The Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) is forming a set of peer groups, facilitated by Phil Harwood, CEO of Pro-Motion Consulting and LM columnist.

“SIMA’s involvement in forming peer groups is to help you focus on your snow and ice business,” said Martin Tirado, executive director of SIMA. “Peer group participants can get into the details of all the things we love (and hate) about the business that other exterior maintenance service providers don’t bother with. Contract types, anti- (and) de-icing methods, using liquids in different ways, finding a market niche, maintaining your best employees year-round and finding seasonal employees, are just some of the different topics a SIMA peer group can work on. Another feature is the topics are directed by you and your group. You decide the most critical topics to work on, help each other, then move onto other topics you select. The facilitator is there to help identify root cause issues, ask the more challenging questions and help the group find peer-developed solutions.”

The idea for the peer groups stemmed from a membership satisfaction survey, Tirado added, noting 81 percent of respondents identified “interacting with professionals” as an integral part of their membership.

The organization is a calling on all interested participants to register for the peer groups by April 17 via email to Martin@SIMA.org or by visiting SIMA.org/peer-groups.