Beacon Award Announcement

As reprinted from the ALCM Newsline, Winter 2007 issue.

John Filias Honored with Beacon Award

The Beacon Award is the highest honor ALCM bestows on an individual. The worthy recipient is announced each November at ALCM's annual meeting. True to its name, The Beacon Award is given to an individual whose actions serve asa guide to other members in the landscape industry.

This year's presentation took place on November 14, 2006. For his outstanding dedication to the association and the industry, ALCM chose John Filias, MCLP, of Jeffreys Creek Land Contractors, Inc. in Manchester, Ma, as its 2006 recipient.

The following speech was given that evening by Mike Leuders, who was the recipient of last year's Beacon Award.

The Beacon award is the highest honor that ALCM bestows on an individual. It is a remarkable honor as well as being fun because the recipient is chosen from the membership at large by a group of our peers - the ALCM Booard. It recognizes all of the contributions an individual has made to our associations, the industry and the impact his or her efforts have made.

Some people's efforts make a big splash complete with publicity and fanfare. Others make their contributions and move on to their next efforts, often without much recognition but with personal satisfaction for what has been accomplished. This could be said for our 2006 winner.

This year's Beacon award winner is truly deserving. He always has a big smile. Whether things are great or things are a struggle, he approaches them with a positive outlook. Some comments I have heard include:

"He is so low key, a real person who is really smart and really funny."

"He is a friend who is always there when you need him."

"He is a great leader."

"Under his leadership, people find themselves wanting to do what they are doing."

"He goes all out."

In his efforts for the Green Industry, his focus is how to benefit the people in the Industry. As a result, he is not afraid to be innovative, to push the envelope and to make changes where benefits can result.

He runs a terrific business that he started in the mid 1980s and has grown since. It is a business known for being very well organized, innovative and focused on his customers. Recently I had the chance to talk to one. The customer told me what a terrific experience it was and when I complimented the job and the company, the customer said "I love what they have done with my landscape and the experience was so pleasurable, but to be honest I have never met the owner." Imagine running a business where the customers can feel so much respect for the company and its owner without ever meeting him.

Like many of us, he did not start out to be in the Green Industry but changed majors and schools mid way through, graduating from Essex Agriculture and Technical Institute with honors. He served ALCM as a Board Member from 1995 - 2002 and as President in 2000. He served on the New England Grows Education Committee from 1999-2000, its Board from 2002-2007 and as its President during 2006. He should be recognized for his long time service on the "Dalton Street detail". His current Board service includes the New England Nursery Association.

As a busy guy, you would not think he had much time for fun but remember he is really smart and really funny. So he makes sure to find time for his family, off-shore sailboat racing, island vacations and Jimmy Buffett. I am told he goes all out for that, having traveled to Los Angeles for the Millennium show. At another show he brought a load of sand for a parking lot beach or a pool in a truck. For these antics, I understand he is now on the "watch list" for parking lot security. While the personal stories could go on all evening, it is time to recognize and congratulate John Filias as the 2006 Beacon Award recipient.

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