Snowfighters Institute Podcast

Upcoming Events Snowfighters Institute Webinars: Join us live for monthly webinars built to help snow pros run stronger, more profitable operations. All sessions run 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Contract Review | Tuesday, June 2, 2026 Internal review and update of sales contracts and subcontractor agreements. Pricing & Estimating Review | Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Are you pricing for profit or just hoping to break even? Finding & Managing Subcontractors | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 How do you find subcontractors who actually show up when it snows? Capacity Planning | Tuesday, September 8, 2026 How do you determine your true operational capacity? Recruiting | Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Why can't you find good people to hire, and what can you do about it? Incentive Compensation & Rewards | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Are your bonuses and rewards actually driving the results you want? Client & Employee Appreciation | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 Are you truly appreciating your clients and employees, or just going through the motions? See the full webinar list → In-Person Event GROW! Snow | September 22 to 23, 2026 An in-person event built for snow leaders and their teams. Two days of snow-specific breakout sessions, a facility tour, and content designed to drive real change at your business. Details coming soon. This week's episode is a little different. Phil Harwood joins Marty Grunder on The Grow Show to discuss the strategic partnership between Snow Fighters Institute and The Grow Group, share his 40 years of industry experience, and explain why snow removal can be the most profitable part of a service business. From his early days running printing equipment in the family business to his current role as a consultant and attorney, Phil reveals the leadership principles that have served him throughout his career, the trends shaping the future of snow operations, and why building a sellable business benefits every owner regardless of exit plans. Key Learnings Snow Fighting Is Emergency Service Work - Snow removal is comparable to firefighting because crews are on call all winter and must drop everything when activity starts, requiring a mindset that embraces the calling rather than resenting it. Find Companies That Love Snow - The best operators love snow not because they enjoy leaving their families for three days, but because they understand they're providing valuable emergency services that make a real difference. Degrees Don't Equal Smartness or Success - Education provides knowledge, but you have to apply what you learned and surround yourself with smart people to actually succeed in business. Outsiders Get Heard More Than Insiders - The same advice from an internal team member often gets ignored but is celebrated when delivered by an objective outside consultant with no skin in the game. Do What You Say You're Going to Do - The basics like answering your phone, being respectful, and following through on commitments sound like cliches but remain the foundation of successful business relationships. Be Great at What You Want Your Team to Be Good At - Leaders are always being... Chapters (00:00:00) - Start(00:02:00) - Strategic Partnership - Snowfighters + Grow Group(00:02:30) - Snowfighters Origins(00:04:54) - Why Your “Why” Matters(00:07:01) - From Family Business to Consulting(00:09:24) - Why Law School at This Point(00:10:20) - The Atrium Disaster(00:12:26) - When Core Values Backfire(00:13:57) - The Leap to Consulting(00:15:37) - Why Outsiders Get Heard(00:17:01) - The Basics Nobody Do(00:18:08) - Be the Example(00:23:06) - Tech That's Changing Snow(00:26:05) - You're the Hero at Night(00:27:05) - Build a Business You Can Sell(00:28:41) - Why Snow Wins on Profit

