Rockledge Gardens launches fourth certification prep class

Announced via press release, Rockledge Gardens will begin its fourth six-week prep course to help its staff earn the Florida Certified Horticulture Professional (FCHP) designation conferred by FNGLA (Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association). This is part of an ongoing effort by the 60-year-old, family-owned garden center to foster a team of horticultural experts who can help central Florida residents with all their gardening needs.

The program was launched in early 2019 when Amanda Rose Newton, a part-time Rockledge Gardens information and education specialist and full-time science professor at Eastern Florida State College, approached Rockledge Gardens owners Theresa and Kevin Riley with the idea of sharing some of her knowledge with staff and helping them to get professional certifications.

“My lifelong goal has been to work with people, plants and insects and I’ve been lucky in finding multiple avenues to pursue this passion,” says Newton. “The green industry is crucial to providing nourishment, biodiversity and joy and giving students the tools to succeed in this in-demand career field is essential to serving our needs on both a local and global scale.”

While the first class was well-attended and well-received by staff, only two who took the class actually went on to take the certification exam with FNGLA. Many were nervous or otherwise apprehensive about passing the exam. This is when Rockledge Gardens’ managing director Liz Lark-Riley decided to incentivize the program. She worked with Newton to schedule a refresher course for all those who had taken the original course, then she gave the participants a deadline of 30 days after the refresher course to take and pass the certification exam in order to receive one full day of free PTO (paid time off).

The PTO bonus incentive and deadline worked like a charm and all the remaining class participants took and passed their exam by December 31, 2019, bringing Rockledge Gardens’ number of FCHPs on staff up to 10.

Since then, Rockledge Gardens has hosted two additional prep courses for new and existing staff members and currently boasts 18 staff members who are Florida Certified Horticulture Professionals. The fourth prep course taught by Newton began on Monday, May 17, and with nine team members enrolled, the historic garden center hopes to bring the number of FCHP staff up to 27.

Newton’s passion for educating Rockledge Gardens team members doesn’t stop at the FCHP. She also team-taught a prep course for FNGLA’s Florida Certified Landscape Maintenance Technician designation with former Rockledge Gardens Employee and current owner of Brevard Natives Landscaping, Dane Dernier. This certification requires an intensive in-person practical exam with FNGLA. Rockledge Gardens is proud to say that all four of the RG team members who took this exam passed and earned their certification with high marks. Newton is also making plans to offer a Green Industry Best Management Practices certification developed by IFAS and FDACS.

“It’s important to me that this isn’t just a job for the people who work here,” says Lark-Riley. “I want our team to feel supported, challenged, and excited about developing as professionals. I’m endlessly grateful to Amanda Rose for her dedication to education and generosity with her knowledge.”

For more information about Rockledge Gardens’ professional development program or careers at Rockledge Gardens, please contact Liz Lark-Riley at liz@rockledgegardens.com or visit rockledgegardens.com/join-our-team

You can see Liz Lark-Riley speak at the Garden Center Conference & Expo, Sept. 28-30, in Orlando, Florida! Reserve your spot for her can’t-miss session, “Story-Telling Tips from a Theater Nerd: How Retail is Theater and it’s Time to Play!”