Pre-Meeting Survey for Maryland Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Meetings

Affiliations and Interest in Program

THIS IS A PRE-MEETING SURVEY FOR PEOPLE WHO PLAN TO ATTEND ONE OF THE OPEN FORUM MEETINGS IN MARYLAND

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification program

An collective initiative to work with many different partners to develop and pilot Bay-wide professional landscape credentials to meet the demand for qualified conservation landscape professionals who are consistently trained to properly design, install and/or maintain small-scale stormwater best management practices and other conservation landscaping practices for the Chesapeake Bay Region.

These CBLP kick-off meetings are designed to bring our partners together to refine our understanding of your needs and expectations for a CBLP program, review and revise our common goal, define objectives of the curriculum, online study guide and exam including list of skills and proficiencies, refine the list of practices that should be covered by the certification, identify other related existing trade certifications and determine minimum qualifications to earn certification such as experience, existing credentials and tests. Use these survey questions to prepare for thoughtful discussions on these topics at the Maryland meetings.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO ANSWER THESE SURVEY QUESTIONS

and be prepared to talk about this at the Maryland meetings.

Question Title

* 1. Which of the following best describes your affiliation(s) - you may choose more than one.

Local, regional or state government and planning authorities involved in planning, implementing and enforcing federal and state regulatory programs.

Government or institutions involved in planning and implementing non-regulatory programs and plans to promote watershed restoration, habitat restoration, native plants, green infrastructure, open space preservation, urban forestry, etc.

Training, educational or research institutions (i.e. cooperative extension, SWCDs, universities or community colleges, training partnerships, workforce development programs).

Stormwater contractor, developer, builder or site design/build firm.

Landscape professional with education, training, and hands-on experience designing, installing or maintaining conservation landscapes and stormwater management practices.

Native plants expert and/or society member.

Trade organization.

Non-profit group that plans, promotes and implements water quality, watershed, habitat or other environmental restoration and protection programs and projects (e.g. water-friendly homeowner incentive and outreach programs).

Other Affiliation not mentioned (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. Please rate the following proposed aspects of the CBLP Certification initiative in terms of importance to you

