Chip and Shari Lain own and manage Pine Island Turf Nursery, Inc. (Pine Island, N.Y.), a thriving 1,100-acre sod business that grows and sells high-quality sod to landscape contractors, garden centers, schools, town parks, golf courses and wholesalers.

“We think we’ve built the best team in the sod business, which is why we are lucky enough to have long-term employees who stay with us up to 20 years.

“We believe in the power of good communication so we train all our employees as soon as they’re hired, including truck drivers and office staff. We want every staff member to be able to talk comfortably to customers about turf and turf care. We also offer perks, such as inviting key employees and truck drivers to trade shows with us. That gives them a chance to talk to their customers in out-of-the-ordinary business surroundings.

“We believe in repaying our employees for their role in our success. So we offer some of the best wages in the business, a strong pension plan and large bonuses in good years.

“Years ago, an employee quit over a simple problem. I never want that to happen again. That’s why we try to build a working environment where employees feel comfortable talking about any problem or asking any question at any time. That way, we can resolve issues right away.

“We treat employees well, and, in turn, our customers feel the satisfaction that our employees have in their jobs and continue to enjoy doing business with us.”

NANCY HOURIGAN and her husband, John, own and manage Hourigan’s Dairy Farm, LLC, a 950 Holstein cow dairy farm, in Elbridge, N.Y.

“We’ve picked up important tips over the years. For example, we always work side by side with our employees, from feeding calves to loading hay. That way, we get to know them personally, and they get to know us. We hear what’s on their minds, and we work through solutions right there on the spot. We also bring everyone together from time to time. For example, we recently hired an outside facilitator to lead a meeting with our entire staff. That time together gave everyone a chance to talk about what’s right about working here, what’s wrong and what could be improved. We learned a lot about each other, and we all had a great day.”

ETHEL BROWN and her family own and manage Gran-Val Dairy Farm, LLC, along with a bustling retail ice cream parlor in Granville, Mass.

. “We believe in being honest and open with our employees and working together as a team. That’s why we ask for their opinions about almost every aspect of our business. We appreciate their openness and willingness to share what’s on their minds. We grab a cup of coffee with them from time to time so we can visit with them and enjoy their company. We like to think Gran-Val Dairy is a good place to work.”

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