Josh Ferguson, Partner at Freeman Mathis and Gary LLP and 22-year insurance defense attorney, joins Phil to share legal insights from defending snow and ice management contractors nationwide. From handling salt shortages with proper contract language, to navigating multi-tier liability claims, to why lost text messages can sink a defense, Josh reveals why documentation is the foundation of legal protection, why the red pen approach works on client contracts, and why proactive general counsel work delivers the best ROI for contractors who want to avoid expensive litigation down the road. Snow Fighters Institute Snowfighters Youtube Channel ⭐️ Leave us a review! Key Learnings Document, Document, Document - Documentation is the single most important defense in any lawsuit, from preseason site maps to in-event records to follow-up ice watch notes. Force Majeure Clauses Need Salt Specificity - Generic act of God clauses aren't enough; specifically identify salt shortages in your contract to limit liability when supply issues arise. Red Pen Every Client Contract - Mark up every client contract you receive because even rejected markups help you understand your risk exposure points. Detach Your Contract as an Addendum - When clients have rigid contracts, propose attaching your scope of work and protective language as an addendum, which works more often than expected. Lost Text Messages Sink Defenses - Communications stored on personal phones disappear when employees leave, creating spoliation charges that work against you in court. Use Platforms with Built-In Texting - Systems like Team Engine store communications by company rather than personal phones, protecting you when seasonal employees leave. Document Subcontractor Capabilities - Negligent hiring claims require proof that subcontractors had the manpower, equipment, and history to service sites properly. Mirror Client and Subcontractor Agreements - Gaps between your client contract and subcontractor agreements create exposure points that plaintiff's attorneys exploit. Stay Involved in Insurance Claims - The squeaky wheel gets the grease; staying involved with carriers and defense attorneys leads to better outcomes over your career. Personal Injury Lawyers Are Targeting Snow - Big law firms now handle slip and fall cases with more experts, ramped-up injuries, and multi-defendant strategies for bigger payouts. Multi-Tier Liability Creates Multiple Pots - Plaintiff's counsel add negligent hiring claims to reach property owners, managers, contractors, and subcontractors for more money sources. Emergency Response Within Hours Matters - Getting attorneys and experts on-site quickly protects privileged conversations and preserves evidence before witnesses change their stories. Proactive General Counsel Beats Reactive Defense - Working with attorneys before claims happen provides better ROI than dealing with lawsuits after they're filed. Salt Shortage Documentation Required - When experiencing supply shortages, document the actual shortage with proof from suppliers in addition to having protective contract language. Reflection Questions How are you managing electronic communications between your team and clients, and would your text message records survive a lawsuit two to four years down the road? Do you have documentation proving your subcontractors are capable of servicing the sites they're assigned to, or could a negligent hiring claim catch you unprepared? Are you treating contract review and legal counsel as a proa... Chapters (00:00:00) - Start(00:00:20) - Meet Josh Ferguson(00:01:12) - Josh's Legal Practice Overview(00:03:17) - Why Josh Became a Lawyer(00:05:23) - Life Outside the Office(00:07:36) - Salt Shortage Contract Tips(00:12:03) - Handling Client Contracts(00:15:28) - Regulation and Environmental Trends(00:16:50) - Winning Claims With Documentation(00:18:58) - Defense Ready Documentation(00:21:11) - Subcontractor Risk Transfer(00:23:08) - Emergency Response Playbook(00:25:14) - Outside General Counsel Value(00:27:01) - Why Industry Events Matter(00:29:10) - Plaintiff Trends and New Claims(00:33:44) - The Risk with Text Communication(00:35:19) - Tech Solutions(00:35:45) - Please Like, Share & Subscribe!

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Jeen Stork from Stork's Plows about Snow Alliance, April 25-26, hosted by Stork's Plows at their Leesport, PA facility. If you're in the snow business, you will not want to miss 2025 Snow Alliance. 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Nataly Mualem, an attorney specializing in employment immigration. She is the founder of the Mualem Firm (mualemfirm.com). Her firm provides employment solutions for businesses throughout the United States, including snow contractors. If you're in need of a new source of workers, you will not want to miss this episode. 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Ted Lucia, President of Lucia Landscaping about his company's approach to snow & ice management, the snow industry, organizational culture, and more.   

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Levi Jett about Mock Storm Training, a methodology based on military principles and applied to our industry. Levi is the founder of Jett Facility Consultants and will be presenting in person at OPS Management, September 11-12, 2024 at Storks Plows. 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Mike Cossins, President of The Integra Group and developer of Boss Software, and Tyler Johnson, Business Coordinator with Curbside Landscape & Irrigation, about using Boss Software for snow. By making significant investments in its capabilities and by engaging with Boss users involved in snow, Boss has developed a robust solution for snow contractors. This episode is insightful and fast-moving.  Enjoy. 

Join Phil Harwood as he interviews Jason Case, CEO of Case Facility Management Solutions. Listen in as Jason shares his inspiring story and perspective on a wide range of topics. 

Join Phil Harwood as he invites Tom Canete back for a follow up conversation about business strategy and more. Tom is the owner of Canete Snow Management and several other businesses. Based in New Jersey, Canete Snow Management is the provider of choice for MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Tyler Jabaay from Priority Landscape & Maintenance, serving northwest Indiana, Chicagoland, and West Michigan.  Tyler's story is filled with timeless and enduring lessons about business, family, and living life to its fullest, along with some inspiring takeaways for your business. 

Listen in as your host, Phil Harwood, interviews snow business icon, Troy Clogg about his snow business, the snow industry, Hot Pink Deicer and Hot Pink Helpers, and, of course, Snowfighters Institute, as Hot Pink Deicer is a Platinum Sponsor and host of the Forum for Sales, being held August 14-15, 2024 in Novi, MI (Detroit area). 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Jeen Stork from Stork's Plows (storksplows.com). With the world's largest inventory of new and used snow plows and snow plow parts, Stork's is truly an industry leader. On this podcast, Jeen shares his story about growing up in a family business, how the business has evolved over the years, and business succession. Also, learn about upcoming events at Stork's, including Snowfighters Institute OPS Management, September 11-12, 2024.   

