For the attendees at Ignite 2024 — the annual user conference organized by Aspire Software and FieldRoutes — who experienced one of the packed educational sessions, wandered through the exhibits on the expo floor or caught the main-stage presentations and keynote addresses, the event’s modest origins probably wouldn’t compute at all.
But Aspire’s co-founder and CEO Mark Tipton swears there were indeed humble beginnings to an event that now attracts thousands of customers in the landscaping, lawn care and pest control industries to sprawling spots like this year’s host, the Orlando World Center Marriott.
“In the first few years of Aspire’s life, we would do a half-day session at GIE (now Equip Expo),” Tipton says. “We’d try to have as many customers as we could get there since we figured they were already going to be there anyway. And it was mainly just open discussions — learning what was working, what wasn’t and where we could improve.”
Showtime standouts
This year’s version of Ignite had plenty of big moments. On the main stage, the kickoff presentation hosted by Jon Gohl, Aspire’s director of customer experience, had a late-night talk show vibe, with “guests” that included Tipton and landscape pros such as Shandra Brannon, the chief operating officer from Heritage Landcare in Gilbert, S.C. and Britt Wood, CEO of the National Association of Landscape Professionals.
A pair of product roadmap sessions also attracted big crowds as developers showed off the latest enhancements to the Aspire and FieldRoutes platforms and what those teams will be working on in the future.
Individual educational sessions allowed attendees to explore various software features offered by Aspire and FieldRoutes, broken down into industry-specific sessions.
For example, Justin White, CEO of K&D Landscaping in Watsonville, Calif., explored the vision that helped his company grow from $1 million in revenues to over $18 million in just a few years in his presentation.
To drive home his point on the importance of vision and a shared purpose in pursuing business success, White pointed to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“You all know what his goal is at the start of every season … the Super Bowl,” White said. “None of us play in the NFL or work for a professional sports franchise, but we all know what Patrick Mahomes’ goal is at the start of every season. So, the questions you need to answer for your company are, ‘What is your Super Bowl?’ and ‘Does the rest of your team know what that No. 1 goal is?’ When that vision is aligned, good things can really start happening.”
The lightning bolt signage of Ignite brought an air of energy and electricity to the event. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
The kickoff presentation hosted by Jon Gohl, Aspire’s director of customer experience (at desk), had a late-night talk show vibe. Pictured from left are “interview guests” Mark Tipton, CEO of Aspire; Shandra Brannon, Chief COO of Heritage Landcare, Gilbert, S.C.; and Scott Broaddus, VP of expansion with Ogden, Utah-based Hawx Pest Control. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
Andy Deering, son of PMP Hall of Famer Richard Deering (Class of 2022) and a FieldRoutes manager, chats with an attendee. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
One of the many educational sessions during Ignite was a FieldRoutes panel devoted to “Scheduling Best Practices from Your Peers.” From left are Kyle Selbach, director of operations, All U Need Pest Control, Fort Myers, Fla.; Breanna Neerland, operations manager and managing partner, Kwik Kill Pest Control, Madison, Wis.; Brian Starnes, co-founder and CEO of FieldRoutes’ supplier partner Pest SOS; and panel moderator Ray Honey, FieldRoutes’ director of customer success. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
Attendees had a packed schedule of meetings, educational sessions and more. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
During the Awards of Excellence event, The Natural State Pest Control team in Lowell, Ark., received the Impact Award, which recognizes a current FieldRoutes customer for their contributions and impact on the broader community. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
Melanie Espinola, General Environmental Services, Malden, Mass., received the Rookie of the Year Award, which is given to a FieldRoutes customer who drove early success with the software. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
The team at Alta Pest Control in Austin, Texas, won the Excellence Achieved Award, which recognizes a FieldRoutes customer who finishes the year stronger than the last through organic growth and expansion. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
Kat Cole, CEO of AG1, shared lessons of leadership and innovation she learned throughout her career, including how to identify beneficial business patterns, the essential qualities she looks for in new hires and tips on balancing short-term trade-offs with long-term returns. “If you don’t innovate, someone else will,” she told Ignite attendees. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
The conference closed with a session modeled after legendary TV game show “The Price is Right.” Contestant Winnie Williams, Astro Exterminating, Valdosta, Ga., listens to instructions before trying her hand at the “Plinko” game onstage. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
Members of the Pro Active Pest Control team, Rancho Cordova, Calif., relax during Ignite’s dinner reception at the House of Blues in Orlando, Fla. PHOTO: SERVICETITAN
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