You've got the equipment, you know how to run it...what's next?

• Manage the snow business, not just the snow event
• Improve your knowledge of insurance
• Increase your sales potential
• Drive your company to greater success

Certified Snow Professional

Why CSP?
CSP Frequently Asked Questions

CSP Calendar: Upcoming Tests
CSP Application & Testing Information

CSP Study Materials

The Certified Snow Professional (CSP) Qualities & Competencies

A Certified Snow Professional is...

• A leader in the snow plowing industry
• Passionate about his/her work
• Environmentally responsible
• Eager to learn and grow
• Creative in exploring and reaching successful solutions
• Informed, knowledgeable, and an effective communicator of the industry's values and principles
• An educator expanding the horizons of co-workers, customers, and community

A Certified Snow Professional is able to...

1. Lead and manage a profitable snowplowing business.
   • Work within the legal framework of business regarding statutory and common law, and their respective types: tort, sales, contract, tax, and consumerism.
   • Establish an integrity-based code of ethics with regard to one's company, customers, and community.
   • Describe and engage in the financial planning process: forecasting short-term and long-term financial needs, developing and controlling budgets in relationship to the financial goals.
   • Understand and apply the principles of obtaining short-term and long-term financing.
   • Interpret financial statements: the balance sheet, the income statement, and statement of cash flows.
   • Understand the roles, commonalities, and differences between leader, manager, and supervisor.
   • Perform the functions of planning, organizing, motivating and inspiring, and assessing both individual and organizational performance.
     
     
2.   Remove snow and control ice conditions by understanding and applying the 
     principles of snow and ice properties and chemicals.
   • Know the characteristics and properties of ice and snow and the implications for its removal.
   • Know and apply the principles of deicers and anti-icers: their purposes, application methods and rates, safety, and storage.
      
3. Remove snow and control ice conditions by understanding and applying snowplow technology.
   • Be familiar with state-of-the-art snowplowing equipment and know how to operate and oversee a training program.
   • Develop and implement a safety initiative regarding the use of chemicals and snowplowing equipment.
   • Use tracking and forecasting technology.
   • Design and manage an all-encompassing operations structure, process, and communications network that includes: what, who, when, where, and how. 
      
4. Develop and manage a human resource strategy in context with the organization's mission and vision.
   • Manage risk and insurance programs.
   • Conduct job analyses and design work flows.
   • Hire and oversee a training/education program for all employees.
   • Design and manage the compensation program and reward system.
   • Understand and oversee the company's legal environment regarding safety, health, and employee rights.
     
     
5. Understand and apply the basic concepts of the marketing process and the marketing plan.
   • Conduct market research.
   • Develop a marketing plan.
   • Cultivate customer relationships.
   • Communicate the company's value - selecting the appropriate promotional mix.
   • Manage the sales force: recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, motivating, and evaluating.
   • Understand and apply the principles and process of selling - from initial contact to the signed contract.
     
     
6.   Know the legal, financial, and managerial implications of hiring and working
     with sub-contractors.
   • Know the benefits and risks of hiring sub-contractors.
   • Know how to comply with federal and state laws and rules.
   • Draft and use written agreements with sub-contractors.

Daniel Kielson and the CSP Committee, November 14, 2005