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Lisa Rose of Allin / Rose Consulting (allinrose.com). Lisa brings a unique perspective, as she combines a legal background with years of experience in the snow industry. She will be a presenter at this year's SIMA Symposium in Hartford, CT. 

Listen in as Phil Harwood interviews Chris Pegnia, co-founder and Vice President of Busy Beaver Lawn & Garden, located just outside of Buffalo, NY about his experience with two massive snow storms that dropped 180" of snow in just these two storms. Here about Chris and his team managed their way through it and what they learned. 

Listen in as Neal and Phil discuss what's coming up in 2023 at Forum for Sales (May & July) and Operations Management (June & September). 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews  Elizabeth Bonadonna, CSP, President of Busy Beaver Lawn and Garden of Buffalo, NY, about the history of her company, acquisition of retail market, hitting the speaking scene, and, of course, SNOW! Snowfighters Institute is hosting a Virtual Bootcamp November 7-18. Your company may have up to 10 participants in this bootcamp for only $75. Visit our webpage to learn more!

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Mike Hilborn, owner of RTD Snow Plowing and Roof-To-Deck Restoration, based in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Mike shares his story about starting his business and how it grew into a multi-faceted service business in both the residential and commercial segments, along with his perspectives about association involvement, professional development, and lessons learned along the way.  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil  Harwood, interviews Levi Jett, CEO of Jett Facility Consulting, author of the book, Preparing the Snowfighter: a guide to SNOCON and the MSTS!, available at Amazon.com, and retired military veteran. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Tom Canete, President & CEO of Canete Landscape and Snow Management, based in Wayne, NJ. In this episode, Tom shares about how he was inspired, how his values were shaped, and how he built his business at a young age.  As a snow industry icon with almost 40 years of industry experience, Tom also shares some great advice about the snow business and tells about what it's like to staff up to 400+ people to provide snow & ice management services at MetLife Stadium. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews David Lammers from Garden Grove Landscaping, based in Waterdown, Ontario. David and his brother, Paul, started their company in 1990 and have over 30 years of hands-on experience. In this podcast, we explore the topics of working in a partnership with a family member, building a culture based on values, and focusing on a clear strategic direction.  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Dave Warrick Jr. from Warrick Properties Group LLC, based in Hamilton, NJ.  Dave is a second-generation owner, full-time police officer, husband, father, and is passionate about the snow business. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Kim Gottschalk from Garrick-Santo Landscape Company, based in Wilmington, MA, about how the company is proactively preparing for a transition from first-generation ownership to the second generation. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Josh Flynn, CEO of Seabreeze Property Services, based in Portland, Maine. Seabreeze was founded in 1994 and provides year-round property services to some of Maine's most prominent facilities, neighborhoods, and private residences. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Carlos del Pozo, co-founder of Team Engine, a provider of solutions for blue-collar businesses seeking to improve the effectiveness of recruiting, build better teams, manage teams more easily, and retain teams longer.   

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partners Phil Harwood and Neal Glatt introduce Snowbidder with Mike Lindenbaum, CEO of Sitefotos and mastermind of Snowbidder.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute managing partners, Phil Harwood and Neal Glatt, provide an insightful analysis of the industry, industry events, and opportunities for professional development for the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews John Janes from Caterpillar, the world's leading manufacturer construction equipment, about the snow industry, the economy, supply & demand for the industry, and much more.  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Tracey Fischer-Gaetz from SnowEx, a leading supplier of snow & ice management equipment, including an extensive line of ice control spreaders, sprayers for liquid products, and brine making equipment, about the state of the industry, demand for equipment, and how SnowEx is listening to its customers in order to innovate and continue to be a leader in the industry.  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood,  discusses insurance for snow professionals  and the concept of an insurance captive with Will Allen, founder of the Green Industry Captive (greenindustrycaptive.com) and Ben Westendorf, owner of Envision Facility Solutions. As options for affordable insurance dry up, the idea of a captive becomes highly attractive. You will not want to miss this episode!  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood,  interviews John Berlingieri from Barrington Snow Removal, located in central Long Island, NY.  John's story is a classic American journey of an immigrant family growing a successful business, where he was exposed to high-precision manufacturing and business management  practices. Today, John is  a multi-faceted entrepreneur with several business ventures, in addition to his snow & ice management company. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Seth Bowen, President of Three Men and a Shovel Landscaping of Logan, Utah about how he has strategically transformed his company over the past two decades and his perspectives about the snow & ice industry, technology,  equipment, and more. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Ryan Dempsey, Managing Partner of The East End Group, a multi-faceted facilities management firm with one of our industry's largest snow & ice management programs. 

