One of the best ways to ensure the success of your commercial snow and ice removal program is by hiring a partner with certified snow professionals (CSPs) on their team. Chain Store Maintenance - an MCS Company, has three CSPs on staff who’ve undergone rigorous training and credentialing by the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA). Get to know our certified snow professionals.
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Get to know our certified snow professionals, and how their snow and ice removal expertise can help your business this winter.
Jerry Proefrock,
Sourcing Specialist
What is your role at Chain Store Maintenance - an MCS Company?
I’m a sourcing specialist, helping to source and ensure the quality of our service providers who work in exterior facilities maintenance.
CSP certification is a rigorous process. Can you share what your experience was like?
Getting CSP-certified required studying a 300-page guide and completing six exams over roughly an eight-hour period. And it’s not exclusively about the snow removal process. Much of the content is focused on the business side of things, including human resources and risk management as well as managing snow and ice operations. To maintain certification, you need to earn continuing education credits annually as well.
How has certification benefited you in your role?
Beyond gaining the professional credential, I’m now more knowledgeable from a sourcing perspective on the issues that can be involved in snow removal that our vendors encounter, so I’m better able to help guide them in their work.
How do clients benefit from having CSPs like you working with them?
When our sourcing team members go through the certification, it helps us better understand the nuances of the commercial snow and ice removal business and what's needed from some of our service providers. It allows us to improve our vetting strategies as well, to ensure we’re hiring well-qualified providers to support our clients, which ultimately can limit their liability and any snow and ice removal issues while on site.
Having CSPs on staff can also help our clients with scoping. For example, in our work with our snow removal providers, sometimes we can find opportunities for the client, like discovering that the scope they’ve been using for a long time no longer gives them the desired outcome. We can only do that if we truly speak the same language as other snow professionals. Even small things like understanding why salt could be expensive in a storm’s path—and therefore, it might be wise to stock up on salt—are important. Understanding anything that goes into running a snow plow business protects our clients that much better.
Is there anything that you think people may not understand about CSP certification?
I don't think a lot of people realize how in-depth it is or that it’s about more than just how to plow snow. It really gets into the business of snow and ice removal, like understanding costs and managing your insurance. It gives us a peek into how a snow removal provider operates, so we’re better able to partner with them.
RELATED ARTICLE: Benefits of a Commercial Snow Removal Partner with SIMA Certification
Robin Adkins,
Senior Sourcing Manager
How did you end up working in the facilities maintenance industry?
I have been in the industry for over 15 years, but in the past few years, I transitioned from a vendor management role to a senior sourcing manager position in the residential and commercial property servicesspace. This shift has allowed me to expand my skill set from sourcing rehab and renovation contractors exclusively in the residential sector to leading a team that sources for both internal and external facilities maintenance services, as well as the residential projects I was familiar with.
In this role, I can directly influence the company’s success (and the success of our clients) by ensuring the quality of our service providers. It is incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact I make by onboarding service providers for each line of business, ensuring they are the perfect fit for our needs with every project we undertake.
Why did you pursue a CSP?
I am constantly looking for ways to improve my skill set. I pursued CSP certification to broaden my knowledge of snow and ice service providers so that I can better understand their expertise and challenges in the field. In this business, knowledge is power.
What was the toughest part about the certification curriculum?
The toughest part was learning about the science behind snow and ice control.
What does this credential mean to you?
Having my CSP certification places me a step above the average sourcing manager. The knowledge and experience gained from running a snow business sets me apart from the rest.
What do you enjoy about your job?
My favorite part of my job is building relationships, which is essential to being a successful sourcing manager.
How do clients benefit from your expertise every day?
Having a skilled sourcing team backing a company is essential to producing high-quality work. Clients benefit by receiving reliable service from trusted providers with a deep understanding of snow and ice removal processes on their sites.
What do you do when it’s not snow season?
When it’s not snow season, I’m busy leading my team through the commercial property landscape season. We focus on creating better processes and improving existing ones to make us stronger and more efficient. There is always room to grow and be better.
Adam Yoder,
Director, Exterior Operations
How did your career path bring you here?
I’ve always had a passion for landscaping, and I’ve always wanted to take it to the next level with a leadership role. The facilities maintenance industry was the right fit to begin my journey.
Why did you pursue a CSP?
The CSP was the natural next step in increasing my knowledge in the snow and ice industry. I knew it would help me become more knowledgeable on all aspects of snow and ice removal. Plus, it has helped me connect with my clients in a more meaningful way. It was a significant time investment, but it yielded a wealth of knowledge that I use in my day-to-day work to continue to drive value for our clients.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy leading my peers in this fast-paced environment, connecting with clients and building relationships with service partners.
How do clients benefit from your expertise every day?
I use my CSP knowledge to consult with our clients and provide meaningful solutions to their issues.
What do you do when it’s not snow season?
As soon as snow season is over, I dive right into landscaping season. There are always client needs we need to be supporting.
Partner With Us to Maximize Your Snow Removal Program
If you’re in need of an experienced, trusted snow removal partner with CSPs on staff, consider working Chain Store Maintenance - an MCS Company. Contact your Chain Store account representative or email CSMsales@ChainStore.com today to learn more.
