The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) extends its sincere appreciation to STIHL USA for its continued generosity and commitment to advancing low-impact landscape maintenance technologies and workforce development.
Much of the attention in today’s industry focuses on large organizations, major investments, and the AI technologies. Yet there are more than 600,000 landscape maintenance and installation companies across the United States, along with countless in-house grounds departments serving churches, schools, universities, municipalities, parks, cemeteries, and nonprofit organizations. Many of these organizations rarely receive recognition, but they are an essential part of our industry and deserve access to the same opportunities for education, training, certification, safe equipment, and career advancement.
That belief has always been central to AGZA’s mission.
AGZA works alongside organizations of every size, from single-crew landscape companies to some of the nation’s largest public agencies and private companies. Regardless of size or budget, every organization benefits from professional training, improved safety practices, and access to technologies that can reduce operating costs while improving environmental stewardship. Sustainable operations are not only important for commercial businesses; they are equally critical for nonprofit organizations that must carefully manage limited resources while serving their communities.
One organization making a remarkable difference is Mass Liberation, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing recidivism by providing individuals with meaningful opportunities to rebuild their lives through employment, education, and personal responsibility. AGZA has the privilege of working directly with Mass Liberation and has witnessed firsthand the organization’s commitment to creating lasting change.
This is where companies like STIHL USA have made a meaningful impact.
Over the years, STIHL has supported AGZA’s mission through donations of equipment, batteries, chargers, personal protective equipment (PPE), and by helping provide educational and training opportunities. These contributions extend far beyond equipment, they help create pathways to skilled trades, meaningful careers, and greater stability for individuals who are committed to building a better future.
AGZA hopes other AGZA AFTC Certified manufacturers will join this mission-driven effort. Together, we can ensure that every segment of the landscape industry, from small businesses and nonprofits to municipalities and institutional grounds departments, has access to the tools, training, and resources needed to successfully implement battery-electric equipment safely, productively, and economically.
When we invest in people, we strengthen our industry. When we create opportunities for those who have traditionally been overlooked, we help build a more skilled, more inclusive, and more sustainable workforce for the future.
About AGZA
The American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) is dedicated to helping commercial landscape operations, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations transition to safer, quieter, and lower-impact landscape maintenance practices through independent Green Zone Certification, workforce training, equipment testing, and operational consulting.
About STIHL USA
STIHL Inc. is a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment serving professional and consumer markets throughout the United States. Through a nationwide network of authorized dealers, STIHL provides innovative equipment and supports workforce development, safety, and community initiatives across the landscape, forestry, and grounds maintenance industries.
Principal CEO at Gardenland Power Equipment & Co-Founder and CEO of Towa Industries Inc.
Roger Phelps joined STIHL Inc. in 2001 and is currently the Corporate Communications Manager. In that position he is responsible for creating and telling the STIHL story through integrated event marketing, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and digital and social media with the goal of increasing the visibility of and affinity for the STIHL brand and over 10,000 STIHL dealers. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served 10 years in the U.S. Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He has serves on the National Association of Landscape Professionals Foundation Board of Directors, the National Association of State Park Directors Leadership School Board of Regents, and the Professional Grounds Management Society Board of Directors.
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