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Tom Marsan from Beverly Companies, a diversified outdoor property services firm in the Chicagoland market, about his unique experience in the snow & ice industry, in addition to hearing about his professional football career, balancing work with a family of six, and much more.  

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Eric Mangum from Caterpillar, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction equipment, including Cat® articulated trucks, backhoe loaders, dozers, engines, excavators, generators, motor graders, skid steer loaders and wheel loaders.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Billy Minor, owner of several snow industry businesses including the IBG Magic dealership for Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Injured while serving in the U.S. military, Billy has overcome challenges that most of us will never face. Hear about his unique journey and approach to business in the snow industry.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Sean Carrington from Carrington Lawn & Landscape, based in Middleton, Wisconsin, about his experience as a business owner, making big investments in leading-edge equipment, using technology, being involved in an industry peer group, his outlook in the professional snow & ice management industry, and balancing personal and professional commitments.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Aaron Graber from Venture Products, manufacturer of Ventrac tractors and attachments.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Donna Garner, CMO of Arborgold, about how technology is allowing green industry business owners to be better informed, to make better decisions, and to improve profitability.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews weather expert and CEO of WeatherWorks, Frank Lombardo, about the fascinating business of predicting weather, certifying storm totals, expert witness testimony involving weather, and much more.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Phil Harwood, interviews Scott Zorno, owner of HighCountry Spray Systems of Conifer, Colorado, about his multi-faceted career as a contractor and supplier of liquid de-icing solutions, and overcoming tragedy in his personal life.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Managing Partner, Neal Glatt, interviews Phil Harwood about his decades-long career in the landscape and snow management industry, business ventures, and thoughts about the industry today.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Neal Glatt, Managing Partner of Snowfighters Institute, about his fascinating career in the professional snow and ice management industry, his many business ventures, philanthropic endeavors, and plans for further education.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Chris Marino from Xtreme Snow Pros of New Jersey about his roots in the landscape and snow industries, the evolution of Extreme Snow Pros, the company's unique use of technology, industry involvement, professional development, and his outlook in the professional snow & ice management industry.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Steph Sauers-Boyd from Sauers Snow & Management, recently named SIMA CEO of the Year. Hear about her journey with her two brothers as they grew to become one of the premier snow service providers in greater Philadelphia, while investing in their community and growing their families.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Adam Schlutt from MAAC Property Services in Niles, MI. Hear about how the company grew into a regional player in the commercial snow & ice management industry, how they work through the challenges of working closely with family members, and their perspectives on some of the industry’s hottest topics.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Leanne Slawnyk, COO of About Time Snow based in Huntington Valley, PA, just outside of Philadelphia. Hers is a powerful and inspiring story about faith, passion, and professional growth, joining the company in 2009 in a part-time capacity and eventually running daily operations. Hear her perspective on ISO, EOS, professional development, industry associations, and more.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews Jeff Sneller, President of Sneller Snow & Grounds of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jeff's story involves taking over his family business along with his brother, Dan, focusing the company toward snow & ice management and more recently back toward year-round grounds maintenance, and incorporating values & mission into the culture of the company. In addition, Jeff shares his thoughts about the company's involvement with EOS, industry associations, and professional development.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews snow industry pioneer Jeannie Shenderline, CEO of JEFFCO Grounds Maintenance of Anchorage Alaska. Shortly after acquiring JEFFCO, Jeannie overcame a series of major challenges to develop the company into Alaska's most formidable grounds maintenance & snow operator. Hear about her experience with obtaining and maintaining the ISO 9001 SN certification, leading one of the industry's only women-owned business in a male dominated industry, and about the snow industry in general.

Listen in as Snowfighters Institute Podcast host, Phil Harwood, interviews industry legend John Allin about his fascinating career involving landing the Salt Lake City Olympics, investing in CrewTracker, Snow Dragon, Snowfighters Institute, expert witness business, and a consulting career that took him around the globe. John also shares a deeply personal story about recovery and abstinence.