Cindy Whitt

The Edge from the National Association of Landscape Professionals • January 20, 2023

Building Your Team: How to Avoid Blocks in the Recruitment Funnel

Nothing is more frustrating than having a potential employee disappear before recruitment begins. If interest drops between the application submission and the in-person interview, you should fine-tune your recruitment funnel. Uncovering why your potential hires “ghost” you before they even meet your hiring manager can save you time and help you hire the right people for the job.

Synkd • December 27, 2022

SWA Group Goes Over & Above to Integrate Maintenance Teams into the Development of An Urban Park

A project by SWA Group demonstrates how infrastructure can be designed to enhance the ecological value of a city and the lives of its inhabitants. The international landscape architect firm led the transformation of a former brownfield site on flood-prone land into an urban park for a community in Conway, Arkansas.

Synkd Advertorial • December 27, 2022

Solutions We Love: An Eco-Friendly Herbicide That Works

Lonarch is an eco-friendly brush, weed and grass killer that is safer than other products on the market, according to Patrick Henry, chief operating officer of MonarchChem, the manufacturer of Lonarch. He recently spoke with Synkd about why he’s excited about this innovative product.

Synkd • November 28, 2022

The Gift of Gab

Nick Federoff likes to talk about landscaping and gardening, so he made it a career. After several years of working as a landscaper, he discovered a passion for public speaking when he filled in for a host on a gardening radio show in southern California. “I figured that was going to be my 15 minutes of fame, and I was going live on that forever,” he says. Nick’s 15 minutes of fame is still going strong after 36 years, and he is still as passionate about it as when he began.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Four Factors Driving the Gas-to-Electric Movement

The demand for electric landscaping equipment is continuing to grow. Several factors are driving growth in the market, according to Mark Linkletter, manager of business development, commercial products at AriensCo, the parent company of Gravely, an electric equipment manufacturer.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Chasing Waterfalls

Richard Smith is a hands-on designer. He plays an active role in both the design and installation of landscaping projects at his company Smith DesignScapes. With that kind of dedication and attention to detail, he can handle the most challenging jobs.

Synkd • October 28, 2022

Project of a Lifetime

Malcolm Miller is no stranger to the Caribbean. As a landscape architect and designer based in Florida, he has frequently made the trek to the islands to install a project or oversee plant materials. In 2009, he had the opportunity to help transform a fishing island outpost in the Bahamas into a luxury tropical resort powered by wind and solar energy harnessed by three wind turbines and a 1.5-acre solar field.

Synkd • October 18, 2022

Soccer On The Roof

The kids at Prepa Tec Middle School in Huntington Park, California, can now take their soccer games to new heights. Located five miles from downtown Los Angeles, the school was designed in 2021 by Franco Architects with a specific goal—to add a synthetic turf playing surface on its roof because there was no room on the campus.

Synkd • October 5, 2022

Urban Gardening For The Next Generation

If anyone could be called a celebrity in the green industry, it would be Nick Cutsumpas. He has an Instagram following of 165,000 @FarmerNick and is one of the designers on the Netflix show “Instant Dream Home.” He is also the author of Plant Coach, a book that teaches people to care for their houseplants.

Synkd • September 1, 2022

Cultivating Culture & Business Growth at LandCare

Post-COVID, companies are scrambling to hire, and employees often have the upper hand because people want more than just a job. They want a career in a company that values its employees and offers advancement. Competitive pay and a benefits package help, too.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Farms Helping Families set to host Farm to Table dinner

Channing Perdue wants people to experience the taste of locally grown produce and farm fresh meat, so she hosts Farm to Table dinners twice a year at her family homestead.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Charity car show drives hope for cancer patients

Show off your ride and raise money for cancer patients at the Fight 4 Cure charity car show on Saturday, May 21 at Jordan Soccer Complex.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 17, 2022

Sound the alarm for fire safety in Hope Mills

Local firefighters will be making the rounds in Hope Mills neighborhoods on Saturday, May 21, but not to fight fires. They want to teach residents about fire safety and the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their homes.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 4, 2022

Rock'n on the River concert series kicks off in May

Fayetteville’s summer concert series, Rock’n on the River, is back for the third year. The events will be held once a month on Fridays from May to October and feature a variety of performers, from local acts to tribute bands.

Up and Coming Weekly • May 4, 2022

Habitat for Humanity donation helps build a future for Fayetteville residents one home at a time

The Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity was recently awarded a $5 million grant from American author and philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. The grant is part of a $436 million donation to 83 U.S. Habitat affiliates, including eight in North Carolina.

Up and Coming Weekly • April 26, 2022

Spring Fling at the little dive bar with big heart

Holly Whitley may not have set out to be a legend in Fayetteville when she bought a bar and named it Legend’s Pub, but she certainly has become one. Her giving nature and willingness to help friends is well-known in Fayetteville and among the readers of the Up & Coming Weekly.

Up and Coming Weekly • April 26, 2022

Alpha Romeo Tango military art show winners announced

Cape Fear Studios opened its seventh annual Alpha Romeo Tango art show with a reception and awards ceremony on April 21. The exhibition features work from active and retired military and their families. The exhibit will run through May 24. The exhibition opened with a People’s Choice Award, with the first, second and third places chosen by gallery visitors. State Rep. John Szoka, a graduate of West Point and an Army veteran, announced the winners.

Up and Coming Weekly • April 18, 2022

Fetch some fun for the whole family at Dog Day in the Garden

Having a ruff week? Stop by Dog Day in the Garden on Sunday, May 1, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden. The seventh annual event is a fundraiser for the garden and Fayetteville Animal Protection Society, the only non-profit, no-kill animal shelter in Cumberland County. This year the event is presented by Riverbark Veterinary Hospital. Organizers have an afternoon of fun planned for people — and pups — of all ages.

Up and Coming Weekly • April 18, 2022

Find your inner geek at Fayetteville Comic Con April 23 and 24

Fayetteville Comic Con is coming to the Crown Complex Convention Center from April 23 to 24 and promises two days of fun for self-proclaimed geeks of all ages. Fayetteville stands out because it draws people interested in all pop culture, not just comic books. “We're just fans who found that Fayetteville has an amazing collective of people interested in superheroes, movies, anime, cosplay, gaming, video gaming, tabletop role play (and more),” said organizer Keith Gibbs.

Up and Coming Weekly • April 12, 2022

Styx bringing post-pandemic rock to Crown Theatre this April

Classic rock band Styx is playing the Crown Theatre on April 23 as part of the venue's 86th season of community concerts. The band will perform the chart-topping radio hits everyone knows, like "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," and "Mr. Roboto," but hardcore fans need not worry. They plan to take a deep dive into their catalog to play lesser-known songs their longtime listeners will appreciate.