	Not Very Important	Moderately Important	Very Important
The program will bring consistency to landscape contractor training and educational programs across the region and reduce duplication of efforts .	The program will bring consistency to landscape contractor training and educational programs across the region and reduce duplication of efforts . Not Very Important	The program will bring consistency to landscape contractor training and educational programs across the region and reduce duplication of efforts . Moderately Important	The program will bring consistency to landscape contractor training and educational programs across the region and reduce duplication of efforts . Very Important
The program will measure the quality of the training and educational programs and match landscape professionals with the best trainings and educational opportunities through an online list of training and education partners.	The program will measure the quality of the training and educational programs and match landscape professionals with the best trainings and educational opportunities through an online list of training and education partners. Not Very Important	The program will measure the quality of the training and educational programs and match landscape professionals with the best trainings and educational opportunities through an online list of training and education partners. Moderately Important	The program will measure the quality of the training and educational programs and match landscape professionals with the best trainings and educational opportunities through an online list of training and education partners. Very Important
This program will reduce staff time and expense of in-house and on-the-job training.	This program will reduce staff time and expense of in-house and on-the-job training. Not Very Important	This program will reduce staff time and expense of in-house and on-the-job training. Moderately Important	This program will reduce staff time and expense of in-house and on-the-job training. Very Important
Consistent training will increase the success and reduce costly mistakes by ensuring the practices are properly designed, installed and maintained according to state and Chesapeake Bay Program approved standards and protocol.	Consistent training will increase the success and reduce costly mistakes by ensuring the practices are properly designed, installed and maintained according to state and Chesapeake Bay Program approved standards and protocol. Not Very Important	Consistent training will increase the success and reduce costly mistakes by ensuring the practices are properly designed, installed and maintained according to state and Chesapeake Bay Program approved standards and protocol. Moderately Important	Consistent training will increase the success and reduce costly mistakes by ensuring the practices are properly designed, installed and maintained according to state and Chesapeake Bay Program approved standards and protocol. Very Important
CBLPs will have marketable credentials that I can use to gain employment, advance professionally, and/or grow my business.	CBLPs will have marketable credentials that I can use to gain employment, advance professionally, and/or grow my business. Not Very Important	CBLPs will have marketable credentials that I can use to gain employment, advance professionally, and/or grow my business. Moderately Important	CBLPs will have marketable credentials that I can use to gain employment, advance professionally, and/or grow my business. Very Important
Beautiful and functional landscapes created by qualified professionals may help to overcome program and practice failure associated with poor public perception, acceptance, and long-term care of the landscapes and stormwater features.	Beautiful and functional landscapes created by qualified professionals may help to overcome program and practice failure associated with poor public perception, acceptance, and long-term care of the landscapes and stormwater features. Not Very Important	Beautiful and functional landscapes created by qualified professionals may help to overcome program and practice failure associated with poor public perception, acceptance, and long-term care of the landscapes and stormwater features. Moderately Important	Beautiful and functional landscapes created by qualified professionals may help to overcome program and practice failure associated with poor public perception, acceptance, and long-term care of the landscapes and stormwater features. Very Important
An online database will allow property owners, local government, non-profits and others to easily locate landscape professionals to hire as contractors or staff.	An online database will allow property owners, local government, non-profits and others to easily locate landscape professionals to hire as contractors or staff. Not Very Important	An online database will allow property owners, local government, non-profits and others to easily locate landscape professionals to hire as contractors or staff. Moderately Important	An online database will allow property owners, local government, non-profits and others to easily locate landscape professionals to hire as contractors or staff. Very Important
The trainer database will help landscape professionals to find the best high quality training opportunities.	The trainer database will help landscape professionals to find the best high quality training opportunities. Not Very Important	The trainer database will help landscape professionals to find the best high quality training opportunities. Moderately Important	The trainer database will help landscape professionals to find the best high quality training opportunities. Very Important
For trade organizations and university programs, the CBLP program will support professional and business growth of our members, our graduates and our industry.	For trade organizations and university programs, the CBLP program will support professional and business growth of our members, our graduates and our industry. Not Very Important	For trade organizations and university programs, the CBLP program will support professional and business growth of our members, our graduates and our industry. Moderately Important	For trade organizations and university programs, the CBLP program will support professional and business growth of our members, our graduates and our industry. Very Important
This program will provide access to contractors that I can partner with to provide a more cost-effective and turn-key service to my clients.	This program will provide access to contractors that I can partner with to provide a more cost-effective and turn-key service to my clients. Not Very Important	This program will provide access to contractors that I can partner with to provide a more cost-effective and turn-key service to my clients. Moderately Important	This program will provide access to contractors that I can partner with to provide a more cost-effective and turn-key service to my clients. Very Important

Please add other features you want added to the CBLP program.

Question Title

* 3. Once the CBLP Program is established, how would you use or interact with the program? You can choose more than one answer.

Will hire CBLPs as staff.

Will work to ensure that CBLPs can be hired through our city/county procurement process.

Will hire or partner with CBLPs as contractors.

Will recommend or include CBLPs on qualified providers lists for clients or program participants.

Will become a certified CBLP designer.

Will become a certified CBLP installer.

Will become a certified CBLP maintainer.

As a CBLP, I will use the credentials to market my work and the online database and website as a way to validate my qualifications for perspective clients and employers.

Will align trainings/educational programs to ensure that our program graduates can successfully complete a CBLP certification process (application, exam and demonstrate hands-on experience).

Will provide CBLP certification candidates with hands-on projects to design, install and/or maintain.

Will promote and support the program through our trade organization.

Other - please feel free to add other comments