SIMA Board continues to build the association and snow industry

As I step into the role of chair of the Board of Directors for the Snow and Ice Management Association, I am both honored by the trust placed in me and energized by the opportunities ahead. SIMA has long been a steady and respected voice for our industry, and my focus this year is to ensure that our governance, our offerings, and our engagement with members and suppliers continue to evolve in meaningful and practical ways.

Board organization

A key priority for my term is further streamlining the internal processes undertaken by the Board of Directors. Like many volunteer-led organizations, our board members generously give their time while balancing demanding professional responsibilities. It is our responsibility to ensure that board service is efficient, well-organized, and focused on outcomes that move SIMA and our industry forward.

Membership focus

Continued enhancement of SIMA's offerings to our membership remains central to our work.
Our members rely on SIMA for education, standards, certification, advocacy, and community. As the industry continues to change, we must continually assess whether our programs and resources are meeting real-world needs. That means listening carefully, evaluating outcomes, and being willing to adapt. Our goal is not change for its own sake, but progress that delivers clear value to contractors, managers, and professionals across the snow and ice industry.

Supplier engagement

Equally important is strengthening engagement with our supplier members. SIMA benefits greatly from the expertise, innovation, and perspective that suppliers bring to our association. This year, we will place a stronger emphasis on ensuring supplier voices are heard, respected, and meaningfully considered.
Engagement must go beyond sponsorships and exhibit halls; it should include thoughtful dialogue, opportunities for input, and transparency around how feedback is used to inform decisions. When suppliers know their opinions matter and are taken seriously, SIMA becomes stronger and more relevant for the entire industry.

Working together for a shared purpose

Underlying all of these efforts is a commitment to collaboration, respect, and shared purpose. SIMA is at its best when board members, staff, contractors, and suppliers work together toward common goals. By improving how we govern, strengthening what we offer, and deepening how we listen, we can continue to build an association that serves today's needs while preparing for tomorrow's challenges.
I am grateful to serve alongside a dedicated board and staff team, and I look forward to the progress we will make together in the year ahead.

2026 SIMA Board Members

• Board Chair - Jeff Heller, CSP, Innovative Maintenance Solutions

• Immediate Past Chair - Chris Hinton, CSP, GRM Inc.

• Vice Chair - Chris Thacker, CSP, Mr. Mow It All

• Secretary / Treasurer -  Tom Fitzgerald, CSP, Donovan Property Service

• Matt Crinklaw, Greenius by Granum

• Connie Gaul, ASM, SNOWGO National Services

• Andy McArdle, CSP, ASM, Douglas Dynamics

• Robert Miller Jr., CSP, ASM, RPM Landscape Contractor

• Dean Outhouse, CSP, ASM, North Point Outdoors

• Robert Young, CSP, K.E.Y. Property Services 

Jeff Heller, CSP, is president of Innovative Maintenance Solutions in Carmel, IN and the 2026 chair of the SIMA board of directors. Contact him at jheller@indyims.com.