Richard Ott Awarded 2003 ALCA Lifetime Leadership Award The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) presented its 2003 Lifetime Leadership Award to Mr. Richard Ott, adjunct professor in the Department of Plants Sciences and Landscape Systems, at its recent Executive Forum at Fort Myers, Florida. An active ALCA member and the 2002 president of the ALCA Educational Foundation (AEF), he is vice president for educational programming and director of the InteriorScape Network for Symbiot Business Group, ALCA's Lifetime Leadership Award (formerly known as the Landscape Service Award) is presented annually to a member of the association who has demonstrated leadership, service, commitment, and contributions to both ALCA and the landscape industry. According to Rick Doesburg, 2002 ALCA president, "In being selected to receive the ALCA Lifetime Leadership Award, Dick Ott joins an elite group of ALCA leaders whose outstanding service has been instrumental in fostering the growth and professionalism of the association and the green industry as a whole." Named as a 2003 ALCA Trailblazer (a mentoring program) in recognition of his significant and long-term contributions during his 30 years in the green industry, Dick Ott is also a member of the AEF Board of Directors and chair and founder of ALCA's Interior Industry Growth Initiative. Previously, he has served on the ALCA Board of Directors and on the Certification Board of Governors; chaired ALCA's Interior Division; and been a member of numerous committees and task forces. He is also an AEF Founding Ambassador. Mr. Ott received both his Bachelor of Science degree and his MBA from The University of Tennessee. He has written more than 50 articles for various green industry publications, has spoken at a number of national industry events, and is an adjunct professor of interior landscaping at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Reflecting his ongoing interest in education, Ott states that he continues to be involved in ALCA for his own "personal development and the development of others." In his current position with Symbiot, his responsibilities include initiating the company's interior network and developing training programs for interior landscape contracting company personnel. Active in community activities in Knoxville, he has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, the Appalachian Zoological Society, the Knoxville Beautification Board, and the Knoxville Ski Club. The recipient of two Bronze Stars while serving with the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he also received ALCA's President's Award in 1990. In acknowledging his receipt of the ALCA Lifetime Leadership Award, he stated, "I am indeed honored to be recognized by ALCA with this award. My ongoing involvement with ALCA members and programs and my wide and varied experience in leadership positions have enabled me to grow professionally and personally and inspired me to pass on the skills and knowledge I have learned to the future leaders of the green industry." ALCA represents approximately 2,500 professional exterior and interior landscape maintenance, installation, and design/build contractors and suppliers nationwide. Kathy Wemhoff, ALCA