow Industry: Past, Present and Future.

During his keynote address, Gilbride focused on the significant strides the snow and ice management industry has made over the last three decades to legitimize and solidify its credibility as a professional service provider.

Gilbride warned that, as the industry has grown its size and scope, so have the challenges that snow fighters face. Some of those include the ability to secure insurance, improve efficiencies and operational practices to maximize profits in a down economy, compete against low-ball contractors and to have laws that allow them to do business on a level playing field.

These key points led to the discussion of the ASCA’s recent formation. Gilbride explained
the association stemmed from a mandate issued one year ago by industry leaders to Snow Magazine to explore a number of important industry-related issues, including the need for a viable insurance solution, the formation of industry standards, increased educational opportunities and the start of lobbying efforts to protect the interests of the professional snow removal community.

“The ASCA’s mission is to advance the professional snow removal industry,” Gilbride said. “Part of that mission is to get the proper recognition from governmental bodies and property managers so that professional snow contractors are recognized for following responsible business practices. Once established, this will go a long way to eliminate the frivolous lawsuits that continue to increase and plague our industry.”

Mills Insurance, in partnership with GIE Media's Snow Magazine -- the leading business management publication serving snow and ice management contractors -- analyzed data, identified snow contractors’ exposures, developed controls for those exposures and created the ASCA to implement and monitor this process going forward.

Snow Magazine unveiled the association to industry leaders during its 2011 Leadership Summit, a two-day executive-level event that took place in Cleveland Aug. 29-30. Since then, the association has solidified its advisory board and begun building committees and setting action agendas.

Snow contractors interested in finding out more about the ASCA can do so at www.ascaonline.org, or can contact Gilbride directly at 330/523-5368.